Historic Ellicott City, Inc. Hosts 27th Annual Decorator Show House

This weekend The 27th Annual Historic Ellicott City, Inc. Decorator Show House opens for tours.  Located between Baltimore and Washington in the Maple Lawn area, Holly Manor is over 8,000 square feet and sits on several acres of land.

Designers, shop owners and volunteers have transformed the entire space into a work of art.

Historic Ellicott City, Inc. calls Holly Manor “a journey from colonial to contemporary” because the house has been restored to its colonial roots with an infusion of contemporary design.  Parts of its foundation dates back to the 1700s. Over the years, owners past and present have built additions onto the house. The current owners have done a tremendous amount of work to restore it.

Show House Co-Chairs Wanda Mathews and Linda Farndon, who oversaw the project, said Historic Ellicott City, Inc. chose this house because of its size and great condition. The sprawling property has a swimming pool that overlooks a three-acre pond.

More than 25 decorated areas - including hallways and bathrooms - were each uniquely fashioned by a local designer from the Baltimore/Washington area.  Designers were free to create their own vision, although certain areas were guided by trim colors selected by the owners to reflect the Williamsburg look.

Some designers were inspired by the colonial style, while others brought in a more modern twist. The result is a truly unique, elegant home and a must-see for anyone interested in design or updating a space.

“There are these wonderful creative touches everywhere,” said Farndon, who also did her own room.

It takes about six weeks for designers to complete their spaces. Despite losing power for five days during Hurricane Irene, the house is finished and everyone said they are looking forward to a successful show.

Visitors can get inspired and take their favorite pieces home too. Almost everything in the rooms is for sale, from furniture to accessories.  The basement has been transformed into a boutique with more than 14 vendors, offering a wide variety of retail and hand-made designer goods. In the garage, five antique dealers and Shoemaker Country Store have home accents and conversation pieces available.

Historic Ellicott City, Inc. is a volunteer organization devoted to preserving and restoring Ellicott City’s historical landmarks and resources.  The Annual Decorator Show House is the largest fundraiser for the organization. Proceeds go towards preservation projects and educational programs.

Tours will run from Sept. 24 to Oct. 23. at 8105 Holly Manor Way in Fulton.

Admission tickets can be purchased in advance from local area retailers for $15 or at the door for $20. A tent on the property will host free seminars by local professionals every Thursday evening from 6-8.