The 24th Annual Decorator Show House sponsored by Historic Ellicott City Inc. will be on display Saturday, Sept. 20-Oct. 19. This year, Homewood Farm, a charming manor on Homewood Road, has been chosen to exhibit the decorating creativity of nearly two dozen area design firms.

Homewood Farm sits on land once part of the Doughoregan Manor Estate which belonged to Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The stately home, which includes 4 acres, a swimming pool and tennis court, was built in 1973 and will be sold after the fundraiser along with two nearby 5-acre estate lots.

Top local decorators have gone to town with luxurious wall treatments, one-of-a-kind furnishings, and charming personal touches. There is bound to be at least one room to stir the creative juices in each visitor who passes through the door. Eye-opening are the before pictures displayed in each room.

"It is great fun," said Janet Kusterer, the organization's executive director. Kusterer also writes the "Mostly Main Street" column for this newspaper.

Each designer exhibits a unique style, yet the rooms flow into one another without jarring the visitor. The entry foyer is soft and tranquil with a landscape mural in sepia, sage and gold. The antiqued wall leading to the second floor is glazed with a damask stencil that subtly catches the light. Behind the front entry, the rear hallway is a masterpiece of Trompe L'oeil (to fool the eye).

Karen Steele, of Simple Things in Ellicott City, painted stone block walls complete with water fountain, sconces, birds and ivy and a ceiling of faint clouds in a bright blue sky. Her hand-painted floor cloth features Koi fish swimming in a pond.

Michele Kelling, of MK Designs in Catonsville, converted an antique bowl into a sink and set it in an ornate buffet in the first floor powder room. She added a petite chandelier, antique perfume bottles and shimmering sage walls to create a romantic lady's space.

In contrast, Patricia Filas, of Revisions in Ellicott City, used "green" products for an updated '60s design in the second floor bath. Her Caesarstone counter top in bright lime and tiny turquoise and lime glass wall tiles create a cheerful space. She calls it "Ab Fab."

Artist Dee Cunningham, of Deelite Design in Windsor Mill, decorated the second floor landing. The walls are Venetian plaster, simulating the smoothness of marble. Cunningham's rendition of the old Ellicott City train station adorns the wall. Prints of the painting will be available for purchase.

Jason Gugliette and Eileen Abell, of River Hill Garden Center, created holiday warmth in the sun room with a decorated Christmas tree, pots of herbs, Williamsburg accessories and Provence style garden furniture.

The tour also includes a whimsical boy's bedroom. A leopard sits on a tree branch above a Land Rover bed with a roll bar headboard, wheels, a running board and Jeep toy box. A giraffe clothes horse sticks his long neck out of the closet and looks toward a zebra painted chest. Wild Goose Chase Antiques and Interiors of Catonsville is responsible for the safari fantasy.

Linda Featherman and Linda Fochtman, of Chic & Unique in Clarksville, chose Hollywood glamour for the master bedroom. One can picture Rita Hayworth reclining in the palette of soft orchid and shades of gray accented with dramatic black and silver.

Stephanie Hirschberg, of Doojies in Ellicott City, took a page out of the J. Peterman catalog to create a master bedroom sitting room for a world traveling couple. His antique camera and Corona typewriter sit along side her artist supplies and binoculars. A mixed media collage table holds the books they are passionate about.

Many designer items may be purchased during the show and picked up at its close. The basement houses a boutique where items may be purchased and taken away immediately. Shoemaker Country, selling home and garden items, is located in the horse barn. Wild Goose Chase Antiques, featuring furniture, china and collectibles, occupies 1,000 square feet of browsing space in the barn.

Historic Ellicott City Inc. uses the profits from the annual event to promote its mission of preservation, restoration and education in Howard County. The organization is in the planning stage of building a mill replica. It will serve as an education center in the historic district of Ellicott City on County land near the Tiber River.

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