Does the exterior architecture, such as windows selection, impact the colour you chose for both exterior and interior?

Tracy: Absolutely. If we are building a modern contemporary house, and have steel windows that are black, we will use a colour like Ballet White OC-9 for the interior so the contrast really defines the windows. I was fortunate to own a Hugh Newell Jacobsen House in Virginia. These houses are crafted in pod formation so it calls for clean, streamlined elements, and, for me, I used all white—Winter White OC-21—to show off the angles and shadows. I painted the interior that had no mouldings or trim the same; Winter White was the perfect hue to highlight shadows throughout the day.

"TO ME, PAINT IS THE BIGGEST BANG FOR ANYONE'S BUCK."

 - Tracy Morris,
      Owner/Principal, Tracy Morris Design

What colours do you count on for ceilings?

Tracy: If you want to make a space feel large and open, use a warm white, and paint the entire space with it. The space will feel more open and create a nice envelope. If I go with a white ceiling–my preference is Decorator’s White OC-149–I will tone it with a bit of tint from the wall colour and it pulls the entire room together. If you have high ceilings and want to pull in some warmth, use Atrium White OC-145, which has a slight pink undertone.

Do you have a group of go-to colours, like a "signature" palette?

Tracy: I always use Narragansett Green HC-157 or Essex Green HC-188 on front doors. Black does not register well in sunlight, so this little bit of dark green, is my “signature front door colour.” And we are also seeing more colour being used in both kitchens and baths. Lots of navy and mushroom taupes. So often the connection of what people wear translates to what they want to see on the walls of their homes. We’re also seeing emerald green coming in as an accent. And for fixtures, we are seeing a preference for polished chrome and nickel, along with brushed or aged brass.

What are the major differences between residential design and commercial design?

Tracy: For me the difference between residential and commercial work is the complexity and layers of people. With commercial projects you are usually dealing with a committee or group of investors and various personalities, varying processes and opinions. You have to appeal to not only the people overseeing the project but think how to appeal to the end users of the space as well. It's all about finding a way to please all parties involved while delivering the project on time and on budget.

With residential you really get to know the client on a personal level. They are the ones who are making the decisions and are the end users. We work with clients for anywhere from a few months for smaller projects to a couple years for custom home builds. Through that time, we don't just get to know their style, but their families and how they live. So, whether commercial or residential, it's all about getting to know the people to be able to guide them in the right direction. That's what we do.

Are there any particular industry manufacturers that you trust and rely on?

Tracy: For paint and wall colour, Benjamin Moore is my go-to for all my clients’ home. For other aspects of the home we turn to David Sutherland’s Perennials. With Perennials, you have no problem with any spills, stains, “mistakes,” whether on their fabrics or rugs. It's amazing. You just take a little bit of warm water to their products and red wine, lipstick, chocolate, it all comes out. So for families, with kids and pets, or who entertain a lot, we use a lot of their fabrics. We also use a lot of Moore and Giles leather. Their leather is absolutely the highest quality, simply spectacular. I have used them at the Willard Hotel in D.C. and I have used them in my clients’ homes. They provide, without a doubt, the most beautiful saturated colours and stand the test of time.

Why do you choose Benjamin Moore for your work?

Tracy: Years ago when I started the firm, I went to a Vienna paint dealer in Fairfax County (Virginia). And I quickly learned that the colorants, the pigments used, the hues created were all so true with Benjamin Moore. So what I saw in a client’s carpet, in a counter surface, could easily be translated into the appropriate Benjamin Moore paint colour. On colour selection I always start with the permanent surfaces in the home. So if a client loves an antique rug or they just remodelled their kitchen with a multi-coloured countertop I go to those items and pull out the appropriate Benjamin Moore colour. And I know whatever colour I pull from those surfaces, is the exact colour I want.

For me, only Benjamin Moore colours are true, accurately created, and offer colour that stays constant. They are also durable, and extremely washable. So that is why I only use Benjamin Moore. I need that dependability and I need that trust, particularly as I am putting it in a client’s home.

If you were a colour, what would it be?

Tracy: I would be Comet 1628. I love Comet as a colour because it's warm and cool combined.

Can you share the three words which define what you need to succeed as a designer?

Tracy: Tenacity, patience and humility. Everyone thinks it is a super glamorous profession. But watch me scrub a client’s kitchen floor after an installation, ten minutes before they arrive home. It takes a lot of hard work and elbow grease to create something beautiful.