Vertical Living

TRACY MORRIS DESIGN CREATED A SOPHISTICATED FAMILY HOME IN GEORGETOWN

By Sherry Moeller

The historic Georgetown rowhouse in Washington, DC, was originally built in 1875 but has undergone some renovations over the last 10 years, most recently with interior designer Tracy Morris of Tracy Morris Design, www.tracymorrisdesign.com, along with Overmyer Architects and Cecchi Homes.

Because the home is so vertical with multiple floors up and down, there are real space constraints to consider. “On our initial measure, the first thing we reviewed was the width of the staircase and doors,” Morris says. “This determines the size of the pieces we can source for our clients.” In addition, carpet selections for all the staircases were important to consider, ensuring safety when moving from level to level within the home.

“There is beautiful texture and detail when working on a historic rowhome,” adds Morris, who first began the interior design process by choosing paint colors, as well as furnishings and accessories for the main floor’s living and dining rooms. In the living room, the owners had a sofa, chairs, benches, and coffee table from Baker Furniture so the foundation of the room was in place. The owner’s father had gifted them the antique rug, which created a stunning anchor for the room.

“While we did not purchase many things for this living room, we were able to rearrange the client’s pieces and hang the art in a way that brought everything together,” says Morris, who also brought in items from Donghia, the Murano glass chandelier, and the leather bench to complete the look. “Making a home livable, but elegant is not hard,” Morris adds. “You select pieces with beautiful lines but cover them in washable fabrics. It really is the best of both worlds.”

On the second floor in the primary bedroom, Morris selected Arte wallpaper from Rue IV to complement the Baker Furniture bed and bedside tables. Finishing elements include the lamps, bench at the footboard, rug, chaise, and chandelier. “We wanted to create a sophisticated, yet enveloping space,” the designer says. “The calming color tones and wood contrast details make the space feel cozy and lush.”

The primary bathroom needed a complete overhaul to remove the dated tub and leaking shower. Morris worked with Lobkovich Inc. to create a vanity with optimal storage, as well as The Urban Electric Co. to illuminate the vanity and ceiling. “The special feature was the custom tile wall from Marble Systems,” Morris adds, which accents the new freestanding tub. “We wanted to give the space some muchneeded punch, and we did,” she says.

Morris started from scratch in the daughter’s bedroom by bringing in all new furniture and installing Schumacher wallpaper for a “grown-up” look for the teen’s new spaces. Creating a study corner, as well as a sleep sanctuary to relax all add to the fun feel of the third-floor retreat.

The lower level foyer was transformed into a polished and much-needed entry to the family room, game banquette, and utility rooms, including wine storage.

“These spaces were a joy to create because we were able to bring additional pieces into the home that fit the family’s personality,” Morris says.