Hi, and welcome to my bio! I am Tracey Harbaugh, and I’m a senior at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. I anticipate graduating in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design.

This is my second journey through college. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Indiana University in 2004. I spent several years raising a family while freelancing as a ghostwriter. When COVID hit, businesses and existing clientele stopped hiring. I made the decision to finally follow my long-time dream and become an interior designer.

What do I love about interior design? Unexpected color combinations surprise me every time. Challenges take me out of my comfort zone. I love researching and poring over websites looking for the latest trends, new materials, and the most sustainable and ecofriendly building products on the market.

As an older student, I tend to lean toward practical, real-world design solutions. I wanted to break from my comfort zone and embrace as many design styles as possible. Last year, I stepped into

the realm of modern, sleek, and futuristic offices and schools. The future of school design awes me, and the building I constructed for my Independent Study reflects my research into teaching styles and educational environments predicted for the year 2035.

Last winter, I built a two-story residence for a family of four in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The home has an open concept kitchen and keeping room plus dining and living rooms, master suite, office, children’s study, laundry room, balcony, reading nook, children’s bedrooms, and three-car garage. I designed the exterior to be fire resistant because my clients had lost their first home in a wildfire. For another project, I designed a 15,000 square foot office space for a well-known furniture manufacturer. I used Revit to 3-D model a reception desk, staircase, and canteen island with seating. I challenged myself to only design with that company’s product lines as well as their subsidiaries.

To view my interior design portfolio, please click on Junior Portfolios and find the link for Tracey Harbaugh. I look forward to working with you!