We’re looking forward to introducing you to Traci Connell. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Traci, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, hands down. Design is built on relationships—clients, vendors, teams—and those relationships only thrive when everyone trusts that you’ll do what you say you’ll do. I’d rather lose an opportunity than compromise on ethics or honesty. At the end of the day, the beauty of the work should be matched by the integrity behind it
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Since establishing her namesake firm, Traci Connell has become widely recognized for creating interiors that balance refined luxury with effortless livability. Known for her discerning eye and mastery of space, art, and architectural detail, Traci brings an atmosphere of understated glamour to an array of projects, including private residences, vacation retreats, and commercial and hospitality environments. Her work is continually informed by her explorations of design, travel, art, nature, and global culture.
With a philosophy rooted in transformation, Connell elevates interiors beyond the expected through thoughtful tailored details, innovative technologies, and collaborations with artisans, infusing each project with elements of surprise and individuality. As one of Dallas’s most respected design leaders, she has developed a streamlined process that refines and simplifies each phase of design to ensure a seamless experience for her clients, ranging from young families, empty nesters, seasoned travelers and second-home owners.
Connell has a longstanding dedication to philanthropy within her community. Her involvement with Kips Bay Designer Showhouse and Dwell with Dignity’s Thrift Studio fundraiser has helped raise significant support in the fight against homelessness across Dallas and its surrounding areas.
Traci Connell Interiors has been honored as a nominee for the 30th, 34th, and 36th ARTS Awards, selected as a prestigious designer for the 2021 and 2024 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, listed on the Luxe Interiors + Design “Gold List”, and has been named a D Home magazine’s “Best Designer” annually from 2018 to 2025. The firm’s work has been featured in leading publications including Luxe Interiors + Design, The Wall Street Journal, Traditional Home, Modern Luxury Interiors, AD PRO, and D Home, among many others.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a teacher — someone who loved helping others see their own potential. That instinct never left; I just shifted the classroom. Today, I still teach — only now it’s through design, guiding clients and designers alike to create environments and businesses that truly reflect who they are. Thankfully, I found my calling in design, where creativity and purpose meet.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell her: “Go for it — even when it feels uncertain.” Changing careers was challenging, but I never wanted to look back and wonder what if. Every risk, every pivot, and every lesson has contributed to both my firm’s growth and my personal fulfillment. The path isn’t always linear, but it’s always worth the journey.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that the more you work, the more you excel — that success came from sheer effort and constant motion. Over time, I learned that my most valuable currency isn’t productivity, it’s time. When I began to build an incredible, talented team and delegate with trust, I finally experienced what I now call Ease of Leisure as a Luxury. It’s not about doing less — it’s about creating the systems and support that allow you to do your best work and actually enjoy the life you’ve built. That same philosophy guides our client projects at TCI. We design homes and their vacation properties that give our clients back their time — spaces that function beautifully, feel effortless, and let them truly experience the ease of leisure in their everyday lives.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d stop saying yes to anything that doesn’t align with my purpose. Time is too precious to spend on things that drain you. I’d double down on creativity, connection, and the kind of work — and life — that feels effortless and fulfilling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.traciconnellinteriors.com
- Instagram: @traciconnellinteriors
Image Credits
Becca Lea Photo
Nick Sargent
