May 10, 2018

Ann M. Morris, CMKBD, CAPS, CfYH Designer and longtime instructor for and supporter of the NKBA, died on April 20 after a battle with cancer. She is survived by four sisters and predeceased by a brother.

Morris, whose design career was punctuated by a passion for color, was born in 1946 and raised in Queens, New York. She studied at Parsons School of Design and began her design career in the 1970’s at Lingold Design and Construction in Manhattan under the mentorship of David Linzer, CKD, the owner of the business and current president of the NKBA South Florida Chapter. Morris was also an instructor at Parsons School of Design in Manhattan, where she taught an advanced-level interior design class from 1988 through 1992. She earned her Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer accreditation from the NKBA — the highest level of certification granted by the association — in 2003. She also held Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) and Color for Your Home (CfYH) designations.

Her career path eventually led her to Florida in 2001, where she worked for Allied Kitchen & Bath in Fort Lauderdale for 13 years. Morris designed and installed projects in the U.S. and internationally. Her portfolio reflects a wide array of elegant styles, from rustic to transitional to sleek contemporary, making ample use of natural light and color. She appeared on HGTV and her work was featured in such national publications as House Beautiful, The New York Times, Better Homes and Gardens and Inspired House, among others. Her passion for her specialty and the industry are well documented. On her web site, Morris was quoted as saying, “I believe in creating interiors that reflect a total look, full of character and personal style.”

“We lost a beautiful friend today,” wrote Bill Feinberg, Allied’s president, on the company’s Facebook page. “Ann was a true leader in the kitchen and bath industry and one of the finest people I knew. She was one of the best and highest-ranking designers in the country, earning her Master Kitchen & Bath Certification from the NKBA many years ago. She was always passionate and devoted to everything she did and treated every client like a friend — which they came to be.”

Among her passions was sharing her knowledge. Familiar to many attendees at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show as well as online to NKBA members, Morris was a regular presenter for the association’s webinars and courses for more than a decade (2007-2017). She also served as a chapter officer for both the NKBA Manhattan and South Florida Chapters for many years and was inducted to the NKBA Ambassador’s Club in 2007.  She was energized by new trends in the kitchen and bath industry and passionate and committed to her profession.

Her seminars included “Designing with Color,” “Creativity in Action: Kitchen and Bath” and “Creativity with Tile in the Bath,” which she taught to audiences of industry professionals as well as the general public. As a CfYH designer, she had a color consultancy and most recently taught interactive online classes including “Designing with Color 1” and “Designing with Color, Expand the Palette.”

“She was actively involved with NKBA over the years and always passionate about design and color,” said Debby Mayberry, professional development specialist for NKBA, who organizes the association’s instructional webinars throughout the year. “She loved NKBA and the design profession and promoted the organization wherever she went. She was great to work with and quite a hoot!”

As a valued employee, “She always wanted the best for our clients as well as the many students that she taught,” said Feinberg. “We learned so much from her, and she taught us to be the best, too.”

Ann always closed her courses by saying, “Remember color sells, and the right color sells better. Have a colorful day!”

– Dianne M. Pogoda and Debby Mayberry, NKBA