One-on-One with Kevie Murphy

This month, we feature the synchronous design talents of K.A. Murphy Interiors. We sat down with Kevie Murphy for an enlightening conversation about her journey to becoming an interior designer, and how she infuses her passion for color and creative styling to bring the design visions of her clients to life. Get ready for an inspiring story and discover the inside scoop on her signature touch. (Hint: It’s a special gift for you!)

Q: What determined your passion for design? Tell us about the moment when you decided this is the way to go.

A:  I first realized my passion for interior design in 2012, when we bought a weekend home in Asharoken, New York. I had just given birth to my third child, and I was a stay-at-home mother at the time. (In 2008, after the birth of my daughter, I quit my job as a partner at a law firm in Manhattan.) This home was in desperate need of a complete renovation—and I enjoyed every moment of it. In 2014, a year after I gave birth to my fourth child, I decided to enroll at the New York School of Interior Design, and the rest is history.

Q: What would you say is your interior design style?

A: My interior design style is very broad. I like all different types of design styles—modern, transitional, and traditional. I strive always for a thoughtful synchronicity of color, lighting, and pattern in every home I design.

Q: What are your favorite materials and colors to work with?

A: I love using bright colors in my projects on various substrates. I especially enjoy tying those colors together in a custom carpet or broadloom with a really fun binding. The binding can be anything from a serged thread or faux leather to a specified passementerie. This detail really makes a huge difference in making the carpet feel customized.

Q: Do you have a signature touch that you use in every project?

A: At the end of the project, I like to give my clients a gift that adds character and warmth to their space. Our signature at the moment is an alpaca throw blanket—to coordinate with the room scheme—and a unique coffee table book.

Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job as a designer?

A:  The most rewarding aspect of being a designer is the process of taking a client’s needs, desires, and style direction—and transforming their home to reflect exactly who they are in both a functional and beautiful way. Seeing someone happy as a result of our work and seeing the spaces become lived in is the most gratifying.

Q: Minimalism, clean and natural designs seem to be very popular. Is there a particular trend that you’re excited about?

A:  There has been a shift away from the gray and neutral tones, as people are craving bright comfort colors and biophilic design, which mimics all colors in nature. The return to color is reinforcing, as I am a designer who has always incorporated unique palettes into my designs.

Q: Due to the pandemic, people have had to work at their kitchen tables or make other adjustments within their homes. For someone in need of a home office renovation or redesign this fall, what advice would you give them?

A: After the pandemic, I have found many clients reconsidering how they use their homes. Spaces that used to sit idle for months at a time are being put to use for all kinds of activities: Schoolwork, play spaces, art rooms, home offices, and gyms. Consider transforming a space you don’t use into one you will: That unused attic or basement space, the formal living room or the dining room can really fit the bill and maximize your house and the activities you can do within it.

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with K.A. Murphy Interiors. Whether it inspired you to embrace the beauty of color and patterns or maybe even switch career paths, we are here to help you design the room of your dreams!

We invite you to visit Country Carpet—either virtually, or in-person—at our showroom to explore the many design options that are available. You can schedule an appointment at a time that works best for you. And walk-ins are always welcome. We look forward to hearing from you.

Check out more of K.A. Murphy Interiors and give them a follow!