The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Style powerhouse publishes first book
Country-house expert shares showcase of ‘comforting, laid back and casual’ homes
NEWTOWN — Nora Murphy can only be described as an extremely talented onewoman multimedia conglomerate. She has a blog, a website, e-magazine, and a strong presence on social media. To say nothing of her visibility in print media and her recurring appearances on television.
She has fans across the country who revere her and her ability to make everything she creates seem accessible and doable in one’s own home. And now she has put many of her philosophies and decorating strategies into her first book, “Nora Murphy’s Country House Style.” It is a testament to her beliefs that country design is more than just a term to describe a look and reaffirms what she learned as a child.
“I grew up in Fairfield and was always into art and drawing and decorating — and redecorating — my room. The whole idea of a country house goes back to my childhood,” Murphy said. “My mother worked for a woman named Mrs. Gilman. She was a New York socialite with an apartment on Sutton Place, and an 18th-century mansion in Southport. One year, as a birthday present, her husband built her a Cape Cod-style cottage on the back lot that could serve as her art studio. The cottage was comforting and comfortable, with a big stone fireplace and down-cushioned sofas. I never saw the interior of the big house, but the image of that cottage stayed with me.”
Murphy went on to study interior design and graduated from FIT in New York City. There were so many facets of design to pursue and she was talented enough to work with Ralph Lauren.
“I became his product manager for furniture,” said Murphy. “It was an incredible experience and I use what I learned from Ralph all the time. We would design the furniture and then set up the showrooms. You either painted or sewed or did whatever was needed. We were a young team and so excited to be working with Ralph and were eager for his comments about the finished product.
“On one occasion we had created a beautiful bride’s room. When he walked in, he
acknowledged that it was indeed beautiful and then commented: ‘I don’t understand what it’s saying. Always remember when you go into a room you shouldn’t need to have someone explain it to you. You should get it right away.’ That has always stayed with me. A room should speak to you immediately.”
Murphy went on to be executive director of Style and Advertising for Ethan Allen and after several years decided it was time to branch out on her own.
Murphy’s own house in Newtown has become her laboratory for expressing her talent and for redefining what country style is all about. The term conjures visions of period houses or cottages with pine, whitewashed furniture and too many throw pillows. She puts forth the design philosophy that it’s about bringing tradition into today and keeping it fresh and exciting; finding a balance between the old and the new and to seamlessly mix the two.
“Nora Murphy’s Country House Style” showcases five houses, one of which is Murphy’s own. All of the homes
are unique in their approach to making any period of architecture into a “country style” home.
“It’s not the country of days gone by,” Murphy said. “It’s all about creating an environment that is comforting, laid back, and casual, but with an attention paid to detail. The five houses are very different in style. While there are some common threads, they all have their own personalities and reflect the people who created them. They are not precious. Whether it’s a country house in the mountains, by the sea, in the woods, or in the city, they each tell a story. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make something wonderful.”
All of the owners share a commonality in being able to express their tastes and projecting a feeling of home without making anything too precious.
In the chapter called “A Country House in the Village” the owner states: “Country house style is, to me, a sense of a home that is timeless, warm, and welcoming. It goes beyond trends. It’s loved and well lived in. It’s not filled with tchotchkes, knickknacks, but with things that have meaning — the opposite of one-stop shopping. Nothing is ever finished in a country house; it’s collected, layered.”
Murphy herself believes that interior design and decorating is about living life on a daily basis, enjoying what you have but not having it overpower everything else. It’s about enjoying the beauty of one’s home and making the most of what you have. Adding and subtracting as one refines one’s space. Not being afraid to mix styles. Taking advantage of the surroundings and making them part of the décor. The owner of “A Country House in the City” explains that her pre-fab, not-so-very-old, house can have the luxury of country style. It’s relaxed and comfortable but extremely well edited.
And don’t shy away from mixing it up — simple farm table dressed for dinner with the finest heirloom china, a crystal chandelier with gilded leaves that counterbalances a worn sisal rug and country baskets.
Murphy’s approach is uplifting and her words evoke such passion and enthusiasm that it is impossible not to follow her lead. Her exuberance is contagious.
“Making a house your own is utmost. Then enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Make the most of what you have,” she says. And don’t be afraid to experiment.
There will be a Mimosa brunch and book signing with Nora Murphy on Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blueprint CT, 920 Bantam Road in Litchfield.