Talk Shop: Vicki Murphy & Kendall Murphy Severson // Interior Design Partnership
Photo by Britt Jensen Photography Vicki (left), Kendall (right.)
ABOUT VICKI & KENDALL
When we first found Vicki and Kendall through Instagram, we knew we had to have this power duo on to #TalkShop. The Lake Forest, Illinois firm is run by this amazing mother-daughter duo—how amazing is that!?! Interior Design Partnership (IDP) specializes in creating beautiful, timeless spaces for their clients—both residential and commercial. IDP’s clients are typically in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, but they also have projects in California, Florida, Lake Geneva and wherever their clients need us. IDP’s aesthetic is rooted in creating classically beautiful and timeless spaces that feel refreshingly balanced, stylish, and highly functional.
We were so honored to chat with Vicki and Kendall about starting their company, working together, and their inspirations. Please enjoy the latest installation of our Talk Shop series!
Describe your style in three words or less:
V&K: Timeless. Layered. Serene.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
K:
1- Far and away, my first and most impactful influence is my mom
2- Attending college at Columbia in New York opened my eyes to so much in the areas of art, culture, and design
3- Travel – exploring the architecture and local uniquities of cities both in the U.S. and abroad has given me an appreciation for using design elements that are specific to a local area.
V:
1-Art school at Syracuse was the seminal moment for developing my signature style.
2- The timeless and groundbreaking architects of Chicago, and our church in Lake Forest - which is a local architectural gem and spiritually significant on a personal level.
3- My career in commercial design in my twenties and thirties which informed many of the processes we still call upon today at IDP.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
V: I started the company back in 1984 with a friend, which is how we came up with the name, Interior Design Partnership (IDP). The friend moved on to a different career path, while I continued with IDP, operating as a solo designer and raising my two daughters. Kendall joined IDP as my partner in 2016.
K: Our favorite thing is building relationships with clients and seeing the pure joy on their face on installation day.
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
K: My mom! After spending much of my childhood watching closely as my mom designed for properties all over town and beyond, I started a career in politics and public affairs after college. Vicki never pushed me to study in the design field – she encouraged me to spread my wings in other directions. Eventually though, I came back to my design roots with a more informed perspective on design, as well as how to effectively run a business.
What does your home say about you:
V: I like to think my home has a sense of timelessness, organization and graciousness. We have recently downsized to a condo in downtown Lake Forest – I love how our Holly Hunt and Baker furniture that we purchased 35 years ago from the Merchandise Mart is still a focal point in our home ‘s design.
Where do you find inspiration:
K: The colors and textures of nature; browsing design books at our local bookstore; and all the usual digital suspects – Instagram, Houzz, Pinterest, etc.
Who are your style icons:
V: David Hicks, Thomas Pheasant, Katherine Hepburn, David Adler
K: Suzanne Kasler, Nancy Myers, Diane Keaton, Tom Corbin
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
V&K: A robust and diverse guest list, ample cocktails, tasty comfort food, beautiful florals, great tunes, and lots of laughter.
Do you collect anything:
V: Blue and white pottery, works of influential Hollywood celebrity photographers.
K: I’ve been collecting ceramic dog figurines since I was a girl. I started my dog obsession quite young.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
V&K: @andrewjhow, @scoutandnimble, @jeanstofferdesign, @alicelaneinteriors
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
K: Good lighting is vitally important to the success of any design. When working with LED lighting, we make sure every fixture is at the same color temperature – between 2700K and 3000K
V: A home is never done without addressing window treatments. The breadth and depth of window covering options today makes choosing window treatments a very personal choice for the homeowner – how they live their life and the function they are looking to achieve… However, to break that rule - there are some architecturally significant windows that should simply stand on their own.
What are you working on right now:
V&K: Two lake homes for clients in IL and WI, an art collector’s home in downtown Lake Forest, IL, and a historic home in Madison, NJ. We are also in the process of moving out of our home studio and into a great space in downtown Lake Bluff, IL. A move we are very excited about!
Wardrobe staples:
K: Leopard flats, ponte knit leggings, tunic (preferably black), fun jewelry
V: My Cartier tank watch, Tory Burch ballet flats, anything from Sara Campbell in downtown Lake Forest
Favorite fabric/wallpaper:
K: I love a beautiful Gracie Studio hand painted chinoiserie panel.
Best interior advice you ever received:
K: Scale is everything. The first consideration of any design is scale.
V: Never underestimate the power of a great table lamp!
Best career advice you ever received:
K: My first boss out of college told me to always find a way to be helpful.
V: Start from a place of “yes.” My daughter taught me that.
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
V&K: Invest in high quality, comfortable, long-lasting seating. Save on accessories – they can be trendy and transient, with the notable exception of timeless and personal collections.
Your greatest extravagance:
V&K: The flexibility that our job affords us (and our families).
Favorite places to shop for home:
K&V: The Design Center at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. High Point Market. First Dibs.
Most prized possession and why:
V&K: Our families, for obvious reasons!
Your interiors motto:
V: “Scale is everything.”
K: “Don’t be afraid to edit.”
Your life motto:
V: “Be fair, do right, fear nothing.” I believe this so much that I have this tattooed on my body, but I won’t tell you where!
K: “What would Vicki do?”
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
V&K: Start with a design element you love – a work of art, a color, a piece of furniture… build from there.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food:
V: Any kind of breakfast pastry
K: Authentic, homemade pasta
Drink:
V: A “clear” – Stoli on the rocks with a twist
K: Tito’s Mule
Film:
K: Father of the Bride
V: Something’s Gotta Give
Hotel:
K: The Lowell in New York
V: The Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest
City:
K: New York
V: Chicago
Bedding:
V&K: Matouk
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it):
V: Green iced tea unsweetened extra shaken
K: Iced coffee with almond milk creamer
Playlist:
V: I’m a talk radio girl…Sirius XM Howard Stern, Andy Cohen, Jeff Lewis, Dr. Laura, and the Doctor Radio by NYU Langone Medical Center
K: Vampire Weekend, Jason Mraz, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer (his new stuff), Rogue Wave
Weekend Activity:
K: Paddle Tennis and Dance Class Chauffeur
V: Gardening and Church
Design Book:
V: Timeless Style by Suzanne Kasler; An Eye for Beauty by Beth Webb
K: At Home with Dogs and Their Designers by Susanna Salk; Love Affairs With Houses by Bunny Williams