As warm weather finally arrives on Long Island, Manhasset Living expert, Kevie Murphy of K.A. Murphy Interiors shares her perspective on what a vacation home should truly feel like: a place to unwind, not another job to maintain.
K.A. Murphy Interiors is a top-level design firm that has been featured in major publications including Traditional Home, The Wall Street Journal, Cottages & Gardens, and more. Yet despite its national recognition, the firm’s roots remain right here in Manhasset. With two offices, one on Hillside Avenue and another in Manhattan’s NoMad district, Murphy herself is a born-and-raised Long Islander. Raised in Port Jefferson Station, Murphy is a former Brooklyn district attorney turned mother of four and interior design visionary. Today she brings lawyer-like discipline, quick wit, and warmth to every project.
Here is a look at one of her recent projects in Quogue in the Hamptons, where the theme is breezy, colorful, and most of all, peaceful.
“The best part about this project was that we had a very clear vision for how the house would be used,” says Kevie “Our client purchased this home to host her extended family on the Hamptons coast, so it was meant purely for big family fun. From there, we got to have our own fun with the design.”
Though K.A. Murphy Interiors is classically known and loved as a firm that does not shy away from bright, maximalist, bold, and layered pattern choices, this home took a different direction. The goal was breezy, classic, and calming. Rather than adding visual noise, the design focuses on creating a peaceful coastal atmosphere.
The entryway opens to a large corridor foyer and a grand staircase. Kevie collaborated with a local vendor to create a stunning custom runner that spans the full length of the staircase in a stormy blue, setting the tone for the home’s overall color story.
Adjacent to the staircase sits a wide console moment that reflects this palette, topped with a custom grasscloth-wrapped blue console and a grand beaded chandelier that brings a quiet coastal attitude to the space.
“We’re not into ‘beachy,’” Murphy says. “I don’t want to see conch shells or ‘let’s go to the beach’ artwork. Instead, we really wanted to bring in the energy of the East Coast through ocean hues and organic textures like woven rugs, grasscloth covered furniture, and reed-wrapped accessories.”
In the living room, the designers arranged generous seating around the large mantel and fireplace, creating a cozy gathering space that serves as a more formal spot for family members to enjoy their morning coffee. Set atop a natural fiber rug, custom woven grasscloth ottomans anchor the seating area, while three different neutral linen textiles on the furniture add soft layers of texture. The look is finished with traditional handmade South African baskets above the mantel, creating a serene pocket of the home that captures the morning light and gently reflects it back into the room.
“Our goal, especially for a project like this, which comes across as minimalist-adjacent, easy, breezy, and beautiful, is to make everything look completely seamless to the eye,” Murphy says. “In reality, there are absolutely a million design decisions behind every single room, from a custom rug that can take a dozen people to coordinate, to something as small as the trim on a pillow.”
The kitchen was previously a mix of materials that felt dated and ready for a refresh. Kevie and the team reimagined the space to allow multiple people to move easily in and out, creating a kitchen that feels calming, simple, and highly functional. Blue accents and organic materials continue the home’s design language through chair covers, statement chandeliers, and woven shades with soft blue patterns.
Just off the kitchen sits the team’s favorite space in the home: the octagon room. The room features an unusual eight-sided layout, which gave K.A. Murphy Interiors the opportunity to design a custom piece that follows the geometry of the space. Layered blue textiles and another understated yet beautiful chandelier bring warmth to the space, which now serves as the hub of the home. It is where everyone gathers for game nights, where some can cook while others relax, and where the whole family can remain together.
“We love a challenge like an octagon-shaped room,” Murphy says. “We were especially excited about this space because we knew it would become home to so many great memories. The seamless flow between the kitchen and this cozy nook is perfect. Bringing in fun textiles for the pillows, a dusty blue sofa, and woven shades just screams vacation on the coast.”
The final major spaces in the home are the bedrooms, including a beautiful primary suite, several guest rooms, and the true gem of the house: the bunk room.
The bedrooms were designed to feel youthful yet classic, warm and bright. Continuing the home’s breezy, organic theme, the difference in each room comes through in the colorful textiles used for accent pieces such as pillows and trims, while the surrounding design remains grounded in soft neutral tones.
The bunk room features custom twin-over-full bunk beds, designed to comfortably accommodate visiting cousins and weekend guests. “The bunk room was meant for cousin slumber parties,” Murphy says. “We wanted it to feel bright and fun, with pops of yellow and blue, but still clean and open so no one feels crowded or overwhelmed by the space.”
“A successful vacation home is really something that appeals to your emotions,” Murphy says. “What makes you feel happiest on your vacation? Is it quietly reading a book by yourself? Is it a big movie night with your family? Is it making art? The way we would design a vacation home for an artist who needs solitude, space, and inspiration would be very different from how we designed a space like this, with big family brunches, dinners after the beach, and game nights. But that’s the beauty of it. Every project is a new challenge to dig into what truly makes you happy. That’s all you should have to worry about. We take care of the rest.”
K.A. Murphy Interiors designs full home renovations from Manhattan to the East End and around the world. The firm has also recently introduced a new room-to-room offering, allowing clients to refresh individual spaces such as a kitchen, home office, or bedroom.
To learn more about K.A. Murphy Interiors or begin a design inquiry, visit kamurphyinteriors.com.
