Working Well: A Look at Home Offices by K.A. Murphy Interiors

“Work-from-home culture has opened many exciting new opportunities for us designers,” says Manhasset Living Interior Design Expert and Principal Designer of K.A. Murphy Interiors, Kevie Murphy. “Home offices used to be treated as formal spaces—places for meetings, a quiet escape, or a spot for small business owners to spread out. Now, almost everyone needs a home office simply to function with a mental separation between the workday and the moment you ‘come home,’ even if that just means stepping out of the room.”

A home office now has an enormous job. It needs to reflect your personality, spark creativity, support productivity, and still feel welcoming and comfortable. Everyone’s formula for that balance is different, which is exactly what makes these spaces so rewarding for the K.A. Murphy Interiors team to design.

Notes From Kevie:

“In family homes especially, the main living spaces often blend a shared aesthetic that reflects the household as a whole. The home office, however, becomes a pocket of autonomy. It’s a place where anyone in the home can lean into their own taste, and it’s so fun for us to deliver that. In a neutral-heavy home, one parent might embrace something colorful and whimsical. In a softer, more traditional home, the other parent might prefer a moodier, more-tailored study. It’s one of the few rooms where personal expression can take take center stage for mom and dad!”

The best homes are those where seamless utility meets personality, where every element supports you quietly and intuitively. Good design eliminates the small daily frustrations that accumulate like “death by a thousand cuts”: the wrong light temperature, an uncomfortable desk-to-chair height, a rug that just feels off. Over time, these details shape why we instinctively avoid certain rooms and are drawn to others.

Everyone has a favorite corner in their home, the place that feels just right. The team at K.A. Murphy Interiors strives to carry that feeling throughout the home, especially now that hybrid work culture is seemingly here to stay. For many Manhasset executives balancing leadership roles and family life, the home office must create that same sense of calm energy. It should be a place where clients feel relaxed, creative, and grounded, just as they do when they retreat to their favorite nook at the end of the day.

Kevie’s Home Office

For her own office, Kevie designed what she calls a “deconstructed traditional” workspace, where classic architecture meets unapologetic color and energy. A gold ceiling sets the tone, paired with high-gloss lacquered blue shelving, bold textiles, a multicolored hair-on-hide rug, and gold accents throughout.

“This office was a place I could really claim as my own,” Kevie says. “As a business owner and a mom of four, that doesn’t happen often. Being my own client meant I didn’t hold back on color, pattern, or any bold choices.”

A Sleek, Masculine Home Office for a Manhasset Family

In this Long Island home, the father needed a refined and efficient full-time workspace. The team created a tailored environment using soft textured wallcoverings, including a subtle masculine grid pattern, paired with cool grey-blue built-in cabinetry. A complementary desk and chair, a soft rug, and woven shades complete a polished yet comfortable setting made for long days of focused work.

A Whimsical Green-and-Black Creative Office

This home office became a playful extension of a vibrant household, anchored by a striking palette of greens and blacks. Black wood cabinetry, a sculptural desk, and a grey-and-white organic striped rug are grounded by rich green walls. The result is a creatively energizing space with a serious undertone, perfect for a solid day of work!

Working from home should offer the best of both worlds: a home within a home, with a clear separation between work and life. As Kevie puts it, “It’s all the good parts of a great workspace and none of the bad coffee or artificial lights.”

K.A. Murphy Interiors specializes in full-home renovations across Long Island, New York City, the Hamptons, and beyond. Kevie and her team’s work has been featured in Traditional Home, The Wall Street Journal, Cottages & Gardens, and other national publications. The firm recently launched an à la carte design service offering room-by-room packages, perfect for anyone wanting to transform a single space, like a dream home office!

To inquire, reach out to the team at hello@kamurphyinteriors.com or complete their design questionnaire at www.kamurphyinteriors.com.

Reach out to Kevie Murphy to transform your space, because no one understands Manhasset living better.