We’re looking forward to introducing you to Erica Murphy. Check out our conversation below.
Erica, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90-minutes of my day are sacred and intentional. I start with quiet time to center myself, spending time in prayer and connection with God, grounding my heart before the day begins. I follow that with journaling my thoughts, gratitude, and intentions for the day. This time with myself helps me check in emotionally and spiritually. I then go for a 30-minute walk around my neighborhood, moving my body, breathing deeply, and soaking in the fresh air. My daily morning routine that nourishes me from the inside out and sets the tone for a peaceful, focused day. I used to wake up a few minutes before its time to get ready for work and then rush through my morning. I am learning that slow mornings, time with God in prayer, and going for a 30-minute walk around my neighborhood, as my daily morning routine, makes a huge difference and positive impact on my day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a certified Interior Decorator and Owner of Erica L. Murphy Interiors, LLC, specializing in Virtual Interior Design Services. My virtual services are great for those who need an Interior Decorator’s expertise. My E-design service is completely virtual by providing you with a full 3D visual design of your space, and shop links are provided where you can purchase the items from your E-design. The virtual service is to get you started on transforming your space with a visual concept. We also offer shoppable mood boards where you can shop the exclusive home decor items from our custom ELM mood boards available at https://www.elm-interiors.com/mood-board.
I believe what sets me apart from others is our fully curated home decor and furnishings catalog on our website’s shop page, https://www.elm-interiors.com/shop. Our catalog currently includes Living Room, Dining Room and Bedroom home decor and furnishings. Items in our ELM shop are shipped directly to our clients from the manufacturer. We offer trade furniture and décor on our website to anyone, not just clients!
When you hire me as your Virtual Interior Decorator, you’ll be working directly with me, online, to create a concept for your home that aligns with your personal style. You can visit my website, elm-interiors.com, to shop home decor or learn more about our E-design service and book with me. My mission is to live out my gifts and purpose in what I am called to do through my business.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was free—curious without fear. I was someone who moved with instinct, loved without caution, and dreamed without limits. I didn’t measure my worth by standards or expectations—I simply was. Unfiltered joy, raw emotion, and the belief that anything was possible. I am getting back to that version of me, a child-like ambition, refusing to let society put me in a box by first understanding that its limitations are not my truth—they are projections of fear, control, and outdated norms. I am getting back to the version of me where I know I am exactly where and who I am meant to be. This version of me doesn’t shrink to fit into roles that were never made with me in mind. I am learning that the fear society tries to instill in you about becoming more—more bold, more creative, more powerful—is really a reflection of its discomfort with your potential. I am challenging the narrative and giving myself permission to evolve, to take up space, and to rewrite what’s possible. The world may try to tame you, but your purpose is bigger than its expectations.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering is in the process. We often times think about success as a promise without considering the process. When people say “trust the process” there is suffering along the way. The patience, the ups and downs, the hardships, the challenges, the mistakes, the lessons, are all apart of the process. Success is not the end goal, at some point you are always reaching to the next level. Next levels come with new challenges. Suffering taught me to breathe through the unknown, even when you can’t see the full picture. It’s understanding that growth often looks like stillness, setbacks, or even chaos before it looks like clarity. It’s believing that what’s unfolding—no matter how uncomfortable—is working for you, not against you. Trusting the process is choosing patience over panic, faith over fear, and purpose over pressure. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to keep showing up. What’s meant for you won’t miss you—and what’s growing in you is worth the wait, and that is success!
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
Differentiating between fads and a real foundational shift comes down to: one fades and the other rebuilds. Fads are surface-level, they can distract from the deeper, slower, and often uncomfortable work of lasting transformation. Fads are often reactive—it’s sparked by emotion, trends, external validation, or temporary discomfort. It feels exciting, maybe even urgent, but it usually lacks consistency. You drift in, dabble, and drift out. It doesn’t fundamentally change how you move, think, or see the world—it’s like rearranging furniture in a room you haven’t renovated, ha!
A foundational shift, is quieter but deeper. It isn’t about proving anything—it’s about becoming someone new. It shows up in your values, your boundaries, your habits, and your decisions. It’s when the way you think, choose, and respond begins to reflect a new level of awareness or healing. Even if no one else notices right away, you feel it: a true foundational shift creates lasting inner peace, even when the outside worlds stays noisy.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m alone with my thoughts, unhurried and unbothered—usually in the quiet stillness. Whether that is lighting my favorite scented candle and watching my favorite movie, when I am truly relaxed. There’s something sacred about those moments when the world hasn’t yet demanded anything from me, and I can just be. No roles to play, no expectations to meet—just breath, presence. In that space, clarity comes and I feel grounded, not because everything is perfect, but because I’m finally in tune with myself. In those moments, life feels simple and quiet. Remembering, I don’t have to figure it all out or carry it all alone. I’m reminded that healing doesn’t always happen in grand gestures—sometimes it’s found in silence, softness, and simply showing up for yourself — that’s when I am truly at peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elm-interiors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elminteriors_/
- Other: Shop exclusive designer home decor and furnishings: https://www.elm-interiors.com/shop
Image Credits
Photography by: Terica B Photo | @tericabphoto
E-design + Moodboards by: ELM Interiors | @elminteriors_
