Photography by nathan harmon
Gallery Style A love of dramatic artwork drives the design for this family friendly home. His south Tulsa clients were looking for someone who would bring a fresh take to their home, explains designer Chris Murphy, owner of Christopher Murphy Designs. “They wanted to create an oasis for their family and friends with a gallery-style feel,” says Murphy. Working with the homeowners, whose children range from grade school to college age, Murphy did not make many changes to the home’s flooring, walls and cabinetry. “My goal was to create statement pieces of art and furniture,” he says. Murphy’s goal is evident just inside the front door as the dramatic entry sets the tone for what to expect throughout the rest of this unique home. The key piece is the lipstick console that Murphy found in New York. The 1,250-pound console consists of thick layers of walnut, black lacquer, gray lacquer, Lucite, white bronze and natural bronze. The homeowners worked with art consultant Kim Fonder at Abersons Exhibits to provide the colorful piece above the console by artist Steve Joy. The red and yellow plates to the left were existing, as was the large canvas to the right. Mirroring the artwork colors, Murphy recovered the bench in a bold gray and acidic yellow silk. Using red tones from the entry plus two existing red sofas, Murphy highlighted the striking
The lipstick console is the centerpiece of the entryway, which also includes colorful artwork from exhibit as well as the homeowners’ existing collection. JULY 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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