With an eye on the runway and a passport full of inspiration, Wendy King Philips brings fashionable flair to the world of interiors as creative director of Interlude Home. “My husband, Carl, bought the company years before I met him, however it was strictly accessories,” Philips says. “I had something to say about that.” Today, the brand has showrooms in New York City, Stamford, High Point, and Miami. Read on for a Q&A with the company’s creative director.
How does your background in the fashion industry tie into your work at Interlude Home?
Rather quickly after we met, I got involved. After 13-plus years at WWD and W Magazine, my background in luxury was all I knew. I loved speaking to the most sophisticated consumers out there: It’s challenging, fun, and they understand high design. We slowly morphed and scaled into a high-end furniture company, which combined Carl’s business acumen with my creativity. It’s a great partnership.
How do your travels impact Interlude Home’s designs?
I’m obsessed with many things when I travel, two of them are hotel lobbies and doors. I walk into every hotel we pass, and at this point, Carl knows it’s my thing so he goes along with it. Often, there’s a certain synchronicity which creates parallel areas for conversation as well as individual seating for intimate conversation. I love assessing the placement of everything, from large scale upholstery down to the candy jars which I just saw at Portrait Milano. The Italians somehow make M&M’s look chic. My other fixation is doors, I’m constantly stopping to photograph wooden or metal doors. I feel like designers’ imaginations really are exposed by the entrances to buildings. Their creative juices flow and many are true works of art. They are true inspiration for cabinet or drawer fronts.
Do you have a favorite place to travel?
This is always such a tough question as I love so many places but Paris, Milan, and Tokyo are on repeat. No matter how many times you’ve been, you always see something new. A more exotic answer would be Bhutan and Marrakesh, which I love too. I have lists of lists, hit me up!
How do you keep up with trends?
I use fashion trends as a starting point. They spark creativity and imagination and allow me to branch out, but I am very mindful of the longevity of furniture. Fashion has changed so much, there are one-season wonders now—furnishings are the opposite. I want our designs to feel on-point, but last for years without speaking to a certain year.
How do you create furniture that is contemporary, but also timeless so that customers keep the pieces for a while?
Mind the edges, which is my code for don’t be too stark, too forward, too unrelatable. There’s a fine line between pushing the envelope too far, which takes it out of someone’s comfort zone. I try to always think of both homeowners and guests viewing the pieces, some daily and some for the first time. They should be fresh for both lenses.
What is the process of designing furnishings, from conceptualization to production? Do you design them yourself?
I wish I had that talent! No, we have an amazing in-house design team which brings my vision to life. I often give them a photo or idea and they turn it into a drawing and we go from there. I often will start with a detail I love and we design a piece around that, as they say, the devil is in the details.
How often does Interlude Home release new collections?
We drop two large collections in the fall/winter and spring/summer. And, two capsule collections, if you will, in January and July respectively.
Customers have the opportunity to upholster furnishings in their own material. Can you please share how that works?
Yes! We own our upholstery factory in Virginia and have been constructing furniture for over 50 years. Sexy, curved pieces are our trademark. We build every piece made to order. As specialists in Customer’s Own Material (COM), it’s in our fabric (pun intended), and we excel at it. I love seeing fabrics interior designers choose outside our IH fabric offerings; it’s fun to see them come down the production line. In fact, we recently introduced a COM of the Month contest where we showcase our favorite in an email to our clients.
Do you currently have a favorite piece of furniture or a favorite collection?
This season I’m truly obsessed with a few new designs, in fact I’ve swapped out pieces in our house for these: the Louise cabinets, Laurent Counter Stools, and Fowler Dining Chairs. I’m really lucky we can do that, and I take advantage!
