5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Deana Murphy, author of Designing For The King

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Deana Murphy, author of Designing for the King
(Tate Publishing)

Feeling uneasy at home? Is your home environment chaotic and dysfunctional? Designing for the King brings insight and answers to questions like these. Deana Murphy introduces a revolutionary design strategy that is simple to apply. This design strategy can help you find peace not only in your home but in all aspects of life. Using Deana’s S.Y.S.T.E.M. (Shaping Your Spirit to Eliminate the Mess), readers will begin removing the confusion in their homes, giving way to God’s design basics as set forth in Scripture.

Deana provides examples from her own experiences, showing how readers can create beautiful, functional rooms that please every user, from spouses to children. Readers will learn how to get rid of chaos and promote peace using biblical principles. With design directions, solutions and meditations, Deana’s book covers all design ground, taking you from chaos to order with this unique, eye-opening process of Designing for the King.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Designing For The King?

Deana Murphy: I must say the idea was God breathing. Since February 2003, I knew I was to write a book about interior design. I felt there was more to design than building beautiful rooms. Because people live in these rooms, their character and personality had to play a role in the decor. Because of this, I was inspired to expound on the spiritual side of living spaces.

Obviously it is biblically based, but I needed to know from what source is this great revelation derived? By what biblical grounds do we design our living environments? Are living designs included in God’s saving order in Christ? Questions like these have propelled me to research and write this book, and consequently, I have viewed interior design from both a practical and biblical perspective.

JP: What sets Designing For The King apart from other books detailing the art of interior design?

DM: This book is faith-based and truly an intentional departure from the norm in environmental design. Included with the practical, tangible and arty aspects of design are the intangible and spiritual aspects, thus designing the whole person–body, soul and spirit–unveiling one’s obligation with steps to remove chaos and establish order in the living environment.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that will lead to the success of Designing For The King?

DM: Obeying God, loving God and loving His people. I live a purpose-driven life. As a faith lady, I believe I’m always in the right place at the right time because my steps are ordered of the Lord. I know who I am, I understand the price of success requires much work and I’m qualified and prepared to do that.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Designing For The King?

DM: This project was a long labor of love. Initially, I tried to write the book exclusive to the physical and practical application of interior design. I’ve done that in Designing for the King. However, during the writing process, at each step I kept bumping into a wall! It was only after I succumbed to God’s promptings to take this work and add to it the biblical perspective did I focus and finish the project. It was a 4 1/2 years journey.

JP: What’s next for Deana Murphy?

DM: Currently, I am producing add-on products for market. Design-in-a-Box is my new product taking my interior design business to the internet and giving clients a hands-on design experience at an affordable price. I am also writing a Designing Within devotional, which will be published in the fall, and desiring and preparing for my Lifestyle TV show.

http://www.designingfortheking.com/
http://www.livingdesignsunlimited.com/
http://www.twitter.com/faithladydeana
http://www.linkedin.com/com/in/deanamurphy

Deana Murphy’s accomplishments:

Recently included in Metropolitan’s Registry Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women 2007
Featured in O at Home Magazine 2006–Renovation Rescue
Showcased as one of Philadelphia’s Finest Designers, Spectacular Homes of Greater Philadelphia, Panache Partners, LLC, 2006
Featured in Homes of Color Magazine 2004, 2005, 2007
Featured speaker/panelist American Society of Interior Designer’s Interior’s 08

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