We recently connected with Erica Murphy and have shared our conversation below.

Erica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea for ELM Interiors was born from my love for creating spaces that feel intentional, beautiful, and true to who people are. For years, I found myself naturally drawn to transforming rooms — curating décor, colors, and layouts that told a story. What started as a creative outlet evolved into a vision to make interior design more accessible, personalized, and forward-thinking.

Unlike traditional interior design studios, ELM Interiors was built as a virtual design experience. My services are entirely digital — allowing clients to access professional design concepts, mood boards, 2D layouts, and 3D renderings from anywhere. It’s an innovative and progressive approach that gives clients the flexibility to design at their own pace, on their own time, without sacrificing style or expertise.

I knew I wanted to build something different — something that reflected both creativity and innovation. That’s when ELM Interiors came to life. Through my business, I’m redefining what interior design looks like — making it modern, approachable, and a representation of who I am as a creative.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

ELM Interiors was created to bring a fresh, modern approach to interior design through fully virtual services that blend creativity, convenience, and innovation. I’m proud to offer my clients an experience that feels both personal and professional — from customized mood boards and digital concepts to detailed 3D renderings and curated a shopping list. Every design is thoughtfully crafted to reflect each client’s unique style and lifestyle, no matter where they are located.

My goal is for every client to feel inspired, seen, and excited about their design journey — empowering clients to transform their spaces with confidence, clarity, and support every step of the way. At its core, ELM Interiors is about more than just décor — it’s about creating intentional spaces that tell your story and elevate the way you live.

I’m most proud of how ELM Interiors bridges the gap between luxury design and everyday living. Every project is intentional — tailored to your style, story, and space. I strive for each client to walk away feeling confident, with a design that reflects who they are and how they truly want to live. With ELM Interiors, you’re not just getting design services — you’re stepping into a modern, progressive way to create your dream space.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Building ELM Interiors taught me that success doesn’t have to look like what society tells us it should. I had to unlearn the idea that creativity needs permission — that I had to follow traditional rules, timelines, or paths to be taken seriously. I had to release the belief that everything had to be perfect before I started and instead trust that purpose and progress often unfold along the way. Most importantly, I had to unlearn the habit of shrinking my vision to fit within others’ expectations. Creating ELM Interiors meant stepping into my own definition of success — one rooted in faith, innovation, authenticity, and the courage to build something different.

When I first started building ELM Interiors, I’ll be honest — I felt intimidated. My approach to design didn’t fit the traditional mold, and there was a real fear that people in the industry wouldn’t take it seriously or that potential clients wouldn’t understand the value of virtual design.

I realized that being different was actually my strength — that the future of design is digital, progressive, and rooted in accessibility. I had to let go of the idea that success had to look a certain way or follow an industry formula. Instead, I learned to trust my vision, lean into creativity, and build from a place of authenticity and faith. ELM Interiors became proof that innovation and intention can coexist — and that you don’t have to fit in to make an impact.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Starting ELM Interiors has been one of the most rewarding yet challenging chapters of my life. There have been seasons filled with uncertainty — wondering if clients would come, if my products would sell, or if people would truly understand the vision behind what I was creating. There were moments of doubt, late nights filled with questions, and times when the path forward felt unclear. But through it all, I made myself a promise: to never stop creating. Even when business feels unpredictable, design has always been my heartbeat — the thing that grounds me, excites me, and reminds me why I started. Every mood board, every rendering, every idea I bring to life is an act of resilience. Because no matter what stage I’m in, I know that creating is what I’m called to do — and that’s something I’ll never give up on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elm-interiors.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elminteriors_/

Image Credits

ELM Interiors