Sheena Murphy is a Brooklyn based designer and Principal at design studio sheep + stone. We have the pleasure of knowing Sheena from her involvement in the Hudson Valley where she finds inspiration and incorporates work from a number of local maker and artisan partners. Sheena describes her style as modern, eclectic, layered, mostly neutral and often masculine with a focus on materials, process + environment.
She has long been influenced by the work of Louis Kahn, Carlo Scarpa and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, and more recently, Landon Metz + Axel Vervoodt. Sheena has truly embraced the resurgence of historically inspired design, locally made and responsibly sourced. whether she’s collaborating with local makers or scouting antiques at flea markets, she is mindful to purchase directly from the source wherever possible.
For sheena, the focus on materiality + process is not just an aesthetic choice but also an ethical one. The studio places importance on how things are made and with what materials in an effort to prevent specifying pieces being made in poor environments with materials that can adversely effect the health of the people making them, and also impact the health of the homes they are made for.
Much like what happened with the modernist movement after the war, we have seen a shift in design preferences and buying behaviors since the recent economic downturn. the result is a focus on simplicity and a desire to know the story behind where things come from. Sheena aims to collaborate with clients to navigate them through the design process + advise on selecting the right pieces for their homes and lifestyles.
sheep + stone works in residential, hospitality + commercial spaces and is currently working on projects in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Hudson Valley, LA + London.
