Women in Design: A Conversation with Wendy King Philips of Interlude Home

Few understand the intersection of fashion and design more intimately than Wendy King Philips. Her career began in fashion publishing at WWD and W Magazine, where she developed a keen eye for balancing trends with timelessness. This foundation made her transition into the design world as creative director of Interlude Home a natural evolution. Together with her husband, she has transformed an accessories company into a contemporary furniture brand that has followed the same mantra for 15 years: Fashion Inspired Living. Through shapely silhouettes, tactile materials and stylish collaborations that make a statement in their showroom at 200 Lex (Suite 608), they ensure every piece is runway-ready.

Q: What is your earliest memory of design?

A: Constantly rearranging my room much to my mother’s chagrin. I literally couldn’t help it—I always needed to change it up and still do to this day. We’ll be in Paris, and I must have a vintage sofa or whatever it is I’m drawn to, and my husband (and CEO of IH) Carl always asks, ‘Where are you going to put this?’ And I always answer, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ll figure it out.’ And I do.

Q: What women in design—or in any creative category: fashion, art, architecture—do you admire most? 

A: The pioneers who pushed so hard to be seen: Miuccia Prada, Donna Karan, Zaha Hadid, Frida Kahlo, Madeleine Albright… They had to claw their way through a bevy of men to be seen and eventually nailed it.

Q: What mantra would women benefit from while following their creative path? 

A: Don’t be afraid of failure. Take a breath AND the seat at the head of the table.

Q: How have you seen the industry landscape change for women over the years? Where is there still room for improvement? 

A: Women interior designers have been plentiful for as long as I’ve been in the biz, but women at the helm of companies has taken longer. It’s wonderful to see women using their vision and voices to plow through, create movements and be recognized. I wish women truly supported each other even more. What’s good for one is good for all.

Q: Can you share a moment that makes you feel particularly empowered as a woman in design? 

A: I love when I embrace a design and Carl disagrees, and then it becomes a best-seller. Ba da boom.

Q: How do you stay inspired and push the boundaries of your own work? 

A: Travel inspires me like nothing else—I’m addicted. Luckily, we have an amazing design team, so when I show them a door I photographed for inspiration to create a bar cabinet or drawer fronts, they make it work. Fashion and vintage jewelry always give me ideas as well. I love to push the boundaries and come up with a new way of doing things, whether that be proportion or how to lay out a room in our showrooms. The goal is to present new ideas, which I love. 

Always move forward. That being said, it’s important to take a break. I’ll read a really great novel (The Most Fun We Ever Had, by Claire Lombardo), binge-watch a show (Bad Sisters), and take a walk in the country. The bottom line is to give your brain a well-deserved rest. Oh, and wine. 

Q: What are some of your favorite or newest products available in your showroom at 200 Lex? 

A: The Florent counter stool, which is sleek and super chic but also light and breezy. Our Soren lounge chairs for their versatility and sublime midcentury vibes. And the Charlotte, a stylish and sophisticated take on a vintage French silhouette. Play with it and make it yours by building exactly what you want. You can order it in two sectional configurations, a sofa and an armless chair.