At age 29, Traverse City interior designer Erica Murdock is already making her mark on Northern Michigan’s design scene and getting national attention.

Erica was recently selected for the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) 30 Under 30 program. She received the distinguished award at the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, which was held January 18 through January 22.

“I feel very honored to be a part of such a great group,” she says. “It didn’t really hit me until I was at the industry show meeting the other 30 Under 30 members and past winners.”

A native of Chicago’s suburbs, Erica spent many vacations in Northern Michigan and her parents eventually retired in the area. After earning her bachelor’s degree in interior design from Arizona State University in 2009, Erica moved to Traverse City to begin working in the industry.

Erica says her designs are inspired by each client. “I truly feel that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The biggest hurdle for a designer is getting over their personal tastes and appreciating what their client loves. While there are design trends, people have their own style, and it’s important to give them the best living space possible based on their personal wants and needs.”

In 2012, Erica joined the team at Kitchen Choreography, and since then, has steadily become one of the area’s top designers.

All photography by Kitchen Choreography. Designs by Erica Murdock. 

“I wouldn’t have gotten the award without Kitchen Choreography,” Erica says. “They really took me under their wing and gave me a lot of training. We still attend workshops to continue our education and are always wanting to strive for more.”

Erica is especially proud of the team at Kitchen Choreography for earning a Best of Houzz award.

Houzz, an online platform for home remodeling and design, selects the top home remodeling professionals throughout the nation. The Best of Houzz 2016 is a homeowner-to-homeowner guide of the best home builders, architects, interior designers, landscape pros, and other professionals. This year, there were several Traverse City winners including Urban-Diversions, B.C.D. Interiors, and Kitchen Choreography.

There are three categories for the award: design, customer service, and photography. Kitchen Choreography took home an award for customer service, which is based on several factors, including the number and quality of recent client reviews.

Curious about what’s popular in home design right now? We asked Erica about the top trends in Northern Michigan. 

  1. White cabinets with gray or blue accents keep with the Northern Michigan feeling but add a modern touch.
  2. Old design trends are coming back into style like a matte gold finish on hardware.
  3. Oak is coming back with a twist. A lot of people like the quarter sawn oak, which is oak cut differently so there is vertical graining versus the traditional graining.  Also, people are painting oak so they get that weathered beachy look to represent items seen at Restoration Hardware or Pottery Barn.

Looking for more design inspiration? Check out MyNorth’s directory of home services for help with your projects.  


More  Northern Michigan Home & Cottage

#2016 #Grand_Traverse #Traverse_City #Downtown_Traverse_City #Live_Here #Home_&_Cottage #Work_Here