Spotlight: Murphy’s Mid-Century

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We talk with Harrison Murphy owner of Murphy’s Mid-Century in this Pride In Business Community Spotlight, in partnership with TD.
Murphy’s Mid-Century is Calgary's mid-century modern & vintage home decor store.

By Fraser Tripp

Located in historic Inglewood, Murphy’s Mid-Century is home to a curated selection of vintage furniture and home décor. Owner Harrison Murphy took over the space in July of 2018 and has since implemented his personal principles to grow and develop the business. We sat down with Harrison to learn a little more about Murphy’s and what it’s like to run a vintage furniture business in Calgary.

Pride In Business: How long have you owned Murphy’s?

Harrison Murphy: I opened Murphy’s in the summer of 2018. It will be two years this July!

PIB: What inspired you to take over the business?

HM: This opportunity presented itself much like the other major opportunities in my life presented themselves — out of nowhere in a “now or never” kind of way! I also thought it might be interesting to test the theory that you can be successful doing what you love.

PIB: What changes have you made since taking over?

HM: Taking over a space in a historic neighbourhood like Inglewood means that you’re likely to interact with an existing client base. For the space itself, people already know it pretty well. I’ve heard stories about what it was like 30 years ago. I decided to clean it up by painting, adding moulding and some other finishings, but wanted to make sure its unique quirks — like the wood tiled floor — remained intact.

Rather than simply selling everything "as is, where is", we’ve received a lot of positive feedback about our smaller more intentional collection of quality furniture and objects. People like that we offer a lot of restored pieces.

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PIB: Have you always had a connection to furniture/design in your career? If not, can you tell us a little about your background and how you arrived on your current career path?

HM: Finishing high school, I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do. I felt guided by a couple of simple principles though: add value to my community through actions I could feel good about, and do something that had a positive impact on the planet. I briefly attended AUArts (formerly ACAD) before moving to Vancouver and spending a few years living in Davie Village.

I then attended the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Victoria, training in the clinical application of massage therapy. I decided to return to Calgary and had a pretty successful practice until I was presented the opportunity to work with the Alberta Government as Constituency Manager, supporting community and stakeholder relations for about eight Calgary communities. I know this seems a little all over the place, but my leading principal of helping people guided both these choices. As a Registered Massage Therapist I could help people live better lives through one-on-one support. I saw the constituency manager position as an opportunity to work with more people — whole communities — and could not resist.

I was successful in both of these career paths. When the opportunity to pursue my passion of mid-century and antique objects presented itself, I jumped in, I said yes.

PIB: How do you source the furniture you sell?

HM: I probably get asked this every day. We offer support with downsizing and estates and this allows us access to items locally and is a great help to people who find themselves downsizing or with inherited items they don’t have space for. Because of our storefront, I get people who come in with items to sell. I also get calls from all over Alberta from people who have special things they are ready to let go of. People like selling these items to me because they know we’re going to help find them new loving homes. I hear that a lot.

I also travel quite a bit when the weather permits it. Last year I sourced in Edmonton, Toronto, Portland, Vancouver, and a couple of other top-secret locations.

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PIB: Do you offer restoration or other services?

HM: I am pretty involved in the restoration of the items we sell. I have a great team that I work with for upholstery and we’ve been very successful helping clients refresh their own heirlooms. We’re getting very close to being able to offer more refinishing services and launching a number of “How To” tools. Stay tuned!

PIB: Why do you think mid-century modern furniture has taken off in popularity in recent years?

HM: From what I hear from clients, people often times want to break out of the cycle of “fast furniture.” They are ready to spend a little bit more and have something that will really last for them. I think being able to come to my shop and interact with things that have been used every day for decades gives people a buying confidence that doesn’t really exist as much anymore. It’s environmentally friendly to purchase these pieces too.

I think that there is also a bit of nostalgia for people. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard "This reminds me of grandma” or “we had this when I was growing up!” It’s impeccable design but there’s a warmth to it too.

PIB: Do you often get asked for design tips involving mid-century furniture?

More and more I’ve been asked to assist people with whole floor plans and multiple item requests. It’s pretty exciting. I have to give credit to my clients though, more often than not they know exactly what they want.

HM: What’s your go-to advice for someone looking to include more of this style of furniture in their home?

Take your time. These are things that have outlasted their previous owners and, if they are treated well, they can last you a lifetime. But once you see it, buy it! Because these are one-of-a-kind in a way.

If you're starting from scratch, I recommend figuring out what your anchor pieces for that space might be. Do you build around that perfect sofa, or those perfect dining chairs? This can make the process less daunting.

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PIB: How long have you been in Calgary?

HM: I was born here, moved away for a few years and returned in 2014.

PIB: What brought you to back Calgary?

HM: I left Calgary at 19, wanting to leave what I knew behind to spend time in a “real city.” I grew up with high hopes for Calgary but didn’t want to wait around for it to happen. When I came back in 2014, I didn’t expect to stay long term, but I realized that the best thing I could do is stay and create the vibe that I always wanted.

PIB: What’s your impression of the LGBTQ+ community in the city?

HM: I think it’s grown up a lot since I was 16 and entering the community as an out gay teen. But maybe I’ve grown up too? It’s exciting to see an alternative drag scene start to grow. I’m loving the amount of activism and political engagement the LGBTQ+ community has taken around issues that affect us all. I am also really excited about Pride in Business and all that you have been able to shine a light on.

PIB: How do you feel Murphy’s contributes to the community?

HM: I like to think that we are offering an interesting environment for business, education, and community. We are helping beautiful objects find new homes, where they can serve a functional purpose for years to come. We host little mix and mingle parties three to four times a year which have been well attended by a diverse crowd. I’ve joined the Board of Directors for the the Inglewood BIA in October and I hope to put some of my community building experience into practice.

PIB: What is it like to be in business in Calgary and be a member of the LGBTQ+ community?

HM: So far so good. Like so many other LGBTQ+ humans, I’ve always wanted to feel like I am a part of or accepted by this community. Being asked to be a part of this month’s Pride in Business is pretty awesome! More than anything, I’d like to earn the respect of Calgarians as a knowledgeable curator. I work at that every day and draw strength from a pretty talented peer group.

PIB: What advice would you have for anyone looking to start their own business?

HM: Find something about your idea that is bigger than you. You’re likely to need it to draw strength from during the growing and building phases.

PIB: Are you open to being approached from members of our community would who like to connect on topics we discussed in this article?

HM: Any time!