
At Home With Supermodel/Supermom Carolyn Murphy
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Kisha Bari
For those of us eighties babies growing up in the nineties, chances are Carolyn Murphy is still near the top of your ultimate girl-crush list. Her chiseled cheekbones, searing blue eyes, casual-cool personal style, and healthy surfer-girl vibe made us pretty much want to be her. And not much has changed today. Now 40 and the dedicated single mother of a teenage daughter, Murphy is still lauded as one of the most successful models in the world, with a steady gig as the face of Estée Lauder and a fresh campaign with Oscar de la Renta under her belt, just to name a couple. All of this, in addition to her new-ish post as the Women’s Design Director of Shinola, and you could say she’s pretty busy. But luckily not too busy to take the time to let us tag along and spend a day with her and her lovely 14-year-old mini-me, Dylan, at their gorgeous home in the Hamptons. After reading the supermodel and supermom’s thoughts on motherhood and work/life balance, we think you’ll clearly see her beauty is so much more than skin-deep.
- "I bought my house a year ago and I’m already trying to sell. It's an old barn from Connecticut that was moved and used for a stable in the area, then converted to a house. I like it, but prefer renting or if it were a third of the size. I'd love to find an old barn and start from scratch."
- What an entrance.
- The elegant dining room.
- "It's very Scandinavian and conducive to beach life, open and clean lines, but with a few pieces to add formality and ground the space—otherwise it's too white and predictable."
- Carolyn's 14-year-old daughter, Dylan.
- She got it from her mama.
- “This house is a bit of a hodgepodge, things I've collected and threw together. My favorite items are the mid century bar stools in the kitchen, the McCobb night stands in the master bedroom, the original French leather chaise, my antique 'corner chair’—all from various antique stores or dealers—and I love my dining table from BDDW."
- "I like to draw from nature, colors, and pieces that are calming, but add a surprise of whimsy. I usually let the house dictate the style, so all of my homes have been different, but there is always a mix of rustic and contemporary, with comfort being key. BDDW and John Derian are my two favorite mixes."
- Carolyn's bathroom. We're obsessed.
- So obsessed we can't stop with just one snap.
- Grooming gear.
- An open kitchen plan perfect for mama-daughter cooking sessions.
- "How has life not changed? From every thought, feeling, and action...my life is better and more selfless."
- Lunch prep.
- "The biggest surprise was that I was having a girl, because I was convinced I was having a boy. I also laugh at how I only wanted a sherpa rug, nappy diapers, a sling, nothing pink and frilly. The first three remained, but I became so girly with her, feminine, and less tomboy."
- "Dylan is named after Bob Dylan and a family name on the Welsh side. Dylan means 'the sea.’ Her middle name is Blue, also because of 'Tangled Up in Blue,' and so, in total, her name means 'the blue sea.' We were wannabe hippies that had been living between Costa Rica and a farm Upstate. Go figure."
- Carolyn, Dylan, and one of their furry "kids" looking for scraps.
- "Motherhood is the most rewarding, lifelong commitment and the most indescribable love. I'll drive Dylan crazy, but being a mother is the best gift ever, to impart wisdom on her, hope that she learns from my mistakes and her own, knowing she has full love and support all the while. To watch her grow into a young woman and give back to this world."
- "I'm so nervous because I want to protect her from all that is negative, painful, and discouraging! I never want her to suffer."
- Dessert time!
- "I'm surprised at how together Dylan is, her confidence and straight forwardness. I learn so much from Dylan and what I love is that if you pay attention, children really are our ‘teachers.’"
- Back in the sun-soaked house.
- A comfy-chic lounge area.
- One of many Equestrian touches.
- Poolside prettiness.
- "Raising a girl in this day and age definitely comes with obstacles that are a sign of the times. The illusion of what beauty ‘is,' or what is even ‘real' for that matter, is totally askew. My career can be a double-edged sword, but I've used it to my advantage in a way that Dylan knows the difference." Carolyn and Dylan play with a Shinola football, Shinola basketball, and Shinola x Todd Heim Projects beach towel.
- "I was raised that way, so by the time I was 16, I had no interest and still don't. Most young girls make the mistake of using makeup as a mask, and I've taught Dylan if and when she wears makeup to use it to enhance her beauty. We've resorted to mascara only and maybe a tinted lip balm."
- The juggle.
- "Yes, I think it's my job to keep her away from midriff shirts, short skirts and shorts, anything body hugging or revealing. I tell her it's tacky and actually comes across as insecure to use clothes as a beacon of sexuality."
- All smiles.
- Dylan: "In between me being a little girl and teenager."
- Dylan: "I love my bed, it's so comfortable and I like the John Robshaw sheets. I've had Rusty my bear since I was 5 years old. I need new curtains because my room is too bright in the mornings!"
- A snap of Dylan's beauty essentials.
- A guest bedroom.
- Dylan: "I'm into listening to records, like The Strokes, in my room, reading The Man Who Speaks to Horses, riding my horse, going to the beach with my friends, and watching movies on our outdoor projector. I really like school, but happy it’s summer."
- The chair Carolyn delivered Dylan in.
- Carolyn's room.
- A monogrammed Shinola journal.
- Carolyn's watercolor set-up.
- Dylan: "The best part is knowing she's always there for me, no matter what, I can count on her to listen and love me. She's really fun and funny, all my friends like her and like hanging out at our house. She can be strict, too, but I know it's because she cares." Carolyn rides a bike by Shinola.
- Dylan: "I love being with my mom, we spend a lot of time together cooking and playing games. I love shopping with her because I'm a teenager and I try to get her to wear cool clothes, but she always wears the same thing. My favorite thing to do with her is ride our horses and talk."
- "An ideal day with Dylan is a morning snuggle, cooking together, going on a walk with the dogs, gardening together, riding our horses together, crafting something, cooking again, and snuggling again."
- "I can't project onto celebrity icons when it comes to mothering, because one never really knows, but I'd have to say Linda McCartney seemed incredible. Within my family, my great grandmother is my icon. She was an ideal mother, a school teacher, an amazing artist and gardener—she somehow managed to do it all with such grace."
- "My advice would be not to over think it or read too many books. Women are the breadth of life, our bodies strong and well equipped. Doctors, religion, and the Western civilization have tried to make us otherwise, so feel empowered and try to make childbirth a celebration of your womanhood."
- "I think Debra Beck's site for mothers and teenage daughters is crucial to read. I have been reading The Sun, a small literary zine, for almost 10 years, and I love Mother Earth News. Remodelista is great for home stuff."
- "I'm not entirely wild about raising Dylan in the city, but our escapes to the country are a big help. Nature is key for us, getting in the dirt and riding our horses."
- "Yes, and I'm contemplating that right now."
- "I actually do Vedic Meditation, which is similar to TM, but directly from the Maharishi disciples. I cook at home and only use local organic produce from the Union Square Farmers Market or Integral Yoga, and meats that are grass fed and without hormones and antibiotics. Processed foods are America’s devil. We were raised this way as kids, so I try to raise Dylan the same. I surf when I can and I love yoga because I can do it anywhere."
- "Soba noodles with miso soup, steamed spinach, and tofu."
- "Timeless, classic, and a bit tomboy.”
- "Vintage Levi's, white button-down shirt, v-neck cashmere sweaters, Converse sneakers, and old-school loafers."
- "I love Céline, Calvin Klein, and Chloé. Céline and Calvin because of the simplicity, yet modern edge, and Chloé because the designs feel so feminine."
- "My beauty routine is super low-key: clean skin and lots of moisturizer. I love Rosewater and Glycerin face spray. Sometimes I'll wear mascara like Estée Lauder Sumptuous (it's the best) and a lip tint, like Clinique Black Honey. For dress-up days, it's all about a red lip and Estée Lauder Envy is my favorite."
- "Oh gosh, I feel I've had many big breaks and feel so blessed. I was told I was 'too short' and 'too pretty,' so thank God it all worked out for me!"
- "My role as Women's Design Director at Shinola is a dream come true. It makes me more than proud to be a part of a company that is helping revive industry in America by creating jobs and products right here in our ‘backyard.’"
- "What I like most about what I do is the creativity."
- "Dylan is my priority, so yes it has changed. However, I feel so grateful, in being a single mother, that I can work less and earn phenomenal money to spend more time with her. My mother didn't have that luxury."
- "It takes a village. Like most working mothers, I have to have help and create boundaries. I wouldn't say my industry was always understanding of this, but I it helps having an agent that has children herself."
- "I was actually at the end of the supermodel era, as I started later than most at 20 years old and in 1993. Our group of girls was such a range of beauty, much more easy to identify with because we were all very individual and a part of the ‘grunge' era. I'm still very close with a few, they are like my sisters.”
- "Patience is key! Plus a goodie bag of books, crayons and paper, small puzzles and toys. I am not a fan of plugging them into electronics."
- "I've got a few things in the works, but Shinola excites me the most as we are always evolving as a brand and expanding on new ideas. Peter Copping asked me to shoot his first campaign for Oscar de la Renta and that was a huge honor. I've also just done a collaboration on an organic cotton lingerie line with Cheek Frills. Estée Lauder and I will collaborate on a product that marks my 15 years with the company, a massive milestone."
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