A Quick Chat With…Nan Philip

Today’s chat has been a long time in the making! Nan Philip, founder + owner of the eponymous consulting business and blog, and I first connected on Instagram several years ago. What started with “likes” then transitioned to DMs, and then to emails…before we finally met in person last year and became fast “real life” friends. Nan has been both a cheerleader of my brand and an incredible resource as I transitioned to this business full-time; her advice has been invaluable and her impeccable taste has led me to bounce many design decisions off her over the past several months. I’m so excited to have her share some of her wisdom on work, personal style, and interiors with you!

Age: 28

Hometown: North Shore of Massachusetts

Currently live in: New York, NY

Tell me a little bit about Nan Philip Consulting! How did it come to be?

My business is really two-fold – on one side I work with interior designers and then I also work with lifestyle brands (from clothing to home décor.) The day-to-day work varies for my design clients compared to my product brands but overarchingly I aim to help my clients grow their businesses and reach new audiences. We do this via press placements, gifting to influencers, strategic marketing projects and more! I typically work with smaller, young businesses where I aim to really be a part of their team and edit my offerings to best suit their needs.

Nan Philip Consulting is really a product of the pandemic, I made the pivot to working for myself and started this business in March of 2021. After months of sitting on zoom calls day in and day out, I realized I was ready to take my career into my own hands. Additionally, things were so in flux during the pandemic that it felt like a suitable time to take a little leap of faith.

What did you do prior to starting Nan Philip Consulting?

I worked on the marketing team and managed PR in-house at Weezie Towels (If you have not already tried their bathrobes and towels, let now be the time, I can’t recommend them enough!) and prior to that I worked at Blitzer & Company, a boutique PR firm specializing in interior design. I learned so much from both of those roles and am extremely grateful for those experiences.

What has been the most rewarding part about owning your own business?

The best part of having your own business (but also sometimes the scariest part) is that YOU are the boss. You are in control and have final say over all your choices – from the small day-to-day elements (such as your daily calendar) to the larger choices, such as who your clients are and what rates you charge.

For me, the flexibility is such an amazing element of having your own business. I love being able to travel and build out my own calendar (and take an afternoon off here and there!) but on the flipside it also means that there are a lot of late nights and work that happens on the weekends.

If you weren't running your own interiors + lifestyle PR consultancy, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?

I think I would probably be an interior designer!

Tell me about a professional "pinch me" moment.

Oh gosh, I am not sure! I feel like I am still so young and still just figuring everything out. I can say, I was so honored to be interviewed on a podcast last year, that was certainly a fun moment.

But maybe the best ‘pinch me’ moments are when a great brand or designer I admire reach out to me about possibly working together. The people I get to work with are what really make my job so great.

What has been the most challenging part about being self employed?

At times it can be feel isolating to work for yourself; to not have co-workers to lean on or brainstorm with. And billing - the billing and bookkeeping side of having your own business is far from glamorous!

Your blog and Instagram are so well-curated and always a feast for the eyes! How do you decide what to share, and have you always had such an eye for aesthetics?

Thank you so much, that is truly such a compliment as I certainly overthink what to post on my Instagram feed (don’t we all!) I call my blog my ‘little corner of the internet’ where I share my favorite finds and daily musings. Life can be so complicated and difficult at times (for all of us in different ways) and I aim for my Instagram and blog to be a bright spot in someone’s day, a celebration of the little beautiful moments all around us, be it the flowers I spot while I am out on a morning walk or a chic new purse.

Being so tied to the interiors industry and having a penchant for design yourself, what tips would you give to someone looking to make a new home their own?

First of all, I think it really key to buy what you love! Just because everyone on Instagram seems to have a certain mirror, it does not need you need it; you don’t want your home to look like an exact copy of anyone else’s but instead you want your space to be unique to you and your taste!

When it comes to buying furniture, splurge on upholstered pieces, like a sofa or great armchair. A great piece of upholstered furniture can last you a lifetime if you take good care of it. (And you can easily have it re-upholstered as your taste evolves or you move into a new home.)

I think it makes sense to save on things like rugs and window treatments, especially if you are not in your forever home, as those items are often very specific measurements and do not work when moving from one home to another.

How would you describe your personal style?

This is a fun question! I would say my personal style is classic with a twist.

Organizational tool you can't live without?

Oh my gosh so many, I will buy any and every organizational tool that is recommended to me. Maybe my label maker?! I reach for it more often than you might expect.

A recent place you’ve traveled?

This fall, I traveled to Blackberry Farm, in the mountains of Tennessee for a little girls getaway with my mom. And oh my goodness, it was heaven! Blackberry Farm was just as amazing everyone says it is: the service, the food, the beautiful location. It was all fabulous. We also visited their sister property, Blackberry Mountain which was just as wonderful, so I highly suggest adding both places to your travel to-do list!

If you could majorly splurge on a vacation, where would you go?

Le Sirenuse in Positano, Italy! Or Paris, who doesn’t love Paris!

Favorite restaurant in NYC?

It feels hard to just pick one! Via Corota in the West Village; I have never had a bad meal there!

Go-to weekday lunch?

Oh, who knows! I am not a great cook, so I place a lot of Postmates and Caviar delivery orders.

Go-to cocktail?

A margarita, always!

One piece of advice?

Kindness Counts! Like all of us, I am far from perfect 100% of the time, but I always try to lead with kindness. My parents always taught us to be kind to everyone you meet, from the taxi driver to the CEO of a company, everyone deserves the same respect and kindness.

A Quick Chat With…Nan Philip