Paige Minear, the brilliant interior designer behind The Pink Clutch blog, had one of the most colorful room transformation in Spring 2016 The One Room Challenge™. It was no easy task to transform an already beautiful wood paneled den and we were astonished by what Paige was able to accomplish in six weeks!
Paige opted to use Karastan’s Shabu Cheetah carpet from our now discontinued Exotics Collection, and if was a choice that truly pulled this colorful room together. The attention to detail was remarkable, Paige put thought into every single piece – from the pink cushioned stools to the Limoges bowls from her own collection.
We were fortunate to sit down and chat with Paige about her The One Room Challenge™ room transformation. Read on!
Karastan: Tell us about your blog, the Pink Clutch. What type of blog is it, what do you primarily write about, is this also your profession or a hobby?
Paige: The Pink Clutch is a design blog with posts five days a week on a number of design topics. My goal is to provide inspiration to my readers on the many aspects of design. I write about designers, design trends, travel, food and drink, fashion and our home. In the past two years the blog has transitioned into a brand and become a full time profession. I am blessed and incredibly lucky to make a living doing something I love.
Karastan: Is this your first time participating in the One Room Challenge? If no, please tell us about your previous room makeover.
Paige: This was not my first The One Room Challenge™ but my sixth. The first four were as a linking participant and I transformed our Guest Suite, Porch, Master Bathroom and Laundry Room. I was incredibly lucky to be chosen as an invited participant for the last round and I transformed our Kitchen and Breakfast room and now once again our Den. Each time I take on the project I think it will be a smooth ride and it always comes with hurdles and struggles but is so worth it in the end.
Karastan: Why did you choose to makeover this particular room in the home?
Paige: Our Den was the last room on the main floor to be transformed. I loved the space but the wood judges paneling kept the space dated in its 1982 glory. For 12 years we enjoyed the space as it was but I was ready for white walls and a massive change. My husband was the one to fall in love with the space when we bought the home and I was sure he would expect it to remain wood for the duration. I was thrilled when he suggested we paint it and I jumped at the chance before he could change his mind.
Karastan: What was your inspiration/approach to this project?
Paige: I knew I wanted a white room, which is very outside my comfort zone, with tons of color. I have always wanted a green velvet sofa so that was a must have, along with using some of the furniture from our original den. There is no need to completely replace every single item in a new room, especially when a lot of the pieces still work. We completely reworked the space for more seating and to create a U shape which would be more conducive to conversations.
Karastan: Did you think you would be able to complete your vision in only 6 weeks?
Paige: When I started I didn’t have any concerns, but about week 3 I began to panic and then at week 4.5 I was truly stressed I would not finish. There is nothing like doing something in the public eye to add many layers of stress to an already stressful situation. I was truly panicked for about a week I would not pull it off.
Karastan: What were some of your project concerns?
Paige: The biggest challenge for me was the paint. After the second painter quit I truly began to panic. I could not reveal a white lacquered den without the white lacquer. I reached out to every single designer I knew and asked for their painters and I was truly lucky to not only get one that would fit me in but turned out to be better than any painter I had found on my own. He was incredible and finished the job in half the time with a better result than had been previously promised. My next challenge was wallpaper. When we worked on our kitchen the wallpaper was a disaster and I was very worried about wallpapering another space. It turned out to be the easiest contractor I used and I think he was in the house for maybe a total of two hours.
Karastan: Tell us – why did you select a Karastan product for this room?
Paige: I love Karastan rugs and it was an honor to be able to work with Karastan for The One Room Challenge™. I love animal prints and the Shabu Cheetah carpet was an obvious choice for me. When I learned that the pattern I chose was being discontinued I was even more excited knowing I would be one of the last to use it. I could not be happier with the contrast it provides.
Karastan: What’s your favorite thing about the Karastan product you selected?
Paige: The pattern is by far my favorite thing about my Karastan carpet. The Shabu Cheetah is just the balance of neutral I was looking for to balance a room I knew would scream color. I have always felt an animal print was a perfect neutral and this carpet might be my new favorite thing.
Karastan: What were the features important to you when selecting a Karastan carpet/rug for this room makeover?
Paige: We are a family of six with two dogs so I was drawn to the durability and stain resistance of the Karastan products. I want to make sure any rug or piece of furniture we invest in will stand the test of time and family. So far I have been thrilled with the stain resistance. I was the first to spill a drink and it cleaned up beautifully. I could not be happier.
Karastan: How do you feel about the final result? We loved your reveal, were you happy with it too? How would you describe your room makeover stylistically?
Paige: We LOVE the space. The bright color of the walls greets me every single morning with a smile. I am thrilled with the change it has given our main floor and the larger feel and seating area it has given us for entertaining. We love it so much and I still have to pinch myself every day when I see it that it is truly ours. Oh, and that I really did finish the space. I was truly very concerned.
All photos courtesy of Paige Minear and The Pink Clutch Blog, photos taken by Christina Wedge.
To see Paige’s room transformation, from start to finish, check out these blog posts on The Pink Clutch.
Week 1: Before
Week 2: The Plan and Fabric
Week 3: Paint, Art and Accessories
Week 4: Lighting, Drapery and Fabric
Week 5: Paint, Wallpaper and the Finish Line
