Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Maurer.
Hi Paige, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My passion for interior design goes back as far as when I was a little girl. I spent a lot of time with grandma and grandpa, who owned a beautiful farmhouse with a small shop on the property. My grandpa did a lot of woodworking, building furniture, and other home furnishings. My grandma did a lot of home decor items (wreaths, quilts, etc.). When I was little, my most favorite thing to do was decorate my Barbie doll houses with magazines my mom would give me. I would cut out curtains, bedding, and other items and stick them up in my doll houses.
When I was in high school, I took my first drafting class and my teacher would often tell me, “Paige, you don’t need to do all of the interior detailing on the house with furniture layouts and space planning”. I knew I didn’t have to, I just wanted to because it was so intriguing to me. I also had the opportunity in my senior year of high school to do an internship with a local interior designer. That sealed the deal for me on what I would be going to college for.
I earned my Bachelors of Applied Arts in May 2013. My major is Interior Designer, and I double minored in Art and Business Administration. During my time at Central Michigan, it became very clear to me that residential design was the route I wanted to take with my design degree. We did a lot of commercial projects in college, but residential was what got me excited.
A week after graduating I started my career at a high-end residential Kitchen & Bath and design company. For four and half years, I worked alongside some very talented designers and contractors. I learned the ins and outs of kitchen and bath design and fell in love with those of the foundation of residential design. As our company grew, we started touching on all aspects of the project including areas outside of cabinetry design. In the summer of 2017, it was time for me to leave for many reasons… I left, not really knowing where I would go next. I interviewed and researched a lot of options in the Grand Traverse area, but nothing struck me. No company was offering full-service design and giving me the ability to offer a more personalized approach. After much love and support from friends and family, I decided it was time to go off on my own, at that time Paige Lee Interiors was born.
Since day one, my goal with this business was to offer a full-service design (from the floor to the ceiling) and combining my love for kitchen & bath cabinetry design and interior design. Many times, you have an interior design PLUS a separate kitchen & bath designer. From my experience, having one person who can do both gives you the best outcome and keeps things streamlined in the construction process.
Over the last ten years as an interior designer, I have been recognized as one of the NKBA’s (National Kitchen and Bath Association) 30 under 30s twice (once in 2017 and once in 2019). I was recognized as one of the Hagerty’s 40 under 40’s in 2017. I earned my CKBD (certified kitchen and bath designer) through the National Kitchen and Bath Association in 2020. I also served as a board member for my local NKBA chapter for three years…. two years I was secretary and one year I was the programs chair, in charge of planning some really spectacular events. I have also served on the board for our local PWB (Professional Women in Building) industry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I left my first job, my plan had not been to start my own business at just 27 years old and just several months out from getting married. It was not ideal timing, but I look back now and realize that shove was what I needed because there is never a good time.
Things were moving along great by the time 2020 rolled around. I had a few years under my belt with Paige Lee Interiors, and then the unthinkable happened… a 6-week shutdown here in Michigan for all construction. It was a little scary, as it was for everyone. As things opened back up. All designers & contractors, including myself have felt a huge backlog of projects that is still continuing to this day. This mixed with an extreme labor shortage in our area, has caused a lot of scheduling issues over the last year and half. On a day-to-day basis, my schedule can change very dramatically now, and I am learning to just roll with it, although it has not been easy.
In September 2020, my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our first child. Working though my entire pregnancy was interesting, given I have to stand on job sites for many hours some days. I worked really hard to have scheduling lineup so that I could take a few months off for maternity leave, which for the most part worked. I was grateful to have a really wonderful assistant designer at the time who was willing to take over those few months. When I came back to work full-time in September, the struggle to get things back up and moving did take a lot of time and adjusting.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My degree is in interior design, but I am also a certified kitchen & bath designer so the majority of the work I do is full-service design on new construction or extensive remodels. Helping the clients design their home from the floor to the ceiling and every single item in between.
I am most proud of my ability to listen to my clients and put myself in their shoes to help them make decisions that they will be happy with when the end product is finished. I am very attuned with people and can easily pick up on their personality and likes/dislikes quickly. That is one of the things that sets me apart from other designers. I also think my ability to not only be creative but organized is a huge skill that a lot creatives/designers do not have.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Anyone just starting out- take as many opportunities and you possible can and just absorb everything thrown your way! The more you can explore and learn now the better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paigeleeinteriors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paigeleeinteriors/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-maurer-ckbd-319a2960/
Image Credits
Jessie Zevalkink
Kristen Turick Photography
