A former federal agent turned interior designer, Paige Loperfido’s love for design began at a young age. “I’ve always been surrounded by creative and inspiring people,” she says. “My dad spent time dabbling in carpentry and metalwork, and my mom and aunt were constantly scouting antique furniture and refinishing it. Even my childhood bedroom was filled with pieces they had reimagined, so I grew up seeing firsthand how you could turn everyday items into something beautiful and unique.
“Growing up in that environment rubbed off on me and my sister; we were always reorganizing spaces, decorating anything we could get our hands on (including bedazzling landline phones), and competing in drawing classes. We never waited for opportunities — we made them, teaching ourselves as we went.”
In 2020, Loperfido turned that passion into a business, launching Grosse Pointe-based Decor & More Design Studio. “When I decided to make a career change, I combined my passion for design and art with my strengths in problem-solving and multitasking to pursue a path that better aligned with my lifestyle and growing family,” she says. “I was confident in my ability to reimagine spaces in a way that truly supports how people live, and having grown up with an entrepreneurial mom, I felt inspired to build something of my own.” The designer shares that her time as a federal agent taught her resilience and discipline, and to have confidence in her instincts.
Today, her studio is known for her signature “Neutral Maximalism” approach, which is all about “embracing the idea that more can be more,” but in a way she says isn’t overwhelming. “I want a space to reflect the homeowner’s personality — and a sterile, single-material or single-color room doesn’t achieve that. Neutral maximalism is about contrast and layering; you start with a calm foundation and then build depth through pattern play, texture, and finishes.”
Loperfido believes great design should feel “intentional, effortless, and timeless,” and each space she designs should be “a true reflection of who my client is and how they live. Design isn’t just aesthetic; it’s personal and has the ability to impact how you live day to day.”
Some of her favorite projects have been those where her clients have trusted her with full creative freedom, including a waterfront home that wove elements from the homeowners’ heritage into a project that repurposed antiques and artwork from their personal collection. “My goal is for someone to walk into a space and immediately understand (the homeowners’) story through the details, layout, and feeling of the room,” she says.
When she’s not growing her studio, Loperfido, the mother of three young children, stays active in her community. “Baseball is huge for my two boys, which keeps our family busy year-round,” she says. She also loves to entertain and cook, and always finds time for her favorite pastime: hunting for treasures at antique and estate sales.
“This career makes me feel like a kid again, where I get to (bring) different concepts to life, play with patterns and colors, and be surrounded by beautiful artists and designers who inspire and motivate me every day.”
Congratulations, Paige, on this well-deserved honor!
MORE INFORMATION: decorandmoredesigns.com
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