Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige McClellan.
Hi Paige, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in eastern Kansas, where the women in my maternal grandmother’s family were always quilting together — gathering to pass the time, celebrate milestones, and make things by hand for weddings, births, and family events. My mom grew up surrounded by that creativity and continued sewing and making throughout my childhood. She was also deeply interested in fashion and made almost all of my clothes growing up, letting me choose the patterns and fabrics for each outfit. That’s really where my obsession with color and materials began.
As a kid, I took every art elective I could. In college, I studied archaeology, art history, and fine arts before eventually earning a degree in fashion after spending a year abroad in Italy. Upon graduation, I moved to NYC to work in the fashion industry, but it didn’t take long for me to realize it wasn’t quite the right fit. Around that time, I came across an opportunity doing visual display for a high-end furniture showroom, and that experience led me back to school at The New School to study interior design.
I’ve now been working in interior design for more than 25 years, starting out in furniture and furnishings in NYC in 2001. In 2008, I moved back to the Midwest and transitioned more into the architectural side of the industry while working at an architectural firm in downtown St. Louis. A few years later, I launched the residential renovation division at a city-based design-build firm, where I managed a team of architects and construction managers while also leading the interior design work on renovation projects.
Since 2020, I’ve been running my own firm, focusing on the intersection of building and design. My work centers on interior architectural design, and I stay involved throughout the entire process — from site surveys and drawings to budgeting, specifications, finish selections and procurement, interiors project management, pre-construction coordination with the GC, and construction administration.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
What did Lily Tomlin say? ‘The road to success is always under construction?’ That’s definitely been true for me. Plenty of detours and bumps along the way and the lessons and wisdom have 100% been worth the temporary discomfort.
Some of the hardest times in my career were when I worked for companies or people who kept encouraging me into roles that just weren’t a good fit for my strengths. No matter how hard I worked at those things, they were never going to be where I thrived. For example, I can manage construction projects, but I don’t really enjoy it. At one point, I was expected to juggle everything — running to jobsites, meeting with subcontractors, being in the office designing, and meeting with clients — all at the same time. There just wasn’t enough time to do any of it well, and honestly, it made me feel like I wasn’t good at my job. Eventually, I realized the problem wasn’t my ability — it was that I was being pulled in too many directions.
That experience ultimately led me to start my own practice, focused on design and the design-to-build process. Coming from a construction and development background gives me a perspective that’s different from most interior designers — my work is deeply rooted in how projects are actually built, managed, and budgeted. That’s become a real asset for my clients and a unique niche for my practice.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
What we do:
studio Mc is an architectural interior design firm offering everything from full specifications for new construction homes to consulting on furnishings and interiors. As an STL City-based business, renovating older homes is really our sweet spot. We know these houses inside and out, and we love the challenge of thoughtfully blending the past with the present in a way that feels natural to our clients and their homes.
How we do it:
Over the last decade, I’ve developed a process that helps guide clients through projects as smoothly — and realistically on budget — as possible. My goal is always to get projects built and bring clients’ visions to life without the design process feeling overwhelming. Good communication and trust are a huge part of that. There are always a few bumps along the way in any design-build project, so having a team that truly shows up for you and has your best interests in mind makes all the difference. We’re happy to work alongside your GC, builder, or architect, or help assemble the right team for the project from the start.
Our philosophy:
Thoughtfully designed spaces can have a huge impact on how you feel day to day, even if it’s hard to put into words. When everything has a place, there’s less clutter and more mental clarity. Choosing materials and furnishings that are durable and easy to maintain gives you more time to actually enjoy your home and connect with family and friends.
I also believe that when a space is layered thoughtfully — through materials, details, texture, and lighting — it naturally feels warm, dynamic, and lived in without needing a lot of extra “decorating.” To me, good design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about creating a home that supports your life in a meaningful, functional, and personal way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Wow, what a funny question! My immediate reaction was to start mentally cataloging every bad turn and questionable decision I’ve ever made because, apparently, that’s just what being human is. But honestly, most of those “wrong” turns somehow ended up leading me exactly where I needed to be.
I don’t know that I’d call it luck so much as that old formula of preparation + an open mind = opportunity. Most of the “luck” I’ve had in life and business has really been figuring out how to turn the occasional giant pothole into some kind of silver lining. Sometimes the best opportunities showed up disguised as absolute disasters at first.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.designstudiomc.com
- Instagram: design.studio.mc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064048239630
