Website:  www.paigerien.com

I’ve been passionate about “all things home” ever since I was a little girl. My love of architecture and design began at Brown University, where I majored in Urban Studies and fantasized about being an architect. Hands-on design work would have to wait – I pursued a business career and obsessively changed the look of multiple apartments in my free time. I met my husband and we soon found we shared a shared love, even an obsession, with houses, real estate and renovation.

After buying our first house together and realizing both the cosmic and financial high that came from our complementary renovation talents, we dove in and began buying and restoring homes around Washington, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey. Working on our many project houses, I’ve garnered hands-on construction experience -- I have come to understand not only what looks good and works in a space, but how it is achieved, how expensive it is, and how painful it will be for either you or your contractor.

Today, my design ethic is about maximizing value and minimizing the drain on resources – for homeowners as well as the earth. I have realized the ease and affordability of using more sustainable materials, re-using materials and designing to maximize energy efficiencies in homes.

Currently I design for and appear on HGTV’s top-rated show, Hidden Potential, which helps families visualize the possibilities that lie within homes they may have overlooked. Each episode entails that I redesign three houses to meet the needs of our contributing families. I have also designed for HGTV’s Curb Appeal as well as the pilot, The Hook Up, which serves lower-income communities, providing tiny budgets of only $250 to completely change a family’s home.

Rien With an Eye for Design © is my company. I blend my natural eye for practical, personal elegance as well as the savvy to garner the maximum real estate value with whatever changes are made. I recently became affiliated with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s Interior Design program and began to take classes with their online division. This has been a fantastic way for me to stay fresh as a designer and study the theoretical side of design, while producing Hidden Potential. I was fortunate to appear as a “celebrity judge“in their student art competition this fall.

Currently, I live in New York with my husband and Mostar, our darling, rescued, mystery mutt. The only thing I love as much as looking at homes and architecture, is looking at homes and architecture abroad. My style has been influenced by recent visits to Croatia, Bosnia and Hungary, as well as Buenos Aires and the Abruzzi region of Italy. When I’m in New York, my favorite thing to do is walk around the city with Francis and Mostar and look up, at buildings.

Topics Paige Rien loves to write about, speak about, be interviewed on:

• Family-friendly Design
  So now that you have children, it doesn't mean you have to take a vacation from a beautifully designed home -instead, Paige will show you how to live in a well put together space with children. In order to accomplish this goal, she suggests - it entails creativity and flexibility - and offers tricks for organization, convertibility and kid-friendly materials that make it possible. Paige also shares her ideas on what isn't family friendly home design, something she adds, homeowners often realize after their renovation is completed.
   
• Steal or Splurge? Cheap Tricks 101
  You've seen it in fashion magazines - and wonder, did they buy that item at Target or Barney's? Paige will show you how to accomplish replicating a designer look on a budget, as she helps you discover the look you see in magazines on a budget. With a little bit of elbow grease and creativity, Paige will help you accomplish this goal, as well as help you get the look of granite countertops, and designer-show room lighting on a very small budget!
   
• Green Design For Family
  Green is great - but Paige believes it should be affordable, low maintenance and easy to keep and clean. More importantly, she says it needs to stand up to kids and pets! Paige shares tips on how to make the green choices that will stand up to little feet and paws with claws - and she helps you make both earth and pocket-book friendly choices for your home.
   
• Curb Appeal 101
  So you have $5000 or $2000 or $500 to spend on the exterior of your home? No problem. Paige shares with you some basic ways to boost the exterior of your home whether you're trying to sell or just trying to make it more inviting for family and friends. These are easy, do-it-yourself tricks to make a big impact without a lot of money.
   
• AbFab Nursery
  It can't just look great - it's also has to work in the middle of the night, when there is a poop-slosion, (often referred to at the Rien home) and it needs to be safe. Paige shares tips on how to make the best nursery design decisions on any budget - these tips will work all times of day and night for baby and mom.
   
• Where do I begin?
  So many of Paige's clients come to her because they've been stymied for many years - they just can't figure out where to start with the changes they want for their home. Paige helps you jump start the process, provides you with the questions you need to ask and answer, and will help you put a game plan together. Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or 100% out-sourcer - Paige wants homeowners to gain the confidence they need to make their home great, understand the costs and ramifications - both financial and logistical - of any home project.

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