2012 was a busy year for carpet designer Malene Barnett, owner and operator of Malene B-Custom Made Carpets. She delivered an inspirational TedEx talk discussing her background and secrets to success in the design industry. She also launched her first exclusive collection for SURYA.

Malene B

Throughout the talk (see below), she shared with listeners her motto of “going with your gut,” explaining that it is a tool many business owners overlook, and that they should always trust it.

She went on to share how her gut feeling got her where she is in life today, choosing to study art rather than music and travel the globe rather than investing in a home.“I wanted to inspire more people through both my work and story,” said Barnett. “Going with my gut has gotten me where I am and I would like to encourage people to go do it for both personal and business decisions.  Especially in these economic times, when financial resources may be limited, we have to be creative to find ways to keep ourselves motivated.”

Barnett continues to expand the Malene B brand and part of that is aligning it with brands like SURYA. Surya’s fashion forward thinking and innovative solutions for the home accessories market complement the Malene B philosophy and aesthetic.

The collection is inspired by the beautiful landscapes of exotic places like Dakar, Caracas and Bali. Each design incorporates Barnett’s signature use of color, graphics and multiple pile heights.

For 2013, Barnett will be a panelist at the Women’s Summit at Bryant University. She will also be launching a new custom carpet collection at the ICFF show in May.

“My goal for 2013 is to partner with other manufacturers in different product categories for the home to grow the brand and bring a part of the Malene B experience to everyone,” she said.