The Pink Penthouse: Back and better than ever

The The Pink Pink Penthouse: Penthouse:

Back and better than ever

Photo credit: Amira Van Leeuwen

Feathered lamp from Home Goods.

By Amira Van Leeuwen

Owner and creator Charlie Leanne Murphy was 12 years old when she saw American actress, model, and singer Jayne Mansfields’ pink shag bathroom and said, “I want a bedroom like this one day.” The Pink Penthouse, formerly located in San Marcos, has moved its way up the I-35 Corridor to Kyle.

The Pink Penthouse has various photoshoot rates like $60 an hour with one photographer and one model. The half-day rate (3 hours) allows two models and one photographer for $330. A fullday rate (5 hours) allows two photographers and two models for $440. If a customer decides they want to bring additional models, it is an extra $100 per model.

Murphy and Chavez also offer makeup services for $150 per person. If a customer wants only hair or only makeup, the price is $75.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Murphy and Pink Penthouse Manager Lexi Chavez had to leave San Marcos along with all of their belongings. Chavez said a lot of things were changing, and they were changing fast.

“We had to sell everything, literally overnight,” Murphy said.

“I remember when we had to sell all of our stuff. It was crazy because people were coming in fast,” Chavez said. “In at least like one or two days, the studio was almost empty.”

But despite the sudden change, Murphy and Chavez adapted, and the Pink Penthouse was able to reopen its doors once again in August.

Murphy says she’s always felt like she’s had her own style.

Murphy says she spent about $50,000 overall on materials. Photo credit: Amira Van Leeuwen

Murphy and Chavez sitting and smiling in front of their fireplace.

Photo credit: Amira Van Leeuwen

The bathroom has a lot of small pieces from Hobby Lobby and Home Goods.

Photo credit: Amira Van Leeuwen

946 vintage vanity set from Facebook Marketplace.

Many of the pieces in the Pink Penthouse are antiques that have been upcycled. When looking for vintage pieces, Murphy likes to look on Facebook Marketplace and also has a couple of places in San Antonio where she likes to go and hunt. Other times, people will gift vintage items to the two because they want to see their pieces in the house.

For the pink shag, Murphy said she tried to get all of it locally, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was difficult to find. Back in San Marcos, Murphy began shagging her walls in mid-October of 2021 and was not finished until around December or January.

Contrary to popular belief, the shag walls do not require much upkeep. Murphy said it’s mainly dusting, vacuuming and brushing.

“A lot of people think, ‘Oh she just vacuums the whole entire wall’ — I don’t do that. I don’t vacuum the whole wall. I’ll vacuum the corners and of course check for spiders – which sounds stupid, but everybody has spiders in their house,” Murphy said, adding that she vacuums her walls about once a month and also has a rake that she has for her ceiling to get rid of any staple lines.

“It’s so funny because it’s so normal for us to have shag walls, so everyone’s probably like ‘This is insane,’ but we’re just so used to it,” Chavez said. “People will love it, or they hate it.”

Murphy and Chavez said many people assume that it’s hot in the room and that there are bugs and dust, but they don’t have many problems with their pink shag walls.

Apart from the upkeep of the Pink Penthouse, going on excursions for new vintage pieces and posting social media content, Murphy also opened up about her struggles with mental health.

Murphy suffers from PTSD and short-term memory loss, which stems from childhood trauma and past partners. Personal matters prompted her to check into a mental facility in March where she stayed for about eight days.

Murphy said it was scary being there and she felt like once someone is in there, they lose their human dignity. Photo credit: Amira Van Leeuwen

Charlie Murphy’s room with pink shag walls. The couch is a vintage couch from Italy in the 1970s. The crystal floor lamp is a Hollywood regency from the 1950s and 60s.

Photo credit: Amira Van Leeuwen

The bathroom has a lot of small pieces from Hobby Lobby and Home Goods.

“It was just really depressing to see how cold it was,” Murphy said.

Murphy also said she watched the kids unit walk through the women’s unit that she was in every day.

“They just looked so sad, and there wasn’t a lot of stuff, like activities for them, and there’s not a lot of money in mental health at all, especially with the kids and women’s units,” Murphy said.

Murphy’s battle with mental health and her time in the hospital inspired her to think about making a clothing line for women and creating a fun space for kids.

In the future, Murphy and Chavez plan on hosting invite-only house parties and events with other small businesses. Murphy says she would love to get into filming music videos at the penthouse and dreams of having artists like Megan The Stallion, Doja Cat or City Girls at the penthouse.