Tour the Stunning Renovation of a Historic Southern Sorority House
From custom De Gournay wallpaper to treasured antiques donated by alumni, every detail of this historic University of Texas sorority house tells a story. Take a tour of the beautifully renovated Pink House on Pearl! Image: Brittany Dawn Photography
For generations of University of Texas Kappa Alpha Theta members, the βPink House on Pearlβ has been more than just a place to sleep and study. Itβs where friendships begin, traditions are passed down, and lifelong memories take shape. But after decades of wear and tear, the sorority house was ready for a makeover. Enter Houston-based Interior Designer and Theta alum Nicole Zarr, who once called the historic home her own. What began as a small design refresh evolved into a sweeping renovation that preserved the homeβs character, celebrated its history, and breathed new life into a beloved campus landmark. And, itβs some serious eye candy!
Long before Instagram-worthy sorority houses became a thing, there was the Pink House on Pearl.
Just off the University of Texas campus, the historic Kappa Alpha Theta house has been a longtime fixture. But behind that iconic blush-colored façade, years of love and fun had taken their toll, setting the stage for an ambitious renovation. After all, even the most beloved homes eventually need a little attention.
After decades of piecemeal updates, donated furnishings, and lots of foot traffic, the nearly 20,000-square-foot house was ready for a new chapter. And the person chosen to help lead that transformation wasnβt just an accomplished interior designer β¦ she was also a former resident.
βI actually lived there when I was a Theta β for two years β and hadnβt been back in a long, long time!β says designer Nicole Zarr of Nicole Zarr Interiors.
What she found upon her return surprised her. βI was flabbergasted at how run-down, hodge-podgy, and mismatched the furniture was.β
Despite its aging condition, Theta remained one of the universityβs most sought-after sororities, and the home continued to buzz with activity. But years of deferred maintenance and well-meaning donations had left the interiors feeling disconnected from the grandeur of the historic property.
What began as an update β redoing windows, fixing the air conditioning, and doing some broader repairs β quickly evolved into something much larger. βThey said, βNicole, can you just help with finishes and paint?β, she explains. βAnd it just blew up from there.β
Needless to say, the project extended well beyond some minor updates. By the time it was complete, nearly every shared space inside the Pink House on Pearl had been thoughtfully reimagined with one crucial goal β to honor the homeβs past while bringing it back to life in a modern way. Nicole set out to create a house that felt worthy of its history while supporting the women who would call it home for years to come.
As visitors step through the front doors today, theyβre greeted by one of the homeβs most memorable architectural features: a long central hallway that draws the eye straight through the house to the pool beyond. Flooded with natural light and framed by a series of gathering spaces, the view immediately sets the tone.
To the right, a collection of common areas unfolds, one after another, including a formal living room, dining room, study spaces, and a large den where members gather to watch television, host friends, and unwind between classes. To the left are the residential quarters, chapter spaces, and a newly added third-floor reading room.
The layout itself remains largely unchanged. Rather than pursuing a dramatic structural overhaul, Nicole focused on enhancing what was already there.
βI wanted it to feel really girly, but itβs English with a little twist,β she explains. βI wanted it to feel current, yet not trendy, because theyβre not going to do this again [for a long time].β
In an era when many renovations strip historic homes down to their bare bones, Nicole embraced the pieces that connected the house to its past. A donated baby grand piano remains a focal point in the living room. Antique furnishings gifted by alumni were carefully incorporated into the design. Original architectural details were refreshed rather than replaced.
Budget considerations also played a major role in the design process. To understand what could be reused and repurposed, Nicole enlisted a student (and Theta resident, of course!) to photograph and measure every piece of furniture in the house.
From there, she approached the project like a puzzle, mixing existing furnishings with new pieces and selecting durable performance fabrics that could withstand years of daily use.
And the sense of continuity extends beyond the furnishings.
Throughout the renovation, alums from across the country contributed in ways both large and small. Some made financial gifts. Others donated artwork, lamps, antiques, and treasured pieces that carried personal memories. As the project expanded, Nicole enlisted help from one of her closest friends, fellow Theta alum Ellie Bale, who joined her in bringing the vision to life.
Together, they created spaces designed for the way todayβs members actually live.
A spacious television room centers around a massive U-shaped sectional where dozens of women can gather at once. A cozy library, wrapped in rich chocolate brown and pink, serves as both a study space and an entertainment area. Upstairs, the newly added reading room overlooks the pool and offers additional room for studying, socializing, watching reality TV, and playing mahjong.
While functionality was essential, beauty was never sacrificed.
The homeβs iconic pink exterior naturally inspired elements of the interior palette, appearing in subtle ways throughout the design, along with nods to Thetaβs motifs β kites and cats. Blues, greens, yellows, and other fun color accents provide balance, while carefully selected wallpapers add personality to each room.
In fact, some of Nicoleβs favorite moments are found on the walls.
In the reading room, a Schumacher wallpaper creates the feeling of a garden retreat. Elsewhere, layers of pattern and texture give each space its own identity while maintaining a sense of cohesion throughout the house.
But nowhere is Nicoleβs creativity more evident than in the living room.
Known for incorporating hand-painted wallcoverings into her residential work, she partnered with de Gournay to create a custom scenic wallpaper unlike any other.
The hand-painted design is already beautiful at first glance. Look closer, however, and youβll discover a whimsical detail hidden throughout the scene.
βI asked de Gournay if they would paint kites on the paper, and they did,β she says. Inspired by antique Chinese kites, the one-of-a-kind additions drift quietly across the wallpaper, rewarding observant visitors with a surprise.
Throughout the renovation, Nicole looked for opportunities to weave Theta traditions into the design. Nowhere is that more evident than in the chapter room, where black-and-gold furnishings and floral wallpaper celebrate the sororityβs colors. The striking wallpaper by Ashley Woodson Bailey also has ties to the Theta community, having first appeared at Houstonβs longtime Theta Antique Show.
A custom painting of the Pink House welcomes visitors near the entrance. Antique treasures donated by former members find new life in updated spaces. A few playful nods to Theta traditions are tucked into corners throughout the home. Every detail contributes to a larger story.
Perhaps thatβs why the Pink Houseβs grand reopening became such an emotional moment.
After years of planning, fundraising, construction, and decorating, Theta alums returned to see the finished house. Women from multiple generations gathered under the same roof, many seeing the home for the first time in decades.
βWe had all ages there!β Nicole says. βWe had a Theta who was 92 and came with her friends and walked around.β
For Nicole, the celebration wasnβt just about a completed project. It was about stewardship.
The women who live in the Pink House today are only one chapter in a much longer story. Long after current members graduate, another generation will move in, creating traditions and memories of their own.
The renovation simply ensured the house would be ready for them.
As for Nicoleβs favorite detail, it still comes back to those hand-painted kites. While attending a design event in Paris, she thanked the De Gournay team for helping bring the wallpaper to life and asked if they might be willing to add her whimsical idea.
The response was simple. βWhy not?β
For Nicole, the renovation was never just about furniture, wallpaper, or paint. It was about giving a beloved home back to the women who love it.
**********
For home decor inspiration, vacation itineraries, recipes, and more β all delivered to your inbox daily βΒ subscribe to StyleBlueprint!
Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Editorial Operations Manager and Lead Content Editor. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.