Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Black
Hi Karen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My love for Interior Design began at a very young age. I grew up in a home where aesthetics were highly valued and my father, while not an architect, designed the floor plan for the custom home I grew up in. It was an open-concept home with high ceilings and tons of natural light. My mother loved to entertain. She had an eye for design and always ensured our home was furnished in exceptional taste. Growing up in this environment, I developed an appreciation for the way our lives are influenced by our surroundings, and vice versa.
As a teenager and young adult, I used to draw floor plans for my dream home on graph paper. I welcomed every opportunity to help friends and family plan their remodels and redecorate. For me, design was always a passion and a hobby, but it was not something I ever considered for a career. When I first went to college, I didn’t even know interior design was a major!
I majored in math and computer science at Loyola University in New Orleans and began my professional career in IT, working for an oil and gas company here in Houston, but I never lost my love for interior design. It wasn’t until after staying home for a number of years to raise our two children, now ages twenty and twenty-two, that I decided to go back to school to pursue a degree in interior design. My technical background actually served me well in design school, as I found I was very good at AutoCAD and digital renderings, which I enjoyed as much as the more creative aspects of my education.
While in design school, I met my mentor and future employer, Steve Clifton of Scene One Interiors. Steve hired me upon graduation and gave me the foundation to thrive as a designer. Working under Steve, I learned the skills necessary to collaborate with architects and builders to assist clients through every step of the design and construction process. Over the years of working together, Steve and I became close friends and I will forever be grateful to him for everything he taught me. During the pandemic, I made the difficult decision to leave Scene One and start Karen Black Interiors, specializing in high-end new construction and large scale remodeling projects. I am grateful every day to be able to live out my passion for design and help my clients create beautiful environments to enjoy for years to come.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely been a winding road! It took me longer than most to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up, but the skills I learned in my previous profession have definitely served me in my work as an interior designer. My background in IT has helped me with the organization and project management side of interior design.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Karen Black Interioris?
Karen Black Interiors is a boutique interior design firm specializing in new construction and large scale remodeling projects. Karen loves helping busy, successful professionals who don’t have the time or experience to make their home fit their lifestyle create the home of their dreams. We do everything from space planning and floor plan layouts to furnishings and accessories.
How do you define success?
Success for me means being able to make a living at doing what you love, while still maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Pricing:
- Minimum $10,000 design fee
- Pricing for new construction projects is tiered, based on square footage of the home and level of design details required.
- Pricing for remodeling and furnishing projects is based on the scope of the project.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://karenblackinteriors.com
- Instagram: karenblackinteriors
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenblackinteriors/
Image Credits
Rachel Manning (photo of living room with fireplace)
Julie Soefer Photogaphy (all other photos)
