Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Larkin.
Karen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 1997, my uncle planted a seed suggesting I should be an interior decorator and I responded, “No one would pay me to come in and decorate their home.” I really had no desire to be an interior designer, but I found myself decorating my own spaces and those of family members and friends. In fact, I had been decorating for over 15 years for myself, family, and close friends but never for pay. In 2018, the seed that my uncle I had sown began to bud when a young lady reached out to me about decorating her living room. At that time I was an event planner and decorating events, I knew nothing about interior designing, so I thought. But, this proved to be another time of divine alignment as things in my own life began to shift. In 2019 I began redecorating spaces in my home and posting what I had done to social media. The objective was to show people that you can redecorate your home without spending a lot of money, giving it a high-end look at the fraction of the cost.
I’m no stranger to decorating. I just never did it for hire. But, as a result of what I was doing in my home, I fell in love with it and things began to shift. When I think about where I am today, my mother played a big part in this. She was actually my first client and I never knew that God had this path for my life. I can recall after the completion of the redesign my mother cried and said, “It felt so peaceful”. All my mother wanted was her house redone and this was completed a few years before she transitioned home. It brought me so much joy to be able to give her this right before her death and to know I created a space where she really felt peace. I know she is continuing to watch over me from heaven with the biggest smile on her face! I will continue to make her proud.
In September 2019, I landed my first paying interior design project. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. My client discussed what she wanted and how she wanted to feel when she walked into that space. She said, “I trust you Karen and the process”. The result was everything she wanted and more. What I delivered for her exceeded her expectations. The reveal of the final result was a reaction that I had seen before and one I will never forget. My client was in tears — similar to the way my mother was. This was the beginning of the type of transformation I would provide for my clients through my design service. Her reaction was priceless and that’s when I knew this is what I was called to do. Since that moment we have been helping men and women through commercial and residential design spaces achieve the peace and productivity their space should afford them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, the road to becoming an interior designer has not been smooth. The most difficult struggle I faced was getting my foot in the door of the industry. It can be really tough to stand out when you are from a small town and there are so many talented professionals with years of experience vying for the same positions. Another challenge I faced was finding clients who were willing to take a chance on my work. Many clients can be hesitant to hire a relatively new designer, so I had to spend time showcasing my talents and displaying my capabilities to my potential clients. Once I secured clients, my greatest challenge was believing enough in the transformation I provide to charge people for my services. Lastly, staying up-to-date with industry trends was difficult because it requires a lot of research and dedication to stay ahead of the competition. However, by taking these struggles in stride and pushing myself to build a portfolio that best represented my skills, I was eventually able to break into the industry and gain recognition. Despite the obstacles I encountered along the way, there have also been a lot of positives. Working in this industry has helped me to become more creative and flexible with my design ideas, which has increased my confidence and afforded me the opportunities to work with commercial and residential designs.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I help men and women create peaceful and tranquil spaces that will cultivate creativity and productivity, decrease stress and anxiety all while promoting their overall well-being. Designing living rooms and bedrooms is something I love to do. My signature service is creating comfortable, inviting, and warm spaces near the entrance of a home. Homeowners (and visitors) should feel an immediate sense of peace when they enter. This can be achieved by making sure that every element within the space reflects its occupants. Living rooms are great for bonding with family and friends, having fun, making memories, and unwinding at the end of a long day.
Bedrooms should be personal sanctuaries – a place just for you where you can escape from life’s daily stresses. Every room in a home contributes to achieving balance, cohesiveness, harmony, and peace that positively affect our well-being. God desires us to have this inner peace which we can find by surrounding ourselves with love on a daily basis in our own home.
When it comes to interior design, I strive to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also emotionally and mentally balancing. I am passionate about helping my clients create living spaces that reflect their individual style, values and needs.
I also have an online home decor store that offers unique home decor accessories and candles that will help create and add to that space you desire to create. Go to www.shop.karennasdesigns.com to shop with us. Coming soon is a book, “Peace Within These Walls”, to help create peaceful and tranquil spaces. This book serves as a guide to creating a peaceful space that will cultivate creativity and productivity, decrease stress and anxiety, all while improving your overall well-being. I can recall just looking for certain pillow patterns, colors and textures and having a difficult time finding them. Go to www.peacewithinthesewalls.com to get your copy to help get you started.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
As an interior designer, the Covid-19 crisis has taught me some important lessons. One of the biggest is that adaptability is key – even when it comes to design projects. When working remotely, I’ve had to be more creative and resourceful with my designs and materials. I’ve also had to learn how to work with clients remotely and find innovative ways to present my ideas without in-person meetings. I have also learned the importance of being able to pivot quickly depending on client needs as well as adjust project timelines to accommodate changing schedules and circumstances. In these uncertain times, creativity, flexibility, and resilience are key when providing design services.
The Covid-19 crisis has shown that technology can be a powerful tool when it comes to coordinating projects and communicating with clients remotely. Video conferencing tools have allowed me to stay connected with clients as well as establish a virtual design component for convenience. People have learned through the pandemic that with creativity and determination, even the most difficult challenges can be overcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: karennasdesigns.com
- Instagram: @karennasdesignstudio
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/karennasdesignstudio
- Twitter: @Karennas
- Other: www.createpeaceathome.com (Free Gift)
Image Credits
Shaun Hope May Alice Photography Jay Bentley Jay Bentley Media
