Interior Designer
Hi everyone, I’m Karen! I’m an interior designer at Salt and the five years I’ve been here have really flown by. I dreamt of being an interior designer since I was little. As a kid, my version of playing with Legos involved building actual rooms and furniture, including sofas, beds, kitchens, and more. I grew up going to the construction sites of the homes my family flipped and funny enough HGTV was my favorite channel as a teenager. After earning an Interior Design degree from Virginia Tech and gaining experience at a handful of residential design companies, I'm now grateful to be part of Salt's talented and hardworking team.
As to my personal design style, I love a classic and traditional backdrop with layers of vintage woods, floral patterns, warm earthy tones, greenery and select pops of color. Think countryside farmhouse infused with some coastal and Spanish flair.
My mom immigrated from the coastal area of Peru and my dad from the countryside of Puerto Rico, so I draw inspiration from both countries when I visit.When I'm not immersed in design, I enjoy being outdoors - whether it's hiking wooded trails, hitting the slopes, or soaking up the sun at the beach just like the rest of the Salt ladies.
Cooking wholesome and nutritious foods is another passion of mine, though I’ll almost never say no to Chick-fil-A – one of the loves of my life, ha. Giving back to my community is very important to me as well. I volunteer at my church’s thrift store, where proceeds support local non-profit organizations. Antique and thrift stores are my happy places, thus it’s always a challenge not to leave with something new.
This year I also had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Costa Rica, helping and spending time with former-trafficked children at a rescue home. This experience gave me a new perspective on life and deepened my desire for helping others, so I look forward to going on more!