PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
SHANE
WELCH
(FLOWERS)
Today, Karen Herold is known as one of Chicago's most success-
ful commercial interior designers, but when the Amsterdam
native first arrived here in 1998, she was just another aspir-
ing talent looking for work. Odd jobs in those early days
included waitressing for three nights at Schuba's ("I lost
$40 the first night, made $400 on the second, and none
on the third," she laughs) and babysitting "every child in
Chicago," but Herold eventually landed a plum posi-
tion as creative director at design firm 555 International.
In her 13 years there, her contemporary, approachable
style won her clients like Hugh Hefner, Michael Morton,
and Steve Wynn, as well as Chicago hot spots Balena, GT
Fish & Oyster, Girl & the Goat, Embeya, and Perennial Virant.
Now the 42-year-old has gone solo, having launched multidisci-
plinary design firm Studio K in January. As Herold prepares to unveil her
latest project, a renovation of Waldorf Astoria dining destination Balsan for hot-
shot restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff, the designer opens up about how she finds
inspiration in her home—with her son, Max, 12—in Logan Square, which she
has seen evolve over the years into the vibrant, diverse, and trendy
neighborhood it is now.
"I really wasn't familiar with Logan Square when we
moved here in 2000; it was just something we could afford,
and for me it was closer to work. But it was really
beautiful and the first place where I wanted to stay a
while, and that's why I'm in Logan Square now. And
now I love it—I absolutely love everything about it.
"Logan Square is a real walking neighborhood.
When I come home and pick up my son around 6 o'clock,
you see all kinds of people walking from the Blue line, and
I like that. Now that Logan Square is really starting to become
a destination—around Milwaukee, Logan, and Kedzie—people
walk to the neighborhood, then disperse back to their homes. So I
like that the activity on the street is not just cars but people on foot, and lots
of bikes. It sometimes makes me feel like I'm back home in Amsterdam.
"Walking to the Farmers Market on the square on Sunday is one of
my favorite things to do, and I love Half Italian
"THERE'S A PASSION ABOUT LOGAN SQUARE."
FROM WALKABILITY TO DIVERSITY, STUDIO K FOUNDER
are n Herold COUNTS THE REASONS SHE LOVES
HER NORTHWEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BY BRIAN JUSTICE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC KLEINBERG
Interior designer
Karen Herold moved
to Logan Square years
before it became the
hip haven it is today.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 84
Right on the
square, Fleur offers
contemporary
arrangements
and unique gifts.
82 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM
PEOPLE Native
