Karen Bow — Interior Designer

“Every home needs one strong, dramatic element, something that makes guests say, ‘God I love this, isn’t it great?’”

— Karen Bow, interior designer


An Excerpt from “/be-spok/[bespoke]: a philosophy of beauty” by Beth Benton Buckley:

A former theater professional whose passion was in set design, Karen Bow knows the power of strong first impressions. Upon entering the theater and before even a single word is spoken, audiences gain valuable insight into the characters that live in that world. Karen likens this to walking into a home, where the inhabitants’ décor tells the story of their life, so it felt like a natural progression for her to go from the stage into living rooms, kitchens, and beyond.

While pausing her theater career to raise her daughter, folk musician Melanie MacLaren, Karen kept her creativity sharp by renovating and decorating her New York and Connecticut homes. It was then that she discovered a love for Jonathan Adler’s cheeky style and admirable work ethic, and Karen even ended up collaborating with the designer’s SoHo team during that time. It invigorated her love of interior design, especially when combined with the inspiration she finds daily in and aroundNew York City and on her travels.

Photography by Amy Vischio

Photography by Amy Vischio