ABOUT ME
Design, to me, is simply who I am. I see color, texture, light and movement. I love to create and recreate beautiful spaces. My favorite part is having clients call me and tell me how much they love their new home.
Karen Gershon is the principal and owner of Innerspace, a residential design firm based in Chicago, Illinois and St Petersburg, Florida, specializing in contemporary interiors, space planning and large-scale renovations. For the past twenty years, Karen has been working closely with clients to transform their spaces into stylish, contemporary and comfortable homes.
Karen is a passionate, creative interior decorator that has had a penchant for home design since she was a child, when her grandfather gifted her a simple cardboard dollhouse. Always the artist, she used old bathroom rugs, remnants from wallpaper books, and handmade Styrofoam furniture to create tiny special rooms.
After a successful career in advertising and marketing, Karen came home where she belonged. She transitioned from corporate life to pursue her true calling - interior design. She began as a construction assistant and designer for a residential home remodeler in Chicago and went on to work on small design projects and residential improvements. There, she refined her skills in project management, budget analysis, reading floorplans and elevations, and working one on one with trades.
Her extensive hands-on experience across construction sites, remodels and new builds allows her to see the finished vision from the earliest plans. She excels at creative problem-solving and space planning, especially when clients cannot envision the solution to a challenging layout. She went on to manage major renovations and construction projects in Chicago. A relocation to St Petersburg, Florida brought new opportunities, which eventually led to further success. Her work there was photographed and featured by Origin Windows. Then she was honored as a back-to-back award winner from Florida Design Magazine Seaglass Awards in 2023 and 2024.
Founder & Principal Designer
KAREN GERSHON
She is a visionary and has a unique gift to see a finished space from a mere floorplan. Or, envision a recreated space just by walking through it. She specializes in creating clean, contemporary open spaces that are both livable and comfortable. She thrives on the challenge of harmonizing colors, textures and layouts to create functional, beautiful environments. Adding pattern, whether utilized in tile, rugs, wallpaper or pillows, is Karen’s signature design addition.
She works symbiotically with her clients, listening to their needs, their likes and dislikes and what works best for their budget and space. She does encourage clients to think outside out of their comfort zone, where she introduces new ideas that often result in the most favorite design elements.
Although Karen lives, eats and breathes design, she also enjoys spending time with her husband Andy, and her two Alaskan Malamutes, Ekko and Senna. She is equally passionate about tennis, cooking, and international travel.
“The perfect client makes you a better designer.”
– Victoria Hagan