Biography
Karen Eliza is a creative and flawed human being who enjoys working in the fields of interior design, meditation, and dance. She values sustainability, diversity, and artistic expression… is a long time vegetarian who also enjoys non fiction books, swimming and yoga. Having recently graduated from a CIDA accredited university, she is an aspiring commercial Interior Designer. She also is available as a meditation and somatic awareness consultant for individuals and businesses.
During her years living in Berlin, Germany, from 2014 to 2018, Karen discovered how thoughtful design can profoundly transform one’s mood, experience, and overall well-being. The city, with its unique architectural spaces and elegant minimalistic yet captivating design aesthetic, naturally draws you in and encourages free expression. This inspiration compelled Karen to change her career trajectory in her 30’s and embark on a journey as an interior designer.
In recent years, Karen Eliza has carved out a new life path by earning a bachelor’s degree in interior design, all while juggling the role of a part-time design consultant for a commercial health and wellness interior design firm. Karen’s design philosophy is an intricate tapestry woven from her rich and diverse background in fine art, music, and choreography. These experiences have honed her ability to visualize composition, harmony, and spatial flow in any given environment.
As an interior designer, Karen values sustainability, embraces biophilia, and integrates trauma-informed design principles into her work. She carefully considers the sensory impact of each environment she creates, aiming to craft spaces that not only look beautiful but also feel nurturing and calming. Her approach prioritizes designing spatial layouts that support the well-being of its users. Karen’s school portfolio spans both residential and commercial projects, emphasizing the creation of serene environments that echo nature’s tranquility while being infused with modern touches and artistic or whimsical elements to inspire and delight.
Karen also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Contemporary Dance from the renowned North Carolina School of the Arts. After earning her degree in 2004, she relocated to New York City, where she flourished as a freelance contemporary dancer for nearly ten years. Her choreography, characterized by a blend of visual imagery and sensory exploration, has been performed on stages throughout NYC and internationally, captivating audiences in Mexico, Japan, Berlin, Spain and Vienna. In 2014, she moved to Berlin, where she dedicated herself to teaching dance and significantly expanded her movement repertoire by incorporating diverse European improvisation techniques, before ultimately returning to the United States in 2018.
In her extensive dance career, Karen has delved into the realms of improvisation and site-specific dance, avant garde disciplines that have enriched her sense of presence, playful exploration, and heightened body awareness. These practices combined with both her meditation teacher training 2010 and more recently a presence teacher training, strongly underscore her holistic yet experimental approach to design, art and life.
