November 2023 Member Spotlight

Karen L. Johnson, ASID Allied, Principal/Creative Director, Karen Lee Johnson Interiors

Karen began her journey in the world of interior design over twenty years ago when she received her Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Mount Mary University.  Although she has had careers in shopping mall management/marketing and retailing, her passion for design was always in her heart.  As a young girl Karen would be rearranging and redecorating her bedroom to demonstrate the latest trends!  She was an avid seamstress as well, leading to her first college degree in Fashion Merchandising from Northwood University in Michigan.  

Originally from Ohio, Karen and her husband Mike have lived in such places as Kansas City, Atlanta, Chicago, and now Wisconsin for the last twenty-nine years, where they raised twin sons who now both live in the Milwaukee metropolitan area.  

Currently living and running her business, Karen Lee Johnson Interiors, in Delafield, Karen 
has worked with clients on various residential projects that include new construction, kitchen and bath remodels, lighting design projects, custom-designed furniture, custom window treatments, master bedroom suite remodels, and basement remodels - several of which have earned her ASID WI Chapter Design Excellence Awards.  She has also participated in the Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse and other community showhouses.

Karen started her ASID membership as a student at Mount Mary, and was elected as student chapter president.  Upon graduation she continued her membership in the ASID WI chapter where she worked on various activities of the Membership Committee and new member recruitment.  She was awarded the chapter’s Volunteer of the Year in 2011.  From 2013 - 2015, Karen was a member of the ASID WI Board in the role of Financial Director, where she cleaned up and organized the chapter’s accounts, instituted new procedures for regulating income/expenses, spearheaded the creation of the chapter’s historical file storage, and assisted with the chapter’s sponsorship drive.  Her efforts in this role were awarded with a Presidential Citation.  Karen has also served on many strategic planning committees throughout her ASID membership.  You can now find her currently assisting the Design Boss Webinar Series committee.

In her spare time Karen enjoys traveling, gardening, golfing, keeping in touch with out-of-town friends, and learning all about the world of wine (drinking it - one of her favorite pastimes!!)