Like many, Karen went to school but she didn’t like it. She found it difficult to succeed in settings that failed to represent her true self and her potential future self. She explored several possibilities without knowing what would excite her until she landed a fast-paced position in the City. The job covered her expenses but failed to ignite her passion.
Karen's career started with a high-pressure Executive Assistant role at Goldman Sachs before she began her journey into garden design and received industry awards and accreditations. And while it wasn’t creative, it taught her a great deal: In the fast-paced environment at Goldman Sachs, Karen learned the skills of organizational structure and professional focus which enabled her to manage any challenge presented by a demanding business setting. She had no idea the importance those skills would eventually hold.
It was her parents’ love for their garden – including her dad’s ‘back of a fag packet’ designs! – and her obsession with her eccentric collection of plant scrap books, that would lead to running a thriving garden design studio today. From what started as a passionate hobby, Karen’s father encouraged her to “live for today”. Sadly, her Father left the world way too early, but his words of wisdom are with her every day and would be pivotal in the decision that Karen took to study her RHS exams and then Garden Design at the Museum of Garden History – all whilst managing her job and the arrival of twins! It was with her father’s wise words in her heart that she finally ditched the day job and followed her dreams.
She decided to leave her spreadsheets behind and pursue her passion through sketchbooks as her full-time profession. She established a design practice that combines artistic invention with business skills along with her consistent passion for garden design. Her SGD, APL and BALI accreditations provide formal recognition of her skills while she maintains engagement with garden design developments through ongoing workshops and collaborative efforts.
Creating her business venture provided her with knowledge that went well beyond plants and paving. Her business journey developed her entrepreneur mindset and ability to adapt to unexpected situations while maintaining stability through every challenge. Business coaching along with mentoring form the core of her work and she consistently finds value in listening to podcasts and exchanging ideas with fellow creative professionals.
Karen manages a passionate team of talented individuals who embrace her commitment to doing things properly through care and clarity alongside creative inspiration. They work closely with trusted landscapers, suppliers and industry partners who share the same ethos: They collaborate with trusted partners to create gardens that make people's lives better through careful design and beauty.
Raising the bar has been Karen’s single-minded goal throughout her career. She and her team keep raising the bar through their work on individual gardens.