Karina Oldemans, ASID

School: Ecole Superieure des Arts Modernes, Paris, France
Company: Karina Oldemans Interior Design
2932 Wilshire Blvd
Ste 207
Santa Monica, CA 90403-4925 map
Phone: (310) 820-0320
Email: karina@karinaoldemans.com
Website: www.karinaoldemans.com

Designer Profile

For thirty years Karina Oldemans has created timeless interiors transcending trends, yet sensitive to modern aesthetics. Born in Finland, Karina went to study interior design in Paris at École Supérièure des Arts Modernes, in the Interior Architecture department. After graduation, she was offered a job as a trainee at Danica Inc. in Beverly Hills. Originally planning to spend just a year in California, she met her husband Ted, a Dutchman. Needless to say, Karina made her home here. She started her company, Karina Oldemans Interior Design, in 1975. The clientele includes entertainment personalities, famous authors and diplomats.

In 1995 Karina was named one of six “Rising Stars” in the country by Interior Design magazine. Pasadena Showcase House selected Karina to design a room almost annually since 1990, and she has also served as an advisor for the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts. Karina served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers receiving the Edna O’Brien Award for her service. She was selected to be a Docent at the J. Paul Getty Museum where she volunteered from 1984 until 1996. For over fifteen years Karina has been a member of French Heritage Society, an organization founded to help preserve the architectural patrimony of France and the French legacy in America.

Extensive travel greatly influences Karina’s aesthetic. Raised and educated in Finland and France, she is an expert in the cultural, artistic and architectural treasures of Europe. Since 1980, she has regularly visited countries in Asia, including China, India, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. On a visit to India 1980, hosted by the Indian Institute of Architects, she had the privilege meeting Indira Gandhi. Another influential trip was a visit to Mongolia in 2001 with the delegation of American Women for International Understanding. In addition to English and Finnish, Karina speaks French and Swedish and is studying Mandarin Chinese. She collects antique textiles, with a focus on 19th century Kashmiri and European paisley shawls.

Karina’s design philosophy is to provide the client with a creative, high quality environment, always keeping the client’s needs and requests in mind.

Services Offered

Full Service Residential Interior Design Company

Awards & Publications

Edna O'Brien Award 1994-1995 for Outstanding Allied Member
Numerous Chapter Presidential Citations and Certificates of Merit

Karina's work has been published in the following national and international magazines: Traditional Home, Interior Design, Architectural Digest, Window Fashions, LA West, California Home and Design, Southern California Home and Garden, Interior Expressions, Better Homes and Gardens Bedroom and Bath Ideas,
Gloria Sisustus, Estilos y Casas and Designer Showcase book.

Her television appearances include: Beautiful Homes and Great Estates, twice; HGTV's Kitty Bartholomew You're Home,
Inno and Discovery Channel's Interior Motives.

To read the actual articles and see the TV appearances go to Karina's website and click on MEDIA.