August 20, 2025

Episode 22: Studio K's Karen Herold: Why Bad Lighting Kills Good Design

43 minutes

"If someone would say we have $1 million for finishes but no lighting designer, or $600,000 with a lighting designer - I choose that second one every day of the week." - Karen Herold

Interior designer Karen Herold of Studio K joins hosts Lisa and Avi for an in-depth discussion about the critical relationship between interior design and lighting. With 25 years in hospitality design, Herold shares insights from her work with notable restaurateurs and her philosophy that "lighting makes or breaks every project." The conversation explores how lighting creates emotional environments, the challenge of selling lighting design services to clients, and innovative approaches like rechargeable table lamps changing traditional restaurant lighting strategies. Herold emphasizes the collaborative nature of successful projects, stating "if you don't light it correctly, you might as well not design it" - echoing Steve Wynn's design philosophy that has guided her career from Vegas casinos to mountain resorts.

In This Episode:

(00:00) From fashion to hospitality design

(05:25) Why lighting makes or breaks every project

(11:27) Restaurant design challenge: layering light between tables and the ceiling

(13:09) Selling lighting design services to skeptical clients

(16:12) Rechargeable lamps are changing restaurant lighting strategies completely

(24:18) Building client trust through clear boundaries and expertise

(26:28) Bridging the knowledge gap with better visual tools

(34:15) Training junior designers and continuing education importance

(39:42) Beyond restaurant: lighting that reduces the need for expensive finishes

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About the show:
Lighting Matters is hosted by Lisa Reed and Avi Mor. In each episode, we’ll dig deep into the meticulous process of creating lighting design for architecture, showcasing industry leaders who balance artistic creativity with technical precision, and listen as they share their successes and challenges in architectural lighting design.

Resources:
Karen Herold www.studiokcreative.com
Lighting Matters Podcast LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighting-matters-podcast/
Lighting Matters Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLkEKnB8XgSXoeDY0T8t3w
Lisa Reed https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-j-reed-b198154/
Reed Burkett Lighting Design http://www.rbldi.com
Avraham Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrahammor/
Morlights https://www.morlights.com/