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Online consultation
Locally owned
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Contact Info:
Karyn Sklar
San Diego, CA
San Diego, CA
Typical Job Costs:
$20,000 - 1 million
Category:
https://www.houzz.com/pro/krsklar copied to clipboard
San Diego Based | Interiors With Purpose & Personalization
page_type: prop_plus_profile
Close your eyes...imagine what it feels like to be somewhere you absolutely love - cozy, surrounded by family & friends, cooking up a feast, turning up the music for a spontaneous dance party in the living room, laughing around the dinner table, resting soulfully in your bed, curling up with that best seller in your loft, or recharging your inner battery from your sun-filled shower or the breath of fresh air from your lush patio while staring at the fire & sipping a glass of wine. This is home.
Your physical surroundings affect you in so many more ways than you realize - color, pattern, sound, the volume of space, efficiency, work flow, ergonomics, textures, temperature, light, and the nuances of details that tie it all together to make your story - well...YOURS. What do you want your space to say about you? What do you want to feel like when you walk through the door every day? What is your optimal environment that makes you uber productive and energized to do your best work?
Design is highly personal, so these are the questions we aim to answer while working with you. It can be quite the balancing act of options & preferences because the definition of "YOU" often translates to you, your partner, your children, and beyond! To create your home, we do get to know you on a deeper level than say - your dentist.
While the psychology behind it and final "ta-dah" moment sounds dreamy and all - working with a team that KNOWS their stuff and thinks through the outcome is just as critical to a project’s success. Communication with our clients, consultants, contractors and vendors throughout the process supports the overall end game - to have the home you've always dreamt of, at a budget that works for you, built in a way that's thoughtful and solid, and in a realistic time frame.
We've traveled around the sun more than a few times in this industry (more than 20 ...and then we stopped counting to give our youthful side a boost), and our experience in both the commercial and residential design worlds have exposed us to a ton of both technical and theoretical situations - so it's a great combo! We can (and will) get our hands dirty. We are not afraid of questions because that is how we explore and learn. And there is no room for egos in our process - it's collaborative through and through. We are inventive solution seekers and nest makers for the place you call home - where ever that may be. Our doors are open – so come on in!
Services Provided
3D Rendering, Bathroom Design, Bedroom Design, Color Consulting, Custom Built-ins, Custom Furniture, Custom Kitchen Cabinets, Custom Walk-in Closets, Dining Room Design, Drafting, Floor Plans, Furniture Selection, Home Office Design, House Plans, Interior Design, Kids Bedroom Design, Kitchen Design, Lighting Design, Living Room Design, Nursery Design, Playroom Design, Space Planning, Kitchen Remodeling
Areas Served
Del Mar, Fairbanks Ranch, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, University City, Coronado, Hill Crest San Diego, La Mesa, Mission Hills San Diego, Ocean Beach San Diego, Point Loma San Diego, Pacific Beach, Mt. Helix
Awards
NCIDQ Certified
10 Projects for Sklar Studios

San Diego, California
Ranch Haus
13 photos

El Cajon, CA
Generation to Generation
27 photos

San Diego, CA
Urban Condo
7 photos

San Diego, CA
The University Club
4 photos

San Diego, CA
Hemingway Kitchen - San Diego, CA
11 photos

San Diego, CA
Rutgers Residence - La Jolla, CA
4 photos

La Mesa, CA
Investment Property - Mid Century Modern Home - La Mesa, CA
16 photos

Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Modern Farmhouse - Rancho Santa Fe, CA
8 photos

San Diego, CA
The UnTuscan - Contemporary Home - Pacific Beach - San Diego, CA
14 photos

San Diego, CA
Corporate Condo - La Jolla, CA
11 photos
Featured Review

Sabrina Zaslov
Relationship
Client
Karyn was the designer for 2 of our major home remodels: 1. Kitchen 2. Masterbath These are some attributes that were important to us in which Karyn surpassed our expectations: -Attention to detail -Listened to our wants and needs -Cost- consciousRead Full Review
11 Reviews for Sklar Studios

Natalie Chiles
Relationship
Client
Karyn has an amazing wealth of knowledge. Working with her for renovating half of our home was the best decision we made. Reworking so much of your home is an overwhelming task. Karyn presented us with multiple options. We started with the big picture, and narrowed it down to the fine details. Karyn was able to provide us with ideas we never would have thought of on our own, and to steer us away from things that would have been the wrong decision in the end. Without her guidance there is no way we would have the home we have today- we use every space, it's more efficient, and we enjoy being together in it so much more than we did before.
May 8, 2020

Comment from Sklar Studios:
Working with you and your family was a dream, Natalie! Thank you for the kind words. I'm so thrilled that you love your new space - what a huge transformation!!! And BIG BONUS...it was so great to do the photo shoot with you, too oh talented one!

Andy McRory Photography
Relationship
Colleague
Over the past 2 years I've photographed several of Karyn's high-end design projects, and I'm always struck by how well she nails the details that link a whole-home or commercial design together. She approaches projects with an architectural eye (her background), which is perhaps why we work together so well. Even the smallest job takes on special significance when Karyn is in charge! My favorite thing about working with Sklar Studios is the breadth of work I've gotten to document: commercial, residential, institutional (private school facilities), houses of worship, and hospitality. All that experience goes into every future project, which benefits her clientele.




September 8, 2017
Comment from Sklar Studios:
Right back at ya, Andy! You have such a great way of recording our spaces on film and for any format that we need. Your flexibility and understanding of how we like to frame our work is such an important part of the process and why we work together so well. We so respect your talents, and we have always enjoyed being on location and collaborating with you. Thank you for your kind words and for making our portfolio shine!

Chris Haver Photography
Relationship
Colleague
I have worked with Karyn, photographing her projects, multiple times now and one thing stands out. Her passion. She works hard for her clients and truly improves their spaces, whether it be residential or commercial. Collaborating with Karyn on the photo shoots is inspiring and she makes me a better photographer. It's been a pleasure capturing her creative and practical designs and I look forward to the next shoot!
August 24, 2017
Comment from Sklar Studios:
Awe, thank you so much, Chris! The sentiments are mutual. You have a selective eye and are very detailed with your photography, and super patient with us and our requests when trying to capture the essence of the work we do. You are a trusted resource for us, and we look forward to highlighting many more projects with you!

Randy Peerson
Relationship
Client
I bought the condo for its location and layout. Most certainly not for the interior. In a nutshell, everything had to go. Knowing the place had to be gutted was the easy part. The hard part was finding an interior designer to transform the space. This was not an investment property. It would be my home.
The scope of work covered nearly everything. The bathroom was completely gutted. New flooring throughout. Custom cabinetry. The list goes on. All furnishings would need to be acquired. Other than a few moving boxes full of documents Karyn would be starting from a clean slate.
From the beginning Karyn was a joy to work with. She took the effort to learn my ‘must haves’, understand my design aesthetics and identify opportunities to impart aspects of my life into the project like my love of golf and travel.
All the hard work paid off. I love the result. I entrusted my home to Karyn and she delivered beyond my expectations.
August 15, 2017

Sabrina Zaslov
Relationship
Client
Karyn was the designer for 2 of our major home remodels: 1. Kitchen 2. Masterbath
These are some attributes that were important to us in which Karyn surpassed our expectations:
-Attention to detail
-Listened to our wants and needs
-Cost- conscious
-Consideration of functionality without compromising design
-Passionate about her profession
-Innovative
-Extremely knowledgeable of our preferred design style (contemporary/modern)
Highly recommend her and would hire her again for other projects!!!
Karyn went above and beyond in her designs. She took the time to get to know what we were looking for (design as well as functionality) in our kitchen and master bath. She took into account our preferred style (contemporary), my love for concrete (or the concrete-look) as well as other materials (wood and marble flooring) which already existed in the house and added additional warmth to our home.
The kitchen is where I spend most of my time and now I love to be in there even more! Karyn created an open-concept kitchen with an incredible amount of storage. A unique, waterfall edge adds sleekness to our island area. 2 different types of counter top materials/patterns were used on the island and the contrast is amazing. The wood cabinets on the island and sink area provide some warmth next to the high gloss white cabinets ( floor to ceiling) which encase our flush-mounted stainless appliances. I love the clean lines, uniqueness and functionality. It's never a chore to be in our kitchen. She has created my dream kitchen!!
As for our bathroom....she created consistency and utilized the same counter top and warm wood material as the kitchen for the bathroom cabinets. She designed a unique floating vanity which included additional storage up the side walls (hard to picture, but it is amazing!!!) Concrete-Looking tile for flooring and up the shower area walls looks real classy with a glass partial panel in the shower. The linear shower drain added a very modern touch. Feels like I am getting ready at a spa every morning! To top it off, a reclaimed wood barn door closes off the bathroom from the bedroom. This is not just a door but a piece of art and once again adds warmth. Can't forget about my concrete sink :)
Karyn is an exceptional designer. Her creativity and passion shines through. We could tell she loves her profession. Her outside of the box thinking intrigued me and opened my eyes to additional features in our kitchen and bathroom which I wouldn't have even considered. Karyn, Thank you for creating these amazing spaces in our home and teaching me about design along the way. Will be in touch for the next project ;)
July 28, 2017Last modified:September 19, 2017
Comment from Sklar Studios:
Sabrina - Holy smokes! Thank you, thank you, thank you for the amazing review and for inviting me to assist in designing your incredible new home. I may just have to copy paste your descriptions of everything to go along with the photos when we get in there to get it professionally photographed! It was such a fun process to work with you in making such a significant update to your house and making it truly yours for many years to come. It was an honor to be part of this process with you and Marc, and it makes me so happy to know just how much you love it.

Joellyn Zollman
Relationship
Client
Karyn helped us to design a warm and beautiful living room and dining room that both reflects and fits our family. She was creative and practical, fun and detail-oriented. We cant wait to work with her again!
January 22, 2017
Comment from embrio design studio:
Thank you so much, Joellyn! Your whole family (and pup) were a delight to work with! Everyone had input and contributed to the overall feeling and design direction...it really is a true reflection of your beautiful family. May you continue to enjoy it for many years to come & I hope to work with you again soon!

Rockstar Builders, Inc.
Relationship
Colleague
Karyn of Embrio Design was a pleasure to work with. She created a wonderful design for the Homeowner, while keeping within a reasonable budget and addressing and meeting the Homeowners' needs and desires. She was easy to communicate and collaborate with and she helped to keep the job running smoothly and on time. As a General Contractor, I truly appreciate collaborations with professionals like Embrio Design.
October 11, 2016

STEPHANIE WELLS
Relationship
Colleague
Professional, creative, extra ordinary. I had the pleasure of working on a contract lighting job with Embrio Design in the summer of 2015. They were tasked with remodeling the University Club of SD, a private professionals club with a long and respected history in San Diego. I entered the project mid way.
I mostly worked with Karen. On a peer professional level, the information I needed to complete the project came quickly in a very comprehensive, detailed and thorough manner. When pressure was placed, either with materials or manner of delivery, Karen was quick to come up with cost effective solutions. Interacting with Karen was not only informative and functional, it was fun! My memories of that work experience brings a smile to my face.
As designers, they brought ideas and resources to the project that were exactly what the client wanted, with a unique and creative twist. I overheard other professionals on the project comment that they thought they were one of the most innovative designer firms in San Diego.
They worked on the project with dedication and determination into the late hours of the evening, personally installing some of the decorative artwork on the walls.
When the club threw their launch party, I overhead the clubs management say that they loved what they had done and felt so good about the clubs changes.
I would be honored to work with Embrio Design in the future.
I was impressed by them on all levels.
July 15, 2016
Comment from embrio design studio:
The illustrious and talented, Stephanie!!!! Thank you so much for your kind review, and thank you even more for collaborating with us on The University Club project! Your ability to translate our vision into the absolutely gorgeous custom chandelier you created really made this project sparkle! We just did the photo shoot the other weekend, and can't wait to share the images with you & to post them for everyone to see! It's so rewarding for us to be able to work with people like you who enthusiastically join the team and turn our ideas into reality! Thank you my dear! We can't wait to work with you again!

susie meltzer
Relationship
Client
Karyn Rovner-Sklar first designed and supervised our guest bathroom re-model. Her choices in marble and tile were breath-taking. She maximized space for storage, helped select fixtures and lighting and designed custom cabinets. It turned out gorgeous. She then designed our living room re-do. She incorporated our rare sofa with contemporary furniture that was exciting. She designed a porcelain tile wall over the fireplace that looks like a painting, added carpeting and custom shelves that give warmth to the space, and she even helped with finishing touches like the reframing of art. Her creativity, attention to detail (and cost) put her in a class above the rest. She was wonderful to work with..

April 8, 2016
Comment from embrio design studio:
Oh Susie & Eli - Thank you so much for your very kind words and your business!!! Love, love, love working with you guys through the years! The improvements to your home continue to make it better & better every day, and I'm so thrilled that you are enjoying it. Call on us any time!

Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel
Relationship
Colleague
Embrio is great at helping homeowners achieve their lifestyle and space goals without breaking the bank. Successful home remodeling and construction comes from synergy and great collaboration between the Client, Architect, Designer and Contractor. To accomplish this, there needs to be a high level of trust, communication and transparency by all parties. I have worked with Embrio and have seen their teamwork firsthand!
June 24, 2015Last modified:June 25, 2015

bambisd
Relationship
Client
I have worked with Karyn over the course of the past 15 years on a number of different projects - two of my personal homes, my company's office, as well as several of our residential properties that we were preparing to sell on the market. While I know what it is I like in terms of style, I rely on Karyn and the team at Embrio to transform my ideas, come up with unique solutions, present me with options, pull it all together, and make it happen. As a developer, I've recommended them to several of our own clients both for residential and commercial projects. The fact that I've followed her career and hired her repeatedly for well over a decade speaks for itself.
January 29, 2015
Commented: subway tileHello there! I'd have to dig back into my project files, but I believe this tile was a larger format subway at 3" x 15".
January 17, 2021
Commented: beautiful! what is the cabinet brand?The cabinets were custom built for this kitchen. So glad you like it!
September 2, 2019
Commented: What is the floor tile?I still love this tile & continue to use it in many projects (different variations) due to it's price point and aesthetic. It's from Design Industry (represented by Spec Ceramics) and the one ins...
January 10, 2018
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