About Us

Bios

Karen Kalmek - Founder

Karen's passion for building an interior design company is rooted in m any elements; her heritage, entrepreneurial background, work experiences and personal commitments. Her undergraduate degree in Psychology from South Africa and Masters degree in Education from Israel led her int o Human Resources with a Fortune 500 company. She then worked in entrepreneurial environments before successfully launching two successful service companies. As an artist and business woman in Chicago, she sought out a not for profit organization that imported high end home decor from Africa and whose primary focus was poverty alleviation. From there, Green Home Chicago became a clearer vision and a reality within her grasp. In this company she is finally able to c ombine economic, social and env ironmental elements. She is commi tted to the 'green collar' idea of keeping jobs both within the United States, and, if possible, local. Her inventory is keyed to her 'green' 10-point classification system which educates clients and allows them to weigh aesthetic, environmental and cost factors for themselves.

Bill Homer - COO

Bill grew up in the home furnishings business and had early exposure to good design aesthetics. While in engineering school, he contemplated a move to architecture and worked on construction projects learning how buildings and interiors are put together. His experience as an engineer/project manager for a Fortune 50 technology company and his extensive international experience taught him how to solve complex problems under adverse circumstances. As a co-founder of Green Home Chicago, he is thrilled to be able to combine many of his lifelong interests in building a new business.

Bonnie Grudowski - Interior Designer

Bonnie’s natural flair for design and commitment to quality products make her a perfect addition to Green Home Chicago. Bonnie oversees every project’s design direction and finish selections, managing the entire project through to completion. Her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and design degree from Harrington College of Design, together with four years of experience in both commercial and residential design, provides clients with loads of technical experience and a strong intuition for each particular client’s design needs and personal aesthetic. She is excited to be involved in this exciting endeavor of making each project as environmentally friendly as it is beautiful.