For Karen Menzenbach, life has always been about the freedom to create, explore, and break away from the conventional path. The talented interior designer has been traveling Europe in her camper van since she was 16, embracing a life without boundaries. Now based in Palma, Mallorca, Karen shares with “Humans of Mallorca” her inspiring journey from her native Germany to the scenic roads of Europe, her passion for nature-inspired designs, and why the open road will always be her true home.
Where are you based now?
This year I settled down in the center of Palma, Mallorca, and I also have another small home in Bonn, Germany, with my partner.
Where were you born and where did you study?
I was born in Karlsruhe, a medium-sized, baroque town in the south-west of Germany next to the border with France and Switzerland. I lived there all my childhood until I moved to Heidelberg to study Marketing for three years and afterwards to Darmstadt, where I studied Interior Architecture. Afterwards I traveled a lot in my van through all of Europe, worked for some years in Karlsruhe as an interior designer again until I finally made my dream come true of moving to Spain this year.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I grew up I wanted to found an animal rescue farm. Later I wanted to pursue a career as a radio host and I also wanted to travel some years as a stewardess. I never knew exactly what to do. I always had so many ideas and I still do.
How did you choose your profession?
First, I started out studying tourism and international marketing due to my interest in languages and foreign countries. My art teacher at high-school told me I wasn’t good enough to have an artistic career, so I chose something safe. Very soon I found out that this place felt totally wrong for me so I decided to pursue my secret passions of creating, designing, organizing spaces by using structure, colors and materials. I ended up at an architectural university doing all my studies and jobs quite well, but still felt it wasn’t a 100% fit. Plus, I wasn’t ready for a career as a normal architect. During my studies I discovered my passion for watercolors, botanical paintings, creating patterns and illustrating my travels. What first started as a hobby soon became a serious passion and then later my career. After doing art and illustration first as a side business, I took on more and more projects over time and I’m now working both in interior and graphic design.
What was your first adventure in a van like?
At the age of sixteen I started my camping adventures outside of Germany, having only slept in tents in my grandmother’s garden during childhood summers before. At the beginning of my road-trip adventures, I traveled several years with a tiny little car fully packed with food, clothes and only a tent, mainly to France or the north of Spain. I enjoyed those trips a lot but it was also quite uncomfortable having to set up my tent every day again at a new place. So, I saved up all my money to build the van of my dreams. From then on, I could more easily move from one place to another, not having to worry about packing, as my bed was always with me.
What do you look for when you travel in a van? Beautiful landscapes? Interesting people? Adventure?
What I enjoy the most about traveling in a van is the fact that I am totally free in choosing where I want to go at any time. There is no need for planning, booking hotel rooms or even deciding on the country in advance. I can check the weather the day before I go and can explore whatever I want. Mainly I look for beautiful landscapes as I love to be surrounded by nature. On my trips I always need to deal with upcoming obstacles such as rapid weather changes, engine breakdowns or break-ins into my car. But I am also rewarded with unexpected, unforgettable sunsets, fresh croissants from French bakeries, encounters with interesting people along the way, constant learning about new cultures, expanding my mind-set and creating friendships for a lifetime.
Does mass-tourism affect your way of living in Mallorca?
The question of mass-tourism is quite difficult and I think a lot about this dilemma every day. We all want to enjoy this wonderful island, but lots of traffic on the roads, rising rents and party tourism are destroying the island’s character and make me question my own role in all of this. In my opinion, there need to be governmental restrictions on the amount of holiday homes, rising living costs and cars on the island. Mallorca is a strange mixture of cheap party tourism and luxury living. I see many people leaving the island and continuously wonder if this is the right place for me, too.
Your designs feature wonderful nature-inspired elements. Was it always like this?
My designs have always been inspired by nature. I started out painting botanicals, herbs and blossoms with watercolors, from which I created my illustrations and patterns. I also painted a lot of travel scenes which often include nature or plants in all of their forms. Three years ago, I discovered gouache as a new technique and developed my more graphical illustrations which combine my beloved plants with the sun, the moon or the sea by using naturally inspired color palettes.
What are you most proud of? Why?
What I am most proud of is my ability to always find new opportunities in life for myself. I don’t give up on pursuing my dreams, and I fight for them even though it’s often very hard. Many people tell me that they would love to own a camper, change their life, travel more, work less, but they never do it. It takes a lot of courage and energy to constantly evolve, quit jobs, change careers, learn how to build a camper, find out how to move abroad and thus create a life which fits you. I am proud of not following a certain path that society expects me to follow, proud of listening to myself, saying no where necessary and yes to all the chances that come my way.
What was your first big break?
My first big break was when I won a competition for designing a summer textile collection. The winners got the chance to have their designs printed on real fabrics like cushions and tablecloths and have them photographed in a fabulous Mediterranean finca setting in Mallorca. At that time I still had no clue that I would live in Mallorca one day, so looking back this turning point seems even more important and exciting.
What professional and travel plans do you have for the coming year?
I’ve had a lot of stress this year with moving and changing countries, so 2025 will hopefully be a slower one for me. During winter I want to recharge my batteries, and next year I aim to explore new opportunities on the island – both professionally and personally. I have many things in mind, such as creating new artworks and pattern collections, going to art markets or maybe giving classes one day. Besides that, I would love to visit Andalusia with my van and later on I’ve planned a tour through Italy to a friend’s wedding in Croatia.
Text by Stephan Reiryan
