KEELY HARDINGER, Designer
Keely has always had an eye for composition and a curiosity about organizing objects in space. “In my head, I was meant to be a photographer,” says Keely, who showed promise in her photo projects at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she earned her B.F.A. “I was gradually led to realize that my interests in textiles and space planning lent themselves to interior design.” After college, she honed her design skills while earning an associate of interior design degree at Harrington College of Design and working for John Edmunds, a residential interior design firm in Chicago. She moved home to Kansas City in July, 2005 to join Madden-McFarland. Keely is an empathetic and patient listener who is adept at synthesizing disparate concepts into a harmonious picture.

PERSONAL STATEMENT
I love it when a client falls in love with a particular piece of furniture, art or accessory–to see that person’s joy in and connection to it. If someone is drawn to a piece, there’s usually a reason. It is important to find a way to make that piece work for her or him. In a retail setting, that can be a challenge because you don’t have a clear picture of the client’s space or how it is used.

I ask lots of questions and listen carefully to everything before letting my mind go to possibilities. As a designer, your reward comes from having helped expand the client’s vision, thus making their environment better than they imagined. I love working with people–listening to their ideas and bringing them together in a cohesive manner. I never rush people. I always believe that somehow, something can always be found that will be just right.