Joanne

Joanne has always had a passion for well-designed homes. That passion led her to earn a degree in Interior Design from Southern Illinois University.

After graduating, Joanne relocated to Los Angeles for the opportunity to work as an interior designer for IKEA, where she designed room settings, store entrances, offices, restaurants, and lobby spaces. She later joined Forever 21’s retail design group, developing design concepts for both new and remodeled stores across domestic and international locations.

After moving to Kansas City, Joanne spent nearly ten years as an Interior Design Specialist for Associated Wholesale Grocers, the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler serving independently owned supermarkets.

Ready to refocus on her original passion and eager to return to more personal, client-focused work, Joanne eventually transitioned into residential design. Today, she brings her diverse background in commercial and retail design to thoughtfully crafted homes that balance beauty, function, and livability.

As Kala’s interior designer, she brings a strong ability to quickly assess a space,
understand clients’ needs, and translate those insights into practical, well-executed design solutions for high-performance homes.

When asked what being generous means, she said,
“Spatially, it’s about having more room. Personally, it’s all about giving.”