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The work of an interior designer may to the inexperienced eye appear to be all about inanimate objects and their arrangement. Nothing could be further from the truth. KGA Design is all about people – finding their energy, and matching it with an interior that is, in just a few words, to die for.
After obtaining a Graduate Degree in Interior Design from University of Oklahoma, designer Kelly Gale Amen did the unthinkable: turned living with art into art of living. Now, after almost five decades of excellence in interior design, Kelly’s name is a renowned brand.
The journey of KGA Design starts in 1974, when Kelly quit his two-year job at Foley’s to launch a brand of his own. It took two years for his work to grace the cover of a national magazine for the first time. Since then, his acclaimed interior vision has been displayed in many of the world’s biggest publications, from Vogue to Southern Accents to Residential Interiors. He designed homes, stores, boats, and even a controversial condom-filled Tiffany’s window in 1987. His projects earned him awards like Traditional Designer Of The Year in 1998, and the Texas Star of Design award in 2008.
Kelly’s work extends beyond rooms and houses and into carpentries and metal foundries. The late 20th century brought about the creation of the KGA Design Art Furniture brand, which now presents an extensive catalogue of award winning cast metal and wood furniture, as well as pillows, patterns, and commemorative benches. The pieces, all bespoke and one-of-a-kind, are to be found in institutions like the American Embassy in Moscow, the Stafford Museum, or IAH Airport.
1974 also marked the year when Kelly was a founding member of ASID – the American Society for Interior Designers. Passionate about bringing communities together, he has since created and been involved in a plethora of philanthropic projects. Ranging from developing education for children through the Zina Garrison foundation to enriching the lives of cancer patients through his own charity endeavour, Cancer Below The Belt, Kelly makes a goal out of supporting the environments in which he thrives. His actions did not go unnoticed – in 2001, he was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Texas AIDS foundation.
Today, Kelly continues to design vigorously and develop his vision to newer and newer depths.
“A good design plan leaves room for the constant joy of experimentation.
I can walk into a house and tell whether the people are really using the house and enjoying each room. I know if a house has personality, I can tell if it is loved, if its owners are working with it and getting the full enjoyment they deserve from the space in each room.”
“We’ve all heard endless construction nightmares of missed deadlines, subs pulling no-shows, doing such a poor job that work has to be ripped out and started over…. The list goes on. Quite the contrary with Mr. Amen.
Upon first consultation, I could see the wheels turning. Next, Kelly returns with tile samples and a design plan: Luscious neutral colors with three mirrored walls, Italian tile walls and floors, custom cabinets, updated lighting and fixtures. Excitement was building. From this conception to introduction of skilled craftsman, viewing the space that could rival the construction of new pyramids.
Plumber, cabinet maker, fixture expert, painter- all convening in the master bath. Kelly knows how to create excitement for both the client and the team doing the work.
Every morning around 8:00, Kelly’s upbeat voice would resound over the phone telling me exactly what would happen that day. Subs were on time, professional, neat, and thorough. The bathroom was totally gutted and transformed in just fifteen working days! Kelly was in and out of my home, overseeing every stroke, every cabinet, every fixture. Living in this chaos wasn’t as trying as I might have imagined because Kelly included me in every step of the process and I could see that his scheduling was like a well-oiled machine and the subcontractors were lined up to follow each other with great precision.
What made it magical for me can be reduced to these three points:
I grew to trust Kelly’s advice and decisions implicitly. He finished on time and on budget and I will forever be grateful for this excellent service.”
Helen Perry, result-oriented consultant to companies and individuals desiring to heighten professional presence and productivity; 2013 and 2014 Pinnacle Award recipient;
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