About Us
Arlene Ladegaard, IIDA - Owner, Principal Designer
Co-owner, Director of Marketing and Design Administration, Team Leader
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Arlene is a multi-award winning, Certified Interior Designer with more than 30 years of experience in the field of interior design, providing innovative, residential design services to satisfied clients in the Kansas City area.
She is known for creating spaces that are classic in styling and create a unique sense of style and sophisitication with the utmost sense of personal comfort and taste.
Arlene's beautiful designs may be seen in some of the finest homes of Kansas City. Since she has also lived in California and Switzerland, she has had the opportunity to work with more than several hundred clients in the Midwest, California, and Europe.
In the past several years, her designs have been featured in Spaces, Leawood Lifestyle, Kansas City Home & Gardens and many other local and national publications.
She has been the recipient of numerous prestigious interior design and remodeling awards. Arlene is the only Kansas City interior designer who has won the American society of Interior Designers (ASID) for four consecutive years.
From space planning to materials selections, to project management to the final touch, Arlene makes sure each client gets her unbiased and dedicated attention from the start of each project to the end.
Remodeling and updating are one of Arlene's many passions. She especially enjoys designing for empty nesters or working with clients who want to update their homes as their family changes.
Arlene is the only Overland Park designer who has assembled a design team, which includes in-house architect, project manager, furniture, drapery and decorating specialist. This assures that the client has the benefit of an integrated approach, which saves time and money.
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Background
Arlene is a native Californian, attended Stevens College and the University of Arizona. She has taught interior design in the Los Angeles area. She has worked as a Certified Interior Designer in Los Angeles/Santa Monica before moving to Switzerland, and then relocating to Kansas City.
Professional Organizations
- Certified Interior Designer (CCIDC)
- American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
- International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
- National Association for the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
- Member of the Overland Park Rotary Club
- Member of the Leawood Chamber of Commerce
Ed Ladegaard
Co-owner, Director of Marketing and Design Administration
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Ed brings his considerable business experience and acumen to the strategic planning, marketing and administrative oversight role at Design Connection. Prior to forming Design Connection with Arlene, Ed spent nearly 35 years as a senior manufacturing executive with the Friskies Petcare division of Nestle Co. His international assignments, which resulted in the family relocating to Switzerland, helped formulate the lifestyle tastes and ideas which permeate Design Connection today.
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Dorota Lopez
Architectural Design and Space Planning Specialist
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Dorota's architectural and space planning expertise is at the heart of every Design Connection project. Using a combination of technology, skills and design instinct, Dorota executes our design and space planning process. Our approach ensures that all aspects of a space are analyzed and accounted for, creating cohesive design flow within the space and throughout the home. Dorota is a Florida native, who received her master's degree in architecture from the University of Miami.
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Dana L. Winley
Strategic Project Manager
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Dana brings 30 years of experience in the design industry to our company. She is the face of Design Connection to many customers, answering questions, letting them know how the firm can best help them and assisting them as they identify what they want to do. Dana studied interior design in Switzerland and completed her degree right here in Kansas City. She has worked on projects of all sizes from California to Mexico and the Midwest. Dana joined our team in May, 2011 following her lastest position at One Park Place luxury condominiums. Her passion for a positive customer experience make her a valuable part of the Deisgn Connection, Inc. team.
Click through to the Portfolio section to experience the expertise that Design Connection Holds
