Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Lankford.
Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve kind of always been doing this, I just didn’t know it was called design yet.
I grew up in Nebraska and was that kid who always had an opinion on how a space should look. I was rearranging my bedroom as a teenager, tagging along on my parents’ home projects, and getting excited about family trips that involved touring monuments, beautiful old buildings, and historic homes. I didn’t have the language for it then, but I was already thinking like a designer.
That said, design was not the original plan. I went to the University of Kansas planning to become a lawyer and started out studying political science. Pretty quickly, I realized that I was spending all my free time sketching interiors, not reading case law. I made a big pivot my sophomore year and switched my major to interior design. It felt instantly right. It wasn’t just something I enjoyed, it was something I could see myself loving long-term.
After graduation I moved to California. I spent those early years working at architecture firms and later became a design review planner for the City of Sacramento. That experience was huge for me. I learned the technical side: commercial interiors, codes, compliance. It was the unglamorous foundation that makes the creative part actually work in real life.
From there, life took me to Washington, D.C. I joined a top design firm and had the chance to work in both residential and commercial spaces in a true luxury market. It was fast-paced, high expectation, high finish level, and honestly, a dream job. But when my husband and I started talking seriously about having a family, we knew we wanted to raise our kids in the Midwest.
So in 2006 we moved back to Kansas City. I had my first baby, and I started KHL Design Studio.
In the beginning it was literally just me, working out of my house. Over time, the client base grew, the work got bigger, and in 2013 we moved into our studio in downtown Lee’s Summit. Since then, we’ve been fortunate to work on so many different kinds of projects across the KC metro, from private homes to larger, visible projects like New Century Airport, KC Bier in Waldo, and the Lakewood Oaks Clubhouse. We’ve also led commercial work in medical, hospitality, and corporate environments. Watching those projects come to life, and seeing clients trust us with both the practical function and the personality of their spaces, has been the best part of the job.
In 2019 we opened INSPO, our home décor store. That was a natural extension of the design studio because it let us bring the finishes, textures, lighting, and accessories we love directly to clients and the community. We showcase unique pieces, we support local artists, and we carry everything from small gifts starting around $12 all the way up to original artwork and glass pieces. It has been such a fun way to make good design feel more accessible.
Today, KHL Design Studio is a full-service interior design firm in downtown Lee’s Summit, supported by a team of five college educated designers who bring both technical expertise and a strong creative point of view to every project. Our work has been recognized with multiple design awards, including Heartland Design Awards, and we have delivered award winning commercial spaces for clients throughout the Kansas City metro. We have also been featured by local media and recognized as a woman owned business. At the end of the day, that is what drives us. We create spaces that are beautiful, functional, and personal, whether we are designing a medical office that makes patients feel welcome or helping a family fall back in love with their home.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When construction is involved, lets just say a lot goes into making a smooth road with some inevitable bumps along the way. People sometimes think interior design is just picking a paint palette or throwing pillows on a sofa. In reality, it’s about space planning, technical problem solving, and creating environments that have to work in a very real, very sophisticated way. Every project involves coordinating with contractors and trades, navigating budgets, working through construction issues, and dealing with materials that are delayed or suddenly more expensive. There’s a lot of pressure to get it right, because these are homes people live in and businesses that welcome clients, patients, and customers every day.
Growing the firm has had its own set of challenges. I started the studio in my home office, and over time we’ve become a full-service design team with five college educated designers and work that spans residential, commercial, hospitality, and medical. That growth is something I’m really proud of, but it also means a higher level of coordination and accountability. Every project is a team effort, and every decision affects real clients, real budgets, and in many cases, the way a business presents itself to the public.
INSPO has been a journey too. We opened the shop in November 2019 because we wanted a physical place where clients and the community could access the kind of lighting, art, décor, and one-of-a-kind pieces we source. A few months later, COVID hit. Overnight, foot traffic disappeared and online giants became the default way people shopped. Even after everything reopened, it took a long time for people to feel comfortable coming back into small local stores. At first we tried to compete with that, but ultimately we stopped trying to be “online retail” and leaned into what makes INSPO special. People come into our little spot in downtown Lee’s Summit, they browse, they touch finishes, they discover local artists, they talk to us. It’s personal. It feels like part of the neighborhood.
So while it’s absolutely rewarding work, none of this has been effortless. It’s been years of problem solving, adapting, and keeping our standards high even when circumstances weren’t easy.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We are a full service interior design studio working in residential, commercial, hospitality, and medical environments. We believe in inspiring designs, lasting impressions, and we approach every project with that standard.
We are known for creating refined, highly intentional homes that feel personal and livable, and for elevating commercial and medical spaces so they feel welcoming, on brand, and memorable. We design for how a space looks, but also how it moves, functions, and performs.
What sets us apart is that we create innovative spaces with reliable execution. We bring both creative vision and technical expertise, considering flow, code, durability, and client experience from the very beginning. Through INSPO, our retail shop in downtown Lee’s Summit, we can also fully furnish and finish a space with lighting, furniture, art, and custom details.
I am proud of our team. We are a women led firm with five college educated designers, and we take pride in the level of discipline, polish, and follow through we bring to every project. Our goal is to deliver spaces that not only look exceptional on day one, but continue to work beautifully for years.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with us by scheduling a design consultation through our studio. From there, we map out the needs of the project and determine scope, timeline, and next steps.
We also partner with residential builders, commercial developers, architects, medical and dental practices, hospitality groups, and business owners who are looking for professional interior design services in the Kansas City area. If you’re planning a new build, a renovation, or a full interior refresh, we can handle space planning, finish selections, furnishings, and final styling.
And if you want to support us locally, visit INSPO in downtown Lee’s Summit. When you shop with us, you’re also supporting the local artists we showcase in the store. That commitment to local talent and curated design is a core part of who we are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.khldesignstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspobykhldesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspobykhldesigns
