Belwith Keeler Decor Solutions
Grandville, MI

Decorative kitchen and bath hardware is the interior designer’s equivalent of jewelry—the eye-catching detail that adds extra interest to a space—and Kendra Wegner (formerly Czuhajewski) knew this when she decided to get her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in both furniture and jewelry design at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, MI. Her education has left her uniquely prepared to create cabinet hardware designs that not only push the envelope creativity-wise but also will stand the test of time. 

Kendra, who says furniture design taught her to recognize historical and modern styles and think systemically, while jewelry design taught her to be detail-oriented and appreciate craft, began her career with Grandville, MI-based Belwith Keeler Décor Solutions while still in college. Five years later she is now the company’s senior product developer and designs new hardware for all of their brands—and those designs have resulted in almost $3 million in sales. Her favorite part of her job, she says, is “creating new hardware designs, interpreting today and tomorrow’s trends into physical pieces and being (sometimes a little too) fussy about the details.”

“I love designs and pieces that tell a story, mixing family heirlooms with modern styling is something that will always have a special place in my heart.” 

Her most memorable project remains her first as a Belwith Keller intern—the Hickory Hardware Willow Collection—which is still being sold. Kendra, who describes herself as “passionate,” also counts Modern Farmhouse as her personal design style. “Even though the term is not new and some aspects have maybe outstayed their welcome, I have enjoyed watching the trend evolve and grow as more modern elements continue to be added,” she says. “I love designs and pieces that tell a story, mixing family heirlooms with modern styling is something that will always have a special place in my heart.”

Kendra also feels proud to see the hardware she has worked on be nominated for awards, at KBIS and NYCxDesign. “That’s the most rewarding part,” she explains, “putting designs into the world and seeing people appreciate them as much as I do.” This past year, she says, has been a year of transition. She bought a cabin on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with her now husband, Erich, a few months before they got married in September and she has changed her name to Kendra Wegner. As a homebody, she loves hanging out with the couple’s two dogs, Kingston, a Siberian Husky, and Sonny, a German Shepard-Husky-Mutt-combo as she binge-watches TV shows and works on craft projects to give as gifts. Her major must-do in life? “It’s pretty cheesy and cliché,” she says, “but I just want to enjoy the ride.”