Employee Spotlight: Judy McKay, Kitchen & Bath Designer – Madison

Meet Judy McKay, one of Cardinal Home Center’s dedicated Kitchen & Bath Designers at our Madison store. Judy, the youngest of 13 grandchildren, jokingly says her cousins call her the “spoiled one,” but her colleagues know her as a hard-working team player who lives by example, never asking someone to do something she wouldn’t do herself. Following nearly two decades at Lowe’s, Judy made the move to Cardinal Home Center in 2024, drawn by the location and the company’s hometown feel. “I heard nothing but great things about working here,” she says, “and I really enjoy the hometown feeling.”

Experience That Counts

Judy’s extensive background at Lowe’s provided a wide range of experience that she now brings to Cardinal. During her time, she held various roles, including Pro Service Specialist, where she learned to read house plans, and Manager over appliances, cabinets, and millwork, where she honed her design skills. In addition, she worked in Installed Sales, which gave her insight into what’s needed to make customer projects run smoothly. “I learned about the size of appliances to fit them in the space of the kitchen,” she notes, and also “how to design doors and windows in millwork.” This depth of experience makes Judy McKay a valuable resource for homeowners looking for guidance through every step of the renovation process.

Guiding Your Vision to Reality

A typical day for Judy involves checking emails, following up on orders, and visiting customers’ homes to take measurements. When guiding a customer through a new kitchen or bathroom design, she starts with an in-store meeting to understand their style and color preferences. Once she’s measured the space and accounted for any obstacles, she creates a 3D image of the new design. “I enjoy seeing the customer’s face light up when they see the design,” Judy says, “and they are so happy that the image they had in their head has come to life.”

Current Trends and Personal Favorites

When it comes to current trends, Judy notes that people still love shaker-style cabinets and tend to use either white or dark-stained finishes. For a project with a limited budget, she suggests making the island a darker color and adding good top molding to elevate the space. Personally, Judy loves designing with KraftMaid cabinets, especially the Marquette style with a Weathered Picket Fence finish, because it gives the cabinet “character.” She also prefers quartz countertops because of their veining, finding granite too “busy.” A recent project that stands out to her is designing an entire house, from the kitchen to the basement, bathrooms, and a bar area. “Seeing all the items come together is amazing,” she says.

Life at Cardinal and Beyond

Since joining Cardinal, Judy McKay has learned that if you have a willingness to work and learn, the people there are willing to help you. “They also value my opinion and that makes me feel like an asset,” she shares. Outside of work, Judy loves spending time with her grandchildren, going to the beach or pool, and traveling. She also enjoys just relaxing on the couch with a good show or movie. A surprising fact about Judy is that she is a very shy person, and it takes a lot for her to start a conversation. She’s happiest when something she has planned turns out exactly as it was meant to.