Meet Joely Burgess | Owner & Creative Director, MadHouse

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joely Burgess and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joely, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I think the biggest factor behind my success has been accepting that building a business is full of trial and error. Early on, I looked for immediate validation, and if something didn’t work right away, I questioned whether it was the right decision. Over time, I realized that not every product or idea is going to be a hit and that’s okay.
Once I stopped chasing instant results and started treating every launch as a learning opportunity, everything changed. Every success and every failure taught me something, and that mindset has allowed me to keep growing my brand. Consistency and being willing to keep showing up, even without immediate validation, have made the biggest difference.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets MadHouse apart is our ability to make people excited to celebrate the everyday. Whether it’s decorating your home, hosting friends, or setting up for a tailgate, our products are designed to bring joy through vibrant colors, thoughtful details, and pieces that become part of life’s celebrations.

I actually started MadHouse as a junior at Auburn University. At the time, I was on the path to medical school, but I realized it was no longer where my passion was. I needed a creative outlet that gave me a break from school, and what started as a small side business quickly grew into something I never imagined could become a career.

After graduating, I made the decision to pursue MadHouse full-time, and now I’m going into my fourth year as a full-time entrepreneur. It wasn’t an easy decision. Walking away from something I’d planned for most of my life was scary, and choosing an unconventional path came with a lot of uncertainty. But building a business requires taking risks, and that was the very first one I had to take.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that relationships are everything. Some of the greatest opportunities in my career have come from the people I’ve met along the way. Whether it’s customers, retailers, fellow small business owners, or mentors. Building genuine relationships has opened doors I never could have planned for and has reminded me that success isn’t something you achieve alone. Community has played such a big role in my journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for the people who have supported, encouraged, and believed in me along the way.

I want people to know that every product at MadHouse starts with intention. I’m constantly thinking about how someone will use it, where it will live in their home, or the memory it might become part of. Whether it’s a tailgate, a holiday gathering, a gift, or simply decorating your home, I want every piece to make people feel excited to celebrate. That personal involvement is something I’ll always protect because it’s what makes MadHouse feel authentic. My hope is that we’re known not just for beautiful products, but for creating pieces that become part of people’s traditions, celebrations, and everyday lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a best friend visiting Atlanta for a week, the trip would definitely revolve around great food. Atlanta has an incredible restaurant scene, and my top three recommendations would be Delbar, Yeppa, and Kevin Rathbun Steak. Delbar has some of the best Mediterranean food in the city, Yeppa is always such a fun atmosphere for dinner and drinks, and Kevin Rathbun Steak is my go-to for an amazing steakhouse experience.

Beyond the restaurants, we’d spend time exploring the city, shopping at Avalon, and finding fun spots around the city to grab a cocktail or glass of wine. I’d also make sure we spent an evening at The Battery Atlanta and caught a Braves game, there’s nothing better than the atmosphere on game day, and it’s one of my favorite things to do in Atlanta.

To me, Atlanta has the perfect balance of amazing restaurants, great shopping, live sports, and entertainment. There’s always something new to experience, which is one of the reasons I love calling it home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to give a shoutout to my friend Amanda. We actually met through our businesses, and she’s become someone I really admire. Not only as a business owner but as a person. One of the things I appreciate most about her is how genuinely supportive she is of other entrepreneurs. She’s always willing to share advice, make introductions, and celebrate other people’s successes. She’s also the one who recommended me for this feature, which I’m incredibly grateful for. Opportunities like this often come from the relationships you build along the way, and Amanda is a great reminder of how important it is to support one another. I’m thankful our businesses brought us together, and I’m lucky to call her a friend.

Website: https://www.shopmadhousedesigns.com

Instagram: @shop.madhousedesigns