San Diego interior designers seek donations to furnish home for Humble Design project

The local chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, San Diego (ASID), is partnering with Humble Design San Diego to design and furnish a home for a family emerging from homelessness and is asking for the public’s help.

The wish list includes donations of new and gently used home decor; bedding, kitchen and bath accessories; small furniture in good condition; books, lamps, curtains and rods; TVs with stands and remotes; and kitchen trash bins.

“We will use these donations to create a dignified, cozy home that will help put this family on a path toward long-term stability,” said Kirsten Recce, committee co-chair. “We are so honored and happy to partner with Humble Design, a nonprofit interior design company that has furnished more than 2,300 homes across five cities for families and veterans who were previously unsheltered.”

Items can be dropped off through July 10 at three local retailers that are ASID members:

• Patio Productions, 2161 Hancock St., Mission Hills, will accept donations from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Black Whale Home, 1092 N. El Camino Real, Suite C, Encinitas, will accept donations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
• Berger Hardware, 3972 30th St., North Park, will accept donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Our goal is to use our professional skills to transform a family’s life by custom designing and fully furnishing a stylish home that reflects the family’s lifestyle, interests and tastes,” Recce said.

Shannon Rice, ASID chapter president, noted that this will be the second home that ASID has curated for Humble Design in San Diego County. The organization helped furnish and decorate a home for a single mom and her four children in Chula Vista in July 2021.

Having a place to live is an important first step, but half of those who enter housing return to shelters within a year, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Rice said.

“Humble Design helps their clients to end the revolving door of homelessness by creating dignified surroundings where families can find peace, strength and hope,” said Rice. “They have been so successful that less than 1 percent of families helped by Humble Design have returned to homelessness.”

For details, visit humbledesign.org/sandiego and click on “Donation Cheat Sheet.”