Hillcrest Designer Showhouse
My dream project became a reality in the spring of 2024.
For years, I had imagined a fundraiser that combined three things I love: beautiful spaces, secondhand treasures, and giving back to the community.
In the spring of 2024, I approached Hillcrest Platte County with an idea I'd been dreaming about for years. Hillcrest is a nonprofit that helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity achieve sustainable independence. Their mission is supported in part by three wonderful thrift stores in the Kansas City Northland.
The idea was simple. Nine designers would each be assigned a room in the house and decorate it using only items found in Hillcrest's thrift stores. Guests would purchase tickets to tour the completed home, and after the event, many of the pieces would be auctioned to help fund Hillcrest's mission.
For me, no project is ever just about decorating a room.
The river painting was the first thing I found at Hillcrest when we started this project and it inspired the color palette of the entire space.
It was about the thrill of walking into a thrift store with no plan, finding pieces no one else saw value in, and discovering how they could come together to tell one beautiful story.
I've always thought decorating this way feels less like shopping and more like solving a puzzle. A room full of donated furniture isn't overwhelming to me—it's full of possibilities. The challenge is seeing how completely unrelated pieces can become a cohesive, welcoming space.
That's the part I love most.
Looking back, I realize this project captured so much of what continues to inspire my work today: thoughtful design, secondhand treasures, unexpected combinations, and the belief that beautiful spaces don't depend on expensive furnishings—they depend on imagination.
It remains one of the most meaningful projects I've ever had the privilege to be part of.
My favorite piece from this found vignette was the vintage pig on the side table.
When I found this antique jar at Hillcrest I knew immediately that it deserved it’s own cloche display. These glass cloche domes are usually easy to find at a thrift shop; if they don’t have a base then a small cutting board is a good solution.
Gallery wall I was able to complete with found art from Hillcrest. The frame on the left held a vintage army bag that I cut and framed. It was a bonus to find the anique binoculars.
Finding a sofa in the right style and size - and in the time frame required for this project - proved the most difficult.
On the last day before we opened the house I was asked to find a few things for this hallway. I lucked out with this navy ottoman.
This large art piece was also one of the first finds during this project - it was a perfect anchor for this side piece.
The finished living room decorated entirely using found items from Hillcrest Thrift Shops.
Day one of the Hillcrest project - a completely blank slate.