Design for Good

For many years, I split my time between interior design and working with nonprofits, providing fundraising and marketing support to local and international organizations. In the early years of launching my design business, I kept my nonprofit contracts and essentially worked two jobs (sometimes more).  While I am now designing full-time, I still carry a desire to work in the nonprofit sector, offering my services as a volunteer. I aim to execute an annual charity project which combines my love of design with my passion for giving back to the community. 

2025 Give Back Project

After the devastating July 4th floods destroyed over 400 homes in our Hill Country community, families have been confronted with the overwhelming challenge of rebuilding, some with empty houses ready for furnishing, others starting from the ground up after their homes were swept away entirely. Arcadia Recovery Collaboration (ARC) helps flood survivors turn those rebuilt and restored spaces into fully furnished homes, complete with beds, kitchen essentials, and everything needed to rebuild daily life.

In 2025 (and early 2026), I partnered with ARC as a Project Manager and met with a family impacted by the floods to assess their space and match them with furnishings that fit their home and lifestyle.

Thank you to the following business partners for helping with this project

Chelsea Evans Interiors logo with a stylized green leaf above the text Chelsea Evans Interiors.
Logo for Enduring Home Solutions featuring a house held by two hands with the tagline "It's about quality of life"
Logo for Sofane Sylve Interiors featuring a central eye, a snake entwined around its bottom, and decorative elements including cloves, star, and crescent moon, with the business name displayed in stylized font.
Logo with pink hands and black cursive text that says "elyse cano ceramics"
Logo with two green leaves in a brown wooden planter, and the text "UPROOTED GARDENS" beneath it.
Logo for KBK Design Center with text 'KBK to the trade' and established year 1981

2024 Give Back Project

I’m so grateful I was able to outfit another tiny home in 2024 at Towne Twin Village! These projects are a volunteer effort for me - I do not receive any compensation for this work. I couldn’t do this without the support of other community members! THANK YOU so much to all of you who pitched in to make the 2024 project a reality.

A special thank you to the 2024 business partners that helped make this project possible - Enduring Home Solutions and Santex Painting and Construction.

A bathroom with a white toilet, wooden cabinets, granite countertop sink, mirror, and a small green trash can.
Small bathroom with a white toilet, a wooden cabinet above, and a countertop with a sink on the left, with cleaning supplies below and a mirror on the wall above.
Bathroom with wooden cabinet, folded blue towels on top, colorful abstract painting on the wall, blue and green towels hanging, shower area with wall-mounted shelves holding shampoo, body wash, and lotion, handheld showerhead, and a green shower curt
A bedroom with a bed that has green bedding and pillows, a small black nightstand with a digital clock displaying 12:30, a lamp, and an air conditioning unit, along with a framed colorful wolf artwork on the wall and a window with striped curtains.
A bedroom with a white metal bed frame, a blue blanket on the bed, a dresser, and a closet area with cleaning tools and a small fan. There is a window with blinds and curtains letting in natural light.
Interior of a small apartment with a kitchenette, a white refrigerator, and a mere glimpse of a bedroom with a bed and pillows in the background. There is a wall-mounted TV displaying a tropical beach scene, a small dining table with a wooden chair,
Interior of a cozy living space with a window, white curtains, a colorful floral couch, a small round table with two wooden chairs, a small vase with flowers, and a wall-mounted flat-screen TV showing a beach scene.
A vintage floral patterned sofa with green and pink flowers on a dark blue background in a bright living room with large windows, white curtains, a floor lamp with three brass shades, and a small wooden side table.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a granite countertop, a white refrigerator, open shelves with dishes and decor, a window above the sink with a small potted plant and decorative items, a patterned rug on a wooden floor, and a framed art piece on the w
Kitchen with an open cabinet below the countertop, open shelves, and a white refrigerator on the left. The countertop has a sink with a window above, and various kitchen items. There is a framed picture on the wall, and a patterned rug on wooden floo

2023 Give Back Project

In 2023, I was invited to help furnish and decorate a tiny home for a senior experiencing chronic homelessness.

This project was a true joy for me. I got to partner with two amazing local nonprofits to turn a tiny house into a home for a senior experiencing chronic homelessness in San Antonio. The South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH, now known as Close to Home) team volunteered to outfit this tiny home at Towne Twin Village with all the basics someone could need. When SARAH reached out and asked if I’d like to join forces with them and provide the finishing details to make the space more homey, I jumped on the opportunity. Thanks to many people who donated to make this happen, I was able to provide all the smaller décor items, including Drapes, curtain rods, pillows, bedding, rugs, wall décor, bathroom essentials, plants, and other accessories. My husband, Andy, even carved the resident a mushroom table for the front porch!

A cozy living room corner with a gray sofa, decorative pillows, a round patterned ottoman, a floor lamp, and three windows with white curtains allowing natural light.
A bedroom with a wooden bed, striped bedding, and a large throw blanket. A nightstand with a plant, salt lamp, and an air conditioning unit above. A dark dresser with a flat-screen TV, a reed diffuser, and decor near a window with curtains.
A small kitchen area with brown cabinets, a microwave, a white shelf with containers and a flower vase, and a bedroom with a bed, window, and a TV in the background.
A bathroom with a vanity and sink, a mirror, towels, a shower with a striped curtain, and a laundry basket.
Kitchen with wooden cabinets, a silver refrigerator, a sink with a soap dispenser, and small appliances like a toaster oven and microwave. There are decorative plates on the wall and a table with lemons.
A bedroom with a bed, a nightstand with a plant, salt lamp, and books, a window AC unit, a closet with hangers and a small fan on the floor, and an open door.
A porch with a blue wall, a door, a turquoise Adirondack chair, a small wooden side table, a window, and a welcome mat that says "welcome home."