Sep 2, 20144 min read

Casa Vilora Interiors Teams Up With Houston Furniture Bank DIVAS For A Great Cause – Donations

I have shared many personal stories here on The Naked Decorator blog over the past four years, but one that you may not know about me is where I grew up.

From a tourism perspective, Montego Bay Jamaica is a beautiful, friendly city, but the communities surrounding it tell a different story.

I remember having a great childhood; a hard-working father, a mom who was always available and took very good care of us and the home, and 10 siblings to play with. There was never a dull moment in our home. Although we were as poor as a church mouse, we had no idea we were. We had strong family ties, and strong ties to our community church. In those simpler times, we made the most of what we were blessed with. That sometimes meant hardly any money for groceries or utilities, but I cannot remember ever going to bed hungry. My parents somehow kept it all together.

The thing I remember most about growing up is our home. As humble as it was, my mother took pride in it, and it was always comfortable and cozy. There were always people over. Even though we didn’t have much, my mother would feed the whole neighborhood from her own resources. She would even take in other people’s kids for months sometimes and treated them like she did her own kids.

The meaning of HOME really stuck with me from an early age. And although Interior Design was a foreign concept to me back then, it is no surprise that I ended up in this profession.

The last few years running my business, I had become restless in my heart. I believed that God blessed me with this talent to create beautiful comfortable homes and enhancing the lives of the families I get to work with. I knew deep down inside that there was a deeper purpose than just making homes look pretty. I started looking into organizations that I could volunteer with. I found a few that I volunteered with, but I was looking for one that I could really partner with. I got side-tracked with my own plans and dreams, but that hole in my heart got bigger and bigger, and it needed to be filled somehow.

About Houston Furniture Bank D.I.V.A.S.

It was by an off chance of being in the right place at the right time that I learned about Houston Furniture Bank D.I.V.A.S. – a non-pofit organization providing free decorating services to families referred by non-profit assistance agencies throughout the city.

“Decorating Interiors – Volunteers At your Service” (D.I.V.A.S.) led by Ann Cummins joined forces with the Houston Furniture Bank back in 2003 and their mission as volunteers is “making empty houses homes” for families in need who have been nominated by their caseworkers. These caring volunteers create home-makeovers from house-hold furnishings which have been donated to Houston Furniture Bank.

The DIVAS have completed many projects throughout Houston within the last 12 years.

katy interior designer, katy interior decorator

Photo Source: Houston Furniture Bank DIVAS Facebook Page

About The Haven of Hope House of Houston

The very first project that I am so honored to be a part of working alongside these wonderful DIVAS is The Haven of Hope House of Houston. The Haven of Hope House of Houston, Inc. is a transitional facility for homeless female veterans and their children. Their mission is to provide homeless female veterans with services that will fulfill their spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs in order to become healthy, productive and stable. This incudes teaching these women life-skills training, job-skills training, money management, housing opportunities and medical services to address mental, physical and emotional challenges.

The Haven of Hope House of Houston, Inc. facilities consist of 4 buildings plus the administrative offices building where they hold classes. It has twenty-five beds for homeless female veterans with additional beds for veterans with children. The veterans will have twelve to eighteen months to transition back to a productive and stable lifestyle.

Photo Source: Houston Furniture Bank Divas Facebook Page

The DIVAS goal for The Haven of Hope House project

With around 10-12 design volunteers signed up so far for this project plus another 8-10 who will assist on the day of installation, we are hoping to fully furnish and decorate the living spaces in the 4 buildings where the women and children reside. We want to make it comfortable, warm and homey. These buildings are all unfurnished except for beds in each bedroom. We rely on donations of furniture from the Houston Furniture Bank and donations from the community.

How you can help

Cash donations
Gently used furniture like sofas, occasional tables, dining tables and chairs, occasional chairs
Gently used rugs, lamps, shower curtains, curtains, pillows, and bath mats
Gently used wall art and accents
Gently used toys and games for kids up to 11 years old
Television sets

If you are local in the Katy/Houston area, I will be happy to pick up items from you, or you can deliver to my studio at 5602 Franz Rd Katy 77493. Please call first before dropping items off (281-751-7552)

Or you can donate items to the Houston Furniture Bank located at 2100 Hussion St, Houston, TX 77003.

You can donate in cash by clicking the Paypal button below.

Our date to install at the Haven of Hope House is Saturday September 20th, 2014. We really want to make the living spaces feel like home for these wonderful women who have served our country.

Photo Source: Houston Furniture Bank DIVAS Facebook Page

If you know of female veterans seeking housing or medical services in Houston please contact The Haven of Hope House at 713.633.1915

We can all be part of something great by giving to others in need. There is no greater feeling.

You can learn more about the Haven of Hope House by checking out and liking their Facebook page

You can learn more about Furniture Bank Houston DIVAS by checking out and liking their Facebook page

Here is a BEFORE picture of one of the spaces we will be working on. My team of 3 will be responsible for the planning and furnishing of the 2 living room areas and a dining room area. I will be sharing AFTER pictures after our big install later this month!