Furnishing Hope
One Woman’s Mission to Make a House a Home for Deserving Families
Photos courtesy Furnishing Hope Inc.
Kimie Kreidle is not one to rest on her laurels. After thirty-five years as a residential and commercial Denver interior designer, Kreidle decided it was time to put her talents to use for those less fortunate than her typical clientele.
“I will always love designing, but for me, I needed something that was more fulfilling and more connected to our community. I just didn’t know what that was going to be at the time,” she shares.
After her mother passed away in 2018, Kreidle and a friend were cleaning out her childhood home—filled with gorgeous furniture, artwork, dishes, linens, bedding and all the beautiful things that make a house a home and set the stage for a lifetime of memories.
As they were admiring all these carefully chosen symbols of love, care and story, and wondering what they would do with everything (their homes were already fully furnished), her friend had the brilliant idea of donating everything to families in need—giving new life to her mother’s curated furnishings for other families to use and make memories with. They found a nonprofit to donate to, but in that moment, Kreidle found her passion.
The experience stayed with her, growing quietly in the background as she continued her design career. Then, in 2023, she called her longtime friend and fellow design school alum, Mary Hall, and said simply, “It’s time.” Hall didn’t hesitate. The two began gathering furniture, enlisting help and calling on their community. Their project quickly grew, attracting women with diverse talents and shared values: compassion, creativity and a strong belief in inclusion. Among those joining were chief operations officer Sadie Armijo, digital marketing and communications specialist Emily McGowan and creative director Xenia Constantine Johns. Furnishing Hope was officially born.
“I realized this wasn’t about furniture—this was healing and about helping people start again with beauty and dignity,” says Kreidle. “I finally felt I was doing something purposeful that would make a difference for families, and also help the environment … So much unwanted furniture and home furnishings end up in landfills that really shouldn’t be there, so using these items to help create a home is a win-win.”
Kreidle quickly filled up her garage and then a storage unit. It was apparent Furnishing Hope needed more space for all the beautiful furnishings its volunteers collected for their clients. Today they have three freight containers packed to the brim and are eager to expand to a space that can house all the furnishings they need to help even more families.
“We’re fortunate enough to work with amazing local nonprofits like Florence Critterton, The Gathering Place and Angelica House, who find families that need our help,” Kreidle says. “They give us a list of potential clients, and we then meet the families, see their space and what they need to build a home.”
From rugs, plates, microwaves and sheets to sofas and artwork—you name it—Furnishing Hope helps families love their homes and hopefully reassure them they have value, that they matter. “This little bit of dignity can give them the hope and the encouragement they need. It’s such a gift to see them light up when their homes are filled with meaningful, beautiful things that they can create their own memories with.”
Recently, the team bid a heartfelt farewell to Hall, one of the original founders, as she retired from her role. Her legacy is stitched into every handmade quilt and perfectly placed picture. The team carries her spirit forward, continuing their mission with the same tenacity and tenderness.
With big dreams to help more families, Furnishing Hope is poised for greatness. Gaining access to more funding will be the key to helping participants achieve these goals and keep using their design skills to better the Denver community. As the organization’s tagline says, “One hope at a time. One home at a time,” for there truly is nothing like home.
