What makes a house a home? Is it the warmth of a familiar room, the comfort of a place to rest, or the quiet reassurance that we belong somewhere? At benton buckley books, we believe beauty is not merely ornamental — it is essential to the human experience. And few organizations embody this conviction more profoundly than Humble Design.
In 2009, a simple act of compassion in Detroit became the beginning of something extraordinary. When Treger Strasberg discovered that a friend she met while volunteering was experiencing homelessness, she began gathering furniture from her own home. With the help of her friend Ana and a pickup truck, she furnished a space for someone in need. What began as one gesture of kindness blossomed into Humble Design — a nonprofit devoted to transforming empty residences into sanctuaries of dignity, possibility, and hope.
Today, Humble Design serves individuals, families, and veterans transitioning out of homelessness, furnishing homes with thoughtfully selected pieces, household essentials, and the unmistakable warmth of human kindness. Operating in Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and San Diego, the organization has designed more than 4,600 homes and touched the lives of over 13,000 people.
Yet the true beauty of Humble Design's work is found not in the spaces it furnishes, but in the lives it transforms. In the quiet joy of a child discovering a room to call their own, the profound relief of a parent finding peace, and the extraordinary possibility that unfolds when a family finally feels at home.
For Beth Buckley, the pursuit of beauty has never been merely a profession — it has been a way of seeing, of living, and of understanding the world. From her earliest childhood memories through every chapter of her adult life, she has been guided by an intimate conviction that our surroundings have the power to shape not only how we feel, but who we become. That beauty is neither a luxury nor a privilege, but something profoundly human — something we all deserve to experience, discover, and create.
She believes that even the smallest gesture can transform a life. A single wildflower, pulled from the earth in Haiti and placed in a makeshift bud vase, can bring beauty into the humblest of spaces. In that seemingly insignificant act, something extraordinary happens. The surroundings change, if only slightly. But more importantly, the person inhabiting that space may begin to see differently. And in that moment, a new possibility is born. Whether in a rural shelter, a crowded urban dwelling, or a magnificent architectural residence, the experience of beauty transcends circumstance. It asks nothing of our means, our geography, or our station in life. It simply asks that we see.
For Beth, this is where transformation begins. Once we learn to see beauty, we begin to find it everywhere. We seek it, we create it, and inevitably, we share it. What begins as a single moment of discovery can become a lifelong way of seeing — one that changes our relationship with our surroundings, with one another, and ultimately, with ourselves. It is this deeply personal conviction that informs her work at benton buckley books and creates such a profound connection with Humble Design's mission. Because beauty does not necessarily change the circumstances of our lives, but it can change how we experience them. And sometimes, that shift in perspective is enough to alter the trajectory of a life forever.
As Humble Design looks toward a future of reaching more communities, its mission invites the creative industry to reconsider the possibilities of its own extraordinary talents. What if the power to create beauty could also become the power to restore belonging?
This November, we invite you to discover the remarkable vision of Humble Design and the people bringing it to life. Join us on November 9th at Boutique Design New York (BDNY) at 2:30 p.m. for a special opportunity to celebrate a mission that speaks to the very heart of our industry.
Perhaps the greatest power of design is not its ability to transform a space, but its capacity to transform the lives unfolding within it.
Discover the mission, explore the stories, and become part of the transformation at Humble Design.