Adam Hunter; PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM HUNTER
For interior designer Adam Hunter, the wildfires weren’t just a distant tragedy; they were personal. “I had left at 9 a.m. to drive to my studio in West Hollywood for work, and by the time I heard about the fires, it was too late to return and gather any of my belongings,” he shares. All I had were the clothes I was wearing.” Determined to make a difference, Hunter co-founded LA Can Do, a relief effort aimed at providing essential furnishings and home goods to displaced families. “A friend and I were talking about the fires and the immense loss so many people were facing,” he says. “That’s when we came up with the idea to leverage our connections in the home and design community to rally donations for furnishings, helping those displaced rebuild and start fresh. It all happened overnight.” Since its inception, the organization has gathered thousands of essential furnishings, with over 500 recipients already signed up. “We envision LA Can Do evolving to support future natural disaster relief efforts in other areas—though hopefully, not too a partnership with Tamara Honey’s Soft Landing Project, urges those affected to lean on their community: “Don’t be afraid to ask for support. Focus on one step at a time, one day at a time, and know that rebuilding is possible.”
Hunter’s LA Can Do initiative provides furnishings and home goods to fire victims in need; PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM HUNTER
“Wednesday morning, Jan. 8, we prepared to evacuate our home,” says House of Honey founder Tamara Honey. “We had experienced an evacuation in 2017 during the La Tuna fires and calmly prepared for what we thought would be a small time away. Little did we know that as this was happening, the landscape of Los Angeles was in the process of being changed forever.” As the devastation unfolded, Honey took action. She transformed her studio into a free boutique, providing clothing and personal items to displaced families. “Donations poured in from our community, and we supported over 300 families during the course of a week.” Realizing the need for furniture, she expanded the effort, gathering over 7,000 items for distribution to create The Soft Landing Project, an effort that’s since merged with Adam Hunter’s LA Can Do initiative. “The national design community really came together, and we didn’t even have to ask.” Honey remains committed to helping families beyond immediate relief, assisting with rebuilding and design consultations. “We are giving them a kind and compassionate space to try and pick up the pieces. It has been emotional… lots of hugs and tears,” she shares. “Strangers becoming friends.”
Tamara Honey; PHOTO BY JESSICA SAMPLE
In the chaotic days following the devastating L.A. wildfires, Michele Simmering, co-founder of Kalon Studios, found herself searching for a way to help. “A friend from the East Coast called, saying he was going to ship us eight boxes of apparel for fire victims. Could we figure out how to get them to those in need? And we agreed,” she recalls. That phone call sparked an idea—transforming Kalon Studios into the Wildfire Relief Free Market. Since then, Simmering and her team reached out to over 150 brands, securing donations of essentials like clothing, bedding and toiletries for more than 3,000 individuals. “We didn’t want people rummaging through cardboard boxes—we wanted to create a dignified, retail-like experience,” she explains. The response was overwhelming. Donations of brand-new goods arrived in waves, and within hours of being unpacked, they were gone. This happened each time a Free Market popped up. The market became a place of not just material aid but emotional support. “The first person who walked in just burst into tears and hugged the nearest volunteer,” she remembers. Though the Free Market has closed, Kalon Studios continues to offer discounted furniture to fire victims. “The Clockwise from top left: Kalon Studio’s Johannes Pauwen and Michaele Simmering; Tamara Honey; Una Malan need doesn’t end overnight,” Simmering says. “We’re here for the long haul.”
Kalon Studio’s Johannes Pauwen and Michaele Simmerin; PHOTO BY KATRINA DICKSON
For designer Una Malan, the fires brought danger quite literally to her backyard. “The morning of Feb. 7 brought the reality of fire danger to our doorstep when the house directly behind ours caught fire. That moment was a stark wake-up call,” she recalls. Witnessing widespread devastation, Malan sprang into action, transforming her L.A. showroom into a donation center for local shelters. “The response was overwhelming—the outpouring of support and care from our community has been truly heartening,” she says. Her team has provided relief through material donations, discounts for fire victims and pledges to furnish homes and shelters. “The most heartbreaking aspect of these fires has been witnessing families lose not just their homes, but their entire life stories.” Malan remains steadfast in her mission to help rebuild lives: “Behind every donation, there’s a family trying to restore their sense of normalcy and security.”
Una Malan; PHOTO BY DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN
When devastating wildfires tore through Los Angeles, interior designer and The Expert cofounder Jake Arnold knew he had to act. “So many friends, clients, and colleagues lost homes or were displaced,” he says. “Seeing that level of devastation firsthand made it clear that we had to take action.” That action became The Rebuild Hotline, a free resource connecting wildfire victims with top designers, architects, and builders to help them rebuild. “It started as a simple idea—offering accessible, expert guidance to fire victims who need to rebuild,” Arnold explains. Since launching, the hotline has provided free design consultations to over 100 families, assisting with layouts and materials, and navigating the overwhelming process of starting over. Arnold envisions the hotline becoming a permanent resource for disaster recovery. “The more industry experts we can bring into the fold, the greater the impact,” he says. He hopes L.A. will embrace fire-resistant, sustainable design to prevent future tragedies, urging those affected to “take it one step at a time” and lean on available resources.
Jake Arnold; PHOTO BY BY LUCIANA WALTER
When wildfires destroyed parts of Los Angeles, Ome Dezin principal designers Joelle Kutner and Jesse Rudolph felt a deep responsibility to help. “Homes aren’t just buildings; they’re sanctuaries,” Kutner says. “Knowing we can play even a small part in someone’s recovery inspires us to pour our hearts into this work.” Their studio has provided pro-bono design services, helped families furnish new spaces, and volunteered at relief sites. One particularly moving moment was assisting a woman who lost her home move into her daughter’s office. “Meeting the whole family—babies, animals, and all—showed us how strong and selfless people can be, even in crisis,” Rudolph shares. The fires have also sparked a rethinking of design in L.A. “This isn’t just about rebuilding; it’s about reimagining,” says Kutner. They advocate for fire-resistant materials, sustainable landscaping, and preserving the character of lost homes rather than replacing them with generic flips. Ultimately, they see L.A. emerging stronger. “Wildfires expose vulnerabilities, but they also reveal the strength of a community,” Rudolph says. “Out of the ashes, something more connected and intentional will rise.”
Joelle Kutner and Jesse Rudolph of Ome Dezin; PHOTO BY EMMA BASSILL
The 2025 Los Angeles wildfires were a stark reminder of the fragility of the built environment. “While none of our projects were directly impacted, seeing friends, colleagues, and community members affected was deeply personal,” says Amr Samaha, founder of Samaha Studio. “It’s a sobering moment as both a resident and a professional dedicated to safe, resilient spaces.” Determined to help, Samaha’s team took immediate action. “As designers and developers, our role extends beyond just creating structures—we’re responsible for supporting the communities we build for,” he says. Samaha Studio partnered with material and furniture suppliers to subsidize or cover costs for high-value materials, fixtures and fittings. “We’re also offering pro bono design services to those in need, ensuring the rebuilding process is as smooth as possible,” Samaha explains. The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming. “One of the most powerful moments has been seeing friends and colleagues directly affected yet still standing strong. This has truly been a grassroots effort, with neighbors stepping up for one another rather than relying on FEMA or other agencies,” he adds. Looking ahead, Samaha is spearheading modular construction initiatives to expedite rebuilding. “We’ll be announcing a program that cuts the entire permit and build process by 50%,” he says.
Amr Samaha; PHOTO BY WILL MYERS
Interior designer Lindsey Colhoun found herself grappling with both gratitude and grief when the wildfires struck L.A. “We did have to evacuate from our home,” she says. “Thankfully, our home is OK, but watching friends, clients and so many others lose everything has been overwhelming.” That feeling of survivor’s guilt only deepened her resolve to help. At Lindsey Colhoun Design and the firm’s retail location, Haven by LCD, Colhoun and her team are offering free design consultations, hands-on support and deep discounts on home essentials. “For those who have lost everything, the thought of not only rebuilding but also creating a temporary home in the meantime can feel impossible. Where do you even start?” she asks. “Our goal is to bring warmth back into their homes without the added stress of high costs.” Through her efforts, fire victims can access furnishings, decor and essentials at significantly reduced prices, restoring warmth and comfort without financial strain. “The gratitude from those we’ve helped has been unreal and humbling,” she shares. “It’s a powerful reminder that design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating a place of peace, security and belonging.”
Lindsey Colhoun; PHOTO BY PUBLIC 311
Photography by:
