Long before she ever thought about design school, Elasah was already doing the work. Paper dollhouses spread across the floor, scissors in hand, cutting up magazines and placing people into rooms she had carefully put together for them. She wasn’t thinking about it as design back then. She was just following something that felt completely natural.
That feeling never really went away.
Meet Elasah
Elasah is a true Colorado native, having grown up in the same house her entire life. She has been working since she was 15, racking up a range of jobs from WaterWorld to Home Depot, and building the kind of real-world work ethic that no classroom can teach on its own. After graduating from high school, she made a deliberate choice. A traditional four-year college path wasn’t the right fit for her, and she trusted that instinct. Instead of jumping straight into school, she took a gap year and traveled through Europe for four weeks with a friend, returning home ready to get serious about what came next.
That clarity didn’t come all at once. It came from sitting down, getting quiet, and asking herself what would inspire her to show up and work hard every single day for the rest of her life. The answer, when it surfaced, felt less like a new idea and more like a memory she had forgotten to pay attention to.
A New Direction
Elasah first explored interior design during her junior year of high school, when she started seeking out honest advice from family and friends already working in the industry. They pointed her toward a practical path, one that didn’t require spending tens of thousands of dollars on a degree that offers no guarantee of a job on the other side. That conversation planted a seed. Her Europe trip gave it room to grow.
“I want to stay with that feeling for as long as I can, and help people feel comfortable in their own space.” — Elasah
When it came time to choose a school, she knew exactly what she was looking for. Affordability mattered. A focused, hands-on program mattered. She had heard about Heritage School of Interior Design through conversations with designers in her network, and when she finally toured the Denver campus, something clicked into place immediately. She cancelled every other college tour she had scheduled and enrolled as soon as she could.
Life at Heritage School of Interior Design Denver
At HSID Denver, Elasah has found both a community and a creative home, while earning her Interior Design Master’s Certification. Her inspiration draws from everywhere. The warmth of restaurant lighting, the personality of a boutique hotel lobby, the texture of a forest, the geometry of the Colorado mountains. She browses Pinterest regularly and pays close attention to bold textures and unexpected architectural spaces. But above everything else, she says her greatest source of inspiration is the client.
That client-first perspective speaks to something deeper in how Elasah approaches design. It is not about imposing a style or showcasing a portfolio. It is about listening, understanding, and creating something that genuinely fits the person living inside it. Space planning and schematics are where she says her creative energy really starts to flow, that early stage where a blank floor plan begins to take shape into something livable and personal. It is the kind of thinking that organizations like ASID have long championed as the heart of great residential design.
Outside of her coursework, Elasah runs her own small photography business. You can follow her design journey on Instagram at @elasahshupe and find her photography work at @ejscapturedessence.
Looking Ahead
Elasah’s goals are refreshingly grounded. Right now, she is focused on landing a position at a residential design firm after school, somewhere she can learn the rhythm of the industry, build her skills, and grow into the kind of designer she wants to become. Further down the road, she has her eye on running her own business someday, though she is in no rush to get there. She is letting the path unfold at its own pace, staying curious, staying inspired, and trusting the direction she is headed.
Elasah’s story is a reminder that there isn’t one “right” way to begin a career in design. Sometimes all it takes is a willingness to learn, a creative spark, and a passion for helping others feel at home. Her journey reflects what’s possible when those qualities lead the way, and she’s only getting started.
To learn more about Heritage School of Interior Design’s Denver programs, visit the Denver campus page.
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