She is a speaker with joy and enthusiasm and a love for life. With over twenty five years experience as an interior designer, her colorful stories and insight help you visualize your potential as a Christian women in today’s fast-paced society. She was born and raised in Arlington, Virginia.  After college she became an interior designer in the Washington, D.C. area.

After marrying and moving to Pennsylvania, she settled into her role of full-time wife and mother. When her youngest child went off to first grade, she started her own interior design firm called Heritage House Interiors.
She will delight you with her humor and candor as she describes attempts to balance priorities in her life. She sold her business and has become a popular speaker for women’s groups and seminars. She is also a TV and radio personality. Her daily radio program "Designs for Joyful Living" consists of uplifting two-minute devotionals and was the inspiration for her book "Decorating Your Heart and Home" from Harvest House Publishers. Designs for Living started out as a one-hour radio program on the USA Radio Network featuring creative homemakers and designers from across the country. This radio show is being developed into a national TV program by the same name.
Some of her most popular topics are:

Extreme Makeover for your Home and your Heart

In this session, Brenda gives her personal testimony. After knowing the Lord for many years she finally came to a point of absolute surrender. As a result, God started unfolding the plan He had for her. The many ups and downs in her life include the power of prayer and misplaced priorities. 30-40 minute session.


Designs for Joyful Living

Here we take an imaginary walk through your spiritual "house". Brenda combines decorating tips for the different rooms in your physical house with spiritual applications for that room in your life. This practical workshop will demonstrate how to remodel the rooms in your life with the Master Designer. 45 minute session.


History of Designs for Living

In 1995, Brenda Gay Shumaker, was asked to give her testimony at a Christian Women's Club.  After being in the interior design field for over 28 years and having her own interior design business for 15 years she combines decorating themes with her Christian topics.  In 1996 she sold her business as she felt God was calling her full time to travel and speak.

A group of friends told Brenda Gay that they wanted to pray for her as she traveled and in November 1997 the first prayer luncheon was held at Brenda's house.  These faithful friends would take the travel itinerary and pray for Brenda and for each meeting that God would work in the hearts of the women there.

Each year there were hundreds of women who would come to the banquet halls, country clubs and churches where Brenda spoke and with her humor and candor she would tell the story of her life and how God changed her.  Using interior design to catch their attention, she used her profession as a designer as a bridge to reach women with the good news of Jesus Christ.

While on a speaking engagement in Virginia in June 1998 Brenda fell in the parking lot and broke her leg.  After some surgery and while recuperating in a wheel chair, God gave her the idea of decorating devotionals for radio.  In May of 1999 the two-minute devotional program Designs for Joyful Living began airing on WGRC in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.  Since that time stations from coast to coast are airing the program in the U.S and it's all over the world on the Internet.

In 1999 Harvest House Publishers contacted Brenda about doing a book based on her decorating devotionals.  This book, Decorating Your Heart and Home: God's Designs for Joyful Living was released in January 2001 She is currently working on her next book.

By January 2000 things were growing so fast and furious that Brenda felt she needed the support and direction of a board of directors, so that month Designs for Living Ministries was born. With God's direction and through His power, this ministry has been able to touch thousands of women all over the U.S. In that same year, we were approached by USA radio network to develop a one-hour talk show on the home.  This program is now being developed into a national TV program.  Both radio programs can also be obtained directly from Designs for Living on CD.

With so much happening so fast, we would appreciate your prayers for this growing ministry.  Our heart's desire is to reach as many as possible with the life-changing message of God's forgiveness and love.
Designs for Living is a dynamic ministry that uses interior design as a bridge to reach people with the life changing message of Jesus Christ.  It is through this ministry that many people, who might not otherwise have interest in spiritual matters, hear the Gospel.  The Lord is opening doors for Brenda Gay Shumaker to speak and to share her testimony through Christian Women’s Clubs, churches, radio, and television throughout the United States.
You can partner with us using Pay Pal. 
Designs For Living is a non-profit 501[c](3) organization and all donations are tax deductible.
Your gift is receipted and is tax deductible
Brenda Gay is founder and Executive Director of Designs for Living Ministries. Her love for the Lord radiates from her as she encourages and motivates other women to a closer walk with the Savior.
© Copyright 2004 - Designs For Living
Designs For Living is a non-profit 501[c](3) organization and all donations are tax deductible.
Your gift is receipted and is tax deductible
Welcome to

PSA for DESIGNS FOR LIVING CONTEST

Hi, this is Brenda Gay Shumaker. This is the 10th anniversary since the creation of Designs for Joyful Living, so we decided to celebrate with a contest. If you have an idea for a devotional on the home or family that has 300 words or less, then send it in. Put your contact information on the entry and send it to Designs for Living P.O. Box 37 Danville, PA 17821 or go to our website designsforliving.org to enter online. The winner will get an autographed copy of my book, Decorating Your Heart and Home, a framed Thomas Kincade print worth $200, and a chance to have your devotional read on our program. You can enter as often as you like but get those entries in. The contest closes May 31st.  Submit your entry by email: