Author Pam Houston writes in her book "Waltzing the Cat": "Find yourself a place you belong in the universe. ... A place where the dirt feels like goodness under your feet."

The women who enter the multipurpose room at the Serena House - a transitional shelter for women and their children who are victims of domestic and sexual abuse - know they are surrounded by goodness. Through a recent redesign giveaway project, the space has been transformed to one that conveys warmth and comfort.

The project was envisioned and executed by Treasure Valley interior designer Irene Woodworth, who also donated the majority of the money for the project.

A certified redesigner with formal design education, Woodworth had attended the "If These Walls Could Talk" informational tour at the Women's and Children's Alliance in Downtown Boise several years ago. The WCA runs the Serena House. After the moving presentation, Woodworth knew that someday she would find a way to help the WCA.

She then attended an Interior Redesign conference in San Diego, where "Get Redesigned Month" was launched. Interior redesigners were encouraged to go back to their communities and raise awareness about the benefits of redesign. Inspired by the concept, she decided to award two redesign projects in the Boise metro area.

The multipurpose room at the WCA's Serena House was selected from the nominations to be one of the lucky recipients of Woodworth's good taste and generosity.

The house safely shelters as many as 16 women and 34 children as they receive counseling, education and opportunities to live new lives. The multipurpose room is often one of the first places a domestic violence victim visits as her needs are assessed. It is also used for group counseling and meetings.

"The room was cold and sterile," said Woodworth. "I knew it needed to be a place of healing and hope - a place where these women and their children could come to refocus their lives and find peace. I also knew I would need help from the community because of the size of the project."

Despite the downturn in the economy, Woodworth decided to go forward and ask for help from local businesses, knowing that many were struggling just as her own.

"I couldn't believe how things started to come together," said Woodworth. "It was so inspiring that in this economy people and businesses stepped up and gave so generously. I had many say to me, 'I wish I could give more.' "

By the end of the project, 19 businesses and individuals donated time and resources to the Serena House redesign.

From paint to a new leather sofa to food for the volunteers, the businesses Woodworth approached gave approximately $5,000 in donated items. Woodworth and her staff at the Interior Redesign Institute donated more than $15,000 in labor, goods and services to the project.

"It was really a remarkable transformation," said Bea Black, WCA executive director. "The other aspect that I thought was wonderful was the manner in which Irene involved so many people in the community. She was able to assemble items contributed to the effort from many willing donors and combine them into a completely 'finished' and cohesive look."

Recently, one of the Serena House counselors asked a resident how it felt when she walked into the room. "I feel loved," the resident simply stated.

"Enough said. Because of this project, I'm a changed woman," said Woodworth. "My late mother-in-law always said, 'Do something like somebody cares,' and that was part of the motivation behind this project."

Woodworth created a physical space to convey a supportive message to women when they are at their most vulnerable. In doing so, she has helped the women find, as Houston writes "the place they didn't know they needed, the place where they were meant to hold their ground."