What is Design House?
In 2009, the Shelter for Help in Emergency (SHE) celebrated its 30th anniversary, and a vision for establishing a major fundraising event to help sustain the Shelter’s residential facilities operations and outreach in the greater Charlottesville community was established.
The idea for a Design House to benefit SHE had its roots in the new emergency residential shelter opened in 2008. As the first facility designed from the ground up specifically for victims of domestic violence in our community, it was important that the shelter should be bright, airy and welcoming – an inspiring, nurturing environment to foster physical and emotional healing.
Since 2009, a local Charlottesville homeowner has opened their doors to a team of local designers and vendors eager to transform the home room-by-room. The result is a unique experience for visitors, where each room reflects a designer’s creative vision and provides endless and inspiring ideas for the home.
The resulting makeover is showcased in tours open to the public with all proceeds benefiting the Shelter and is its largest fundraising event. Each tour ticket purchase goes directly to helping local victims of domestic violence and their children.
According to their website, through Design House, the Shelter “offers a tangible reminder of the home we would wish for each person in our community: a haven of love and laughter, free from fear and violence. We believe that no matter how different the structures of our individual dwellings may be, surely they can all share that quality at heart, because peace on earth begins at home.”
They were are “honored to have been given the Silver Award in the “Local Charity 2017” category in the Charlottesville Welcome Book.”
Shelter’s Story
For almost 40 years, the Shelter has committed to providing a safe, confidential, and respectful environment in which survivors of domestic violence are empowered with the knowledge of personal and community resources as well as the skills needed to make informed decisions for themselves and for their families.
The Shelter is the only agency in Planning District Ten (City of Charlottesville and the five surrounding counties of Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa and Nelson) providing comprehensive services to women and children who are victims of violence within their home or relationship.
Offering services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Shelter uses professional staff and trained volunteers to carry out program goals. Services include a 24-hour crisis hotline, supportive counseling, case management services, court advocacy and accompaniment, services and support to the Spanish-speaking community, educational groups, allied professional training and consultation.
Women and children needing a safe place to escape the violence in their home may seek temporary, emergency housing through the residential facility. Abused men are offered support services and temporary emergency shelter in a safe alternative location.
About this year’s Design House
Built in 2001 by Christopher Bowen of Skyline Home Builders, this 5 bedroom, 4 bath brick Georgian house in the Meriwether Lewis.borders the Mechums River off Garth Road, a few miles past Foxfield.
Designers will be able to work with a 6,000+ finished square foot home sited on a 3.4 acre lot, with two master suites, a finished third level bonus room, and a finished terrace level w/ rec room, billiard room, home gym and projection home theater. The heart of the home is the kitchen, breakfast and vaulted family room with its unusual brick fireplace.
Future Design Houses & Help Needed
If you have a home you would like to have considered – you can access more information at www.CvilleDesignHouse.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
Charlottesville Solutions has donated to the SHE House for the last several years. As of today, Jan. 31, 2018, to help ensure this is a successful fundraiser, Charlottesville Design House is currently looking for volunteers to help during the two weeks in May the house is open. For more information please email: kdillon@
