Interior designer recognized with service award

Kirsten Clark, kclark2@courier-journal.com 2:41 p.m. EDT October 2, 2014

Geraldine Harrah, affectionately known as Gerry, is a Bell Award winner for her work and founding of the nonprofit group God's Design, which helps decorate apartments with furniture and accessories for those in need. Sept. 20, 2014(Photo: By Matt Stone/The C-J)

Before the throw pillows, floral window treatments and easy chair, the only furniture in Andre Sellers fourth floor efficiency was a worn out Murphy bed.

He had lived in the Old Louisville apartment almost five months after moving out of a shelter, and it was kind of stressful because there was a lot of stuff I didnt have that I needed, said Sellers, 47.

But on a recent Tuesday, Gerry Harrah and volunteers from her nonprofit organization Gods Designs, Inc., hauled in the donated furnishings needed to turn Sellers apartment into a place where he could thrive, Harrah said.

For the past six years, Harrah and her team have been outfitting apartments and homes for people in need.

So many of these people have been homeless, said Harrah, who owned an interior design company in the Highlands for more than 30 years. Theyre living with absolutely nothing ... and our motto is making a house a home.

After Harrah, 81, of the Highlands, retired about 10 years ago, she and her late husband Jim started Gods Designs as a ministry out of St. Matthews Baptist Church. Since then, Gods Designs has become an independent nonprofit organization and has outfitted nearly 200 units.

Harrah is one of 10 individuals who will receive a WLKY Bell Award, which recognizes volunteers in the Louisville area, during a ceremony Thursday.

Bell Awards Program Director Debbie Roberson said a board of community leaders chose this years winners from a pool of more than 70 nominees.

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Interior designer recognized with service award