How to customize Left column Category Block

[Kent88z]

I'm looking for advice on how to customize the category block in the left column. I know in Catalog > Categories > Edit if you check Displayed then that category will be listed in the left column and ordered by the Category ID. What I'd like to do is have a few headers separating categories like this:

 

Shop by style:

category 1

category 2

 

Shop by fabric:

category 3

category 4

 

Shop by color:

category 5

category 6

category 7

 

There would be no hyperlink on the new headers. I think the only way to do it would be to add html code to the blockcategories.tpl file but the trick is still automating the creation of each category and link. Maybe I could have a bunch of if id_category== statements but that's a little over my head. I looked for an add-on that lets you customize the category block but couldn't find one.

[vekia]

i think that it will be easier to create separate module for that than editing the default categories block. It's because default module shows category based on tree.