Design has the power to transform. It also, as it turns out, has the power to help heal. The benefits of calming spaces and their ability to promote well being are becoming clear. To see this theory in action, just take a look at some of the well-designed spaces created by top talent-- 26 New York area interior designers at Long Island's Ronald McDonald House. Anthony Baratta jump-started the project as the creative director, and brought in wonderful partners like Kravet. Full of creative details, soothing and energizing color, the 18 redesigned bedrooms and public spaces provide a welcoming home-away-from-home for patients and their families that come from near and far for medical treatment. I had the pleasure of seeing the spaces and got the chance to talk to the designers while hosting Editor at Large, and got to hear how meaningful it was for them to partake in this charity. This is not another showhouse, it is a permanent, fully functional living space that will be enjoyed and appreciated over and over again. With 300 Ronald McDonald Houses across the country, wouldn't it be amazing to see this done on a national scale? The projects will be featured in New York Cottages and Gardens, so be sure to read more about #projectdesign there.
Editor at Large covered the gala evening, it had designers looking their best for the big reveal.
Yes, I really was that excited, I got to talk to Ronald.
The public spaces, as done by Anthony Baratta, with tons of color and giant sized doll houses.
Pops of red and blue in the playroom created by Bunny Williams.
Amanda Nisbet brought some zing with shades of sunny yellow.
Nick Olsen, never one to shy away from color, created a primary color-filled kids room with stripes and color blocking.
As a sanctuary, the bedrooms are a place for rejuvenation and relaxation. Meg Braff did just that with pale blue, white and green.
Jennifer Metadash had fun with color, creating an escape with creative details like painted Moorish arches above the headboards and a flowery Chinoiserie wallpaper on the ceiling.
Eric Cohler created an exotic escape with recessed cut outs of Moorish arches backed in red and a striped ceiling.
Paint is an easy way to create something unique, and Jamie Drake expanded this irregularly shaped bedroom with a wall of wide stripes.
New moms can escape to the nursery room designed by Tilton Fenwick for quiet time in a cozy floral-covered chair.
Each room has a totally different look, and Jon Call created a handsome haven with masculine details and clean lines.
Angles everywhere led Drew McGukin to embrace them. Check out the slanted headboard.
Like an island getaway, Mabley Handler's pale aqua walls and white bedding are as soothing as the sky and sand.
For the fan of warm modern, DwellStudio brought some Mid-Century flair using grey and yellow.
A neutral palette grounds Pappas Miron's bedroom. Pops of aqua and orange add an element of fun.
Kate Singer added a bit of escapism with framed animal prints against lilac walls and yellow accents.
Matthew Patrick Smyth shared that his baseball memorabilia came from Ebay. It seems collected over time, and any Mets fan would be thrilled to chill in this dugout.
Using linear bands of color to create architecture around the room, Young Huh injected a sense of fun through pattern and color with modern and traditional pieces.
Coral and pale blue dominated Michael Tavano's color and pattern filled space. Giant glowing orbs, hung at random, resemble planets in the sky.
Suzanne Costa created a luxe tree house setting with re purposed wood on the walls and faux fur throws.
Even the laundry rooms got the head to toe treatment- how chic is this space with pops of red by Danielle Colding?
How fun to watch fish swim across the walls while doing laundry?
