NYC&G and Kravet Present Phase II of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island's Project Design

For the second year in a row, the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island (RMH-LI) is style central, as NYC&G and Kravet present Phase II of Project Design, a renovation initiative that brings new life to this haven of hope for critically ill children and their families. Last year, the Phase I designers were tasked with revamping 33 spaces in RMH-LI’s original building in New Hyde Park, New York. This year, we’ve upped the challenge, asking 45 top designers to overhaul 41 rooms in the complex’s adjacent tower building. Everything from bedrooms to kitchens has a fresh polish, and new spaces, like a fitness center and meditation room, have been added too. Step right into this welcoming oasis of healing, happiness, and great design.

Team efforts always pay off. Designers Drew McGukin, Danielle Colding, and Young Huh became friends while working on Phase I last year and decided to join forces on Phase II. “Our desire was to create an experience,” McGukin says of their work in the tower lounge, which started with whimsical bunny wallpaper designed by Hunt Slonem for Kravet and curvilinear furniture by Verpan, so adults can kick back and relax while watching the children in the kids’ play area have fun.

Laundry rooms don’t typically corner the market on sophistication, but designer Christine Gentile’s six-by-nine-foot space proves otherwise. 'Function came first, with a commercial-grade front-loading washer and dryer,” she says. Bright and cheerful came next, thanks to a whimsical tree-of-life wall covering from Clarke & Clarke and a polka-dotted Duralee fabric for the ironing board cover and laundry basket. Adding more fun: a Currey & Company light fixture resembling a soap bubble.

'Designing the kosher meat kitchen was very challenging,” says Carol DeBear. “The tight space had only a microwave, a hot plate, and a tiny refrigerator. But everyone I reached out to said, ‘Yes! What can we do to help?’” DeBear installed a 24-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator and a Wolfmicrowave/convection oven with a Sabbath mode, a timer that turns the oven on and off for observant residents. The backsplash became the focal point here, with a hand-painted scene of Jerusalem done by decorative painter Kristin Linder on tile supplied by Cancos.

“Ours is the young, hip bedroom!” jokes Brooke Lichtenstein, who teamed up with business partner Yiannos Vrousgos to oversee six students from the New York School of Interior Design to work on this space. NYSID alums themselves, the duo found the room oddly shaped and “softened it by removing all of the harsh edges—the room gives you a hug!” Their group also fashioned a 3-D mural of wooden toys that illustrates “Peach Boy,” a Japanese fable about a little boy born from a peach who goes on a grand adventure and comes out on top. “It’s a story of hope,” says Vrousgos. “We want to remind the families about hope, not struggle.”

“I’ve been a resident here on two occasions—with both my daughter and my son,” says Kelly Dall of her time at RMH-LI. “For me, this wasn’t so much a choice as it was karma.” Dall’s rustic modern approach includes a wall of porcelain tile from Cancos that looks like reclaimed wood, as well as more quotidian elements, such as computers for researching medical terms and charging stations for phones.

For designer Kim Hendrickson-Radovich, a space to process everything is crucial. “This meditation room is a place to disconnect,” she says. “I’ve also included feng shui principles to maintain a sense of flow.” Hendrickson-Radovich’s smart and tidy 300-square-foot room includes a water wall, shoji screens, upholstered walls, and a mini-library. “Kravet donated all the fabric, and Global Views did the same with furniture and accessories—they’ve been so generous!”

“Unintimidating luxury,” decorator Jack Levy says, describing his firm’s design for the communal fifth-floor lounge and hall. “The key piece here is the sectional sofa, covered in a taupe cotton-and-wool blend from Romo. Koroseal Studio donated wallpaper for the entire hallway and sitting area. We thought about ourselves being in a difficult situation and what we would want to have most: a relaxing, calm space.”

“I put my name in the hat three times to get picked for Phase II!” enthuses Jennifer Flanders. “Warmth, coziness, a place to curl up: All these ideas led me to do a library-like bedroom. There’s a built-in desk, bookcases, and window seats that are four feet deep. Textiles and colors are paramount, so I chose durable fabrics and hung artwork by children—things more impactful, and much more personal.”

After seeing his friend Drew McGukin’s room upon the completion of Phase I last year, designer Darrin Varden jumped at the chance to be a part of Phase II. “My bedroom is pleasantly monotone, with sandy browns and stony-colored grays found in the Cancos porcelain tile,” says the designer, who had the nightstands, desk, entertainment unit, and dresser built as one piece running the length of one wall, and added whimsical quotations from Winnie the Pooh. After all, he adds, “Who doesn’t like Winnie?”

“This bedroom is oddly shaped, almost like a boat,” says Keith Baltimore, “so I thought, Why not make people feel like they could sail away at any moment? I want families to get the impression that they’re docking here for a very short time.” The design took on aspects of a high-end yacht, with walls made to imitate teak and headboards fashioned with portholes. The bedding is a crisp white with navy trim, which further emphasizes the nautical color scheme.

“I’ve used a lot of my own designs in this bedroom, such as a wallpaper from my new collection with Holland & Sherry and fabrics from Duralee,” says designer Philip Gorrivan. “It was important to me to keep the stimuli to a minimum, since the room is all about being cheerful. A color palette of blues and lavenders makes the space soothing, almost curative.”

“I had a niece who had been very ill, so my desire was to craft a serene place for healing,” Katharine Posillico McGowan says of her bedroom plan. “I work closely with a faux finisher, and we dreamed up a flower-garden theme for the wall behind the beds. Next to it, I placed a big board where kids could write their thoughts and feelings. It’s inspirational, and my hope is that it will help the families during the time they are here.”

“Why shouldn’t elevators and laundry rooms be glamorous and elegant?” says designer Leslie Segrete. “For our laundry room, we used a Currey & Company light fixture and a colorful wall covering from Kravet, plus an energy-efficient washer and dryer donated by Hercules. For the adjacent elevator, we draped the sides with upholstered panels for a lush look—and I wasn’t afraid to use purple. It’s such a big color for an equally small space.”

“We chose an African safari theme, so the families who stay here can truly get away from it all,” says Gail Tarasoff-Sutton, part of a three-person team that includes her sister, Karyn Tarasoff, and their mother, Anne Tarasoff, the firm’s namesake. “We fell in love with a Kravet fabric embroidered with an elephant design, and complemented it with earth tones and a wood chandelier. A zebra area rug on top of Lumber Liquidators flooring provides a sensible foundation.” The mother-daughter trio also participated in Phase I last year, though “my greatest wish,” Anne says, “would be to do a knock-your-socks-off room, and then never have the need for it to be used.”

Project Design is near and dear to Suzanne Costa, Phase II’s design chair and a board member of RMH-LI. “I dreamed up a bohemian terrace, blending Moroccan and Turkish styles, for the rooftop retreat,” she says. “Since people from so many cultures stay at RMH-LI, crafting a space everyone could relate to was important. I used ipe wood on the deck and covered the back wall in Turkish tile, with cascades of water flowing over it. An awning above it all makes the space feel like the Mediterranean!”

“The house had never had respite rooms,” Jennifer Cohler Mason says, “and for this space I covered walls in fabric for a tent-like effect. I used a zebra-print fabric on bolsters and tassels on the valances to add whimsy. People can chill out here and watch TV during moments when a little distraction is needed. We wanted it to be a luxurious place, yet comfortable.”

“How many bedrooms in RMH-LI have an arch and columns at the entry?” says Robin Baron. “This space is special, not something cookie-cutter. We painted vines onto the wall covering, which gives it a delicate, sophisticated look, and used healing colors, like turquoise blue and apple green. An environment can affect people in so many ways. Bright tones keep the positive feelings going!”

“RMH is a long distance from us, but we knew we could knock it out of the park,” says Traci Zeller, who tackled RMH-LI’s business office with colleague Lisa Mende from their home base in Charlotte, North Carolina. “The space is tiny, but a Maris linen by Tilton Fenwick for Duralee at the windows and the bling of a Currey & Company chandelier dress it up,” adds Mende. “And necessities like floor-to-ceiling shelves from the Container Store and office supplies at the ready are key when business needs to get done.”

“I layered shades of forest green and ballet-slipper pink in this bedroom and topped everything off with a fox-print wallpaper—just because!” says Brian Patrick Flynn, a designer based in Los Angeles and Atlanta, who made the space even more fun with Alice in Wonderland–like beds fashioned from wingback chairs. “There’s not a lot of natural light in this environment, so I hung an oversize mirror on one wall that replicates a window. It really opens up the room.”

“I want people to feel like they’re enveloped in a lovely home,” designer Isabelle Ferranti says. “The white lacquered dresser has a grass-cloth top, and wall-to-wall white panels covering the windows add a crisp finish. The best part of all was being chosen to participate. This is a true labor of love.”

For designer Jackie Higgins, taking on this project has brought life full circle: 'My daughter was very ill as a baby, and we spent time at RMH-LI 23 years ago,' she says. 'Since we lived nearby, we didn’t need a room, but we still found the house helpful as a respite. Now I’m able to return the favor, and give a sense of peace and comfort to those who stay here. Inspired by the ocean, I chose sand and sea colors, and artwork with a restful theme for my bedroom. It’s rooted in tradition, but still has style.'

For this bedroom, designed by Stephanie Woodmansee and Elle Clymer, the goal “was to produce a very calming space for the families,” Woodmansee says. “The room takes on a spa-like feel, with gray-blue paint and black four-poster beds, and pops of color provided by Kelly Wearstler fabrics and Madeline Weinrib ikat-print pillows.”

As a father of two, James Huniford knows what it’s like for a family to share space. 'Functionality was key for this bedroom, with elements like dimmers on wall sconces and comfortable beds, bedding, and throws from Ralph Lauren Home,' he says. 'I try to be true to my sensibility, which is clean and tailored with a combination of textures.” Three major colors, blue, white, and cream, “are great to live with and very restful.'

Designer Michael Adams’s goal was to fashion a bedroom that was modern and clean, but not too far removed from reality. “I created a palette of light- to mid-tone colors, without any contrast,” he says. “I wanted to make it as effortless a space as possible, but one that was also chic.” An ingenious night table/desk hybrid and a triptych of nature-based images by photographer Mark MacKinnon contribute to the room’s feeling of timelessness

A veteran of showhouse design, Donald Schermerhorn is deeply passionate about the cause: “This is a showhouse we should all be doing,” he says of Phase II at RMH-LI. “A Kravet fabric in an ikat-like pattern kicks things off in my bedroom’s curtains, with wonderful blues, a carrot-y orange, and a mustard yellow balanced on an ivory field. An area rug from MissoniHome makes for a jubilant mix. It’s lively, but clean and straightforward.”

“A work entitled Dandelion became my starting point,” says Bonnie Steves of a piece she hung in this bedroom. “When a dandelion opens up, its white seeds disperse into the world, like mini-parachutes. I wanted to sow seeds here, too, for wonderful things to come.” Prints, plaids, and stripes all have a role, from an A. Rudin chair covered in a Romo plaid and turtle-motif drapery fabric from Kravet. Additionally, glass panels by Gigi Chen “illustrate the Manhattan skyline and serve as a big journal for people to leave a message.”

Designer Rachel Florez was thrilled to take on the design of the kosher dairy kitchen, but its mere six-by-nine feet required careful planning. More important to Florez was function. “I wanted a place families could walk into at the end of a hectic day and use with ease. I even met with two rabbis to ensure every detail was right! Knowing that hungry kids would periodically be waiting for meals, I also built an interactive toy gearbox on one wall to stave off boredom.”

“Our bedroom is all about healing through form, color, and light,” says designer Charles Pavarini III, working in tandem with J. Randall Tarasuk. “We installed a chromotherapy tub that can be programmed with different colors and help balance the body’s energy. LED lights were built into the headboards, which emit a colorful glow, and a SmartPad on the wall can be programmed to control anything in the room.”

“Our firm’s work is often described as clean, livable, and approachable,” says Bella Mancini, who stayed true to this design ethos with fresh turquoise and jewel tones that give this bedroom universal appeal. “We balanced the color with a Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams dresser and nightstand that have the look of driftwood, and the Jab Anstoetz fabric depicting a flurry of birds was a no-brainer. It’s so happy!” Tying it all together: Benjamin Moore’s Nimbus paint on the walls and a gray-and-white chevron-stripe Stark carpet. “When all was said and done, the energy of the room just took over.”

“I love the shape of a heart,” says designer Melissa Marcogliese, who added a heart-shaped ottoman and various heart-themed artwork to her bedroom. “The design is simple, but pretty, with all-white bedding from Peacock Alley and headboards from the Custom Interiors Shop. I want this to be a place where anyone could go to truly unwind.”

“We call it the Jelly Lounge,” says Michael Tavano, who framed Swedish fish candy to adorn his whimsical hallways and family lounge. “It’s a cacophony of color, with sunny yellows, oranges, blues, and greens. There’s a gaming niche surrounded by curtains, as well as a reading nook. Last year, I was fortunate enough to meet a family who stayed in the room I designed for Phase I. They told me it took them away from their troubles. To me, that’s success.”

The trio of Gayle Moss, Leslie Padron, and Susan Taubman set out to “fashion a bedroom that truly worked, which meant adequate lighting and storage, a functional desk, and a sizable closet remade into a mini walk-in,” says Moss. “An icy aqua Venetian-plaster wall covering offers a polished finish, making it a soft place to land.”

Designer Tamara Eaton had one goal for her bedroom: Have fun with color, which she employed in a vast array of pinks and purples. “It needed to be a retreat, but a playful one,” she says. “In some of RMH’s rooms, I saw get-well cards and gift baskets, but noticed there was no place to put them. So we installed floating shelves for them, instant visual reminders of the hope and happiness that fills this house.”

“This is the best showhouse experience I’ve had,” enthuses designer Billy Ceglia of his involvement in RMH-LI Phase II. “For my bedroom, I thought practical, like creating a desk that seats two and stocking it with notepaper and pens.” The adjacent bathroom was gutted and kitted out with Waterworks surfaces and fittings, plus a “really cool revolving vanity mirror” with shelving at its back. Vinyl-coated Hermès wallpaper and framed Hermès scarves inject a note of sophistication.

“It’s an honor to be part of something that has such a positive impact,” says designer Lindsey Coral Harper. “To keep the energy going, I made our bedroom really pop with an abundance of pattern. In the vestibule, we used a Mally Skok print, and in the bedroom itself, a blue-and-white-striped paper from Sonia’s Place that runs horizontally rather than vertically. We even wallpapered the ceiling in a Boussac paper from Pierre Frey!”

“Colorful, fresh, fun, and warm” are the words designer Elaine Griffin uses to describe her imaginative work in the family lounge and hall. How to bring it together? “Have it flow like the ocean,” she says. “I hung an aquarium-themed wallpaper and added a comfy rug so children could sit down, alongside generously sized chairs for adults. It’s a great chill-out space, and an alternative to the first floor’s main play area, for those who don’t want to go all the way downstairs.”

“The one element absent at RMH-LI was a fitness center,” says designer Eddie Lee, a daily gym-goer who had his heart set on tackling this new space. “Planet Fitness donated equipment for the 20-by-20-foot room, and we included a warm-up area and banquette seating, too.” Lee devoted a wall of framed photos to Katie McBride, a resident who recently passed away, using the color blue—her favorite—on seating, lights, and equipment pads. “I was very touched by her story.”

“We want people to get off the elevator at the family lounge and smile,” says designer Gail Eyl. “An orange chair and sofa, butter-yellow ottoman, tie-dyed raspberry-pink and mauve valances, and tons of colorful throw pillows should do the trick!” Her design partner, Steve Gallotti, adds, “A reading area and a desk/bookcase combination serve as a spot to spread out and work. Everyone needs a place to just kick back.”

Margreet Cevasco took on the mammoth task of the tower kitchen revamp with fellow designer Vasi Ypsilantis—though they knew what they were in for, having done the main kitchen and dining room for Phase I. “Unlike other rooms in the house, the kitchen requires a large amount of items, including 40 chairs and 20 tables,” she says. “Everything must be ADA-compliant—the seating, the communal table, the four cooking areas,” adds Ypsilantis. “There was no accessible space before. My firm specializes in kitchen design, so I was able to donate the Poggenpohl cabinetry, and Sub-Zero donated all the appliances.”

“One of the challenges for us was a huge wall at the back of the outdoor lounge and grilling area,” says designer Libby Langdon. “So we painted a bright Mondrian-like mural on it and added colorful Serena & Lily pillows and textiles that play against white wicker furniture donated by Lloyd Flanders. It will be great to see people sitting outside, just happy to be in the sunshine.”

“This was so important to me,” says Marialisa Zywotchenko of her participation in Project Design. Zywotchenko, who recently finished treatment for her own illness, knows the importance of healing. “I toured RMH during Phase I and just had to get involved for Phase II.” Her firm—a family-run design-and-build business—took on the bathroom in the tower lounge, incorporating towel bars donated by American Specialties and tiles from Cancos. “We kept it simple. People come here in stress mode, and I want to help them relax.”