Since the first Ronald McDonald House launched in 1974, its mission has been to keep families close to their children while they receive the essential care they so desperately need. Today, Ronald McDonald House Charities operate more than 350 facilities, but the accommodations can be very utilitarian. That’s where Designing Hope came in.
Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley partnered with the American Society of Interior Designers NY Metro (ASID) and aspire design and home to revitalize this home-away-from-home. With the support of generous sponsors and suppliers, designers refreshed all 12 of the guest rooms as well as the common spaces—to create an atmosphere of hope for families coping with crisis.
The emotional nature of the project clearly touched the designers, who spoke passionately about their motivations. “Nobody ever wants to be here,” says Suzanne Goldberg. “But maybe it does something to uplift just a little bit.”
“I wanted it to feel like somewhere they can recuperate and focus on making sure their children get better,” said Tammy Bolden. And Barbara Ostrom was motivated by “knowing that this is where people have their children next door, some of them dying. All it did was reflect the unhappiness.”
Kim Radovich, who has done several Ronald McDonald Houses, says it’s infinitely rewarding. “You have to do this because it brings hope and makes people feel better.” Thanks to these designers, the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Hudson Valley is once again the “house that love built.”
RACHEL LAXER of Rachel Laxer Interiors was inspired by this Cole & Son wallcovering; its name, Singita, means “place of miracles.”
VANESSA DELEON of Vanessa DeLeon Associates sought to inspire happiness with choices including a wall of bunnies by Hunt Slonem for Kravet and a fully equipped desk area to encourage creative play.
BARBARA LEWIS of Lewis Design Group summoned an “enchanted enclave” with a cool palette, reflected in whimsical walls from Thibaut.
MELISSA ANDERSON of OAD Interiors brought a sense of brightness to her guest room with choices such as a subtle pairing of Sherwin-Williams Ethereal White with a sophisticated white-on- white wallcovering from York, versatile light sources from Hudson Valley Lighting, and window treatments from The Shade Store that still invite the light.
BARBARA OSTROM of Barbara Ostrom Associates was eager to trade her room’s previous color scheme of browns and beiges for a friendly palette that embraces color—such as the vibrant blue of the Thibaut wallcovering, a beautiful carpet by Ashley Stark, and a host of furniture pieces by Serena and Lily, including these oversize headboards.
ELISSA GRAYER of Elissa Grayer Interior Design took on a laundry list of spaces at the Ronald McDonald House—transforming the lobby with custom cabinetry from California Closets and smart Currey & Co. pendants—in addition to tackling the family pantry, hallway, and lobby bathroom, as well as this welcoming vestibule with requested storage and inviting accessories.
SUZANNE GOLDBERG of SBG Design switched themes from “calm” to “happy,” ultimately filling walls with color and bedecking the window with butterflies.
BARBARA BELL of Barbara Bell Interiors created comfort—not to mention plentiful seating—in this creamy common area, while also tackling a guest room.
CHARLES PAVARINI III of Pavarini Design and Randall Tarasuk of Peter Dinatale and Associates crafted a celestial space to help heal through chromotherapy, aromatherapy, and more.
KIM RADOVICH of Kim Radovich Interiors designed this meeting room, featuring a media console from Benmar and a beautiful white conference table from Arnold Collective. She commissioned children—aged four to 11 years old—to create the colorful artwork, meant to help make families happy even when having difficult conversations about challenging times.
TAMMY BOLDEN of Bold Interior Designs created a midcentury modern interpretation of A Secret Garden—filling it with flourishing florals including this wallcovering from York.
DIANE DUROCHER of Diane Durocher Interiors sought to remind visitors to this suite that life is a journey we do not travel alone. Keeping in mind that the room would see many occupants, she created opportunities for each family to personalize the space, such as a wall where they can create messages with magnetic letters.
CHRISTINE ORTIZ of Oh! Designs Interiors offers this vignette from her design for the first-floor family corridor, which also included Stanton Carpets and pieces from West Elm.
ALEXIS HUGHES of Alexis Hughes & Co offers the feel of camping out with Woods & Stars paper from Cole & Son; the verticals continued in striped sheer curtains from The Shade Store.
Photography by Alan Barry.
aspire design and home would like to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the sponsors of this year’s Ronald McDonald Showhouse: Carpet Trends, California Closets, Fabricut, Fiber-Seal Northeast, Gurri Stone Fabrication, Allen Carpet & Flooring, Carpet Tiles, Fenway Floors, Circa Lighting, Hudson Valley Lighting, Laurent Lighting, Currey & Company, Sherwin-Williams, Best Plumbing & Stone, Kohler, Lapitec, Luxury Vinyl Tile, York Wallcoverings, and Stanton.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.