The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island (RMH-LI) recently appointed interior designer Suzanne Costa to its 2014 board of directors.
She will lend her expertise to RMH-LI’s mission of providing a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children, specifically through her leadership skills, fundraising experience, and knowledge of the design industry.
Costa first became active with RMH-LI last year through an initiative called Project Design 2013—the largest redesign RMH-LI has seen in its almost 28 years. With the help of the region’s interior designer industry leaders, this project focused on completing a redesign and renovation of the original 18 bedrooms, four kitchens, breakfast room, five common areas, first floor restrooms and three laundry rooms. More than $2 million in design, labor and materials were donated to the initiative. Phase II, Project Design 2014, will focus on updating RMH-LI’s remaining 24 bedrooms and several common areas.
“Suzanne quickly became a leader within the framework of the project, offering valuable advice and guidance to staff and designers assembling spaces in the house,” said Matthew Campo, executive director of RMH-LI. “She left such a lasting impression during Phase
I that she currently serves as Design Chair for Phase II.”
Costas been spearheading all planning aspects of the initiative and mentoring this year’s diverse group of participating designers on reflecting their own unique style into a comfortable space. She hopes each space will provide a calm and restful healing environment for families experiencing the pain of having a child in the hospital.
“Working on Project Design 2013 helped me personally realize that transforming a space for families in need was a gift that I could give but more one I received,” she said. “The relationships I built at RMH-LI changed my path and led me to understand that the right design can help the healing process by surrounding families with the much-needed peace and tranquility.”
In addition to her involvement with RMH-LI, Costa is the principal at the New York-based design firm Suzanne Costa Interiors.
Raised by an artist, the late Eddie Costa of American jazz fame, and a mother who was a fashion designer, she grew up with creative elements all around her, and has brought these experiences into perspective as one of the area’s most sought after interior designers.
Costa spent much of her early career involved in Long Island Gold Coast real estate. She has clients on Long Island, in New York City and in Naples, Florida, and they share her enthusiasm in both life and lifestyles since she began the firm in 2000.
