The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island (RMH-LI) in New Hyde Park got a new look this past October, thanks to the help of 27 of the regions top interior designers. Two of those designers are local businesswomen, Vasi Ypsilantis of Manhasset and Margreet Cevasco of Sea Cliff, who hosted a fundraiser for the project on Wednesday, May 21.
The 42-bedroom facility is set to add 24 bedrooms and four eat-in kitchens as part of the projects phase II.
All of the designers worked to redesign and renovate the house’s original 18 bedrooms, four kitchens, breakfast room, five common areas, first floor restrooms and three laundry rooms. The house is a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children. It was the first phase of a project which will see further renovations to the house starting this July.
“When we saw what was involved in this project and how it would help families in need, we knew we needed to get involved,” said Ypsilantis. “The hospital asked us for a proposal to raise funds and we acted on it.”
Ypsilantis said that she and her fellow designers donated all of the products and paid for the services out of their own pockets.
The whole project took 240 days to complete, running from July to October 2013, with more than $2 million in design, labor and materials being donated to the house. The designers wanted to reflect a theme of love and compassion into the redesigned physical environment that would help parents focus on their children’s healing.
“We acted with our hearts and were very moved to complete this project,” said Cevasco.
Cevasco, who owns Margreet Cevasco Design, said she collaborated with Ypsilantis to design the kitchen with four cooking stations, the dining room area and a coffee lounge.
The second phase of the project, which is scheduled to start in July and end in October, will include adding four more kitchens including a handicap kitchen into a wing of the house.
“From the very start, they were focused on making this space right for the 21 families who are living here,” said Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House of Long Island Matt Campo.
