Greenlawn Rec Room

Photo Credit: Brooklyn East Photography

Chasity Centeno, Principal at Riese Design, recently spoke to Haute Design about the rising trend in clients requesting space reinvention within their homes as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Haute Design: It seems most, if not every design project in the past two years involved some form of space reinvention in order to adapt to extending periods of indoor living. What are three main aspects you consider as a designer in order to help clients make this adjustment?

Chasity Centeno: Since the onset of COVID-19, spatial needs within the home have changed drastically. Over the last two years we have seen an increase in the need for home offices, recreational spaces, home theaters and gyms. In designing these spaces, to accommodate families, we any child undergoing homeschooling due to school closures, along with spouses whose offices have since closed as a measure of precaution, leading them to work remotely. In doing so, we interview clients extensively in order to hone in on their needs and wants. Considerations can be whether or not they need single or double work stations, storage, multifunctional spaces and things of the like.

HD: Will clients expect these sorts of amenities to be included in homes on a standard level moving forward? If so, how does that change the job of the designer?

CC: Every family is different and every project is different in its own regard, both pre-COVID and during the pandemic. At Riese Design, we accommodate our clients' needs as we have always done as standard practice.

Greenlawn Home Gym

Photo Credit: Brooklyn East Photography

HD: How can designers help make a living space feel more natural and less likely to cause residents to feel cooped indoors?

CC: There is an ongoing trend of incorporating organic elements in order to bring the outside in. In doing so, people feel more connected to the outdoors. Some examples would be using living walls and plants to add greenery and foliage to a home's interior. If there are any renovations where we can add windows to increase the amount of natural light, we incorporate that as well as natural light increases productivity and stimulation.

HD: How did the Greenlawn basement look before the renovation project? What was the biggest challenge throughout the renovation?

CC: The Greenlawn house was a new-build, so the basement was completely empty; it was just a raw, concrete shell. The biggest challenge was space-planning in the most efficient way possible in order to provide all desired spaces for the couple. The spaces included a mud area, a full bathroom, a recreational area, wet bar, theater room, living room, snack bar and home gym, while also providing the maximum amount of storage.

Greenlawn Home Theater

Photo Credit: Brooklyn East Photography

The post Riese Design’s Chasity Centeno Knows the Secret to Residential Space Reinvention appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Chasity Centeno

Photo Credit: Brooklyn East Photography

Whether you are building, remodeling or redecorating, Riese Design can transform your home or business into a beautiful space to call your own. Riese design commits to provide satisfaction in each project while relaying a level of trust with clients in order to grant them peace of mind. You can rest assured the results Chasity Centeno, Principal at Riese Design, delivers will be the results you expect.

Chasity recently spoke to Haute Design about the opportunity Riese Design was given to participate in the hit TV show, George to the Rescue.

Haute Design: Congratulations on the big TV announcement! Tell us a little bit about how this came about. When were you working on these projects and filming the series?

Chasity Centeno: NBC reached out to me directly, about six years ago, when I first started. I am currently filming my eighth episode. We recently filmed 'Maggie's Mission' in the summer, while simultaneously juggling about 15 clients. We usually do one a year but this year we had the honor and pleasure of filming three episodes. One episode was filmed in the winter, and the other two were filmed in the summer and fall, respectively.

HD: For those who might not be aware of George to the Rescue, could you briefly explain the premise of the show?

CC: George to the Rescue is a home improvement show, which airs on NBC, and focuses on home renovations and makeovers for deserving families. Contractors, designers and tradespeople alike, donate their services to help out for the greater good of the family, with one main goal in mind - providing a space that heightens the functionality of the home by accommodating the corresponding family's wants and needs.

Photo Credit: Brooklyn East Photography

HD: Was this one of the more gratifying experiences of your career?

CC: Each and every episode that I work on, and the families I help, are gratifying all the same. Design is more than just making a space pretty. Design is about changing someone's life for the better, in the most important place they could ever be - their home.

HD: How much did these projects differ from your other projects?

CC: The scope of the project wasn't all that different from other projects that I take on. The biggest difference is the timeline where we squeeze what would be a three-month project into about four weeks. All the products need to be purchased, inspected, delivered, designed and installed in about a month's timeframe from start to finish.

Photo Credit: Brooklyn East Photography

HD: How and when can we tune in to watch the episodes?

CC: The next episode will air Saturday, October 9th, at 9:30am and 7pm ET in the greater New York area on NBC. The show is nationally syndicated. Our 8th episode, which we are filming this fall, is set to air in the Spring of 2022.

HD: Would you be willing to do more television appearances on similar programs?

CC: Yes, as long as it is for a good cause!

HD: What was your biggest takeaway from this experience?

CC: The reward you get from helping someone is not always about a dollar sign, it's more about what's at the heart of why you do what you do.

Photo Credit: Brooklyn East Photography

The post Riese Design Joins Forces With George Oliphant On Home Improvement Show appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.