Cover photo: Gina Ireland joined by local elected officials to cut the ribbon at Gina Ireland Interiors (Credit – Matt Meduri)
Downtown St. James welcomed a new business on Wednesday afternoon.
Gina Ireland Interiors held its grand opening at its Lake Avenue location in the heart of historic St. James. The proprietor was welcomed by Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James), Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), Smithtown Councilwoman Lynne Nowick (R-St. James), and Smithtown Highway Superintendent Bob Murphy (R-St. James).
The business has all the needs of a classic interior design business, with samples of tiles, fabrics, and other home/business renovation staples. Moreover, the store contains a variety of home decorations, such as figures, fragrances, and small-scale pieces of comfortable furniture.
The Messenger sat down with Ms. Ireland to learn more about what she can bring to St. James and Smithtown at large.
A Brooklyn native, Ireland raised her family in Locust Valley and operated a ladies’ boutique there, but still operated her interior design business.
“My first client, and one of my favorite clients, was in Head of the Harbor,” Ireland told The Messenger. “I had a wonderful experience coming to this area. I knew that when I wanted to downsize and come to a small, close-knit town where I love the clients and the people, I came here. It makes me feel more at home because I do miss where I used to live.”
Although Ireland has been in Nesconset for just five years, her interior design work can be observed in several community landmarks. Ireland worked for the Crest Group, a small private equity, family-owned firm that develops multi-unit family homes in Suffolk. Ireland had the distinction of renovating the lighthouse at Danfords in Port Jefferson during her tenure with the business. Crest also recently purchased Thatch Cottage, which is now Water’s Edge in Centerport, the renovation for which Ireland planned and coordinated herself during the COVID-19 Pandemic, while, sadly, her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.
Ireland describes that her daughter’s journey hasn’t been the smoothest, starting with a bone marrow transplant at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital in Queens. After the transplant failed, she was brought to Philadelphia Children’s Hospital for CAR T-cell infusions.
“We’re down to chemo and radiation and praying for a new miracle,” said Ireland, whose status as a single mother also made St. James an attractive option for a downsize.
“My taxes were astronomical in Locust Valley,” said Ireland, adding that she renovated her home within five months of moving in. “Locust Valley just had that charming, homey feeling that I missed so much. I love the people here [in Smithtown]; everyone is very grounded, happy, not pretentious. And that’s me, but I’m still a Brooklyn girl!”
Some patrons of the store actually came out specifically for the grand opening, including a Brookville couple who have been long-time friends of Ireland and received her interior designing expertise for their home in Florida.
“Our kids went to school together, then we bought a Tuscan-style home in Florida,” Matt and Marcia Stadler told The Messenger, a snowbirding couple originally from Stony Brook and Miller Place, who met as teenagers at the Smith Haven Mall. “She picked out the floors, the chandeliers, the artwork, everything, and it came out perfect. It’s a dream home and I’m so glad that we stuck with her ideas. She really set us on the right path, and look at her now.”
Gina Ireland Interiors makes for a fresh addition to downtown St. James, offering a variety of renovation samples, home décor, and personal products.
Meanwhile, with community bona fides and seventeen years in the business, Gina Ireland is looking to bring her expertise to a new-found community that makes her feel right at home.
Gina Ireland Interiors is located at 438 Lake Avenue in St. James.
