Haas Design is breaking the mold, one project at a time

A new design studio in town brings a fresh approach to bespoke coastal interiors

Maaike Bernstrom Photography

Stepping into the Haas Design studio on Memorial Boulevard is to enter the world as Galen Haas and her creative team experience it, one textured and often the result of collaboration. In a newly appointed front room, the walls are painted with a warm stucco affect, the ceiling has been adorned with dark wooden beams, and a large, sturdy table stands at the center, all of which combine to make the space feel homey and like an escape from an otherwise busy roadway.

And it is exactly this experience of transforming a space that Haas and her team seek to replicate for their clients, whether the project is a new build or, like their office, an existing structure with unmet potential.

Haas launched her design business three years ago and moved into the space on Memorial last June, where her sign hangs near an orange door and a sign for Water Brothers’ new location, which is tucked around the corner.

Her familiarity with Newport County stems from summers spent in Jamestown and through meeting her husband, who is from Newport, where she now lives with him, their daughter, and dog Moose (she’s married to local sailor Rome Kirby). Haas grew up in Fairfield, Conn., and attended Georgetown University and Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Before launching her own firm, Haas worked as head interior designer at DiMauro Architects, currently based in Jamestown and formerly of Newport, and says much of her process is rooted in thinking about architecture first.

She has two employees: Emily Slusarczyk, an associate designer and graduate of Roger Williams University in Bristol, where she studied architecture; and Lela Barclay de Tolly, an assistant interior designer who studied furniture design at Rhode Island School of Design (and whose mother, Brenda Brock, founded Farmaesthetics).

“We take the headache and arguing and painful details out of what [our clients] have to do,” Haas says of helping to alleviate the stressful aspects of a design project so the homeowner’s experience can be fun and enjoyable. “We really go to the end of the Earth for some of these great clients and it really goes a long way.”

Part of this process entails helping clients decide what they want in terms of design and decor, and making sure the resulting project is something original, not just a copy of what someone may have seen on TV or Instagram.

“The idea is to not just replicate someone else’s work,” explains Haas, “it’s a balance of taking someone’s vision and making it bespoke to them — that’s the challenge, and the fun part.”

She often incorporates vintage pieces into her designs and is known to frame black and white family photos, elements that add depth and story to the space. Haas and her team are also keen to explore coastal style beyond the perceived standard of blue and white interiors or details.

That is what drew Barclay de Tolly, who grew up on Aquidneck Island, to work at Haas Design. “[Galen was] breaking the mold for so much of what I had seen here,” she says, enthusiastically.

Barclay de Tolly noted a new trend in coastal design is the “fisherman aesthetic,” which is a bit saltier than another recent trend known as the “coastal grandma.” Both extend the range of what encompasses coastal style and ambiance — a topic that led she and Haas into an animated discussion.

Another component of the Haas Design approach is its relationships with local businesses and craftsmen.

“There is nothing more important in this industry than the connections you have with your subs, your vendors, and your contractors,” says Haas. “The best part for me is forming these local relationships … and gaining their trust.”

To date, she’s worked with K&R Contruction, Kirby Perkins Construction, Horan Building, and Behan Bros. Much of the work stems from word-of-mouth referrals, which have been essential to her growing business.

Currently, the firm’s projects are mainly focused on Jamestown and Newport, where Haas and her team are equally at ease working in historic homes and new builds.

An historic building offers a different set of parameters, she notes, in the sense of not being able to change windows, doors or the overall footprint. With that comes the opportunity to bring the structure “back to what it was meant to be — which pushes me further to think outside the box.”

“It’s such a fun challenge,” adds Barclay de Tolly, “it’s great when the bones of a house have a story to tell and guide you.” To learn more about Haas Design, visit www.haasdesign-studio.com.