Corrin Arasa is many things. She is a professional scene setter with extraordinary attention to detail, a creative collector of beautiful and interesting things, a savvy entrepreneur who’s started several successful businesses.
She is also a fantastic hostess.
One bitterly cold afternoon, we joined Arasa in her impeccably curated home to chat about her journey—from staging celebrities’ apartments to founding the Ridgefield Farmers Market. The atmosphere was incredibly cozy: a fire crackled, music floated through the house, and the air carried the scent of a luxurious candle.
Elevating our tête-à-tête to simply beyond, chocolate chip cookies baked in the oven. (“Oh, they’re vegan cookies from Ross Bread—my son’s favorite!” Arasa shares). Here she is, in her element, crafting a remarkable experience with the effortless grace of a master of ambiance.
“My background is in brand marketing,” Arasa begins. “I worked with luxury and lifestyle brands on both the tech and event sides, producing events for the Grammys, the Olympics, Sundance Film Festival. We created immersive experiences and leveraged socials to help brands connect with consumers.”
Arasa’s watershed moment happened during a high-stakes event in Times Square. Deadlines loomed, and Arasa’s client was fixated on having the perfect chairs as the focal point. Despite scouring her usual resources, Arasa couldn’t find anything suitable.
“Then I realized—I had the perfect chairs at home!” she recalls.
At the time, Arasa, her husband Casey, and their children Devin and Kaia, were splitting their time between New York City and their second home in the Hudson Valley. There, Arasa spent weekends treasure hunting at yard sales, flea markets, and antique stores, amassing a stunning collection of unique furniture for their antique farmhouse.
“For that event, being able to turn to my own collection was transformative,” Arasa tells us. It merged her expertise in event production with her passion for all things vintage—and in the process, highlighted a significant gap in the furniture rental market.
“There weren’t many places to rent unique, soulful furniture for large-scale events or shoots,” Arasa explains. “So I didn’t hesitate, I stopped what I was doing and launched Patina.”
Patina Rentals (rentpatina.com) lovingly celebrates the beauty that comes with age—a nod to the rich texture that certain materials develop over time. Since its founding, Patina has redefined event design, carving out a niche with its curated inventory of vintage, artisan-made, and custom-designed pieces.
“When you walk into a space that resonates with you, it’s visceral—you feel it, you sense the energy,” Arasa explains. “Whether it’s the scent of a candle or sitting in a vintage chair. That creates a memory. So taking that soulful, authentic feeling that you get in a home or a hotel and creating an event around it is really rewarding.”
When the Arasas left the city, they first landed in Pound Ridge. In 2022, they became Ridgefielders, purchasing a historic 1785 home on Blackman Road, near The Hickories—where Arasa had been a CSA member even before becoming a local. Two years ago, the Arasas found their forever home: a beautiful Victorian on West Lane, dating to 1850.
“Whether I’m designing events, my home, commercial spaces, or collaborating with stagers,” Arasa shares, “I approach each project thoughtfully. It has to feel authentic, soulful, and unique.”
Arasa’s home has soul in spades. It blends a myriad of textures and colors, effortlessly combining antique treasures with bespoke creations. A self-proclaimed “space creator,” Arasa’s talent for design shines throughout.
“For me, homes tell a story,” Arasa says. “As stewards, we interpret a home’s history to create a space that reflects our lives. Home isn’t just about design or aesthetics—it’s about the energy we want to cultivate. We’re always playing games; it’s fun, it’s comfortable, but we like things that have patina,” she adds. “We’re drawn to older homes—they have character and soul.”
Interestingly, both of Arasa’s Ridgefield homes have a farming heritage—first The Blackman Farm and, on West Lane, one of the town’s original farms. Given her deep appreciation for farm-fresh food and her love of historic farmhouses, it’s no surprise that Arasa was inspired to establish a farmers market in town.
“Our town is flanked by two badass, female farmers,” she tells us, referring to Whitney Freeman at Henny Penny Farm and Dina Brewster at The Hickories. “It’s so rare to live somewhere with access to organic, farm-fresh food. And Ridgefield has this amazing sense of community that made starting a farmers market a really easy notion to conceive.”
On Saturday, July 15, 2023, Arasa’s vision came to life on Jesse Lee Commons, with over a dozen vendors selling everything from dahlias to croissants to fresh fish. More than a place to pick up local provisions, the farmers market is an event for the entire family. There is live music, a kids’ tent featuring a different craft each week, and Lauren Chiarello offers Mindful Movement, a free 30-minute class where participants can connect with themselves, each other, and Mother Nature.
Together with Assistant Director Leah Schmiedel, Arasa has created something extraordinary, turning summer Saturdays into vibrant community gatherings. Ridgefield’s overwhelming support has fueled exciting growth, and starting June 21, the market is moving to a weekly format! It will run every Saturday through October 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (If you’re feeling philanthropic, visit ridgefieldfarmersmarket.org to volunteer! There are lots of opportunities to help.)
For Arasa, home is more than the walls we live within—it’s about community and connection. Her passion for thoughtful design extends seamlessly to the Ridgefield Farmers Market. By mentoring small businesses, supporting female entrepreneurs, and fostering connections between people and the spaces they inhabit, Arasa has woven her spirit into the fabric of our town.
“Ridgefielders are so giving, so kind, so community-forward,” Arasa reflects. “It feels good to be here. It feels like home.”