The Chestnut Experience

Newton, MA - At Arco, our homes are living spaces designed to inspire connection, creativity, and conversation. The Chestnut Experience is an extension of that philosophy: a gathering series hosted within one of our newly completed and available residences, 873 Chestnut Street in Newton, where we invite local entrepreneurs, artists, and visionaries to share their stories, showcase their work, and spark meaningful dialogue, all while celebrating community and design.

This fall, we opened the doors of our newest home to a remarkable group of women-owned businesses whose creativity and purpose align with the values we build by. From fashion and art to wellness and home styling, each guest brought a distinct perspective to the table, literally, together forming a collective that reflects the multidimensional nature of modern living.

In the primary bedroom, our co-founder Carolina Trujillo sits down with fashion designer Daniela Corte, who shared pieces from her fall collection and touched on her upcoming 25th anniversary show — a milestone we are honored to sponsor. In the kitchen, Dr. Lynn Ahn, gastroenterologist and founder of Ahn Point Wellness, speaks about gut health, mindful eating, and how to stock your home with foods that nurture both body and mind. With a background in styling and interiors, Alisa Kapinos Goldberg, founder of StyleProductions, creates a beautifully styled dining table that captured the warmth and elegance of fall, offering guests a visual centerpiece that reflected both artistry and attention to detail. The elegant works of artist Susan Gheyssari, best known for her expressive oil portraits of the ballet, adds warmth and depth, and were available for guests to view and purchase. Amy Finegold, founder of Evolution Self and Style, shares her mission of helping women over 40 embrace confidence and style through life’s many transitions. Vivian Luo, an electronic violinist known professionally as ViolinViiv and a familiar face on stages across Boston, helped us set the tone of this project with her captivating performance. And Amy Pocsik, founder of BoldMoves, shares her insights as a professional business coach, inspiring women to lead with confidence and purpose.

The Chestnut Collective represents what we value most at Arco: the intersection of home, lifestyle, and community. It’s a space to connect, to share ideas, and to celebrate the incredible women shaping Boston’s creative and entrepreneurial landscape, all within the walls of a home built to inspire.

Chapter One: Table Talk with Alisa Kapinos Goldberg

Alisa Kapinos Goldberg, founder of STYLEPRODUCTIONS

Inside one of Arco’s newest homes on Chestnut Street, stylist and creative force Alisa Kapinos Goldberg, founder of STYLEPRODUCTIONS, transformed the dining space into something more than a tablescape ; she created a feeling. The table she designed was serene yet layered, combining organic textures, soft candlelight, and natural tones that seamlessly complemented the home’s architecture. For Alisa, beauty and design have always gone hand in hand with connection.

“I’ve been a stylist for over 20 years. I started in wardrobe styling and closets, then I was a writer and produced a lot of photo shoots. About 10 years ago, I switched over to interiors and the tablescape kind of took off, it’s something I really enjoy doing.”

“I always go with my gut. And it always proves me right.”

Alisa’s story began in Boston’s fashion scene, styling for magazines, personal clients, and brands before expanding into interiors and home styling. Her work has always centered around helping people express their individuality through design.

“I’ve always loved decorating tables,” Alisa shared during her sit-down with Carolina Trujillo. “In my culture, we are more prone to having people over and having all our friends over, needing a big table where you sit around and eat for hours. My mom was a great cook and she always had a lot of people over and as a kid I was the one decorating the table. I would go outside and cut dandelions and put them on the tables and ask my mom to buy candles.”

“I have a lot of clients that have old pieces of china or vases that they want to use, so I incorporate new pieces with their old pieces and then everything comes together with the flowers."

For her Chestnut Street design, Alisa drew inspiration from the home itself.

“When you asked me to come do a tablescape, I thought Arco Homes, it’s probably going to be open, beautiful, light-filled on the modern side. And I just came up with, you know, maybe I’ll do these kind of old Italian olive jars. And I just kind of pick one piece and base everything else around it.”

The result was a table layered in texture and tone. Stone bowls filled with figs and pears sat over softly ruched fabric, with blue florals adding vibrancy against the neutral palette.

“I think what makes my tablescape stand out is that I love incorporating fruits and vegetables or live plants in my creations,” Alisa said. “It makes you feel better. Like I said, it’s so homey and cozy to have real nature in your home.”

“Sometimes people just want a beautiful table for that wow moment when their guests arrive. If no one’s actually sitting at it, in that case, I’ll do like the big arrangements. It's what’s conducive to the person’s party. I want it to be elegant, but I want it to be functional for the hostess.”

Alisa’s approach mirrors Arco’s belief that thoughtful design shapes the way we live and connect.

“I just think people really love to walk into a house and have the vibe extend everywhere. I do Halloween, I do Christmas. I like to do it upscale, a little bit more classy, that’s the way I do the holidays.”

Her tables tell a story of warmth, creativity, and belonging. To learn more about Alisa Kapinos and STYLEPRODUCTIONS, visit styleproductions.co.

Chapter Two: From Stage to Studio: The Art of Ballet with Susan Gheyssari

Inside 873 Chestnut Street, surrounded by soft light and quiet elegance, artist Susan (Susie) Gheyssari spoke with us about the passion, patience, and poetry behind her art, which hangs proudly at 873 Chestnut. An oil painter inspired by the beauty and discipline of ballet, Susie’s work captures not just the image of a dancer, but the spirit that lives within the costume, the motion, the memory, and the emotion of performance.

“Most of my work is about the ballet and the dance world,” she shared. “I have a gallery in the South End, right on Harrison Avenue. Before this, I was represented by Boston galleries on Newbury Street, but now I really enjoy having my own space. It’s both my gallery and my studio.”

Susie’s connection to ballet runs deep. Before she ever picked up a brush, she was a dedicated dance student herself, a serious ballet student who once dreamed of joining a company. That dream never left her; it simply transformed.

“In my youth, I attended serious ballet schools and aimed to be a professional dancer. It was a big dream, and it stayed a dream,” she said. “When the time came that I combined these two, the old dream and the painting, I felt I could finally bring it to life.”

Where Movement Meets Brushstroke

For Susie, art and ballet are intertwined expressions of emotion. She studied classical and contemporary art in France before continuing her training in Boston with renowned realist painters. Her signature works, ethereal tutus suspended in shadow, evoke both presence and absence. The dancer herself is unseen, yet entirely there. Through oil and light, she captures not just fabric and form, but devotion, elegance, and human endurance.

“I want to bring the soul of the dancer,” she explained. “You don’t see her, but she’s present. It’s her dream, her role, and she owns it. And now I can own it with painting it and putting my feeling of what I saw.”

The Poetry of Detail

Susie’s process is as intricate as the performances she paints. Her attention to light, fabric, and texture comes from years of studying realism and a respect for the craft.

“You imagine it,” she said. “And so it has to become exactly what is in my head. Some paintings take more time, some take less. It’s my satisfaction of saying, okay, I think you’re there. You’re done.”

Her pieces reveal a quiet drama, deep backgrounds, silken textures, feathers glowing under stage light. What began with tutus has expanded into pointe shoes, dancers’ bodies, and the fleeting moments between performances.

“Everything happens on the toe,” she says. “These satin handmade shoes hurt them a lot, but they’re smiling and dancing on top of it. I love the used ones; they have more character. They’re a piece of art, just like the costumes.”

A Gallery of Grace

Susie’s South End gallery is now both her creative haven and a place of connection. Visitors can see her paintings, ask questions, and feel the atmosphere of her process.

“It’s a very arty neighborhood,” she said. “We have the first Friday of the month — people come, visit, and it’s such a nice place to show.”

Her current collection includes pieces inspired by The Seasons’ Canon, choreographed by Crystal Pite, a work that merges imagination and reality in a sweeping tree of human forms.

“It had such a strong choreography,” she said. “I wanted to take those movements and build a tree, a tree of emotion. It’s imagination and reality together.”

Where Art and Life Intersect

Just as Arco designs homes that inspire creativity and connection, Susie paints moments that remind us how deeply beauty lives within discipline and devotion. Her art invites us to pause, to feel, and to imagine.

“It takes time,” she reflected. “The painting has to stay with you. It has to do what I want it to do to the viewer, to create a feeling.”

To see more of Susan Gheyssari’s work, visit her South End gallery at 460 Harrison Avenue, Boston, or explore her collections online at susangheyssari.com. Both pieces from Susie on display at 873 Chestnut are for sale.

Chapter Three: Trust Your Gut: The Key to Living Well with Dr. Lynn Ahn

Coming Soon!

Chapter Four: A Symphony of Style with Vivien Luo

If you have ever wandered through Quincy Market or the North End and caught the sound of a violin weaving through the crowd, chances are you have met Violin Viv, the street performer and event musician who has made Boston her stage.

Classically trained yet inspired by the pulse of pop and contemporary music, Viv’s performances are a vibrant blend of elegance and energy. What began as a childhood attempt to avoid piano practice quickly became a lifelong passion.

“I ended up falling in love with the instrument,” she says. “It is just more versatile, and there is so much you can do with tone and sound.”

Music and Fashion

Viv’s creativity extends beyond her music. Her playful, expressive fashion has become part of her artistry, each look telling a story as colorful as her sound.

“I interned at Vogue when I was in New York City,” she laughs. “Fashion has always been a fun way for me to express my mood or match the theme of an event.”

Having collaborated with Arco Homes in the past, Viv was excited to be part of another project.

“The team is incredible,” she shares. “Everything they create feels modern yet cozy, and it is such a unique fusion of design aesthetics.”

Classical Technique Meets Modern Rhythm

The Arco team chose to highlight Viv for her ability to blend classical technique with modern rhythms, an artistic reflection of the homes themselves, which balance New England elegance with modern innovation.

Whether performing for weddings, corporate events, or throughout Boston’s lively streets, Viv continues to transform everyday spaces into moments of connection. You can find her performing at Quincy Market, the Aquarium, or any tourist part of Boston.

Follow Viv’s journey on Instagram @violinviiv or visit www.violinviiv.com.

Chapter Five: Confidence, Curated: The Art of Dressing with Daniela Corte

Chapter Seven: Living Bold with Amy Pocsik

 Chapter Six: From Wardrobe to Wellness: Redefining Life After 40 with Amy Finegold