Bad Bunny’s Interior Designer Recalls First Time Meeting Star: ‘I Was Like, Who Is This Guy?’ (Exclusive)

James Pearse Connelly opened up to PEOPLE about working with the Puerto Rican superstar on his “retro” home studio and rehearsal space

Bad Bunny’s interior designer is revealing how they first connected on a design project — even though he had no idea who the Latin superstar was at first!

James Pearse Connelly chatted with PEOPLE all about his experience working with Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, to transform the studio and rehearsal space in his California home into a "retro" oasis.

While Bad Bunny is a three-time Grammy winner who’s held the title of most-streamed artist on Spotify for three years in a row, Connelly admits he wasn’t aware how big the “Nadie Sabe” rapper was when he first signed on for the job.

"I was literally like, who is everybody talking about? Who is this guy?," Connelly tells PEOPLE during an exclusive interview. "And I looked him up and I was like, 'Oh, yeah, he's talented.'”

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The acclaimed designer explains that he “didn’t realize how huge” the Puerto Rican artist’s following was when they first connected.

“I had met him through a friend of a friend," Connelly says. "I had worked for a producer and she was like, ‘He needs to update this room and he is looking for somebody who's really talented.’”

When he finally got to know the star, whom he calls "a pretty chill dude," a bit more, Connelly says that he couldn’t deny what a fun opportunity it would be to curate this space for him.

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Of the “Yo No Soy Celoso” singer’s vision for his studio and rehearsal room, Connelly they were aiming for a “retro vibe.”

In a sneak peek of the space, a vibrant color palette consisting of orange, pink and yellow hues immediately makes a statement. Vintage patterns adorn the walls and floors, while a wooden accent wall adds to the vintage feel.

Eclectic artwork and accent pillows tie the room together as a hanging plant brings life into the space.

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Connelly admits he was being “a little naive” when taking on the project and hadn't fully grasped that “this is a big deal."

He compares it to his reaction to designing the controversial new Wheel of Fortune set and how he didn’t realize “how big of a fan base there was” before getting started on the design plan.

Connelly previously shared how some devoted viewers of the game show were reluctant to accept the new look when it was first unveiled. However, he notes that it was only “natural” for fans to feel that way and hopes they'll learn to love it as much as he does.

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In addition to working with Bad Bunny on his home studio, Connelly has partnered with a number of celebrity clients including Kelly Clarkson, Maria Menounos, Sarah Silverman, singer Maleah Joi Moon and Australian comedian Jim Jefferies,

With his team at JPConnelly, the design firm he founded in 2009, he has also designed sets for The Voice, The Masked Singer, The Kelly Clarkson Show and more.