Having opened RH Milan during Salone del Mobile and, more recently, the new RH London, you would think the team at RH are due a break. After all, the opening parties for both of those occasions were legendarily lavish. That is not the case, though. RH is launching a new venture, and it’s one for the wider design community.
‘With the launch of RH Estates, we are removing the barriers that have segregated taste from scale, eliminating the creative limitations that have historically forced designers to choose between our scale and the uncompromising specificity of trade-only showrooms,’ says RH founder, chairman and chief executive officer Gary Friedman. ‘This is not a compromise of quality – it is a liberation of mastery.’
That sounds very grandiose, but the idea is actually quite simple: RH has acquired brands that are highly regarded in the design industry for their ability to produce high-quality bespoke pieces, and is bringing that expertise to everyone. Well, the core audience is likely to be architects and designers searching for a piece that will perfectly fit a project, but theoretically the service is open to all (if your pockets are deep enough).
So who are the legendary brands and ateliers that feature in RH Estates’ launch? First, there are the designs of Michael Taylor, the man known by many as the godfather of the ‘California look’. A highlight of the core three designs from his estate includes the ‘Jennifer’ sofa, inspired by the original chair created for Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Jones’s home in the 1970s. There is also an outdoor version of this design (pictured top).
Then there’s Formations. This LA-based studio was known for its historically-influenced designs and brings a total of seven pieces to the inaugural RH Estates collection. Standout pieces include the ‘Valencia’, with its ornate Moorish motifs, and the ‘Baldacchino’ four-poster bed (pictured) that rethinks the iconic barley twist posts of 17th-century Italian design for modern homeowners.
Other additions to the RH universe include Dennis & Leen and Netherlands-based Van Thiels. The latter made a name for itself scouring the globe for rare antiques and then translating them into modern furniture – an approach that’s a perfect fit for a project like RH Estates, that also includes the launch of the ‘Monastery’ table. This piece is personal: a reproduction of the vintage table in Friedman’s own California home.
What's everyone reading?
Finally, as well as RH Bespoke, the brand has added RH Couture Upholstery as a service. This will be handled by Dmitry & Co, an upholstery firm now in its third generation of family control and respected for it approach that is akin to fine tailoring. Designers and consumers will be able to choose their own fabric, with the atelier providing its construction prowess.
‘We believe the ability to scale taste creates higher quality and greater value for both customer and the designer,’ continues Friedman. ‘RH Estates is proof that extraordinary design, craftsmanship and scale can exist harmoniously together.’ rh.com
