It may be about as American as stars-and-stripes and blueberry pie, but luxury furniture and homeware brand RH is continuing its global expansion at pace. Following the bold move of transforming a stately pile into its first UK outpost, it’s swiftly swept into Europe with openings in Belgium, Spain, two in Germany and an imminent arrival in France. And RH’s international focus doesn’t stop there…
The just launched 2025 outdoor sourcebook – 148 pages of transporting, sunny scenes that will have you craving a holiday as much as one of the latest episodes of White Lotus – features exclusive new collections from a number of renowned designers also sourced from outside the States.
‘Striata’ dining table, $4,295; dining side chair, $945; dining armchair, $1,045
Belgian designer Mathias de Ferm kicks off proceedings with ‘Striata’ his first collaboration with RH. It’s a family of sofas, chaise-lounges, armchairs and dining chairs, all based around a sculptural barrel-back silhouette, intricately wrapped in handwoven all-weather rope and with reeded detailing, so that, although these are substantial pieces of furniture, the construction means they are lent a certain lightness and translucency, just perfect for outdoor use. While the solid teak has an al fresco familiarity, the versions in all-weather aluminum in an iron or bronze finish, have a slick urban feel just crying out for a penthouse roof terrace.
‘Sedona’ sofa, $3,595; swivel lounge chair, $2,195; rectangular coffee table, $995; ‘Naya’ outdoor pillow, $165
Next up is Milan-based maker Arthur Gentil, whose collection ‘Sedona’ nods to the geometric, angular forms of contemporary architecture. There’s a simplicity to these bold, block-like chairs, sofas and loungers, but don’t let this fool you. There’s precision here in terms of the proportions, the interplay of solidity and space, the recessed bases, which give a sense the mammoth tailored cushions are floating in the air. Again in teak or aluminum, the pieces can be tailored to any type of elevated summer setting.
‘Lagos’ adjustable chaise, $2,250; ‘Mylo’ round side table, $1,695; ‘Lambeth’ lantern, $395; ‘Nazaré’ outdoor pillow, $105; beach towel, $85
Finally, Spanish designer Mario Ruiz, a longtime RH collaborator, introduces ‘Lagos’ whose chairs, sofas and recliners feature an extremely chic, softly curved lip around the top of each piece, giving them a subtle femininity. Ruiz talks about the elements blending an art deco sensibility with the refined language of Scandinavian design and there’s a definite celebration of refined simplicity here.
The designs stand resolutely on their own merits, but the fact that RH has taken the industry-shake-up step of guaranteeing each of these pieces, not just for a few seasons, not just for three to five years, but for life, shows the dedication that has gone into the materiality, the research and development process.
We absolutely cannot wait to get out in the sun… rh.com
This story originally appeared on ELLE Decoration UK’s digital platform.
Ben Spriggs, Editor-in-Chief at ELLE Decoration, is an expert on interiors with an eye for discovering the design stars of the future and the latest looks for the home.
