Creative Minds: Roman and Williams

Founded by Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, the massively influential firm creates thoughtful projects that mine the past for inspiration

A man and a woman walking on a coastal path, with the ocean and distant cliffs in the background.
Roman and Williams founders Stephen Alesch and Robin Standefer. Photo: LANDON SPEERS

When it comes to design, the impact of Roman and Williams ripples far wider than the covetable homes, dynamic hotels, and transportive restaurants the firm has created over the past 20 years. Principals Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch have affected the way we live, dine, and shop in unquantifiable ways with their thoughtful projects that mine the past for inspiration, then recontextualize it for today. They have even altered the museum experience with their astonishing reimagining of The Met’s British Galleries, which allow visitors to inspect teacups more closely than they have ever been able to before.

If anything, 2022 marked their most prolific year yet with the debut of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s 53,000-square-foot Tin Building culinary complex in lower Manhattan, the launch of their new furniture and lighting collections, and the expansion of RW Guild, their SoHo retail experience, with the nearby Guild Gallery to showcase artists and artisans alike. 

Marble sculptures displayed on wooden pedestals in a minimalist gallery setting.
Installation of works by Mirjam de Nijs at Guild Gallery. Photo: COLIN KING
elegant dining room with wooden table, modern chairs, decorative plants, books, and rustic sculptures in a bright setting
2022 RW Guild Original Designs. Photo: GENTL AND HYERS
Dark wooden dining table and chair in a modern room with art and plants in the background.
2022 RW Guild Original Designs. Photo: GENTL AND HYERS

Source of inspiration: “We’re more focused on ethos than style,” says Standefer, “and we’re relentlessly curious, which has allowed us to embrace that unique perspective in everything we do.” 

Museum exhibit with glass display cases showcasing various decorative artifacts, including pottery, statues, and ornate vessels.
The Met’s British Galleries. Photo: ROBERT POLIDORI
Museum exhibit showcasing elegant silver and ceramic artifacts displayed in glass cases with dim, atmospheric lighting.
The Met’s British Galleries. Photo: ADRIAN GAUT

Up next: The duo is currently working on several hotel projects, including one with Frida Escobedo, another in Amsterdam that will “connect these four canal houses,” and a third in the Cotswolds. 

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2023 Spring Issue under the headline “Creative Minds.” Subscribe to the magazine.