Showroom of the month: Roundhouse, Richmond
Architectural simplicity, a neutral, earthy palette and natural materials all make for a feeling of zen in this London showroom. Francesca Seden reports…
Situated on a corner plot in the wealthy London suburb of Richmond, this refurbishment was a large project that took over the shop next door, doubling the showroom’s original footprint. It’s a nice location, and gets a decent amount of passing footfall, but is not on the high-street.
Inside, the showroom is an iconic Roundhouse space, with an emphasis on architectural simplicity, calm tones, and natural materials, including plenty of real wood – something the company is known for.
This has all been designed to create an “earthy, organic vibe”, as senior designer, Ben Hawkswell explains. “It’s also quite quiet here, despite being on a busy road,” he adds, “that all contributes to the ambience.”
There are ten displays, with three being fully operational and used for events. Most of these displays are full room sets. “It was important that we create proper cohesive displays that showcase our design skills and show how our kitchens would look in the client’s home,” Jane Powell, also a senior designer, adds.
The showroom is arranged in two halves, with a modern, contemporary feel in the original showroom area, and a more classic vibe in the new part. The two sides are further distinguished by two types of flooring used throughout the space – porcelain tiles on the contemporary side and engineered oak wood flooring in the more traditional side.
Walking into the store, visitors are greeted with one of the hero displays, a dark, handleless display with a luxury quartzite worktop, which features a leather-effect textured finish, as well as a burnished gold backsplash. Sumptuousness, luxury and tactility define this display.
Through the walkway into the newer area of the showroom, is what Hawkswell describes as the “main showstopper” – an eye-catching display featuring sage green cabinetry and a polished marble feature wall.
Considering where the business happens and projects are discussed and presented, Powell explains that every seating area in the showroom can be utilised to suit the client and the project being discussed. There are three main seating areas, a breakfast bar featuring the Studio range, a peninsular with stalls, and the l-shaped bench which surrounds a dining table and chairs.
“The breakfast bar offers us the opportunity to showcase our Studio cabinetry, which is great for those who maybe haven’t the budget for the more premium ranges, or those who wish to use this in a utility room setting,” she says.
Finally, the extended Richmond showroom doesn’t only showcase Roundhouse kitchens but also the brand’s living room furniture and wardrobes.
It also works with lighting and soft furnishing brands to provide right products for the space.
“We used Treske for the chairs and stalls, Marie’s Corner for the arm chairs and foot stalls, a J Adams Luna pendant in the dining nook and we used Cameron Design House for the feature lighting in the main kitchen display,” Hawkswell comments.
