Roman & Williams
Roman and Williams is an American privately-held design firm founded in 2002 by Robin and Stephen Alesch, operating a 50-person SoHo-based studio that delivers architecture and interior design services, original handcrafted furniture and lighting through the Guild retail and e-commerce platform, and three restaurant operations including La Mercerie and Marcel 945 Madison Avenue (in partnership with Sotheby's), serving high-end hospitality, residential, cultural-institution, and design-conscious consumer clients across seven countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Roman & Williams does
Roman and Williams is an American privately-held design firm founded in 2002 by Robin Alesch and Stephen Alesch, co-located in SoHo, New York with a 50-person studio whose projects span seven countries. The firm operates a vertically integrated model comprising four core revenue streams: (1) full-service architecture and interior design for hospitality, residential, and cultural-institution clients; (2) direct-to-consumer and trade sales of original designed furniture, lighting, tabletop, and accessories through the Roman and Williams Guild retail store at 53 Howard Street and the romanandwilliams.com e-commerce platform; (3) restaurant and hospitality operations including La Mercerie, La Mercerie Pâtisserie, and Marcel 945 Madison Avenue (operated in partnership with Sotheby's in the Breuer Building); and (4) curation and sale of third-party artisan works from international makers such as KH Würtz, Kaneko Kohyo, and Naoya Arakawa via the Guild Gallery on Canal Street.
The underlying capability is rooted in craftsmanship and historical investigation rather than software or automation. Original designs are made-to-order by master craftsmen using traditional processes including lost-wax bronze casting, hand-blown and sculpted glass, forged steel, and refined joinery with solid hardwoods, yielding 12-14 week lead times. Notable original collections include the Marcel Collection (Bauhaus/Brutalism-inspired), Bronze Originals (Hyssop, Branch Candelabra limited edition of 20), and proprietary lighting lines (Seed, Oscar, Solna, Lentium, Rotonde, Petra, Porto, Globe, Woodrum). Pricing spans from $17.50 tabletop accessories to $51,800 high-end furniture, with trade programs for designers and hospitality professionals.
The firm's go-to-market combines direct project inquiry sales for enterprise work (hotels, museums, restaurants, private residences) with retail and e-commerce for design-conscious consumers, supported by celebrity clientele (e.g., Gwyneth Paltrow residence), high-end institutional work (e.g., $22 million British Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), and recurring press coverage (WSJ, NYT, Vogue, Architectural Digest, AD100 2024 and 2026). Multiple wholly-owned subsidiaries including the Guild, Guild Gallery, La Mercerie, Marcel 945 Madison Avenue, and La Mercerie Pâtisserie are operated as integrated units under the founder-controlled parent entity.
Roman & Williams firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Roman & Williams
- Legal name
- Roman and Williams Guild
- Website
- https://romanandwilliams.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Roman and Williams is an American privately-held design firm founded in 2002 by Robin and Stephen Alesch, operating a 50-person SoHo-based studio that delivers architecture and interior design services, original handcrafted furniture and lighting through the Guild retail and e-commerce platform, and three restaurant operations including La Mercerie and Marcel 945 Madison Avenue (in partnership with Sotheby's), serving high-end hospitality, residential, cultural-institution, and design-conscious consumer clients across seven countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Roman & Williams industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architecture and Interior Design
- NAICS
- Industrial Design Services (541420), Interior Design Services (54141), Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing (337212), Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing (32721)
- SIC
- Household Furniture (2510), Pottery & Related Products (3260), Glass & Glassware, Pressed Or Blown (3220)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Brand Experience (BX) & Service Design (BPAFAEAI)
Keywords
Where Roman & Williams is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Roman & Williams business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Original Furniture, Lighting & Home Goods Sales: Direct sales of original designed furniture, lighting, tabletop, and accessories through Roman and Williams Guild e-commerce and retail store. Products range from decorative accessories ($100) to high-end furniture ($51,800). Made-to-order pieces with extended lead times.
- Architecture & Interior Design Services: Full-service architecture and interiors studio serving hospitality, residential, and cultural institution clients. Projects span hotels, restaurants, private residences, and museum galleries.
- Restaurant & Hospitality Operations: Operates Marcel 945 Madison Avenue (Continental restaurant in partnership with Sotheby's), La Mercerie (French restaurant), and La Mercerie Pâtisserie. Food service, events, and private dining.
- Third-Party Artisan Products: Curated selection of global artisan works including KH Würtz dinnerware, Kaneko Kohyo ceramics, Kimiko Yasuda glassware, Naoya Arakawa glassware, Arita ware, and other international makers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Decorative Accessories & Tabletop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Original Lighting Fixtures |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Original Furniture - Seating |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Original Furniture - Tables & Storage |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Limited Edition Bronze Pieces |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Artisan & Third-Party Products |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Roman & Williams product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Roman and Williams is an integrated architecture, interior design, and original product design studio founded in 2002 by Robin and Stephen Alesch. The firm designs and sells original furniture, lighting, tableware, and accessories under the Roman and Williams Guild brand, while also providing full-service architecture and interior design for hotels, restaurants, private residences, and cultural institutions. Original products are handcrafted by master artisans using traditional processes including lost-wax bronze casting, hand-blown glass, and forged steel, with made-to-order lead times of 12-14 weeks.
Product overview
Roman and Williams is an American design brand founded in 2002 by Robin and Stephen Alesch, operating as a multi-faceted design studio and retailer. The core offering consists of Roman and Williams Guild—a retail home shop in SoHo offering original designed furniture, lighting, tableware, and accessories handcrafted with focus on natural materials and heritage craft. The product portfolio includes proprietary collections across lighting (Oscar, Seed, Petra, Porto, Globe, and others), furniture (Marcel Credenza, OVO, Stockholm, Teneresque, Catalpa, Angelica collections), tableware (KH Würtz, Kaneko Kohyo, Yasushi Kuno, Passiflora Linen), and accessories. The Marcel Collection represents a curated sub-line designed specifically for the Marcel 945 Madison Avenue restaurant. Beyond retail, the company operates La Mercerie (French restaurant), La Mercerie Pâtisserie (pastry café), provides architecture and interior design services, and maintains Guild Gallery for design and ceramic artist exhibitions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RW Guild: Roman and Williams Guild is a home shop in New York's SoHo neighborhood, presenting original designs and artisan works rooted in natural materials, heritage craft, and timeless design.
- Guild Gallery
Products and services
- Architecture and Interior Design Services Full-service architecture and interior design for hotels, restaurants, private residences, and museum spaces. Portfolio includes Marcel, Locanda Verde, Nomad Hotel, Estelle Manor, British Galleries at the Met, Boom Boom Room, and Le Coucou.
- Original Designs Furniture Handcrafted furniture collection including seating, tables, storage, beds, and daybeds. Includes collections such as Marcel Credenza, OVO, Davenport, Stockholm, Hub, Teneresque, Catalpa, Angelica, Dado, Kant, Montauk, Axis, Skafeld, Ledger, V, and Jacque. Pricing ranges from $2,900 (Stockholm Dining Chair) to $32,500 (Marcel Credenza).
- Original Designs Lighting Handcrafted lighting collection including pendants, chandeliers, sconces, freestanding lamps, and flushmounts. Pricing ranges from $2,150 (Alabaster Rotonde) to $15,450+ (Axil Pendant). Includes the Seed Pendant created in collaboration with a Brooklyn glass studio with bronze canopy cast from a 150-year-old Parisian foundry.
- Tableware Global tableware collection including dinnerware, glassware, flatware, serveware, coffee and tea items, barware, and table linens. Features curated collections from artisans including KH Würtz (dinnerware from $75 to $825), Kaneko Kohyo Rinka, Yasushi Kuno, and Passiflora Linen, alongside Naoya Arakawa glassware ($1,450 to $3,700) and Arita ware ($65 to $270).
- Accessories Decorative objects for the collected home including candles, candleholders, oil lamps, books, bedding, throws, vases, and objects. Features collections including Rex, Hyssop, and glassware by Naoya Arakawa. Pricing ranges from $17.50 to $700, with examples such as RW Guild Taper Coupe Glass at $110, Passiflora Linen Napkin at $35, and RW Guild Candle from $140.
- Marcel Collection Furniture, lighting, glassware, and tabletop accessories designed for Marcel 945 Madison Avenue restaurant, drawing inspiration from Bauhaus functional form and Brutalism. Exclusively available at the Guild.
- Roman and Williams Guild Retail Store Home shop at 53 Howard Street in SoHo, New York, presenting original designs and artisan works rooted in natural materials, heritage craft, and timeless design. Open Monday through Thursday 10AM-9PM, Friday through Sunday 10AM-10PM. Phone: 212-852-9099.
- Marcel 945 Madison Avenue Restaurant Continental restaurant located in the Breuer Building in partnership with Sotheby's. Offers New Continental cuisine with breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner service. Phone: 212-951-0099.
- La Mercerie French Restaurant James Beard-nominated French restaurant in New York's SoHo neighborhood, offering elevated French cooking by Chef Marie-Aude Rose with tableware from Roman and Williams Guild. Phone: 212-852-9097.
- La Mercerie Pâtisserie
Quantifiable outcome
- $22 million project value for British Galleries at the Met
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Roman & Williams
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Roman & Williams technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Roman & Williams partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Sotheby'sflagshipStrategic partnership for Marcel 945 Madison Avenue restaurant in the iconic Breuer Building. Roman and Williams designed and operates the Continental restaurant in Sotheby's new global headquarters. Marcel opened in the historic Brutalist building (Marcel Breuer's 1966 masterpiece, former Whitney Museum home). Partnership combines cuisine, design, art, and culture in a landmark setting.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Roman & Williams competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Workstead: Brooklyn/NY-based lighting and interior design studio producing original handcrafted fixtures and offering full interiors services for residential and hospitality clients (Hotel Henry, Wythe Hotel). Closely comparable in lighting-forward design practice, NYC base, and emphasis on craft-led originals.
- Champalimaud Design: New York-based luxury interior design firm specializing in hotels, resorts, restaurants, and private residences worldwide (The Breakers, Four Seasons, One&Only). Closely comparable to Roman and Williams' hospitality interiors practice and similar blue-chip client profile.
- Yabu Pushelberg: Toronto/New York-based interior design and architecture studio with deep hospitality, hotel, and luxury retail commissions (Four Seasons, Edition, Lane Crawford). Directly comparable as a luxury hospitality/residential design firm of similar scale and reputation, with international project reach across multiple countries.
- Kelly Wearstler: Los Angeles-based interior design studio with a parallel product line sold through kellywearstler.com and partners, plus signature hospitality projects (Proper Hotels, Santa Monica Proper). Closely mirrors Roman and Williams' integrated design-studio-plus-product-brand-plus-retail model, with similar luxury positioning.
- Apparatus Studio: New York-based lighting and interiors studio that designs and produces original furniture, lighting, and objects with a focus on craft and materiality, and sells through its own retail showroom in Manhattan. Closely comparable business model to Roman and Williams Guild — own product line, retail channel, interior design studio serving luxury hospitality and residential clients.
- Studio Sofield: New York-based interior design firm led by William Sofield, with luxury residential, hotel, and retail commissions (Bergdorf Goodman, Baccarat Hotel). Highly comparable in design philosophy rooted in material authenticity and craftsmanship, and in client caliber.
- Lindsey Adelman Studio: New York-based lighting design studio known for hand-assembled original chandelier collections sold through gallery and trade channels. Directly comparable in founder-led, handcrafted-originals lighting design and similar luxury positioning; smaller scale and lighting-only.
- Jake Arnold: Los Angeles-based interior designer serving celebrity and high-net-worth residential clients with a parallel product line. Comparable to Roman and Williams' high-net-worth residential segment and product brand extension approach, though with less hospitality focus.
- Vincente Wolf: New York-based interior designer with hospitality and residential projects globally (W Hotels, Morgans Hotel Group) plus a product collection. Comparable as a founder-led luxury interiors practice with cross-vertical brand.
Broad incumbents
- Peter Marino Architect: Large New York-based architecture firm specializing in luxury retail, hospitality, and residential interiors (Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton flagships). Overlaps with Roman and Williams on luxury hospitality/residential design and serves a similar blue-chip clientele, but operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Roman & Williams social profiles
Digital presenceRoman & Williams financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Roman & Williams leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Roman & Williams subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Roman & Williams funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Roman & Williams M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Roman & Williams
What does Roman & Williams do?
Roman and Williams is an integrated architecture, interior design, and original product design studio founded in 2002 by Robin and Stephen Alesch. The firm designs and sells original furniture, lighting, tableware, and accessories under the Roman and Williams Guild brand, while also providing full-service architecture and interior design for hotels, restaurants, private residences, and cultural institutions. Original products are handcrafted by master artisans using traditional processes including lost-wax bronze casting, hand-blown glass, and forged steel, with made-to-order lead times of 12-14 weeks.
Is Roman & Williams a public or private company?
Roman & Williams is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Roman & Williams founded?
Roman & Williams was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Roman & Williams based?
Roman & Williams is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Roman & Williams make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Original Furniture, Lighting & Home Goods Sales are the primary driver. The others are architecture & Interior Design Services, restaurant & Hospitality Operations and third-Party Artisan Products.
Who are Roman & Williams's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Workstead, Champalimaud Design, Yabu Pushelberg, Kelly Wearstler, Apparatus Studio, Studio Sofield, Lindsey Adelman Studio, Jake Arnold and Vincente Wolf. Peter Marino Architect is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Roman & Williams have an API?
No public API is recorded for Roman & Williams.
What industry is Roman & Williams in?
Roman & Williams's product category is Architecture and Interior Design. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAM, Industrial/Product & Furniture Design, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 541420 and its SIC code is 2510.