Roman and Williams

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Roman and Williams is an American-owned, New York-based multidisciplinary design studio known for its work on museums, hotels, restaurants, retail spaces, homes and product design. Founded in 2002 by principals Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, the firm consists of four interconnected enterprises: Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors,^[1] an architecture and interior design firm; Roman and Williams Guild New York^[2] (RW Guild), a brick-and-mortar store and online retailer offering handmade high-quality furniture, accessories, and housewares from Roman and Williams Guild Original Designs and a guild of independent artists from around the world; La Mercerie, an award-winning French restaurant and bar led by executive chef Marie-Aude Rose;^[3] and Guild Gallery, an art gallery in SoHo showcasing established and emerging artists.^[4]

Known for what the Wall Street Journal called "slow design," with its emphasis on craft and substance,^[5] the firm undertakes building design, interior design, branding, as well as the design of custom furniture, lighting, tableware, glassware, and other home goods.

In 2011, the firm's principals, Standefer and Alesch, were recognized in Fast Company's list of "America's 50 Most Influential Designers."^[6] In 2014, they received the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum’s National Design Award for Interior Design.^[7] They went on to win The Wall Street Journal's 2017 Innovators Award in the Design category,^[8] and in 2018 the pair received the "Visionaries Award" from the Sir John Soane's Museum Foundation^[9] as well as an award for "Architecture" by Fashion Group International.^[10] They have made Architectural Digest's annual "AD 100" list 11 times since 2012, and Elle Decor’s A-List five times since 2013.^{[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]}

In 2016, Roman and Williams was commissioned to redesign the British Galleries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which opened in March 2020.^[27] This commission was the firm's first project in a museum. They were later commissioned to design an exhibition space for a special section of Frieze Masters 2023.^[28]