{"id":405784,"date":"2026-04-22T21:39:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T21:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/405784\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T21:39:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T21:39:15","slug":"rh-opens-first-milan-gallery-with-zoe-saldana-margot-robbie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/405784\/","title":{"rendered":"RH Opens First Milan Gallery With Zoe Salda\u00f1a, Margot Robbie"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tMILAN \u2014 In the city that sets the highest standards for luxury interiors and furniture<\/a>, American newcomer RH was welcomed here with a refreshing sense of openness.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe opening party for the brand\u2019s new mega-flagship drew some of the biggest fashion and design<\/a> pillars in town. Brunello Cucinelli<\/a>; Moncler executive chairman Remo Ruffini<\/a>; Gucci<\/a> president and chief executive officer Francesca Bellettini<\/a>; Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana president Carlo Capasa<\/a>; Giulio Cappellini, founder of design firm Cappellini; architects Piero Lissoni<\/a> and Antonio Citterio<\/a>; designers Alberto Meda<\/a>, Osanna Visconti di Modrone <\/a>and Britt Moran <\/a>of Dimorestudio, and Frette CEO Filippo Arnaboldi<\/a> were among those driven to the new RH Milan, The Gallery on Corso Venezia, in a 19th-century building that was the former home of the Prince of Piombino and which features seven levels of furniture<\/a>, design, food and wine.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Remo<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tRemo Ruffini<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLucas Possiede\/WWD<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI think it\u2019s nice because Milan is a great hub. Salone del Mobile<\/a>.Milano [the design<\/a> trade show anchor event for Milan Design Week] is probably the most important platform when we talk about design and it\u2019s nice to be inclusive and represent different stories,\u201d Capasa said, adding that the willingness to open in Milan means the city \u201cis the place to be.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tHe spoke as he entered the contemporary bronze and glass arches of the historic loggia into a courtyard adorned with pleached plane trees and where stars like Zoe Salda\u00f1a, Margot Robbie<\/a> and Italian dancer Roberto Bolle made a grand entrance. On a seasonal basis, the garden will be transformed into Caff\u00e8 con Giardino, offering dishes, brunch, cocktails and coffee.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Roberto<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tRoberto Bolle<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLucas Possiede\/WWD<\/p>\n

\n\tRH, which began as Restoration Hardware and originally boomed within the upscale mall sphere at the turn of the millennium, is not widely known in Milanese circles. But CEO Gary Friedman has sparked curiosity here for two main reasons: His reputation is directly linked to his unexpected self-made entrepreneurial success story, which started in retail at Gap, and because he built a business<\/a> model that so far, no other firm in Italy has arguably been able to replicate.<\/p>\n

\n\tFriedman is confident that RH is the biggest one-stop interior design<\/a> business<\/a> in the world with the capability to outfit both indoors and outdoors under its umbrella. With its dining and bar areas, it is also a place where locals will want to hang out.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI think it is a very interesting concept worldwide and in Milan it\u2019s something very unique. Let\u2019s see if Italians can appreciate this kind of concept. I think he\u2019s a genius, he built something incredible,\u201d Ruffini told WWD as he mingled with guests amid the collectible art and sculpture on the fifth floor. <\/p>\n

\n\tThe showcase spaces are punctuated with and introduce the Milan community to the works of artists like Half Moon Bay, Calif., multidisciplinary artist Jennifer La Pierre, Catalonia-based ceramist Caterina Roma, New York-based, hand-carving specialist Matt Austin\u00a0and more.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe exterior of the new gallery.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLucas Possiede\/WWD<\/p>\n

\t\tNot the First Americans in Town \t<\/p>\n

\n\tMoran, who cofounded Dimorestudio design firm with Emiliano Salci, echoed this.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI think the work they\u2019ve done on the building is amazing. I think everyone is happy when there are international brands coming through this city,\u201d Moran said, noting that he\u2019d curiously been eyeing construction on his bike ride every day home from work. <\/p>\n

\n\tBut RH isn\u2019t the only American brand that has joined the design community: Schumacher<\/a>, the historic wall coverings and textiles firm, opened its first showroom here in 2025 and Ralph Lauren<\/a>, one of the fashion designers who, along with Giorgio Armani, has successfully branched into interiors and who already has an established presence in Milan, also has opened its first dedicated home store here.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Francesca<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tFrancesca Bellettini<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLucas Possiede\/WWD<\/p>\n

\n\tFriedman arrived at Restoration Hardware in 2001 when it was nearly a bankrupt business. Since then, he has worked on elevating it to a true American luxury experience. With the Milan opening, the firm unveiled a new unit, RH Estates, its latest brand concept that features original designs from famed California interior designer Michael Taylor, the pioneer of the California Look, as well as newly acquired to-the-trade brands such as Formations, Dennis & Leen and Joseph Jeup. It also has introduced RH Couture Upholstery by Dmitriy & Co. and RH Bespoke Furniture, offering customizable sizes, finishes and fabrics tailored for clients and interior designers.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI think [RH Estates] will do well everywhere. I think it\u2019s the next evolution of our brand. We\u2019ve been working on it now for three years. It\u2019s a level of design and quality we\u2019ve never been at yet. And just a level of design and quality that hasn\u2019t been accessible to the consumer \u2014 just mostly to the trade showroom,\u201d Friedman said, noting that the company has taken strides to elevate its furniture with designer collaborations with Milan-based Arthur Gentil, contending RH is the biggest importer of Italian upholstery. Many of its leathers are from Italy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe scene at the RH Grand Opening event in Milan.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLucas Possiede\/WWD<\/p>\n

\t\tPlaying a Long-term Game \t<\/p>\n

\n\tWith a long-term growth vision here, RH doesn\u2019t expect to enchant Italians with its furniture designs right away, Friedman said, stating that it\u2019s not meant to be \u201ca retail store\u201d but rather \u201can authentic expression of RH vision and values.\u201d However, there is the potential to grow in RH interiors and the RH contract business during a buoyant period for branded residences and hospitality projects here and worldwide.<\/p>\n

\n\tRH Contract recently completed The Whiteley London, reimagined as a premier luxury destination by Foster + Partners, representing a new standard in upscale residences. The project scope entailed designing and furnishing two show apartments in this high-profile development, in addition to curating luxury turnkey furniture solutions for each floor plan.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn 2024, the RH Contract business also completed the Thuwal Private Retreat blending contemporary architecture with the raw beauty of its natural surroundings in Saudi Arabia. Drawing from RH\u2019s multicategory assortment, RH Contract partnered with real estate developer Red Sea Global to furnish the retreat\u2019s indoor and outdoor spaces, delivering an elevated design point of view with the type of products required for a property located in such a demanding climate.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tA table inside RH Milan.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLucas Possiede\/WWD<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen RH opened its Paris gallery in September, among the local interior design<\/a> community it was viewed as one of Friedman\u2019s biggest feats of all. Located just off Avenue Montaigne, the building was finished in 1983 and was once the flagship location of Abercrombie & Fitch.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe motivation to open in Milan was both strategic and emotional as the maternal side of his family is originally from Sicily and settled New York City. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI said to the team, \u2018Look, I don\u2019t know if this sounds cornball or not, I\u2019d love to name the restaurant after my mom [Angelina] and honor the Italian side of the family,’\u201d he told WWD, reminiscing about Sunday dinners by his uncle Geno and his early days in the Bronx, N.Y., where he attended PS58 public school before moving to California, where he was raised.<\/p>\n

\n\tFriedman explained that due to legal reasons, they weren\u2019t able to name the restaurant Angelina but opted for La Volta instead. He said he\u2019s intent on getting the menu right, recruiting an Italian chef and showcasing dishes like risotto sprinkled with truffles, which he invited the table to taste test before the opening. <\/p>\n

\n\tLa Volta is RH\u2019s first Italian restaurant and will offer an immersive dining experience within a vaulted space featuring cr\u00e8me de moss split limestone walls and sparkling Murano glass sconces by Barovier & Toso, a Venetian glassmaker that dates back almost a millennium. At the heart of the subterranean courtyard, under a curved bronze and glass sky dome, stands Amore e Psiche by Italian sculptor Fabio Viale. First unveiled at the Royal Museum of Turin, Viale\u2019s tattooed Carrara marble reimagines Antonio Canova\u2019s neoclassical masterpiece.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe RH galleries, which incorporate lifestyle with fine dining and interior decoration services, have proved a winning concept, boosting its European revenues.\u00a0RH England, The\u00a0Gallery at Aynho Park\u00a0<\/a>\u2014 a 73-acre, 17th-century estate opened in 2023 \u2014 is testament to that success, he said. The company said the Gallery is expected have reached about $37 million to $39 million of demand in 2025. This bodes well for all new galleries, including the London Gallery in Mayfair expected to open in June, with the Aspen gallery expected to open in November.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe scene at the RH grand opening event in Milan.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLucas Possiede\/WWD<\/p>\n

\n\tThe first \u201cGallery\u201d concept started with RH San Francisco, which opened in 2010, and the first restaurant was opened with RH Chicago in 2015.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn New York City, the six-level, 90,000-square-foot RH Gallery, at 9 Ninth Avenue in Manhattan\u2019s Meatpacking District with its rooftop restaurant with views downtown to the Freedom Tower, opened in 2018.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile questions linger about how RH will be accepted in global design hubs like Milan, Friedman has underscored physical spaces as the key to growth in the future. Paris, Milan and London are key to building brand awareness, he added. \u201cWhy physical first in a digital world? Comfort, scale, finish and quality are hard to judge online. We believe the physical manifestation of the brand will continue to be significantly more valuable than an invisible online one. We don\u2019t build retail stores, we create inspiring spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFor the fiscal full year 2025 RH posted $3.44 billion in net revenues. In 2026, RH expects revenue growth of 4 percent to 8 percent, with adjusted free cash flow of $300 million to $400 million. It\u2019s a challenging time for RH, which saw its shares sink to their lowest level in five years, a plunge that started with the announcement of U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s tariff policy.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tA display inside RH Milan.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLucas Possiede\/WWD<\/p>\n

\n\tAt the end of the fiscal year, the firm posted an improved net debt position of $2.38 billion versus $2.62 billion a year earlier following a phase of intense expansion. The firm expects to be debt-free by 2029, Friedman said in an\u00a0earnings<\/a>\u00a0presentation, adding that RH plans to monetize assets over time.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhen it comes to the future and trends, Friedman likens forecasting to surfing. \u201cHave you ever surfed or boogie boarded? Well, if you get there too early, you can get a false negative read.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019ve always been careful in my career. I\u2019ve been too early before and kinda got burned by it. I like to kind of let the wave build and be able to read the wave and say, \u2018OK how has it been interpreted, and how will it be reinterpreted?\u2019 And then try to catch it at the right time where we\u2019re a little bit more informed.\u2026This time we\u2019re gonna go early, and the only reason we\u2019re gonna go early is I actually lived through the last wave, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAt the event, Friedman was flanked at his side by his wife Bella Hunter Friedman, an Australian-born musician. \u201cThe energy in this city is filled with fashion and brilliance and there\u2019s nowhere like it in the world,\u201d she said, enthusing about Milanese style and design, dressed in a deep red gown.<\/p>\n

\n\tFriedman, visibly moved, said opening Italy was in a way like coming full circle.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe are blessed to be among the height of design in the Italian city of design, Milan. My family\u2019s roots go back in Italy for centuries. I finally have a home here now.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MILAN \u2014 In the city that sets the highest standards for luxury interiors and furniture, American newcomer RH…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":405785,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[102826,114,4693,438,146,23770,12481,85,5453,46,10926,97339,191839,68297,51892],"class_list":{"0":"post-405784","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-brunello-cucinelli","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-business-strategy","11":"tag-design","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-furniture","14":"tag-gucci","15":"tag-il","16":"tag-interior-design","17":"tag-israel","18":"tag-margot-robbie","19":"tag-remo-ruffini","20":"tag-retail-business","21":"tag-salone-del-mobile","22":"tag-zoe-saldana"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=405784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405784\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/405785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=405784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=405784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=405784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}