Loved the Polo shirts and tees? Now, savour the furniture and furnishings. Six years after Ralph Lauren apparel came to Indian shores, it was now about time for the brand’s celebrated decor line, Ralph Lauren Home, to drop anchor as well. Brought to Delhi by leading luxury designer brand Seetu Kohli Concepts, the Ralph Lauren Home store that opened its plush portals in Mehrauli, New Delhi, last week is all set to give us a slice of uber luxe life.
Adorned with signature chairs, couches, cabinets and tables to exclusive bed and bath linen, wall and floor coverings as well as a whole host of lavish lighting and decorative accessories, the generous 4,700-sq-ft space bears the impeccable and extravagant imprint of Ralph Lauren’s unwavering style. Look around and you will see inspirations from time-honoured traditions around the world—the urbanity of a modern penthouse, the grandeur of a noble English estate, the rustic aesthetic of the American West or the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
As you make your way through this treasure trove, the opulent queen-sized Bedford bed doused in beige and gold highlights, and baroque shelter curves will stop you in your tracks. An iconic design from Ralph Lauren Home, the Beckbury frame is an elegant essential with its clean lines and polished gold-plated brass in twill weave. The tufted leather ‘Brook Street’ sofa from the ‘Apartment Number 1’ collection is another show stopper. Besides these, the other furniture pieces embody a world of timeless design.
Then there’s the equestrian-inspired Garrett decanter, which is crafted from gleaming hand-cut lead crystal and features a sandblasted design of a spirited polo match. The special-edition 888 collection candle offers a fragrant blend of creamy tuberose, magnolia and cashmere musk. Jewellery boxes in soft suedes and shagreen, rich alligator-embossed leather desk accessories upscale the collection’s intricacy.
Seetu Kohli, who operates showrooms under her label Ace Maison, in Delhi and Mumbai, is credited for upscaling the Indian luxury design scene through earlier tie-ups with Fendi Casa, Bentley Home and Trussardi Casa in 2014. When asked what the entry of Ralph Lauren Home meant for the Indian market, she said it would be a game changer for the rather disorganised segment.
“Ralph Lauren Home takes on the personality and identity of the customer, all pieces become an extension of their style. It is more a lifestyle which inspires one to style their space than fill it with pieces bought in isolation,” says Kohli. “Here, we are offering not a contemporary or a classic aura but a transitional, legendary look accentuated with a modern twist. It is the complete guidebook to home styling under one roof,” she adds.
Kohli believes luxury is also the most abused word in products, service and retail. “Luxury could be the feel of a real taut leather, or it could be the smell of fresh flowers every morning by one’s bedside or it could be wearing a precious watch for that special dinner,” she says. It is the responsibility of lifestyle designers to create the right aura for people to feel joyous in the designed space. “Our affiliation with Ralph Lauren is an attempt to reach that space and be a leading arbiter of artisanal luxury,” she signs off.