Stepping onto a path crafted with bluestone slabs and passing through a stand of century-old heritage olive trees to a bank of retractable glass-and-steel doors, one senses this is not shopping as usual. This is RH Marin, The Gallery at the Village—and it’s the latest chapter in the company’s quest to reimagine retail. Located in The Village at Corte Madera, the 60,000-square-foot structure houses what’s billed as “one of the largest collections of luxury home furnishings in the world.” The RH concept of elegantly integrating luxury dining and drink with shopping was born in the mind of Gary Friedman, RH’s CEO and chairman. Currently, the brand has 24 large-scale design galleries—curated, home-like showrooms— and 10 of those include restaurants. RH Marin is one of the 10, and it has a different feel. As Friedman says, it is “a deeply personal project given its proximity to our headquarters in Corte Madera.” Pass through the glass portals, and customers face choices: stay on the main level to peruse rooms decorated with RH Interiors furniture and accessories (top, right), or ascend the double floating staircase illuminated with a cascade of the brand’s Helix chandeliers to explore RH Modern offerings or receive assistance in the interactive Interior Design Firm & Atelier. The topmost level holds the Rooftop Restaurant & Park (right) that offers views of Mt. Tamalpais and the San Francisco Bay. Below, shoppers bustle and cars zoom past on Highway 101, but in this setting, they seem far away. “This space blurs the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality,” says Friedman. “It’s a reflection of our very best work to date.” rh.com
