Brand Focus
Interior Design
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Studio Visit: Porta Romana
On a trip to England, the Tadaima team visited Porta Romana - first at their London showroom in Chelsea Harbour, followed by a visit to their workshop in the Surrey countryside.
Founded in 1988 by British husband-and-wife duo Andrew and Sarah Hills, Porta Romana takes its name from one of Florence’s ancient gates, inspired by the artisan workshops and ateliers they encountered during their travels in Italy. Despite its Italian name, the company is firmly rooted in British design and craftsmanship.
Our visit began at the Design Centre in Chelsea Harbour. Lit solely by the lamps themselves, the showroom feels more like an interior than a traditional display, bringing together sculptural lighting with tables, mirrors and objects. With Francesca and Ilona as our guides, we explored the collection and learned more about the materials, finishes and processes behind the pieces.
The following day, we travelled south to Porta Romana’s head office and workshop in Farnham, Surrey. Here, design, product development, bespoke work and hand-finishing come together under one roof.
We started in the Product Development studio, where new designs evolve from drawings and clay maquettes into prototypes. From there, we moved through the Custom & Bespoke department, where almost every element can be adapted — from scale and finish to shades, fittings and cords. This flexibility is an integral part of Porta Romana’s approach, allowing each piece to respond to the interior it is made for.
In the workshops, we followed the production process from casting and metalwork to wiring and finishing. Surfaces are painted, gilded and layered by hand to create Porta Romana’s distinctive patinas, while shades are individually cut and assembled in linen, silk, parchment and custom fabrics.
What became clear during our visit was how many different hands and skills contribute to each piece. Porta Romana combines contemporary design with traditional craft, working both in-house and with specialist makers across the UK.
For us at Tadaima, seeing the process firsthand gave us a closer understanding of the pieces we work with and the people behind them. It reflects something central to our own curation: an appreciation for objects where material, craftsmanship and process are as important as the final form.
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