Ralph Lauren London Gold Leaf Gilding

Kensington Gilders were commissioned to provide gold leaf gilding for the Ralph Lauren store in London, adding a layer of authentic luxury to this prestigious retail environment. Ralph Lauren's stores worldwide are known for their rich, club-like interiors — dark timbers, brass fittings, leather — and the addition of gold leaf was entirely in keeping with this aesthetic.

The brief called for gilding to several architectural features within the store, including column capitals, decorative mouldings and display fixtures. We used 23.5 carat gold transfer leaf applied with oil size, which was the right choice for a retail environment where durability matters and the surfaces would need to withstand years of proximity to staff and customers without showing wear.

Retail gilding presents its own set of challenges distinct from residential or heritage work. The timeline was driven by the store's opening schedule, and there was no flexibility for delays. We coordinated with the shopfitting team and other trades working on the interior fit-out, often working around electricians, joiners and painters in a confined space. The gold leaf application had to be carefully sequenced — gilding must happen after the final coat of preparation but before certain finishing trades, as leaf is easily damaged by careless handling from other workers.

Another consideration in retail environments is lighting. The store's interior lighting scheme was designed to create a warm, inviting atmosphere, and the gilded surfaces needed to respond well to those specific light conditions. We prepared test panels and reviewed them under the actual store lighting before committing to the final gold shade and technique, ensuring the finished result would sit harmoniously within the overall design scheme.

The completed gilding brought a richness and depth to the interior that complemented the Ralph Lauren brand identity perfectly — understated opulence rather than anything showy or overdone. It is the kind of project where the gilding does its job best when you barely notice it consciously, but you would certainly notice its absence.