King Living, an award-winning Australian furniture designer and manufacturer, just launched their second showroom in the United States. They are now located in Costa Mesa, California and Chicago, Illinois with Portland, Oregon coming soon! We caught up with Kahn Morkaya, Mathew Milne, and Rodney Misso and asked what the 10 most important things commercial interior designers should know about King Living’s recent entrance into the US.
Meet the Team:
Why does King Living choose to do all its internal design in-house?
At King Living, we believe that no one knows the brand better than our own people. Designing in-house ensures that our creative vision remains pure and uncompromised, staying true to the essence of our brand. This approach also allows us to be highly agile, making adjustments and tailoring designs to suit specific regions, including Chicago and Costa Mesa.
By maintaining control of the design process, we can deliver a cohesive and authentic brand experience across all markets.
How do you ensure your creative design concepts appeal to a US audience?
The US market is incredibly diverse, with consumer preferences varying significantly from state to state. To address this, we take a hyper-localised approach, ensuring our showroom designs resonate with the unique demographics and tastes of each area. While all our showrooms share a consistent brand DNA that reflects King Living’s identity, we introduce subtle adaptations for each region. Whether it’s in Sydney, London, Singapore, or the newly opened showrooms in Chicago and Costa Mesa, our designs consider factors such as the showroom location—whether in a mall or a freestanding site—and the local lifestyle preferences, creating a tailored yet cohesive experience.
King Living has such a strong sustainability legacy with its products. Are there any specific sustainability standards incorporated in the showroom buildouts?
Sustainability is at the heart of everything King Living does, and our showroom buildouts are no exception. We design our fit-outs with minimal impact, adhering to a streamlined aesthetic that reduces material usage. Additionally, we collaborate closely with local governments and landlords to meet environmental requirements and ensure sustainable practices are embedded in every stage of the showroom development process.
What is unique about King Living’s showrooms that appeals to a commercial interior designer?
The uniqueness of King Living’s showrooms lies in our furniture. Our products are the focal point, showcasing the modularity and versatility that set us apart from other retailers. This “King Difference” appeals to commercial interior designers who value functional yet stylish solutions. Our showrooms are curated to inspire, offering design flexibility and showcasing the innovative possibilities our products provide.
How does the King Difference come across within the showroom space?
The King Difference is brought to life in our showrooms through the careful curation of our products. We select furniture that reflects the demographics and lifestyle of the region while demonstrating the versatility of our iconic designs. For instance, in our Chicago and Costa Mesa showrooms, visitors can explore multiple configurations of signature pieces such as Jasper, 1977, and Delta. These displays highlight the flexibility and adaptability of our ranges, allowing customers to see how our products can fit seamlessly into their lives.
What multi-sensory elements are in place to inspire or delight?
Our showrooms are designed to engage all the senses, creating a memorable and immersive experience for visitors. Touch is a key focus, with customers encouraged to explore the textures of our premium upholstery and hard finishes. Smell also plays an important role; we’ve developed a signature scent that embodies King Living’s DNA, complemented by the natural aroma of our premium leathers and wood finishes. Together, these elements work harmoniously to leave a lasting impression on every visitor.
How are the US showrooms different from showrooms in other countries? What are the differences between the Costa Mesa and Chicago showrooms?
While the fundamental design of our showrooms is consistent worldwide, each location is tailored to its local market. The primary differences between our Costa Mesa and Chicago showrooms lie in the demographics and lifestyles of their respective areas. Costa Mesa’s showroom reflects a warmer climate, featuring outdoor displays year-round and a lighter, neutral colour palette with pops of colour. In contrast, at present, Chicago’s showroom is tailored to its colder climate, with durable materials like leather taking prominence, ensuring practicality without compromising style.
Interested in the U.S. showrooms? Check out:
Come inside King Living’s the new Chicago – Lincoln Park and Orange County – Costa Mesa showrooms in two of the largest interior design hubs.
What international design trends did you bring to the Chicago and Orange County showrooms respectively?
Our international expertise allows us to blend global design trends with local preferences. Both the Chicago and Costa Mesa showrooms incorporate sleek, modern aesthetics that align with contemporary global interiors while adapting to the specific needs of their environments. For example, Costa Mesa features elements that embrace indoor-outdoor living, a hallmark of Southern California design, while Chicago incorporates more robust materials and layouts suitable for a city accustomed to seasonal extremes. By merging these trends with King Living’s hallmark modularity and functionality, we’ve created spaces that resonate with the local market while maintaining an international appeal.
How do you encourage repeat customers and referrals?
At King Living, our Trade Program is designed to reward customers for their loyalty, encouraging them to spend more with added incentives like a commission program that pays designers for bringing clients to King Living. This creates a mutually beneficial relationship between King Living and our trade partners. Additionally, our King-Care® division ensures we provide ongoing support with replacement covers and parts for all King Living products, offering a sustainable solution that keeps customers returning to us and reinforces their trust in the brand.
Ready To Connect?
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Photos courtesy of King Living.
Article created in partnership with King Living.
