Interview with Nicolas Roux, Founder and Managing Director of Rive Gauche London

Can you share the story of what inspired you to found your own luxury interior design company, Rive Gauche London?

I spent my childhood in the French countryside and countless days in the family workshop alongside my father, a Master Carpenter and Joiner. This gave me an enduring appreciation for authentic craftsmanship, detail and quality from a very early age. From there, I developed a passion for beautifully handmade pieces of furniture and an endless fascination with the pursuit of excellence, which was so important to my father – reminding me to always focus on the right level of detail to achieve the outcome of excellence. Rive Gauche came to me because I always wanted to create my own business; it was in my blood. I worked in the industry for 15 years before setting up Rive Gauche when I recognised that there was a lack of companies providing end-to-end services for time-poor wealthy clients. I often met people who were struggling to manage multiple consultants or successfully unite and align them behind one project. Many high-net-worth individuals just don’t have the spare time or prior experience to do this. Ultimately, they just want to know their project is in safe hands and being run by a single entity with the necessary expertise and experience to succeed – thus, Rive Gauche was born.
Our vision from the start was to offer one point of contact to our client to both design and deliver the very best properties around the world. Bringing together thoughtful architecture with truly beautiful and bespoke interior design,  perfectly orchestrated by dependable and professional project management services.

 

What would you say has been the most significant moment or milestone in your professional journey that has led to where you are today?

It’s difficult to identify a single moment in my career which led me to this point. Arguably, it’s been a combination of opportunities that I managed to grab hold of and the array of people that I have met who believe in me more than I believe in myself. While working at Candy & Candy, when we were completing One Hyde Park, I was contacted by a young entrepreneur in Switzerland. He wanted to set up a luxury interior design business and wanted me to manage it and be the creative director. I had no idea if I would be able to do it, but I decided to take the challenge, and it was the best decision of my life. That decision directly led me to open Rive Gauche four years later.

 

Overseeing a significant range of end-to-end luxury design projects must be hugely demanding, so how on a day-to-day basis, do you continue to stay focused and ensure you best prioritise your time? 

This is an easy one – I surround myself with many highly skilled and trustworthy people! I want to personally stay in tune with each and every project. This is why clients come to us and return to us again and again. Day and night, they can call me regarding their project, and I will always be available to advise them.
To do so, it is imperative that I have a team that can handle their area of skill to an extremely high level. This allows me to oversee every project personally. The days are busy; there is a lot of travelling, and evenings are often spent reviewing and feeding back. But my team is fantastic, and I couldn’t have done it without them.

 

Operating at the highest level often involves taking risks. But what role do you believe risk-taking plays in achieving success?

You need to be able to get out of your comfort zone if you want to succeed. You are involved in extremely high-value properties – sometimes in excess of £100 million. It’s vital that we take all the precautions necessary to protect our client’s interests. However, property is complex and can be challenging if you are looking to create meaningful financial returns for your client. So, we need to be ready to face challenges every day and take measured risks to achieve results. When your client has two planning applications rejected and has spent two years and a lot of money and then comes to you to deliver a successful planning application to deliver their vision, you need to take some risks. However, with experience, those risks can be mitigated while accepting that they very much come with the job. 

 

When it comes to business, what is your leadership philosophy, and how do you use this to inspire and motivate those around you?

I know I’m very demanding of my team! Our clients are extremely demanding (rightly so), and we owe it to them to exceed their expectations throughout the project. The pursuit of excellence is highly motivating. There is no ego, and our sole objective is to deliver the best possible service.
I think we have also created a culture where everyone in the organisation – including designers and architects - has the ability to bring their ideas and creativity to the table. Every project is different, and each has the potential to open up their horizons and enable them to develop into even stronger designers. My team get to work on the best of the best projects with impressive brands, such as The Four Seasons. So, we are always making sure they deliver at the very top of their game. So yes, freedom & the pursuit of excellence allow their creative ideas to flow.

 

Understanding and delivering against client expectations must be incredibly challenging, but what do believe is the secret to delivering the very best client experience?

Before being a creative business, we are a service business. We need day after day to deliver the best possible client experience. The objective is simple:

• Know your client: I spend a lot of time with our clients - getting to know them and understanding how they operate so we can tailor our communication and services to their needs
• Anticipation: This is a golden word for us. Anticipating client’s needs or requests before they even ask for it is the ultimate mark of excellence 

Creatively, we operate very differently from most design studios. We don’t have a house style, and we pride ourselves on this. We are completely focused on delivering something unique for each client and every project. The only similarity between each project is quality excellence, which we do not divert from. Quality and authenticity.

 

Can you share a specific setback in your career, and how you utilised that experience to learn, grow and improve?

I lost my job. It was very hard for me because it was a well-paid and comfortable job, and I had never lost a job in my career before. Out of the blue, one day, I was simply informed that the company was to close and everyone was out of a job. At the time, I had just had my first daughter; she was 3 months old. The default was to search for a new job, but deep down, I really wanted to set up my own company. So, I founded Rive Gauche. I put £2,500 into the business to buy a laptop and ended up working the first year from my bedroom. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, especially given the initial uncertainty. However, looking back, I realise with hindsight that I may have never set up Rive Gauche if I hadn’t lost my job. So, in many ways, it actually was the best thing that ever happened to me.

 

Entrepreneurs and founders are notorious for their long hours and facing challenges when it comes to balancing work and personal life. How do you manage this balance, and what strategies do you use to prevent burnout?

I don’t think I’m a good example, I’m afraid. I have been educated the old-school way; my parents were both working very hard, and there was little balance.
Having a business, I’m in it 24/7 and often working evenings and weekends. I have three children, so they keep me in check. When I’m not working, I will be with them, which is a great way to achieve balance. I also always find time to go running. For me, exercise is a great way to clear my head and recharge.

 

What advice do you have for those aspiring to follow in your footsteps and enter the world of interior design? Are there key principles or lessons you wish you had known when starting your own business?

People usually come to Interior Design because of their passion. It's a creative outlet and such a rewarding industry. However, Interior Design is also a competitive business and a very busy market. You need to be clear on your vision and understand what you will offer that others don't or can't. Once you've found your niche, you need to be determined and persistent in order to succeed. Believe in yourself, and don't listen to naysayers! Always look for opportunities in setbacks.

 

Finally, when you reflect on your career what would you say has been your proudest design project to date?

In recent years, we have grown substantially through some amazing projects. If I had to pick one, it would be one of the projects that we are currently delivering, which ultimately will become the most expensive private residence in the world. To be in such a position after setting up Rive Gauche from my bedroom less than ten years ago is a great reminder of just how far we have come.