“I love classic style, but I do classic in a sophisticated way — classic with a modern touch. People always call me classy — it shows in how I dress and how I work. Luxury is my lifestyle,” says Roma Adil, the incredibly talented interior designer, furniture designer and owner of Classico Roma, a Toronto-based showroom that perfectly encapsulates all that’s spectacular in elegant, sophisticated and lavish living.
Roma is the creative force behind the highly sought-after Classico Roma brand. The Dubai-born-and raised designer has trained as both an architect and as an interior designer she came to Canada in 2009 and, while she spent time away from work to raise her children, she always knew she wanted to get back into the world of high-end design. At the same time, she also carried with her an entrepreneurial spirit she shares with her family back home. “I was passionate about having my own business. My family have businesses in Dubai but they’re in another industry. Most of my family are artists, too — my sisters are graphic designers and painters, and since I was a kid, I was always into designing interiors and decorating,” she explains, adding she also dabbled in fashion design and modelling. “I knew I wanted to combine these passions and do something. My clients kept telling me I should open my own place, but I didn’t think it would be a showroom. One day I just decided to go for it.” Classico Roma opened just prior to the pandemic in 2019, and Roma played a significant role in its construction. It was a difficult time for business owners, but the store exploded on social media and garnered plenty of attention from homeowners who were spending more time indoors considering how they’d like to revamp their spaces.
Roma’s showroom is a sensation. At 13,000 square feet, it’s a sprawling, mostly transitional space that’s simply awe-striking. “I had a vision — I wanted people to enter my showroom and feel wowed. What I created isn’t for people who are looking for your average everyday pieces. My clients are looking for unique items that are works of art,” she says. “I design to make a difference, and that’s the same philosophy I brought to the showroom. If it’s in the market, I skip it and look for something new.” Roma curates the pieces and brands she brings in (for some she has North American exclusivity) and spends time travelling to the industry’s biggest shows to keep current on what’s happening in design. “I don’t miss any of them and go to multiple shows a year. Italy is always very important, so is High Point (in North Carolina), Dallas, Spain, China and Turkey. I like to see what’s coming, but I select unique pieces that are appealing to me as a designer and architect,” she says.
Walk into her showroom and you’ll likely take a pause. “It happens all the time — people walk in and need to take it all in; they need time to digest what they see. I love seeing that,” says Roma. Not situated in a location that naturally sees much traffic, clients — including realtors, designers, builders, stagers and homeowners — seek out Classico Roma and plan to visit the space, which is steeped in transitional design, with hits of modern classic style. There’s a wide selection of furnishings and decor accessories, from dining room tables and lighting to couture sofas and objets d’art. But what’s so impressive and unique about Classico Roma is a significant portion of the pieces they sell are custom designed. “There are lots of options in the showroom for clients, but if they don’t see exactly what they’re looking for, they tell me what they want, and we create it. I use a few different manufacturers around the world, so if there’s a specific chair design a customer wants, for example, I’ll sketch it and I know which manufacturer is going to make it best.” She also offers interior design services and has perfected working in collaboration with other designers who homeowners bring in, as well as builders and architects. “We understand our clients and we are always flexible when it comes to working with other professionals.” That’s where Roma shines. Classico Roma’s customer service is unparalleled. “Our service and design experience are what bring clients in — it’s all word of mouth. People can buy furniture from anywhere, but when they come here, they want customer service, experience, expertise and style, and that’s what they get.”
