Photography by Spacecrafting
Marta Koepke
“I have never had anyone who didn’t like what they bought. Ever. That doesn’t happen,” says Marta Koepke, owner of ROAM Furniture & Lighting.
That’s probably because Koepke brings a discerning eye, a preternatural sense for scale and a passion for detail that feels unmatched in the classic modern furniture retail landscape. Recently moved from their longstanding streetside storefront in Uptown to International Market Square, Koepke has infused the new space with influential contemporary design from European manufacturers B&B Italia, Cassina, Moroso, Poltrona Frau and more. “To me, it is so important to the fiber of the community to have access to something special.”
Koepke and her husband, John Stedman, travel to Milan to the Salone del Mobile each year to survey the finest Italian and European design and bring that master craftsmanship back to Minneapolis. They get to know the manufacturers, visit factories, and, in some cases, meet with the designers or families — such as Patricia Urquiola, the eminent Spanish architect, industrial designer and art director for Cassina who Koepke regards as a “design goddess.” This high-touch approach helps her appreciate the nuances of each product inside and out.
“We learn about the materials and how something is made so we have a good idea of why and how it functions,” she says. She is forever marveling at the attention to detail that goes into crafting something indestructible yet comfortable, such as steel framing, inventive molds and cutting-edge sustainable fabrics and foams.
“We want anybody to be able to experience inspiring design here,” she says.
The high-end lines they carry are exclusive to ROAM, she says of her meticulously curated showroom. “You can’t find these anywhere else. Some companies have showrooms for a single line in New York City or L.A., but we’re multi-line, which I find more interesting. We cover more ground and price points. That’s curious — and endlessly inviting.”
