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Sandra Benhamou, an interior designer of Italo-Tunisian heritage, has once again proven herself as a visionary designer with her latest collection of rugs, TELLUS MATER, developed in collaboration with the prestigious Édition 1.6.9. In this collection, Benhamou explores the concepts of earth and territory, examining the shapes and colors of landscapes, as well as the textures of the materials that form our planet.
Benhamou drew her inspiration from various landscapes that resonate deeply with her. She gathered aerial photographs of Normandy while simultaneously capturing the desert-like earth she encountered in Israel, as well as close-up images of stone quarries. Her intuitive approach to design is enhanced by her fascination with the works of the renowned textile artist Sheila Hicks. Benhamou mixed scales, isolated patterns and geometries that appealed to her, and reconstructed intimate, personal landscapes, resulting in her own ‘tellus mater’ – a reference to the earth, its origin, and its mystery.
A striking feature of this collection is the use of ton-sur-ton color schemes. Benhamou plays with subtle nuances in shades, materials, and techniques, creating a palette of green, black, beige, and white. These restrained yet rich colors reflect the diversity of the earth itself – from fertile soil to arid, inhospitable places that are simultaneously essential and formative for life. The rugs from the TELLUS MATER collection are a tribute to the original earth and a symbol of a promised, timeless place, where beginnings and endings merge. They evoke a powerful image of a world that is both dry and fertile, a place that feels like the very soul of the earth itself. Sandra Benhamou has created a design that is not only aesthetic but also radiates a deeper connection with nature. The interior designer is a self-taught individual who began her career by building her own home in the Hamptons. Her work is infused with influences from her diverse background, with a clear passion for modern and contemporary art, film, and Italian architecture and design. Her approach to design is never obvious, always thoughtful and unique. With the launch of her own collections in 2021, the designer has further expanded her vision. Her studio in Paris, opened in 2010, is a vibrant hub of creativity where she and her team work on projects in Paris, Milan, Normandy, and the Rambouillet region. With her eye for detail and personal involvement in every project, she remains one of the most distinctive voices in today’s interior design world.
Design connects us to the earth’s soul
TELLUS MATER is a beautiful example of her ability to capture the beauty of nature in sustainable, handcrafted designs that are not only functional but also meaningful. It is a collection that reminds us of the powerful connection between humans and the earth, and the timeless beauty that this relationship creates.
Photography by Aurélien Chauvaud
Text by Ine Simons