The 19th-century building (which was originally built for dried good storage) was later the home of abstract expressionist Barnett Newman. “He had this floor and the one below us because apparently he didn’t want to hear anyone walking around when he was working in his studio,” King says.
The pine floors lend a rich warmth to the space, and the towering 10-foot windows anchor the mood. “We wanted it to feel textural and romantic,” King says of the ceiling-to-floor drapes. “The light changes throughout the day and year round, and because we’re facing west, as it comes around it starts bouncing off these buildings and gives beautiful shadows to the space.”
Photo: Billal Taright
All of the objects in the loft (mostly vintage) tap back to Beni’s broader mission. “Our hope is that people keep these rugs and live with them for a long time, so I think we wanted all of the furniture to reflect that love of craft and quality,” Wright explains. The magic of the handmade has always been at the heart of Beni. With its headquarters in the village of Tameslouht, the vertically integrated facility—led by women—designs, weaves, washes, and ships everything from one place, and has radically changed how rugs are produced in Morocco. “Our employees have free transport to and from work, they get paid childcare, they have access to government benefits, and their salary is two to four times the national average,” Wright shares.
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