From Shaggy Rugs to Breccia Stone Tables, Here’s What I Saw in an Afternoon of NYCxDesign

Something about this year’s NYCxDesign felt different—the good kind of different. Whether that was simply a result of being on the other side of Covid, or an attempt at following the footsteps of rapidly growing fairs like Salone del Mobile, it felt right for New York to have a lively design week. We are, after all, one of the best design cities in the world (I’m not biased, or anything). I saw shaggy rugs hanging from walls, a lamp with a stone on-and-off button, and, frankly, the most comfortable chair I have ever sat in.

First Stop: Seriously Statement-Making Rugs at Beni

We began the day with a stop-by at Beni’s Greenwich Village showroom, which is in a charming ground-level apartment on West Ninth street—also known as the street I would live on if I could live on any street in the world. The Moroccan rug brand is no stranger to collabs—past collections have been designed with Colin King and Athena Calderone—but its latest launch is a bit more unexpected, with T Magazine’s design director Tom Delavan. Timed with NYCxDesign, the editor’s first foray into product design doesn’t exactly line up with his whitewashed home; he went bold with Tulu-inspired zig zags and checkers in rich hues like magenta and mustard. Yet, the rugs just so happened to look fantastic in his muted home, where many of the campaign images were shot.

Getting up close and personal with the rugs, I can confirm that the high pile wool feels as luscious as its looks.