SANDRA BENHAMOU

There is soft hum of dulcet tones that exudes from the 7em arrondissement, that is reminiscent and gently calls upon the neighbourhood’s former aristocratic heritage. This sound comes from the latest project titled, Musée Rodin, rendered by the Parisian designer, Sandra Benhamou - a two bedroom apartment in a Haussmannian building, located within a short distance from the referenced museum. Once employed as a corporate space, the apartment has been given a new lease, it has been crafted with a delicate tonality into a private residence, which fluidly sings within the octave of a caramelised honey tonal range. Upon entry into the apartment, it is the herringbone parquet floors that immediately reveal themselves, as they are generously sprawled throughout the residence - a design element that sings in a bass tone anchoring and securing the intonation within the space.

The designer first started her career in film, and moved across to the realms of design where she established her eponymous interior architecture studio in Paris in 2010. Benhamou, who is an expert collector within the art market, confidently weaves influences and trends together, and creates an anti-conformist narrative that is singularly unique. Within this apartment, her story-telling skills from her film career and art collecting are perfectly married as one.

For this project, Benhamou sets the scenography in the main living room, where a mirrored wall that echoes the eclectic influences from the 70s, creates depth within the apartment and serves as a second window that gently streams light within the space. A set of vintage straw armchairs by Charlotte Perriand are featured within the room, and are placed next to Benhamou’s own Dolly armchair from her own Ginger collection. A hand-carved ebony coffee table by Dan Pollock that was collected from Galerie Desprez Breheret, rests upon a custom rug designed by the designer herself, which fixes the elements to the room. A stool by WA Design Gallery casually stands in the corner of the room, adjacent to a Post-war artwork that suspends above by the progressive French artist Edgard Pillet that was purchased from Galerie Alexandre Guillemain.

Walking past the softly painted buttercream feature wall that smoothly accents the space with its lacquered shelving and exhibition of the owner’s collection of tribal pieces purchased from Galerie Lucas Ratton, we approach the dining room. Here we find a table and bench by Rudolph Condon that sits besides another marvellous artwork, this time by Latifa Echakhch, purchased from Galerie Kamel Mennour. The artwork titled Tambour 124, not only beats like a small drum as the name suggests, but also adds a new dimension architecturally to the space like a trompe l’oeil, as if it were like a dome as the name would also suggest here as well - therefore, masterfully serving two purposes.

The concept of domes is continued and sung in a soprano range in the kitchen, where an ornate circular ceiling rose takes centre stage and frames the space. Here the designer has chosen a pairing of walnut timber cabinetry with a travertine stone to induce the caramelised tones of the apartment. These materials are illuminated under a lighting piece by Anour.

In the master bedroom, a custom lacquered buttercream headboard rests in front of a series of taupe grey wardrobe cabinetry, which frame the space - just like a chorus creating a soft backdrop that highlight the notable elements within the room. A mirrored side table from Benhamou’s Ginger collection compliments the Pierre Cardin mirror that was purchased from Galerie Alexandre Guillemain. Across the room, we also find a Tadashi Kawamata artwork accentuated through a wall light by Gounot & Jahnke.

In the ensuite, the travertine melody is continued again, but this time in tones that are a conversation between pale grey and ivory. The artfully curated story of Musée Rodin residence does not end without another artwork by Edgard Pillet, who initially greeted us into the apartment, as well as a Triptik in wood by Sacha Haillotte.

Musée Rodin, hums the new tones of contemporary nobility for the 7em arrondissement, as Benhamou has masterfully articulated in scenographic detail the exquisite play between honourable materiality and art curation. Benhamou, has not only been able to restore the apartment, but has heightened it to a new prestige as it nods and plays homage to its distinct cultural location, which it deservingly bears its name.

PHOTOGRAPHY | GAËLLE LE BOULICAUT