As a painter and illustrator, interior designer Tara Benet has a natural affinity for handmade rugs, often recommending custom pieces to her clients. “I’m a maker myself,” Benet told Area, going on to say that being a painter “has fueled my passion for handmade materials.” Benet, whose aesthetic can be described as having a “clean white” look, uses handmade rugs to bring warmth and texture to the opulent interiors she designs. When she isn’t helping clients design their own bespoke rugs, Benet sources antique and traditionally made rugs to use as anchors. After all, as Benet reminds us, “every room is defined by a rug.”