From Royal Rugs to Interior Design

Santa Barbara Polo Club patron Ben Soleimani is becoming quite the interior design entrepreneur.

Iranian Ben, 44, has recently debuted a furnishing brand making rugs and accessories, with plans to expand into a complete line of furnishings by the end of the year, and is featured in the latest issue of Architectural Digest.

The entrepreneurial enterprise is somewhat of a departure for the fourth-generation carpet purveyor and designer, who grew up in the family business prior to his work with RH – formerly Restoration Hardware.

“Growing up I was surrounded by rugs,” says Beverly Hills-based Ben, who owns multiple properties on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, the second highest priced retail street in the city after Rodeo Drive.

“By 22, I started creating my own original designs. It was a big challenge. I traveled near and far, and worked with artisans around the world to get the right partners on board, teaching makers new techniques and innovations along the way.”

Ben’s family owns Mansour, which holds the Royal Warrant as carpet suppliers to HRH The Prince of Wales – and he designed rugs for the RH brand from 2010 until last year.

Dubbed “The Mayor of Melrose” by the L.A. Times, Ben is also an accomplished equestrian, winning a number of prestigious world tournaments, including the Cartier Queen’s Cup at Windsor in 2017 with the world’s number one polo player Argentinian Adolfo Cambiaso, who also played for club president John Muse‘s Lucchese team in the Pacific Coast Open.

Ben’s website is bensoleimani.com, which is also the name of his new polo team.