ART

Sensory Landscape by Bentley Home: A Vision of Contemporary Living

BY VANESA KRIZONYTE

At Milan Design Week 2026, Bentley Home presented the Sensory Landscape collection with a refined focus on low-impact materials and translating motor-driven luxury principles into the home. 

The collection features elegant tables, armchairs, and sofas. Known for vehicle seating comfort, the Embrace Armchair inherits contemporary silhouettes defined by a curved outer shell and an interplay between leather and upholstery. The pieces mark a dynamic insertion of Bentley’s signature aesthetic into residential and commercial settings. Sensory Landscape unites the art of engineering high-performance vehicles and furniture design through sharp architectural lines and material richness, creating a holistic vision of contemporary living. 

​Rooted in the brand’s heritage, the furniture collection adopts a sustainable ethos prioritising longevity with materials and developing character over the years rather than resistance. Through the voice of Ben Saltmer, Head of Lifestyle Design at Bentley Motors, we uncover the creative process and design philosophy behind the latest furniture collection.

 

How does the reduced environmental impact within the new furniture collection correspond with Bentley’s engineering?

Ben Saltmer: At Bentley Motors, reducing environmental impact begins at the design stage, and that same mindset underpins the Bentley Home collection. Early material choices drive the majority of a product’s footprint, so we prioritise lower-impact, natural materials such as wool, alpaca, natural resins, and locally sourced fibres, including stone finishes native to Italy. Just as in our automotive engineering, durability is paramount—each piece is designed to last for generations, with materials that age beautifully over time. The level of craftsmanship mirrors our cars: precise, controlled, and executed by highly skilled artisans.

 

Does successful furniture design require the use of natural materials, and are they key to comfort?

Natural materials play a fundamental role in both comfort and longevity. We select materials that not only feel luxurious and tactile but also develop an attractive patina with age. Leather refined stitching techniques, and natural wood veneers—treated with the same care as our car interior fascia’s—are paired with richly textured fabrics. The result is a sensory experience that enhances comfort while maintaining visual and material integrity over time.

 

Which principles behind Bentley’s cars are reflected in this collection?

We design to a specific set of Five Design principles for Bentley Home.

Bold Gravitas – confident, pure forms that create impact from the first read.

Cocooning Haven – the curved gestures you can see in all our pieces. 

Iconic Signatures – what makes the piece a Bentley product. The second read detailing such as knurled metals and diamond stitching; Harmonious Detail – Not one finish, colour or detail overpowers. A perfectly balanced design. 

And finally Dynamic Surfacing – the automotive design tricks we deploy to visually reduce mass through chamfers and character lines. These all contribute to each collection we launch for Bentley Home.

 

You mention materials become more compelling with age. How do you envision the sofas and armchairs in twenty years?

We design each piece to endure—these are future heirlooms. Over time, the materials will deepen in character: leather will soften, wood will develop richer tones, and fabrics will gain texture. Rather than deteriorating, the furniture is intended to become more beautiful and expressive with use. We set out to create timeless design – this year’s Milan Design Week we have paired furniture designs that have been iconic for us for over 10 years with this year’s collection to great effect. 

 

 

Following the ‘sensory landscape’ concept, does the furniture reflect a particular personality? Who is engaging with the new collection?

The collection reflects a lifestyle rather than a single personality type. It appeals to those who value craftsmanship, material authenticity, and immersive design—whether in residential or commercial environments. Both longstanding Bentley clients and new audiences are drawn to the timeless quality, refined finishes, and sensory richness that define the collection.

 

Do you think this collection pushes Bentley’s brand DNA into new realms of contemporary luxury lifestyle?

I think it further strengthens our holistic approach to design at Bentley. Anything adorning the Bentley emblem must carry Bentley design values and DNA cues. 

Through our work beyond automotive design – whether it’s architecture, a yacht interior, or a piece of furniture, the focus remains diligent to our design principles. This collection extends those principles into the home, creating beautiful pieces that are a standalone, confident collection that takes inspiration from our brand, not our cars as such. 

 

Thank you to Simon+Simon Communications for Press Accreditation and access to Imagery Rights. Gratitude to Ben Saltmer for interview participation. Published May, 2026.