Family
A Christmas Journey
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Tatiana de Nicolay and Amedeo, 2
Can a pattern transform an interior into a journey?
In Tatiana de Nicolay’s apartment, the answer is a colourful, botanical and joyful yes. The young artist grew up between Belgium and Poland, amidst manor houses under renovation and the delight of flea-market finds. Alongside her parents, the Count and Countess de Nicolay, she developed an early appreciation for ornamentation and objects with a story to tell. An illustrator by training, she designs nature-inspired motifs that bring poetry and emotion to the furnishings and tableware she creates. Her international upbringing continues to shape her world: Egypt, where she studied Classical Arabic; Buenos Aires and Casablanca; Florence and Paris for style; and finally New Delhi, where she trained in fashion under Manish Arora, following in the footsteps of her mother, a stylist. After London, where she began illustrating for the then fledgling Cabana Magazine, she settled in Paris and has since expanded her creative practice into textiles with her first collection for Maison Thévenon. With the feel of a winter garden, her apartment in the 16th arrondissement is a true playground: exotic wallpapers that invite escape, green trellises and wood panelling that structure the space, and rugs and textiles of her own design. With two-year-old Amedeo by her side, she opens her doors to us for a visit in which every detail tells a story, inviting us to her Christmas table, where colours and patterns come together as an invitation to travel — without ever leaving Paris.
Author
Anne-Laure Griveau
Photos and videos
Margaux Buisson, Gautier Billotte
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Tiger wooden seats sourced in Udaipur, India. Tropical Iksel wallpaper
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Floor lamp sourced from a flea market in France, gifted as a wedding present by a couple of friends.
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Amedeo's Christmas stocking
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Tommaso Barbi Leaf Lamp (1966), passed down from one of Tatiana's grandmothers
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TSF
Who lives in this apartment with the feel of a winter garden?
Tatiana
There are four of us: my husband, our son Amedeo, who has just turned two, our dog, and me. It’s a very lively apartment, constantly evolving with us. Amedeo is taking up more and more space, which I love. I like the idea that a home is never fixed, that it transforms in rhythm with the life unfolding within it.
TSF
What is your story with this apartment?
Tatiana
I’m originally Belgian and was living in London. My fiancé—now my husband—who is Parisian, suggested we meet in Paris. I didn’t know the city very well at the time and had no particular idea of which neighbourhood to choose, so we visited a lot of places. In the end, we found this apartment in the 16th arrondissement. It hadn’t been lived in for nearly ten years and hadn’t undergone any renovations for decades. It was in quite a disastrous state, and paradoxically, I loved it. When we removed the false ceiling in the dining room, we discovered beautiful mouldings that had remained perfectly intact. I grew up surrounded by renovation projects—my parents had bought a manor to restore—so this process feels very familiar to me.
TSF
How would you describe the style you’ve created here?
Tatiana
It’s a question my mother often asks me: “How would you describe your apartment?”—and one I’ve always found a little hard to answer. I would say it’s an eclectic style, shaped by travel and personal favourites. There’s a touch of the classical, but no truly classical furniture, no traditional chests of drawers. It’s not modern either. After finishing my studies, I spent several years abroad—in Egypt, Argentina, Morocco, India, and Italy. All these journeys shaped my eye, and I brought back many objects along the way. I never buy with a specific place in mind; I only buy something if I fall in love with it. After that, everything finds its place.
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Poufs and cushions covered in the Rayures Ornementales design, created by Tatiana de Nicolay for Maison Thévenon fabrics. Two Testa di Moro bought during the honeymoon in Sicily, in the small village of Scopello
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Le Pavillon de Thé rug, designed by Tatiana de Nicolay for Jaipur Rugs.
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Small monkey candle holder that belonged to one of Tatiana's grandmothers
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“How would you describe your apartment?”—that’s a question my mother often asks me!
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Amedeo heads towards the dining room
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Le Pré Fleuri rug, designed by Tatiana de Nicolay for Jaipur Rugs.
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The art of layering: plates found at a flea market near Florence, Zara Home bowls, cutlery and knife rests gifted by Tatiana's father
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Blue Chinese vases found at the Belgian auction house Rops.
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Tatiana’s outfit is by the Spanish brand Coosy, and Amedeo’s socks are from the Spanish children’s sock brand Condor
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Tablecloth by Tatiana de Nicolay for Maison Thévenon.
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TSF
Which pieces did you design for this apartment?
Tatiana
I designed all the rugs, notably those in the living room and the smaller sitting room, in collaboration with Jaipur Rugs, including Le Pavillon du Thé, as well as the dining-room rug, with its bold floral motif and undulating edges. You’ll also find several wallpapers here, along with fabrics from my recent collaboration with Maison Thévenon. We upholstered our headboard in the Pompon motif, a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional passementerie, where a structured stripe is enlivened by small braided cords and pom-poms, bringing movement and lightness. This collection is very important to me, as it perfectly reflects my world, somewhere between nature, poetry and textile craftsmanship. Above the bed, the scallop shells are pieces I sourced at a sale in Belgium, from the decorator Decarpentrie. The staging was exceptional, set in a former abbey in Brussels. There were many collectors, so I came back with only a few items, but I love these figures, which I repainted myself. I enjoy a bit of DIY at the weekend.
TSF
What kind of environment did you grow up in, and how did it influence your taste?
Tatiana
I grew up in Belgium, with periods at an English boarding school, in a family where a love of beautiful things was part of everyday life. My parents were passionate about heritage, decoration, and antique objects. Every Sunday, we would go treasure-hunting at flea markets—the real flea markets of the time. My father would give me a coin and challenge me: “Bring back something beautiful with this.” He loved setting beautiful tables and always told me the stories behind the pieces he bought at auctions: the craftsmanship, the restoration, the history of each item. My mother, who worked as a designer for major Parisian fashion houses, passed on to me her love for precise and meticulous drawing. My taste for illustration and the decorative arts naturally grew out of this inheritance.
TSF
Do you often entertain guests here?
Tatiana
Yes, very often. I love entertaining, and so does my husband. We regularly have 15 or 17 people at the table—the more, the merrier. I devote a lot of time to styling the table. I change everything for each dinner: tablecloths, plates, glasses, vases. I love layering, playing with colours and patterns. I always choose seasonal flowers and try to surprise my guests, sometimes with an unexpected dessert, sometimes with grand floral arrangements. Cooking isn’t my strongest suit, so I make up for it with a beautifully set table.
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Headboard upholstered in the Pompon fabric by Tatiana de Nicolay, in collaboration with Thévenon. Shelves displaying scallop shells and porcelain pieces sourced at a sale by the Belgian decorator Decarpentrie.
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TSF
What does your neighbourhood mean to you?
Tatiana
Every morning, when I step outside, I catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, and I never tire of it. I’m not originally from Paris, so this view still fills me with wonder. I love the village-like atmosphere: running into friends at the florist, at school, or over a coffee. After dropping my son off at school, I often stop by Belen Café, an Argentine spot I adore. I also have my regular workout routines at Burning Bar or Hera Club, both just nearby.
TSF
How do you celebrate Christmas?
Tatiana
We usually go to my brother’s house. Christmas in my family is very festive. My mother is American and loves decoration—saying she has crates of ornaments would be an understatement. The house is decorated from the cellar to the attic, across five floors; it’s a traditional Brussels home, very narrow. There’s a huge Christmas tree, whose decoration takes three days, with everyone adding their own touch. The tables are always magnificent, full of little thoughtful details. That’s where my love for staging and attention to detail comes from.
TSF
Do you have a strong memory associated with Christmas tables?
Tatiana
Yes, absolutely. My mother always places a large mirror in the centre of the table, like a table runner, with a huge sleigh, porcelain reindeer, candles nestled in their antlers, fake snow, and tiny fir trees… It’s very romantic, almost unreal. These are decorations we keep year after year, and I love the sense of continuity they bring.
TSF
A must-have dish for the holidays?
Tatiana
At our home, it’s always venison. It’s a family tradition. My mother cooks it wonderfully, with an incredible sauce.
TSF
What are your current projects?
Tatiana
I have just launched my first collection of upholstery fabrics with Maison Thévenon. It includes four very colourful designs: Les Pompons, a reinterpretation of traditional passementerie with cords and small pom-poms, as well as Rayures Ornementales, Birds, and Animaux Exotiques—all poetic, nature-inspired motifs that bring movement and storytelling to interiors. Next year, several collaborations will see the light of day, including one with Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, scheduled for early 2026, as well as a ready-to-wear collection with the Spanish brand Philippa 1970.
TSF
Which piece on The Socialite Family draws your attention the most?
Tatiana
The
- my favourite colour. I love it.
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Icon and hot air balloon pendant purchased on Etsy
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Nemo baby bed in rattan by Theo Bébé
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Candeluze wall lamp and Braquenié (now Pierre Frey) wallpaper, a reissue of the pattern from one of the living room sofas (no longer in production).
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Paper-mâché flower pendant by Fleur Selection M
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Cushion and curtains in 'Pompon' fabric, created by Tatiana in collaboration with Maison Thévenon.
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Ex Votos purchased at a market in Mexico during a trip
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