meet Tatiana de Nicolay
For Tatiana, the medium doesn’t matter; it’s all about the process. Though she’s officially an illustrator, creating beautiful prints and motifs for brands, she wears many hats (both literally and metaphorically!).
She’s often collaborating with cool brands – think bags for Olympia Letan and stunning carpets for Jaipur rugs – and always inspiring both her followers and her friends.
Tatiana has lived all over the world from Belgium to Egypt and Argentina to India, so you can rest assured she’s a font of knowledge when it comes to fab tips no matter where you go.
We had a chat with her and got the lowdown on how a penchant for beautiful things has turned into an interiors obsession, the things you'll always find in her suitcase and what's on her bucket list for 2024.
On who she is...
I’m an illustrator specialised in watercolour. I mainly design prints for brands, which they apply for different mediums such as fabric, ceramics, glass, paper, etc. I also do collabs with brands; it can go from designing bags (my partnership with Olympia Letan launches this year) to rugs (my work for Jaipur Rugs will launch this April) and candles (last September, I worked with Maison Meissonier Paris on a special project). I love these collaborations because they're so versatile and different each time. The learning curve for me is so challenging and amazing!
I've lived in Paris since I left London in 2020; I live near the Eiffel Tower with my hubby, my son and my poodle Chui. I find the neighbourhood so lively during the day, as it brings a lot of tourists and the tower changes through the seasons. It’s just charming!
In the past, I have lived in Belgium, Poland, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Italy and India. My next destination to live with a family is Mexico City —> hopefully before I’m 40!
And how she likes to travel...
I would say I’m a mix of culture vulture and active traveller. I would never go on a beach holiday - well, only if I was so, so exhausted, but that hasn’t happened yet :)
I love adventurous travelling off the beaten path. As I lived alone in different countries far from Europe, starting in Egypt at the age of 17, I learned to enjoy travelling by myself. You don’t necessarily know people when you move to a foreign country, so I made the habit of going on trips by myself and making friends along the way. It was so enriching; I would always end up with groups of people from different age groups. I would be invited into people’s homes for tea, to cook or just chit chat (if the language worked). In Mongolia, I spent three weeks on a horse safari with a friend a couple of years ago. We didn’t need to talk; we just observed and learned so much from one another. That trip was so mind-blowing. I've never gone for the typical places where many people go. I tend to prefer travelling to remote places where it's more of an effort to access it.
Even on our honeymoon, I planned cultural activities and excursions - I said anything but the Maldives. I’m such an active person that I have to have a programme of activities and things to do and visit every day. When I wake up, the first words out of my mouth are: "What's the programme?" I love to plan, and usually I make a list of all the best cultural attractions, restaurants, shops, viewpoints and hikes I’d like to do. Obviously, there is never enough time but I always try to squeeze it all. My friends say that's not really a holiday, but that’s what I love. Also, for my work, I get inspired by my travels, so it's so important to me to see and discover the local culture, the arts and crafts, the techniques, embroidery, colours, textures and art.
On what she brings and what she does when she gets there...
A notebook, pencils and a little box of water colours, suncream (I never tan - I get red), a big hat and a nice tote bag for all the shopping that usually happens during the trip. I love bringing back souvenirs and little gifts for my family and friends!
On hobbies...
In my spare time, I love to find little gems to decorate our house! Also, I love to do some DIY at home like repainting frames, hanging things on the wall, repairing small objects and, of course, painting!
And what she loves to do when she's at home (if ever!)...
I love to take a walk to flea markets and have brunch there on Sundays with lively French music. I love Les Puces de Saint Ouen. Or if you head out of Paris, le Perche or the millions of little villages with antique fairs that are nearby. That's how I love to spend my Sundays.
On her best bite...
That’s hard! I would say maybe this little restaurant we went to in Tel Aviv a couple of years ago called North Abraxas. I have a passion for Israeli food!! It's simple yet so delicious.
And the hotel and museum she loves most in the world...
The one I like best is more of a lodge than a hotel, but it would be Ol Malo in Kenya. It's probably the most interesting place I’ve been. But I'd say my favourite hotel in terms of the decoration is Villa Palladio in Jaipur. It was designed by Marie Anne Oudejans, and she is a unique artist! As for museums, I'd say Sir John Soane's Museum in London, which I discovered it last year. I would recommend visiting the museum on the candle nights. It's superb!
On where she's headed next...
We are planning a horse trip in Chile in March. I can’t wait!!
And in her dreams...
On my travel bucket list: the Great Wall of China, Jordan, Iran, Myanmar and Namibia.
Hayley Daen
South Carolina bred, UK educated and Netherlands enthused, Hayley has an insatiable hunger for travel and, of course, all things delicious. A traveller as seasoned as her cast iron skillet, Hayley always knows the best spots for a tasty bite or a cheeky glass. When she's not digging up killer hole-in-the-wall falafel spots in Beirut or trying (sometimes vainly!) to find inspiring exhibitions across the globe, she's busy writing & reading.
