Where elegance meets innovation, and heritage dances with bold modernity.
In Paris, design is never simply décor—it’s declaration. Every parquet floor and velvet settee has something to say. And behind the city’s most coveted interiors today, a handful of visionary designers are reshaping the landscape—not with flashy trends, but with bold, brilliant continuity.
These six Paris-based designers are not just styling homes—they’re rewriting the very script of the modern Parisian interior, fusing classical foundations with fearless reinterpretation. Here’s how they’re doing it, and why The Socialites can’t stop watching.
The Architectural Poet: Charles Zana
Charles Zana’s interiors hum with restraint, but whisper grandeur. Educated in architecture and steeped in a love of 20th-century design, Zana constructs homes that feel like sanctuaries—with depth, history, and sculptural grace. Expect marble, wood, and velvet in warm conversation with one another.
Zana is proof that contemporary doesn’t mean cold. His spaces are emotionally modern, blending sleek lines with timeless soul.
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Signature Element: Sculptural fireplaces and bespoke cabinetry that echo modernist sculpture.
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Project to Know: His renovation of a Paris townhouse in the 7th blends classic moldings with abstract art.
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Moodboard in 3 Words: Architectural, tactile, hushed.
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Materials He Loves: Travertine, velvet, rosewood.
Website: https://zana.fr
The Minimalist Dramaturge: Joseph Dirand
If Parisian minimalism had a cathedral, Joseph Dirand would be its high priest. His aesthetic is simultaneously classical and ascetic—clean limestone surfaces, oversized marble slabs, and precise symmetry, all pulled together with a palpable sense of stillness.
Dirand’s genius lies in subtraction: he removes the unnecessary until only poetry remains. From the interiors of luxury boutiques like Balmain and Givenchy to private residences that feel like galleries, he distills Parisian essence down to a serene geometry.
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Signature Element: Monolithic stone islands and ultra-high doors.
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Project to Know: The Balmain flagship on Rue François 1er.
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Moodboard in 3 Words: Sacred, sculptural, serene.
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Materials He Loves: Calacatta marble, brushed metal, sanded oak.
Website: https://josephdirand.com
The Eras Alchemist: Jean-Louis Deniot
There’s eclecticism—and then there’s Jean-Louis Deniot. Known for his flair for mixing 18th-century flourishes with Art Deco and Mid-Century motifs, Deniot’s spaces are elegant in the extreme, but never fussy.
He layers history like a couturier layers fabric—sumptuous, surprising, and always harmonious. Whether you’re in a Haussmannian apartment or a Miami beachfront villa, if it’s Deniot, it’s drama—polished, Parisian, and perfectly composed.
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Signature Element: Custom brass inlays and mirrored panels.
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Project to Know: The Nolinski Hotel near Palais Garnier.
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Moodboard in 3 Words: Glamorous, historical, tailored.
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Materials He Loves: Antique mirror, gilded bronze, mohair velvet.
Website: https://www.deniot.com
The Chic Colorist: Sarah Lavoine
If your idea of French interiors involves a lot of beige, Sarah Lavoine is your antidote. With her signature “Bleu Sarah” and her fearless affection for color and pattern, she’s injected a bold joie de vivre into modern Parisian homes.
Her work celebrates the joyful mix—rattan and velvet, lacquer and linen, 70s curves and 30s charm. And she’s built a full lifestyle universe around her aesthetic: paint lines, tableware, lighting, and a flagship boutique that feels like your most stylish friend’s apartment.
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Signature Element: Bold color-blocked wall sections and brass lighting.
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Project to Know: Hôtel Le Roch in the 1st arrondissement.
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Moodboard in 3 Words: Vibrant, lived-in, Parisian.
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Materials She Loves: Rattan, ceramic, velvet.
Website: https://www.maisonsarahlavoine.com
The Narrative Duo: Gilles & Boissier
Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier don’t just design—they compose. Known for cinematic interiors that evoke mood and movement, they’ve created iconic looks for restaurants like Hakkasan and hotels like Baccarat and Mandarin Oriental.
Their Parisian projects mix fluid architecture with moody palettes and touchable materials—always sensual, always smart. It’s not just about luxury—it’s about storytelling through space.
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Signature Element: Dramatic contrast—dark wood with soft textures, geometric lines with organic curves.
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Project to Know: The Baccarat Hotel in New York, designed from a Parisian state of mind.
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Moodboard in 3 Words: Textural, immersive, theatrical.
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Materials They Love: Smoked oak, silk velvet, bronze.
Website: https://www.gillesetboissier.com
The Grandmaster: Jacques Grange
A name whispered with reverence, Jacques Grange is the decorator’s decorator. With clients like Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, Grange has defined an era of French taste that’s both cultivated and comfortable.
He mixes genres—baroque, modern, and far-flung antiques—like a jazz musician bending time. His interiors are not afraid of opulence, but they’re always intimate, always lived-in. If Parisian chic had a home, Jacques Grange designed it.
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Signature Element: Rich layering of antiques with contemporary art.
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Project to Know: The interiors of Hôtel Costes and the Villa Mabrouka in Tangier.
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Moodboard in 3 Words: Eclectic, intellectual, bohemian.
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Materials He Loves: Wrought iron, damask, plaster.
Website: https://www.instagram.com/jacques.grange
Design Pilgrimage: Where to Shop the Aesthetic
Looking to bring a touch of these visionary aesthetics into your own home? These spots reflect the evolving language of Parisian interiors—and make ideal stops for inspiration, sourcing, or dreaming.
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Maison Sarah Lavoine – Rue Saint-Roch: The flagship boutique is a riot of color, light, and well-placed joy.
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Galerie Patrick Seguin – 11e: For serious collectors of 20th-century design with Parisian attitude.
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Merci – Boulevard Beaumarchais: Design-forward, editorial-loft lifestyle with accessible pieces.
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Leclaireur – Rue Hérold: A hidden trove of furniture and fashion for the avant-garde aesthete.
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Astier de Villatte – Rue Saint-Honoré: For handmade ceramics and incense that feel as poetic as a Jacques Grange interior.
Final Note from The Socialites:
These six designers don’t follow the rules—they redraw them. From colorists to classicists, from architects to alchemists, they remind us that Parisian style is a living, breathing form of art. To watch them is to witness the next chapter of the city’s visual identity unfold—room by room.
—The Socialites