Family
In the heart of Paris, overlooking the canal, lies the serene haven of a young family—a bright, calm space filled with wood, brick, and light.
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At
Julia Lainé, Brice Borredon and Rocco, 18 months old
On a quiet canal in Paris, under trees just beginning to turn red in the early days of fall, a bright, welcoming apartment tells the story of a family who knows exactly what they want. Brice Borredon, an interior designer, and Julia Lainé, a radiologist, have transformed their 60-something-squaremeter space into a serene, perfectly optimized home for themselves and their young son, Rocco. Warm tones of brick and wood, and a minimalist, Japanese inspired design flow through the rooms. The couple undertook the renovation in record time—right alongside Julia’s pregnancy. When we visited on a gray morning, the ease of their conversation filled the air, bringing warmth to the day, like the season’s first crackling fire.
Location
Paris
Author
Elsa Cau
Photos and videos
Jeanne Perrotte, Elsa David
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In the kitchen, which opens into the living space, our
blends seamlessly into the decor.
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Extending from the entryway and running alongside the living room, the hallway leads to Rocco’s bedroom.
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TSF
Julia, Brice, who are you?
Brice
Julia is a doctor, and she has an incredible sensitivity!
Julia
Oh no, Brice loves to tell people I’m a doctor. But honestly, it makes me uncomfortable—I feel like it kills the conversation. What more is there to say after that, you know? I’m a doctor, but I wouldn’t call myself an artist—though I wish I could. I do ceramics. I like the idea of collaboration, working with someone else. Brice and I set up my studio together. I’d love for us to build furniture as a duo. I feel more like a craftsperson than an artist, that’s for sure. And being a mother—life feels fuller now that I’m a mom.
Brice
I’m someone who appreciates life and people. I think I have a sensitivity I can express through different creative outlets.
TSF
What’s your background?
Brice
A bit of an unconventional path. I spent seven years studying law, earned my degree, then pivoted to music. I was a musician (piano, synth, bass, vocals) in a band I started with a friend—Wall of Death, named after the motorcycle stunt attraction. We played psychedelic, repetitive music for nine years, signed with several labels, including Universal, and toured the world multiple times. But I wasn’t built to be a traveling performer. I’m more creative than musical. I quit touring, enrolled in the Boulle School at 35, then worked with architecture and interior design firms. I trained under Diego DelgadoElias, who became a mentor. I started my own firm just a year ago.
Julia
My path was pretty traditional. I studied medicine—it’s a tunnel; it doesn’t leave room for much else in life. I graduated high school and went straight into med school. I did get to travel thanks to my studies, working in hospitals in New York and Hong Kong. Now, I’m a radiologist at the American Hospital of Paris. I like to think it’s a calling, but I don’t really believe that. In truth, my parents had a lot to do with it, especially my dad, who started med school but ended up doing something completely different. My grandfather wanted to be a vet but became a teacher instead. There’s this thread of missed opportunities in my family that somehow landed on me. I have three siblings, but I was the academic one. So, I never really considered doing anything else from the age of 12. Right before starting med school, I did wonder if I’d thought it through enough—maybe I would’ve enjoyed working in fashion. But my dad was thrilled when I chose medicine. Everything turned out fine, I enjoy my job, and we’re always exploring new subjects, like artificial intelligence these days. I’ve done a lot of work in that field, especially a few years back. Everyone’s talking about how machines are going to replace us, but I see them as new tools, not replacements.
TSF
What kind of environment did you grow up in, and how has it shaped your tastes?
Brice
I grew up in the Southwest of France, between Cahors and Toulouse, then in Biarritz. There’s a certain rawness in those regions, but also a beautiful kind of poetry, especially in the Lot. The landscape is rugged and hilly, with stone houses and almost Tuscan gardens. Actually, I’m renovating a house there now! When I design or renovate homes today, I’m very interested in landscape architecture. My upbringing definitely plays a role there. My parents’ house was simple: a stone family home that we still have, and it’s always a pleasure to stay there. Plants, terracotta floors, wood elements, and gradually accumulated design pieces over time. Lots of light, open spaces, and little details that make you feel at home—objects that become personal icons, like how coffee is served. But a big part of my taste has been shaped by my own experiences, especially touring for years. It sharpens your eye—you observe your environment and see so many different things. It gives you perspective on where you come from. After traveling the world, you come home and realize how incredible your own environment is.
Julia
I grew up in Paris, in the 15th arrondissement. I’ve lived in half of the city’s districts by now. My mother is Chinese, so I studied Chinese as a second language at Janson de Sailly. My parents weren’t particularly interested in interior design, but my mom is incredibly elegant—it’s in her posture, her way of being.
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Curious little figures have found a home on the reissued Charlotte Perriand wall lights: Julia Lainé has a passion for collecting all kinds of miniatures.
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Our new
in recycled acrylic and black metal is discreetly mounted on the wall between the entryway and the living room.
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TSF
Tell us about how you found this apartment.
Brice
We had just started dating when we visited this place! Initially, it was meant to be Julia’s apartment. In fact, I designed a giant bathtub for her, positioned by the window facing the canal. She hated it.
Julia
It was like something out of Louis XIV’s palace.
Brice
She’s not girly enough!
Julia
I got pregnant pretty quickly, which was a wonderful surprise. We wanted to have everything ready before Rocco was born, but of course, the renovations took longer than expected, and Rocco arrived early. So, we had to add a bedroom to the plans (laughs).
TSF
Did you do a lot of renovation work?
Brice
We gutted the place. There were partitions everywhere, creating tiny rooms. The only original feature left is the beams that section off the entryway. There was a loadbearing wall here, but the beams are what’s holding everything up, so we removed the excess, the wall itself, to create a more open space. We did everything together—I always ask for Julia’s opinion, even on my architecture projects. She has a very strong, decisive vision. It’s either brilliant or terrible (laughs). At first, I designed the fireplace in stainless steel, but Julia didn’t like it. In hindsight, stainless steel with a child would’ve been a nightmare—like having a giant hot plate! So, we opted for Italian brick. Throughout the apartment, we played with white, wood, and recessed joints. Our inspirations? Japan, New York, and Donald Judd! His foundation had a big impact on us. We also wanted a peaceful interior, with open sightlines along the canal. And I always focus on timelessness—wood, white, and a calm, understated Japanese influence. Wood, terracotta, stone, with a splash of green from the trees and canal. My architecture philosophy is simple: light—we want to wake up with the sun rising in the East and set with it in the West—and materials that are timeless. I want people to feel good in their homes now and 30 years from now. On my projects, I try to use local materials whenever possible.
TSF
Has having a baby changed the apartment?
Julia
Not really. We added some corner protectors to the furniture and that’s about it. Before Rocco arrived, I think it made you a bit nervous, Brice. You’re a neat freak. You didn’t want Rocco playing in the living room.
Brice
I’ve let that go.
TSF
Can you show us a favorite piece in your home?
Julia
I have my little figurines from Japan, and my pixies—these tiny figures in Parisian scenes that I adore—next to my ceramics. Some are mine, some are from friends or collected during trips. And of course, our Togo sofa, which Brice received as a gift for his 40th birthday. We were just friends then, and I even contributed to the gift fund! (laughs) The sofa is super comfortable, low to the ground so Rocco can climb on it himself, and light enough to move easily when we want to turn the living room into a play area. Paired with our Akari lamps and Perriand sconces, they’re part of the timeless design pieces we enjoy every day.
Brice
We have a lot of artist friends, and we love surrounding ourselves with their work. Géraud Soulhiol, Steeve Bauras, and François Bianco, who made this photo of Athens printed on a steel plate. And if I had to pick a piece of furniture, it would be the table separating our kitchen from the living room. I always envisioned it as a central piece, where Rocco would grow up. We eat there, draw, talk. I wanted it to feel warm and welcoming. It’s tough, too—you can do anything on it. The top is plywood, so it’s durable.
TSF
What are your favorite spots in the neighborhood?
Julia & Brice
Sunny, on Avenue Sécrétan, an Americanstyle diner where we love having breakfast in the sun. The pancake, scrambled egg, and bacon combo is unbeatable, and the blueberry pie transports you straight to the US. We even celebrated Rocco’s first birthday there! Désirée Café on Rue de Meaux, where you can buy seasonal, local flowers, and enjoy their lunch menu with great vegetarian options. Buna Bet, also on Rue de Meaux, is a cozy coffee shop with just a few tables, but the baristas make it feel so warm and welcoming. Parpaing, on Rue Tandou, is a microbakery and natural wine shop, which says it all in the window. And finally, the Joinville Market—a bustling local market, much like the one in Aligre.
TSF
What do you think of The Socialite Family?
Julia
I’ve followed it religiously since the beginning. I’m a total design lover— whether it's minimalist, kitsch, extravagant, or full of eclectic accumulation, I fall for it all. I keep certain interiors in mind that make me dream, especially those that mix styles so effortlessly. The family portraits allow you to project yourself into those spaces.
Brice
I follow the media closely, especially the family portraits. I love seeing the relationship between the moment a space is designed and when it truly comes to life as it’s lived in. That’s ultimately why we create spaces in the first place.
TSF
Do you have a favorite piece from our collection?
Julia
The
—it would have been perfect if we had more space!
Brice
The —
so 70’s!
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The bathroom also follows the same design elements seen throughout the apartment: brick, white tones, and a soft, calming vibe.
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