Today we’ll delve into the private life of Paloma Picasso, the seventies it-girl who inspired “Scandal Collection” by Yves Saint Laurent. We’ll examine the interior of her fabulous New York apartment under a magnifying glass. We’ll visit her lush Marrakesh home—a place of serenity—and see where the youngest daughter of Pablo Picasso and Françoise Gilot restores her vital strengths. It wasn’t easy to be the daughter of one of the most renowned artists of the twentieth century, you know. That was a kind of pressure.
One of her most talked-about homes is a villa in Marrakesh, Morocco. This property is a testament to her love for bold and expressive elements, blending Moroccan architectural details with modern luxury. The villa is adorned with lush gardens, intricate tilework, and vibrant textiles, creating a sensory-rich environment that reflects both her personal style and the cultural heritage of the location.
Paloma lives in a lovely Marrakesh home with her husband, Eric Thévenet, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, whom she married in 1999. The couple bought it in 2006. The complex consists of a main house with three separate bedrooms, a pool, a small indoor solarium, and a single-bedroom guesthouse. Her husband called the mansion “a sleeping beauty,” and for a reason. Despite its evident potential, it needed renovations. First, the couple remodeled the patio. Then, they replaced a sophisticated two-tiered fountain with a shallow one. Afterward, they got rid of the overgrown plants, making room for accurate bricks. Finally, Paloma and Eric covered the open roof with glass.
The house was built in 1980 on the territory of an old olive plantation, which adds a certain charm to Paloma’s home. Nearly 70 olive trees, dozens of pomegranate, citrus, and fig trees, and date palms flourish in the four-acre garden. The family likes to have lunch there. They prefer local dishes prepared by their faithful cook, Fadna. For a drink, Paloma favors a Bloody Mary. She said, “We have so many tomatoes in Marrakesh that we make them at home.”
Paloma Picasso’s flair for bold colors and luxurious textures is expected to permeate the villa’s interior. The use of vibrant reds, her signature color, alongside deep blues and greens, could accentuate the space, providing a backdrop for modern and traditional Moroccan furnishings. Fabrics are likely rich and varied, including silk, velvet, and traditional Moroccan textiles, adding layers of texture and color.
The house isn’t only a place of her recreation but also inspiration. Surrounded by olive groves with the Atlas Mountains in the distance, it inspired Paloma to create several designs for Tiffany & Co. She called the olive gardens “a refuge of peace and tranquility.” The fountain tiles inspired her to create the Zellige collection for Tiffany.
For more details, please check our video about Paloma Picasso