Muriel Brandolini

Muriel Phan van Thiet was born in Montpellier, France and grew up in Saigon, Vietnam and in Martinique.[1][2] Her father was a lawyer from Vietnam and her mother was a pianist of Venezuelan and French ancestry.[3][4][5] She grew up speaking French as her primary language.[2] Her father died when she was young, during the Vietnamese War, which prompted the family to move to Martinique.[6] When she was fifteen years old her mother sent her to Paris to study secretarial skills after she had dropped out of her private high school in Martinique.[7]

Brandolini came to New York City in 1979 and began working as a salesperson in Deschamps.[8] She was discovered by Franca Sozzani who hired her as a fashion stylist for Italian Vogue before switching to design.[9][10][5] Her work as a decorator and interior designer has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, World of Interiors, Vogue, Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, and Elle Decor.[11] She is noted for her approach to vibrant colors within her work.[12] She has been commissioned by celebrities, royalty and other public figures including Matt Lauer, Pia Getty, Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece and Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece.[1][12] She wrote a book on interior design titled The World of Muriel Brandolini, which was published by Rizzoli in October 2011.[13][3] In 2016 Brandolini was named one of the top 100 designers in the world by Architectural Digest.[4] Brandolini has a pop-up shop in Southampton, which opened in the summer of 2015.[14] She has collaborated with Barney's on decor and home furnishing merchandise.[4]

Brandolini is married to Count Nuno Carlo Brandolini d'Adda di Valmareno, an Italian banker and the son of Count Brandolino Brandolini di Valmareno and Cristiana Agnelli.[15] They have two children and live in Manhattan.[16][17][5]

Brandolini's retreat in Hampton Bays, New York has been featured in Architectural Digest and the lifestyle blog Quintessence.[2][18] Her Paris apartment has been featured in Galerie Magazine.[7]