We recently connected with Nicholas Pielaat and have shared our conversation below.

Nicholas , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

What my parents did right was give us the freedom to become who we were meant to be. They never put my sisters or me in a box, never pushed us toward a specific path, and never expected us to fit a mold. Instead, they encouraged us to explore — to follow what made us curious, what made us feel alive, and ultimately, what made us happy. That space to explore led each of us down different roads until we found our own passions.

Because of that freedom, work has never felt like work to me. I’ve always pursued what I loved, and my parents supported every single step — no questions asked. My dad had this simple phrase he always told us: “You’ll figure it out.” And I always have. That mindset gave me the confidence to take risks, to learn by doing, and to lean into uncertainty with trust in my own resilience.

That trust has taken me on a wild and beautiful journey — growing up in Southern California, building a life in New York City, even living in Bahrain working for the royal family. My creative work has connected me with people and places I never imagined, and I’m grateful for every single experience.

My parents are truly one of a kind. Their quiet faith in us, and in who we could become, has shaped everything I’ve done. It’s the greatest gift I’ve ever received.

Nicholas , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the creative world. My journey began in high school, working in visual merchandising at Bloomingdale’s. From there, I worked my way through some of the most iconic names in luxury retail—Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman—and ultimately landed my dream role as Visual Director for Barneys New York in Chelsea. It wasn’t something I studied in school; it was a raw, instinctive talent that I nurtured and refined over the years. Creativity has always come naturally to me, but honing it into a craft took time, dedication, and great mentorship.

One of the most pivotal moments in my career was my time at Neiman Marcus in Fashion Island, Newport Beach. Under the mentorship of Darrin Rowland, I discovered how to truly see things differently. He pushed me to elevate my vision, challenged my creative limits, and helped me understand how to bring magic to life through visual storytelling. I owe him a great deal of gratitude for helping shape the creative lens through which I view the world today.

When Barneys closed its doors and the pandemic reshaped the retail industry, I found myself at a creative crossroads. I knew I still wanted to design experiences—just in a new way. That’s when I discovered the world of home staging, thanks to powerhouse agent Amy Owens of Keller Williams. Staging became my new creative outlet, a space where I could translate my visual storytelling into homes. It was, in many ways, a natural evolution of what I had always done—merchandising, but with furniture and decor instead of handbags and couture.

Staging quickly became a passion. I realized I could make homes feel unforgettable—warm, inviting, and emotionally resonant. With a background in high fashion and luxury retail, I wanted to bring something different to the table. My aesthetic wasn’t typical, and that became my strength. I wasn’t interested in doing what everyone else was doing. I wanted to push boundaries, to make listings stand out, and to create moments that buyers could feel the minute they walked through the door.

That’s how The Social Stage was born. I wanted to spread my wings and bring my own brand of style and substance to the real estate community. I’m incredibly proud of the business I’ve built and the relationships I’ve formed along the way. Collaborating with agents who appreciate and trust my eye is a privilege. It’s not just about putting furniture in a room—it’s about transforming a space, creating an experience, and ultimately helping people see the full potential of a home.

I’m constantly learning, growing, and exploring new ways to elevate my work. What sets me apart is my ability to blend high-style sensibility with emotional resonance—creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also deeply memorable. I want potential clients and collaborators to know that I pour my heart into every project. The homes I stage aren’t just styled—they’re thoughtfully curated with purpose and intention.

At the end of the day, I’m a storyteller—and every home has a story to tell.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What’s helped build my reputation in this market, above all else, is a combination of my aesthetic and how I treat people. My staging style is unique—it’s a thoughtful curation of modern elements mixed with vintage finds I’ve sourced from across the tri-state area. It’s not cookie-cutter or beige-on-beige. It’s layered, intentional, and designed to evoke feeling. Real estate agents today are looking for more than a standard look—they want homes that tell a story, that radiate personality, style, and warmth. That’s exactly what I aim to deliver.

But more than the furniture or the artwork, it’s how I care for the people I work with that truly defines my business. I care deeply—about the agents, the homeowners, and the experience of selling a home, which I know can be incredibly emotional and exhausting. I’m not just here to decorate; I’m here to support. To listen. To understand the sentiment behind a family heirloom or a well-lived-in space. Ego never enters the room—I lead with empathy, flexibility, and positivity.

I’m passionate about what I do because it’s more than a service—it’s a responsibility to honor someone’s home while helping them move toward their next chapter. My clients are the heart of my business, and I treat every staging as if it were my own space, with care, respect, and an understanding of just how meaningful this process can be. I think that’s why people trust me. Because I show up fully—creatively, emotionally, and professionally.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me has consistently been referrals. There’s something powerful about word-of-mouth in this industry—especially when it comes from agents who’ve experienced my work firsthand. Often, it starts when an agent walks into a home I’ve staged. They may not know exactly how I got there—the process, the layers, the vision—but they can feel the transformation. They’re suddenly immersed in a creative world where each space tells a story, where the home feels both elevated and inviting.

That emotional reaction is what drives referrals. When an agent sees how buyers respond, or how their listing stands out, they remember. And they share. It’s been the most authentic and effective way I’ve built relationships—and it means the world to know that people trust me enough to recommend me to others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thesocialstage.net
• Instagram: @the_social_stage

Image Credits

Lisa Kollberg from InHouse Photography