They transformed a building with history - once a baroness lived here, later there was a bookstore and museum - into - already - the place to be in the arnhem area. 'This building was a ruin, in recent years it had been a garage. Apart from the office, there was no electricity and running water, but there was a grease pit and a courtyard without a roof.'
"The atmosphere has become exactly as we had in mind. Flamboyant, eccentric, festive. And yet accessible."

Bartender Job sprays the house scent around, Chanel no. 5 of course, a reference to the atmosphere of Soirée - that of the roaring twenties. The illustrious decade - now a century ago - in which celebrations were elevated to art. The French joie de vivre combined with the cosmopolitan vibe of New York, which also quickly fell under the spell of the frivolous and flamboyant party violence.

The kitchen is centrally placed in the one hundred and ten meter long space, and open on one side so that there is a view of the chef who prepares the dishes with his team, classic French with a twist. In front of the bar with geometric shapes, marble, brass, smoked glass and high tables with the flamboyant bar chairs from Satelliet Originals by Lars Snellaars with velour upholstery and gold fringes. In the back of the store, where the cars used to be, a glass roof provides daylight. Round-shaped sofas offer an intimate place for groups, further enhanced by the indigo-colored flock ceiling, the special photo wallpaper - with subtly another reference to Chanel no5. The design for Soirée comes from Mariëlle Lagarde of Dutch Concept

Round shapes have been the starting point, a reference to the geometric design language of the Art Deco style. 'Round shapes in the wine cabinet behind the bar, but also in the floor division that embraces the bar and then automatically leads to the back part of the restaurant.' The block in the middle of the room was a given, but thanks to good routing and an adapted design, all places in the restaurant are equally interesting. 'In the front there is a stylish, festive atmosphere with the fringed bar chairs and the bar. The narrow part feels spacious thanks to the tinted mirrors and in the back is certainly not a punishment. The skylight prevents it from being dark, the special golden wallpaper is that wink that the entrepreneurs wanted in the otherwise chic design.'