PERFECTLY WELL-GROOMED

''From the interior designer, my colleagues and I receive mood boards and based on those, we search for matching decorations.''

Text: Martine van der Deijl
Photography: NoPoint studio's
Styling: Lindsay Dolman, Van Tilburg
Make-up: Joyce Walian Agency

Marion, stylist at the headquarters of Luiten- Van der Valk in Waalre

‘I completed training as a visual merchandiser, after which I worked for various retail chains. There, I would arrange stores to make them look as commercial and attractive as possible. During that time, I sometimes helped with the Christmas decorations at Van der Valk Hotel Eindhoven on my day off. I did that for about fifteen years, and for the past two years, I’ve been working permanently for Van der Valk. My workdays are very varied. Recently, I had to go to Hotel Paris CDG Airport where the breakfast buffet and restaurant were completely refurbished. From the interior designer, my colleagues and I receive mood boards and based on those, we search for matching decorations, like dishes, vases, and flowers. We then style the space down to the last detail. I search for decorations online or visit a supplier.

My workplace is located close to Hotel Eindhoven, so I regularly go there to straighten everything out: are any flowers or plants missing, have any vases broken? This applies to both public areas, like the lounge and conference rooms, and the hotel rooms. I love making sure that a hotel looks inviting. It gives a warm welcome to guests and provides a pleasant environment for those working there. My work is very much about a feeling; everything has to be just right. A space must radiate calmness and not look too bare or too full. Christmas is our busiest period; our team is involved with it for a large part of the year. Of course, each hotel gets beautifully decorated Christmas trees, Christmas lights, and stunning Christmas decorations. And it's also the period where we can really go all out; once we hung Christmas trees from the ceiling, that was amazing to do.’

''I love making sure that a hotel looks inviting. It gives a warm welcome to guests and a pleasant environment for those working there.''

‘I am involved in decorating the restaurants, reception, lobby, conference rooms, coffee plazas, rooms, suites, game room, terraces, theme buffets, and our South African pop-up restaurant. Additionally, I ensure that fresh flowers are on the tables in the restaurants and at events every week. With each change of season, the decorations are completely adjusted so that every area reflects the ambiance of the season. We also cater to holidays, completely going out for Christmas. That's also the busiest period of the year for me. Multiple trees are placed in every restaurant and lobby. Some trees are up to four to six meters high and need to be filled with balls and lights. We use an aerial lift and assemble the trees in parts, otherwise, they wouldn't fit through the doors. Of course, I really need help with that, so I ask my colleagues from all departments to help; which is very nice and very fun. We have the greatest fun together.

Besides my work in the hotel, I have my own event styling company. For instance, I take care of the decoration for a wedding, a christening, a dinner, or a birthday. At home, I am not into decorating at all, everything in my house is in one color: taupe. No one expects that; everyone imagines color and patterns with me, but I find it so nice to come home to calmness. Only at Christmas do I go all out; then I have multiple Christmas trees, even one in the bedroom. All the windows are full of lights, it’s like a mini Intratuin here. It's quite intense, but I want my house to look like it's straight out of the movie Home Alone at Christmas.

Marilee, Decorator at Van der Valk Hotel Sassenheim-Leiden

''For Christmas, we go all out. That's the busiest period of the year for me.'''

Marijke, Decorator at Van der Valk Hotel Amsterdam-Amstel and Hotel Volendam

‘Every week I order fresh flowers for Hotel Amsterdam-Amstel, and I can choose which ones. Everything is delivered on Wednesday morning, and then I fill about a hundred vases with them. It's quite a task; I remove the old flowers, ensure all the vases are cleaned, refill them, and place them in the restaurants and bar of the hotel. It makes me happy; I find it so cozy! Previously I worked as a secretary, among other things, but about ten years ago I thought: I want something completely different. I once told my mother, "I would love to have my own flower shop," but I ultimately didn't dare to take that step. Luckily, I now work with flowers anyway. Inside, I also try to keep all the plants looking good, although I find that quite challenging. But when they look nice and new leaves come in, I'm happy. Watering them and lugging around cans is quite physically demanding, so I stay fit and don’t need to go to the gym.

In Hotel Volendam, they have a beautiful garden where weddings are organized. Together with colleagues, we ensure everything looks great with various flowers, vases, and lanterns. For Hotel Volendam, I personally go to the wholesaler to select and pick up the flowers, which I really enjoy doing. Besides flowers, I also really love football. Regularly, football teams who play against Ajax stay with us in Amsterdam, and then I make bouquets in their club colors for the rooms where they dine. Fun, right? I always find Christmas a special period; we're busy with it well in advance. Instead of fresh flowers, everything is filled with Christmas decorations. It makes my work extra festive.’