Behind the Design x Demi Boekelman

1. Your work is all about creating meaningful celebrations. What, in your view, makes an event truly unforgettable—and how do you translate that into the atmosphere you create?

For me, an event becomes truly unforgettable when it feels completely personal. Everything we create is bespoke, so when you look back at your event, you instantly recognise it as yours. No two celebrations are ever the same — and that’s intentional. Through personalised touches and custom-made details, we ensure every moment feels unique, meaningful, and entirely your own.

2. You recently celebrated your 30th birthday in Paris, with two beautifully curated themes: Old Money at Café Marly and Les Secrets du Jardin at Coco Paris. What inspired these concepts, and how did you bring them to life?

For lunch, I knew I wanted to celebrate at Café Marly. With its beautiful outdoor view, I immediately envisioned all the girls in fur coats. From there, the Old Money theme came together naturally. The white chairs made a brown colour palette the perfect choice, paired with white roses, personalised menus, name cards, and custom napkins and cocktail napkins. Panther print felt essential to the Old Money aesthetic, so the panther lamps were a must. We completed the table with personalised matchboxes and Vogue cigarettes to finish the look.

For dinner, it had to be Coco — my favourite restaurant and a place that always feels like a celebration. The deep green and brown interiors inspired Les Secrets du Jardin. I envisioned rich, dark tones such as aubergine, deep green, navy, bordeaux, and chocolate brown, styled with abundant florals and fruit. I also wanted menus and name cards that felt entirely new and unexpected. The napkins were just as important: the colour had to be perfect, and I added a personal touch by embroidering my initials in an elegant letterform that almost resembled a logo.

3. We created custom table linens together for your Paris celebrations. What role does table styling play for you when hosting, and what feeling did you want the linens to bring to each setting?

Whether I’m hosting or organising, the table always needs to reflect the theme and include personal details — often through custom elements. Table styling sets the tone before anything is even served; it creates the very first impression of the entire dinner. Personalised details, such as name cards, help guests feel instantly connected to the table.

For the Old Money lunch at Café Marly, the brown napkins tied the colour palette together, while the wavy edge added a subtle sense of character. The cocktail napkins embroidered with “Avec toi, je suis moi” felt perfectly suited to the Parisian setting.

For the Les Secrets du Jardin dinner, I chose aubergine-purple napkins with a navy border and my initials embroidered in navy. The refined detailing worked seamlessly with the colour palette and brought the entire table together.

4. Whether big or small, what’s one detail you believe has the power to completely make a dinner or event?

For me, personalised details have the power to completely define a dinner or event. Whether it’s custom napkins, menus, name cards, or even matchboxes, bespoke elements instantly make everything feel more special, intentional, and unmistakably yours.

5. If you could invite any three people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would they be and why?

First, I would invite Mindy Weiss. She is the event planner behind so many iconic celebrity celebrations, including those of the Kardashians. I would love to learn from her experience and hear her insider insights — her productions are truly inspiring.

I would also invite Kim Kardashian. I find her incredibly inspiring as a businesswoman. She manages her family, runs multiple companies, and still prioritises the people she loves. I’d love to hear her perspective — and secretly dream of becoming her and her sisters’ event planner one day.

Curious to see more of Demi’s work or collaborate on an unforgettable celebration? Visit deventsagency.com.