French concept Maison Close is the latest addition to the culinary landscape in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. Locally based interior design firm DMDesign conceived the restaurant with a distinctive French flair that calls to mind the Belle Époque era of 20th-century Europe. Most of all, Maison Close is crafted to promote openness and community.
“French dining culture can be considered a communion of sorts,” says architect and DMDesign owner Delphine Mauroit. “We wanted Maison Close to be a celebration of people happily sharing great food. We were able to communicate that through an intentionally open seating arrangement, with banquettes facing one another to encourage connection and interaction throughout each stage of the dining experience.”
Channeling the lush vivacity of the Moulin Rouge, Maison Close embodies the hedonism of Belle Époque with a palette of vibrant royal blues, warm-yet-dark oranges, and gold and brass hardware as a modern take on the hues traditionally affiliated with French theater. Throughout the dining room, tulip-shaped banquettes are illuminated by exposed bulbs suspended overhead as an homage to Moulin Rouge in tandem with heavy curtains used to transition the interior from a sunny daytime eatery to an intimate evening hideaway.
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