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We design and manufacture custom interiors for just about any design project that moves, with a specialized focus on yacht interior design and yacht interior refits. Additionally we have completed a number of  high end luxury private residential and commercial remodels. Our Furniture Showroom and Designer’s Workroom offer the latest in furniture and fabrics as well as the convenience of  custom made furniture and accessories. With more than twenty-five years in the industry, we have a solid understanding of each stage of the refitting and remodel process, problem solving as needed, ensuring the finished product meets the client’s need for style, quality, comfort and performance requirements.

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These projects are a demonstration of the range and scale of capabilities that IK Yacht Design has developed over the last 25 years. Spanning the residential, commercial and yacht interior design and remodel sectors here are a few of the many projects we have proudly completed for our customers.

OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Customer satisfaction is our number one priority, and it shows, as we have been crafting interiors for our clients and their friends for over twenty five years.

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Our team works hard to ensure the quality of our products, services and facility meet the expectations and needs of our customers.

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We work with you to define the details of your project, then coordinate and execute the plan through each phase–through to the finishing touches of furniture and accessories.

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809 Northeast 3rd Street, Dania Beach, Florida 33004

Founded by Zak Kadosh back in 1996, IK Yacht Design worked hard to quickly establish itself as a leader in interior renovation and redesign in the yachting industry. Since its inception IK Yacht Design has branched out into the residential, commercial, luxury recreational vehicle and aviation industries.

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Yacht Interiors by Shelley is a boutique design firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the heart of the international yachting industry. Luxury yacht owners have chosen us to create exceptional yacht interiors for more than twenty years.

Converting Dreams Into Reality

We have worked harmoniously with naval architects, yacht manufactures and shipyards throughout the world and our talents are always welcomed and elevate every project we touch. our main focus is with hargrave custom yachts and hargrave super yachts. my husband, michael dicondina is their president and we have proudly and passionately worked side by side since their creation in 2000. the team at yibs have unique sets of skills from space planning and maximizing at design concept and to the specifying and procurement of furnishings and décor. we view every new project as an opportunity to create an environment that compliments your life at sea. our first priority is your comfort with exceptional functionality and safety. during the design process we focus on creating architectural elements into the design that give the yacht its own personal signature and beauty. our work is always fresh with a warm contemporary appeal and purposefully puts the spotlight on mother nature and the fabulous changing views outside. we draw our inspiration from the ocean and the exciting, ever changing yachting lifestyle. shelley dicondina ceo/designer.

Senko Yacht Interiors

BUILDING YOUR VISION

Who is SYI?

Senko Yacht Interiors (SYI) was established in 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, FL as a one-man operation. It has since grown into a highly sought after business boasting a team of fifteen Master Carpenters. Our 5,000+ square foot, fully equipped workshop with state of the art tools makes us capable of servicing both private owners and yacht building/refit companies alike. In 2021, SYI opened an additional shop in West Palm Beach, FL to better service clients throughout the South Florida area.

SYI has had the privilege of working with the highest calibre of both local and international Yacht Builders and Shipyards such as Rybovich, Derecktors, Independence, and Lauderdale Marine Centre.

Our Commitment

We’re a local business helping to build your visions. Each project is unique and our quality craftsmanship is done right to produce stunning transformations.

You’ll be involved in the process from beginning to end, ensuring we understand your objectives, your requirements, and your preferences. SYI is committed to providing you a superior finished product that exceeds your expectations.

SYI is a family owned and operated company that is fully bonded and insured. Each team member is OSHA certified to ensure workplace safety. We pride ourself on the safety of our team and our clients.

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We’re always happy to talk about how we can best serve you. Get in touch with us by using the form on our CONTACT US page to get your next project on the books!

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"S. Laurens Interiors is a yacht interior design firm specialized in refit and new construction". We deliver custom yacht interiors by combining functionality, owner's lifestyle, technology and the latest furniture- fabric trends. Our clients are yacht owners, builders and shipyards and our aim is always your total satisfaction! " Sylvie .

S. LAURENS INTERIORS 320 NW 67 Street #106 Boca Raton, FL 33487 Ph: 561-929-3326 [email protected]

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Interior Design for Waterfront Homes & Yachts

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Our objective is to be a one-stop shop for all our client’s design needs. We ensure that we see through each stages of the project until its completion. Our team of architects, designers, and stylists will create a tailored design plan that is a reflection of you or your business. We begin with in-depth research and scour the globe to find you the perfect pieces, all the while adhering to your budget and your objectives.

Luxurious spaces that stand the test of time

Our seamless process all starts with a free design consultation with Frances to build the perfect plan for your home or yacht. As we work together, our award-winning team oversees every part of the project to ensure your goals are met. You deserve a home that feels like paradise every time you walk in. Check out our portfolio of transformations to see the magic for yourself.

Designing your personal paradise 

Bluocean is an interior design firm, founded by frances herrera..

There’s a richness that only life on the coast can offer,  where sunny days, tropical skylines, & blue waters feed your soul.  BluOcean transforms your home into a sanctuary  with distinctive coastal designs, tailored to reflect your passions.

20 years of exceptional client experiences

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Discover some of our BluOcean Interior Design transformations with distinctive coastal designs, tailored to reflect your passions and lifestyle in your home or yacht. 

The Designer Behind BluOcean Interiors

Frances Herrera

Capri. Cartagena. Casablanca. Seaside cities have enchanted me ever since I was a little girl. Something about wearing sandals and a sundress to explore feels so romantic and untethered, a casual way to immerse myself in local cultural. Now, my passion for travel and life on the coast has crystallized into the BluOcean lifestyle, a brand that helps you create a beautiful life by the sea – in a home that honors your past and beckons your future.

Interested in working with BluOcean?

Let us design your personal paradise.

Do you dream of coastal designs?  It all starts with a free interior design consultation with Frances.  See what we can do for you.  Discover a better option that only BluOcean can offer you.

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Love our interior design transformations?  The best way to keep up with what we’re doing is to follow us on social media.  Let us know what you think on Instagram or TikTok.

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BluOcean Interiors 401 E Las Olas Blvd, Suite 130-503, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

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From Florida to Shanghai, Taipe, Mexico and the rest of world… no matter where our interior projects take us, our attention to details helps our Clients fulfill their dreams.   Whether it’s custom designing furniture, specifying finishes materials or creating one- off works of art, we will always strive to exceed our Client’s expectations with dedication and passion.

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The beautiful yachts shown below are each 164’ of pure luxury.  We were so honored to be a part of the design team in Italy from drawings to a fully furnished boat.  Other yacht designs not shown are located in Sausalito and on the east coast.

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Over the years, Leigh Ford has had the opportunity and privilege to design the interiors of a number of yachts.

Having worked onboard as Chef, Mate and Stewardess, Leigh know what fabrics and materials work onboard a yacht.  She works closely with the yacht owners, ensuring that the boat portrays the style and colors the owners is looking for.  While at the same time, ensuring that everything that is used is durable and can stand the test of time.

Leigh works closely with the boat yard at Horizon Yachts in Taiwan, as she designs many of the spec yachts and many of the build to order yachts for new owners.

Leigh does not only design yacht interiors, she works with clients in their homes, condos and holiday dwellings as well.  In some cases, she gets to creating the style and design on her own and other times she will facilitate creating exactly what the clients wants.

Leigh offers peace of mind and many years of experience to her clients, with many yachts that she can show as an example of her style.

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Style File: Designing a Yacht Interior with Diverse Materials, Multiple Textures and High Contrast for the 125 Westport Castlefinn

When tasked with designing a yacht interior for the speculative market, we have to ensure that the resulting design appeals to a broad range of potential clients while showcasing the yacht in its best light. We talk more about this in our last blog post, “ Creating a Luxury Interior Design Without a Client .” One of our recent spec build projects was aboard a new Westport 125. Purchased soon after we completed the interior, the yacht is now named Castlefinn . 

We worked closely with Westport Yachts’ technical team to customize this new 125’ yacht and decided upon designing a yacht interior that was modern with romantic and masculine sensibilities.

MATERIALS & COLOR:

We began with a predominantly white palette upon which we infused watery ocean blues and dusty blush accents creating a refreshingly crisp and calming space conducive to rest and relaxation. Layering in contrasting black and bold blue hues brought a modern and masculine element to the look, keeping it sophisticated, glamorous and tailored. 

Layers of diverse materials, multiple textures and high contrast add dimension, style and drama to the Westport’s interior. We incorporated Cambria Quartz surfaces for a clean and contemporary feel. In the day head, gorgeous textured metallic tile adds just the right amount of glam to a tiny but impactful space!⁠

In lieu of the wood ceiling accents and mullions typically found on a yacht’s main deck, we incorporated high gloss white painted ceiling accents and window mullions. A variety of dark woods and black lacquer throughout the design contrast with the high gloss white accents and white wall coverings and further modernize the atmosphere, providing richness and depth.

FURNITURE & OTHER ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENTS:

As I’ve often said, designing a yacht interior is all about balance; there must be a synergistic dialogue among the architecture, furnishings, materials, and colors. Creating a balanced and harmonious yacht interior is a delicate dance of furniture and decor placement, use of color and texture, and the scale and proportion of furnishings and accessories.

Aboard the Westport 125 we focused on incorporating head-turning, custom-designed furniture pieces. These act as objets d’art while providing functionality and comfort. High-quality fabrics in a variety of colors and textures stimulate the senses.

We specified ebony wood and black lacquer for the custom dining table, which is accompanied by dining chairs of waterproof white leather. The cocktail table is a contrast between high gloss ebony wood and white vinyl upholstery. Not only strikingly beautiful, this piece is durable with functional interior storage. 

We designed custom feature wall panels for the forward bulkhead of the main salon as well as above the nightstands in the master stateroom. The main salon feature panels are painted high-gloss white, with a contrasting glossy textured black vinyl material on the wall behind. The panels are inset into the surrounding wall and lit by LED on all four sides.

The feature panels in the master stateroom above the nightstands are also painted high gloss white, with mirror on the walls behind. Mounted on these panels are fabulous gold wall sconces.

OTHER ART & ACCENTS:

Even when designing a yacht interior as a spec build, art and accessories must be considered in the early stages of the design , as there are many details to take into account, such as lighting and mounting. The Westport 125 was truly taken to the next level with statement pieces, accessories, and finishing touches.

We added gold leaf accents in the custom commissioned artwork throughout, including a glamorous yet masculine custom quartz, crystal and resin geode for the pilot house.

One of a kind pieces of wall art, unique framed mirrors, bespoke sculptures, vases, other decorative objects, and florals add the special finishing touches in customizing the design while further heightening the material senses and serving to keep the interior stylish and timeless.

While we don’t utilize every design trend when designing a yacht interior , we do enjoy employing some, and lately, many of those classic design rules are being overlooked in order to attain originality and creativity. 

Mixing metal finishes, for example, was once unacceptable, but is now a growing trend. Mixing metals creates contrast and a subtle blend of tones and accents that is a stylish way to add impact, depth, and dimension to a space as well as a contemporary, glamorous feeling.

Because the yacht was a spec build, we decided to keep the permanent fixtures – the plumbing, door and cabinet hardware – in polished chrome, and introduced gold accents in the accessories and artwork, which created a sophisticated and elegant statement. 

We also incorporated crystals and agate in lighting and accessory pieces throughout. Said to promote healing, relaxation, and romance, and create an organic and serene ambiance, these elements add a bit of spiritual and luxurious glamour while other bold and contrasting elements retain the modern and masculine sensibilities.

TABLE SETTINGS:

The wonderful thing about table settings is their ability to create an atmosphere, and aboard the Westport 125 we selected a luxurious collection of place settings that are bold, fun and exquisite, in white and contrasting graphic black watercolor stripes and patterns with gold and platinum elements. The silverware and glassware are effortlessly elegant and ergonomically pleasing, with a true less-is-more sensibility. The placemats are a refined metallic lace while the napkins are white linen with gold trim. Gold napkin rings adorned with druzy stones add a finishing touch. 

THE NEW CASTLEFINN :

⁣Throughout the Westport 125, graceful curves, an elegant yet casual color palette and smart combination of materials created contrast and balance, added impact, depth and dimension and stood out against the classic woodwork.⁣ 

The balance of masculine and feminine with striking accent pieces made a sophisticated statement aboard – a design that appealed to potential buyers who purchased the yacht soon after our work was completed and christened her Castlefinn .

Stay tuned to see the complete portfolio of the 125’ Westport Castlefinn photos on our website soon! In the meantime, you can take a look at other Westports designed by Destry Darr Designs: The 125’ Westport Eccentric and 112’ Westport Bluewater Cat .

All framed wall art throughout and feature wall panels in the Main Salon and Master Stateroom were commissioned through Steven Greenwald Design Art Gallery .

6 thoughts on “Style File: Designing a Yacht Interior with Diverse Materials, Multiple Textures and High Contrast for the 125 Westport Castlefinn”

Amazing work. It was a very interesting read about the 125′ Castlefinn, i can tell you put allot of hard work and determination in this boat and that is what really impresses me about what you do. The way these yachts look are just so amazing it leaves me speechless. You can really see that you truly love what you do and it shows in everything you have done so far. I love the way this yacht looks and cant wait to see what else you have in store.

What beautiful comments, Efrain! Thank you so much! I am very passionate about what I do which makes the hard work and determination come easy! Thank you again and definitely stay tuned for more!

Absolutely love the artwork here. Where do you get your art for your designs?

Thanks so much, Tyson! On the 125′ Westport Castlefinn we commissioned all of the art through Steven Greenwald Designs Gallery. They have great artists and are wonderful to work with. I have a link to their website at the bottom of this blog post. Thanks again!

Love the artwork on this yacht…very striking pieces!!!

Thank you so much! We worked closely with the Steven Greenwald Designs Gallery and their artists to commission the perfect pieces!

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About the Author

Destry Darr Pethtel is an award-winning interior designer based in Florida. Her designs have been featured in several luxury yacht publications such as Showboats, Boat International, Yachts International, Yachting, Luxe Magazine to name just a few! Read More About Destry >>

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Luxury yacht interior design with miguel rueda designs.

As a superyacht interior designer , Miguel Rueda Designs, focuses on creating ultra-modern and contemporary yacht interiors. Miguel Rueda Designs works with the utmost confidentiality, and as such, his projects are hidden from the public eye.

Discover More About the Best Luxury and High-end Architecture and Interior Design Projects Around the World

By lead designer Miguel Rueda

Inside Luxury Yacht Interiors

The best yacht interior design firms create masterpiece residences perfect for life at sea, complete with custom world-class architecture, interiors, and furnishings. One of the inherent challenges of luxury yacht interior design is incorporating the yacht's structural elements, low ceilings, and oddly-shaped rooms into the design. Supporting rafters in the center of a room, marked security exits, and emergency lighting must be visible but detract from the room's interior design .

These structural challenges turn into wonderful opportunities for a good yacht interior designer. As a full-service yacht interior design firm, Miguel Rueda Designs collaborates with shipyards to have features such as glass walls built into the boat's architecture.

Why Miguel Rueda Designs Is One Of The Best Yacht Interior Designers

Here are some of the reasons why royals, dignitaries, celebrities, and billionaires trust Miguel Rueda Designs to convert their luxury yachts into second homes at sea with Miguel Rueda:

Use of unparalleled craftsmanship and high-quality materials

We go to great lengths to create timeless, elegant interior design solutions for luxury superyachts, sourcing the best textiles and furnishings to create the desired aesthetic. Textiles are essential elements in yacht interior decoration, as the choice of materials reflects the project as a whole. We use textiles of the highest quality to represent luxury and convey the design's soul.

As a luxury yacht interior designer, Miguel Rueda aims for a coordinated look across the interior and exterior spaces, while ensuring that individual spaces are dressed according to their particular features and use.

Our international clients' eclectic tastes force us to push the boundaries of our style . As such, Miguel Rueda prides himself in not having a single style replicated for each client. Instead, he follows a bespoke design approach to each client's luxury living at sea. Miguel Rueda Designs recreates standard yacht amenities with a creative eye, turning ordinary swimming pools, gyms, entertainment areas, kitchens, bedrooms, and walk-in closets into works of art.

Are you looking for a Yacht Interior Designer to develop your project?

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Global connections and collaborations with luxurious world-class brands

Our long-standing relationships with manufacturers and suppliers of high-end furniture, fabrics, interior accessories , and custom lighting allow us to meet the most demanding projects. We also collaborate with builders of high-end luxury yachts and superyachts like Helsingør Værft, Baglietto, Rossinavi, Otam, Fincantieri, Lürssen, Nobiskrug, Heesen, and Sergi to design the interior architecture .

Miguel Rueda Designs creates hyper-realistic superyacht interior CAD renderings, which enable our clients to view and evaluate new designs before execution. We believe that the best source of inspiration from our style and previous projects, but from each client's vision , lifestyle and tastes. On top of being experienced designers, we are creatives who bring an artistic eye to the project. We ensure that each room is functional and artistic, balanced and elegant.

Our clients call on us to design specialty rooms that mimic the design of a home, such as bespoke home theaters, wine cellars, kitchens, bathrooms, home spas, large walk-in closets, home offices, etc. We also design eco-friendly spaces at request, ensuring that the design maintains the same level of luxury and sophistication.

Contact Our Superyacht Interior Design Studio

Miguel Rueda Designs superyacht design studio is a full-service firm that specializes in architecture interior and interior design. Lead architect and designer Miguel Rueda envisioned every aspect of superyacht design projects, making him one of the best luxury yacht interior designers.

He oversees a team of international architects and designers in his studio Miguel Rueda Designs, creating innovative and cutting edge designs for Hollywood's elite, the Saudi royal family, and other dignitaries. Whether you want to renovate your yacht or are stepping into the luxury living yacht lifestyle, Miguel Rueda will bring your vision to reality. Contact the Miguel Rueda Designs team to discuss your project.

Miguel Rueda Designs Luxury Yacht Interior Design Firm Services Locations Worldwide Including:

Miami Beach Florida , Marina Del Rey Los Angeles , Portofino Italy, Capri Italy, Sardinia Italy, Ibiza Spain, Marbella Spain, Saint-Tropez France, Monaco France, Cannes France, Saint-Barthelemy, The Caribbean, St Barts, Abu Dhabi and more…

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S·B Long Interiors

Award-Winning Residential Interior Design Firm in Dallas

Modern Yacht

Pulling from her experience working at Polo Ralph Lauren, Susan Bednar Long crafted a cohesive nautical design with sleek modern furnishings and a celebration of stripes.  High-gloss millwork cabinetry is offset by cream, Marine Blue, and navy high-performance fabrics. The custom graphic striped area rug grounds the space and creates a luxurious yacht interior design in the main salon.  Keeping consistency throughout the other public areas and staterooms, Susan carried the stripe theme throughout and completed each space of the yacht with artwork and custom linens.  

972.803.6304 [email protected]

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Robb Report

6 Architects That Are Now Creating Designs for Superyachts

Posted: December 11, 2023 | Last updated: December 11, 2023

1.-real-lead-Symbiosis-by-Kurt-Merki-Jr_05

Exciting yacht design doesn’t require reinventing the wheel. But a fresh view always helps. That’s why more yacht owners are looking for land-based architects and designers for their new build and refit interiors, preferring a cross-pollination of ideas over the tried and true.

The first owner to shy away from the traditional yacht designer set was billionaire Lukas Lundin, who tasked Italian architect Cristina Gherardi Benardeau to design the interior of the 274-foot Savannah. The Feadship, launched in 2015, is largely remembered as the first superyacht with a hybrid propulsion package. But the interior is just as radical.

Benardeau, a designer of retail space for Giorgio Armani and Christian Dior Couture, gave the 262-foot yacht the world’s first “Nemo lounge,” or a bubble in the hull where the owners and guests could see underwater.  It also featured what looked like a floating superstructure, employing long strips of tinted glass inspired by skyscrapers. (The same visual trick was employed later in Oceanco’s 361-foot Jubilee.) Savannah was the first boat to receive full metallic exterior paint job to blend in with the ocean surroundings—an idea later seen on superyacht Kensho, when it delivered in 2022.

Since then, a number of owners and boatbuilders have employed residential architects to do interior designs, as well as offer exterior flourishes (though naval architects complete the structures and running surfaces.) Rome architect Achille Salvagni has done projects for Rossinavi and Azimut, Lord Norman Foster created a series that later became the YachtPlus fleet, Lazzarini & Pickering designed the Benetti Motopanfilo 37M, and next year, Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez will show their talents on Azimut’s SeaDeck Series.

Even residential stalwarts like Zaha Hadid Architects can’t help but experiment with nautical projects. Following the 2016 reveal of the firm’s Unique Circle Yachts series, the studio collaborated with Vitruvius Yachts this year on Britain’s new “royal yacht” project. And more recently, the architects unveiled concept renderings for Oneiric, a proposed catamaran in collaboration with Italian shipyard Rossinavi.

From skyscraper to sea, here are six yachts designed by mainstream architects.

Amer F100, Architect Roberto Palomba

Architect Roberto Palomba has been designing houses for decades. His Milan-based studio, Palomba Serafini Associati, includes the Italian Consulate in Detroit, home décor and even tableware, among its past projects. His first yacht is the Amer F100, which features a unique “Glass Cabin” as the main salon. It was designed in partnership with Ludovica Serafini. “My aim was to change some standard boat elements to create something completely different,” Palomba told Robb Report during the yacht’s world debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival. “Certainly, our perspective offers a fresh look, an architectural vision rooted in the world of architecture and interior design, translated into the realm of yacht design.” The Glass Cabin is an architectural glass box that encases the main salon and formal dining area with windows that are larger than other yachts with similar dimensions. The garden creates openness, light and a continuous connection with the sea. Continuing the theme, reflective surfaces are used on the walls and ceiling across all social areas to bring more light in, while stairs joining the main deck to the bridge are topped by more glass, opening the heart of the yacht to blue skies.

‘Kensho,’ Jouin Manku

Kensho ‘s owner was a first-time yacht buyer who wanted a one-of-a-kind vessel. He looked beyond the pool of yachting talent for a designer who could create a signature statement inside the 246-foot Admiral. The owner eventually decided on Paris design house Jouin Manku, an experienced architecture and industrial design studio, without a single yacht to its name. Co-founder Sanjit Manku took the design brief and ran with it, eschewing traditional yachting layouts for high-volume and big sea views. Variations on the established interiors include lofty 8.9-foot-tall ceilings, open-plan cabin layouts (where the bathrooms are on display) and locating the owner’s salon—more akin to an observation lounge—to the upper deck where the captains’ wheelhouse is traditionally located.  “We drew on our restaurant design experience to create an ambience and furniture that is practical yet opulent,” Manku told Robb Report . “The dining chairs have ski feet that make it easy for guests to slide in and out, and we incorporated flattering lighting rather than ceiling spotlights.” The end result is a stunning, personalized interior that is unique in yachting. 

‘Carinthia VII,’ Bizzozero Cassina Architects

Refits are also getting design overhauls by non-yacht designers. Lürssen’s 318-foot Carinthia VII , first delivered in 2002 and designed by Tim Heywood, was sold in 2022 to a new owner. He called on Italian studio Bizzozero Cassina Architects for what turned out to be a major refit in a nearly record 300 days. The architectural studio is experienced in real estate, including a few of the owner’s private properties. But yacht refits are a recent addition to its portfolio. “The key to any project’s success is to know the person, their lifestyle and the way they think,” architect Paolo Bizzozero said. “Only with these three ingredients can you remedy a truly bespoke environment that works for them and for their life.” Key additions include a 1,334-sq. ft. sundeck, with a large dining table and teppanyaki grill. Equally impressive was the 39-foot-long glass-paneled swimming pool on the main deck (with two large televisions to view live sports), and a 968-sq. ft. air-conditioned gym on the bridge deck that also serves as a winter garden.

Contest G7CS, Bentley Interior

Bentley fans who dream of a book-matched yacht interior might look closely at the 67-foot Contest 67CS.  Commissioned by a private client and launched in November, it is the first collaboration between Bentley and Contest Yachts. with all the design flair Bentley could bring to a yacht. Conceived to match the luxe design of a custom continental GT coupe, the sailboat features the same materials, motifs and craftsmanship on its cars and home designs, including the same hand-stitching found on the Bentley steering wheel and the yacht’s Malvern Chair. Bespoke one-offs include a bar and vanity unit, the captain’s chair and “Egg” table, and a sofa which was hand-built at Bentley’s engineering facility and finished in its signature trim. The brand’s iconic diamond-quilted hides were also included across entire yacht interior. Small details like the tissue box and drink coasters were created from scratch to match the owner’s taste.

‘Entourage,’ Diego Burdi, Burdifilek

Entourage , the second hull in Amels’ 60 Limited Editions range, is the owner’s second yacht. He had clear ideas about the functional layout of the boat, so he appointed commercial design firm Burdifilek to realize that vision. The Toronto-based co-founder, Diego Burdi, adopted a “marine design” approach. “I believe strongly that you should feel like you’re on a boat,” he told Robb Report . That is apparent in areas like the the lower-deck staterooms where the bulkheads hug the curve of the hull. Carved and layered wooden ceilings—a detail introduced from the owner’s experience in real estate—add drama and tactility. Most significantly, Burdi reversed the central stairwell and tucked it into the perimeter of the yacht to create a wider walkthrough and, in so doing, a work of art.

‘Symbiosis,’ Kurt Merki, Jr.

The 279-foot Symbiosis is Studio KMJ’s nature-driven introduction to the world of superyacht design. Unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show, the 3,000 GT concept speaks to a rising trend for biophilic design with 10 nature-driven features. These include a “tree of life” planted on the main deck aft that stretches across two decks, a 1,000-sq. ft. irrigated lawn tended by a gardener and intended for both play and picnics, and a life-sized herbarium called “The Sanctum” where herbs, spices and vegetables can be cultivated. The Swiss designer Kurt Merki Jr collaborated with Axel Massmann, CEO of Yacht-Green, who acted as a strategic advisor on best practices to “green” the superyacht lifestyle. According to the designers, the natural elements are fully buildable. All it needs is an owner willing to take a leap.

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