Stylish and Sustainable Interiors

New eco-friendly interior products

prove that it is easy being green

By Risa Merl

In a world where organic foods and eco-friendly cleaning products line grocery store shelves and hybrid boats are designed with solar panels, it’s clear that “Going Green” is more than just a short-lived trend. As consumers, we want the best without compromise, especially when it comes to “green” products—that means organic foods that are delicious, faster boats that use less fuel, and stunning yacht interiors made from earth-friendly and hypoallergenic materials.

The wheelhouse of the Outer Reef 63 (opposite) utilizes faux leather for overheads, the console and even the helm chair. Fabrics are organic and the floor is finished with plant-based oil.
Examples of luxurious eco-friendly textiles are Pure Style by Robert Allen (above) and Beacon Hill’s Awakening collection (right).

When designing the interior of a yacht, it is possible to have it all. The latest developments in sustainable, recycled and organic fabrics, flooring and wall coverings bring us products that are both green and great looking. By taking the time to select eco-friendly materials, you can achieve a yacht interior that’s healthy for your body, your planet and the people making the product, yet still be as beautiful and cost-effective as any of the most stylish yachts anywhere.
Why design a yacht interior with green materials? Perhaps the hypoallergenic qualities of organic materials suit the needs of a family member who has serious allergies, or maybe you feel strongly about the ethics of using earth-friendly products. Once you see how easy it is to incorporate these materials into the design of a yacht, the question will become, why not go green?
“Our space aboard yachts is condensed, no matter how large the vessel. We tend to keep the interiors air conditioned so all the products are in the air, so to speak. Providing products that are less irritating and more natural is such a wonderful option,” says Didgie Vrana of Argonautica Custom Yacht Interiors. She offers her clients an entire library of eco-friendly products and has designed many green yacht interiors. “I look for natural ingredients—natural dyes, no PVCs. I also look for products that have been reclaimed. I want to support the fact that things can be reused.”
One of the best reasons to go green is for your health and the easiest way to do this is to make a rule to stay away from the indoor use of PVC (vinyl) and any products that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—chemicals that may cause adverse health effects—which can be found in everything from paint to wall paper. Any unnatural odor, such as the strong vinyl smell that comes when opening a vinyl shower curtain or the glue smell of new carpet, is a clue that the product may be emitting VOCs.
Before becoming overwhelmed by acronyms and label-checking, rest assured there are many skilled fabric designers, yacht design firms and boatbuilders who are doing the legwork to make it easy to create an eco-friendly yacht interior. “The mills we’re working with have certain specifications for their recycled polyesters so they don’t yield any harmful VOCs,” says Ruth Meijer, owner of Soliloquy Textiles. “It’s our responsibility to work hand-in-hand with mills and be aware of that aspect.” Fabric designers such as Soliloquy, Robert Allen and Glen Raven offer eco-friendly lines in their designer showrooms. Now, some boatbuilders are making moves to create a green interior from the floor up.
Marlow Yachts’ latest build, the Voyager 76LR, uses bamboo flooring in its staterooms. David Marlow made this choice because bamboo is a renewable resource; a grass reaching full maturity in only four years. Bamboo can also be grown without pesticides and fertilizers. In addition,  bamboo can be processed without a chemical that produces dioxin—a deadly compound commonly used in processing composite wood fiber. The result is a beautiful, planet friendly floor. Likewise, Island Pilot has also made the decision to replace all the rainforest woods in its DSe Hybrid solar-powered catamaran with bamboo.
When Outer Reef built its prototype 63, they called on Argonautica to create green décor. This included Roman shades made of sustainable reed material, organic upholstery fabrics and wool carpet. The remaining floors were oiled with non-petrolium-based product rather than varnished. “Some question if wool is good on a boat, but it wears well, has natural water protectants and is also fire resistant,” says Didgie. All the soft goods in the Outer Reef 63 were fabricated from organic materials, the mattresses were latex and the towels were made from bamboo. Even the artwork and décor items were handmade of sustainable materials.
On a Fleming 53 Didgie designed for a client with allergies and respiratory problems, the client chose faux baby ostrich fabric panels for the master and VOC-free vinyl wallpapers that could easily be dusted.
Creating an environmentally friendly interior can be as simple as choosing this, not that. While cotton might be natural, the common use of insecticides in cotton farming makes organic cotton a better choice. “Flax is even better,” says Didgie. “It’s handled less [than cotton] and it’s a much stronger plant.”  Shaw  Carpets produces floor coverings made of recycled fibers and recycled glass can be used in tiles for floors and backsplashes.
You might think of leather as a natural product, but most leathers go through a very toxic tanning process—instead there are safe simulated leathers available like Ultraleather and Majilite. For flooring, a great choice beyond bamboo is cork—not only is it beautiful and sustainable, but it’s comfortable to walk on and absorbs sound.
With today’s wide selection of eco-friendly fabrics and flooring, boat owners can choose environmentally friendly products without giving up on style. “They don’t lose anything,” Didgie says. “They really gain a cleaner, less toxic environment and the knowledge they are contributing to a more responsible process.”
You don’t have to wait until you buy a new boat to bring in elements of green design; whether you are working on a full interior redesign or simply shopping for new carpets for your current boat, it’s easy to be green.