Inner Secrets

Interior designers talk about the new trends they are
seeing in wallcoverings, colors and lighting on yachts.

Does your boat still have the same décor as on the day it first splashed? If so, and it’s getting close to a decade old, it’s time to consider freshening it up on the inside. Before ripping out that old upholstery, however, it’s wise to consult a yacht interior designer, since a yacht is not a house. A seasoned professional can help you convert your floating oasis into a heavenly haven—and increase its resale value at the same time.

Fort Lauderdale-based designer Shelley DiCondina of Yacht Interiors by Shelley (yachtinteriorsbyshelley.com) creates custom living spaces for both luxury homes and yachts—including 84 Hargrave motoryachts to date. Shelley says in any interior design project, the advance work is the most important.
“The planning process needs to be fine-tuned and exact. It creates a roadmap to know exactly where the money is going to be spent,” she said.
Shelley advises boat owners to make a list, room by room, of the changes they desire, and to collect pictures, color palettes, and swatches of anything that defines their personal preferences. She also urges them to prioritize their list. “People can get really caught up with the window treatments and find out they haven’t spent enough consideration in other areas,” says Shelley.
One interior design trend she has seen recently is the use of different textures and materials to complement the traditional woodwork in a yacht. “We have been using a lot of Capiz shells on bar fronts, headboard walls, etc. [The manufacturers] harvest shells and turn them into wallcovering panels,” she says, adding that owners like the fact it’s a renewable resource. She used bamboo flooring, another sustainable material, in her interior design for Sandrine, a Hargrave motoryacht that launched last year.
Another eco-friendly trend among many yacht owners, she says, is to convert their boat’s halogen lighting to energy-efficient LEDs, especially if they plan to keep the vessel for at least two years. “LEDs are so much safer and more economical,” Shelley said. “The fuel savings alone could pay for itself in two years. Plus, the resale potential is great.”
Kathryn Carbone of Interior Design South (intdesignsouth.com) in Florida’s Delray Beach, agrees. “Right now people are very focused on being energy-efficient. LED pulls two to five watts per fixture compared with 25 watts for the average halogen fixture typically used in the marine industry today.” She says that more companies are offering marine-grade LED interior lighting products now than ever before.
She also encourages owners to consider converting their refrigeration units to newer technology. “You get much better cooling with lower energy consumption. When you make the investment on the boat, it pays off in the end.”
While each yacht project is different, most owners opt to update interiors with new fabrics in the seating areas and staterooms. Wendy Walker of Quality Custom Linens and Onboard Design (qualitycustomlinens.com) in Jeffersonville, Indiana, says a current design trend is to give boats a more modern resort look.
First, she says, it’s important to determine if the existing woodwork will remain as is, or be treated or replaced. “If clients are going to leave the woodwork alone, we look at the color tone and offer suggestions within color palettes.” Wendy might recommend paprika tones to complement cherry woodwork, for example. “If the cabinetry is stark white and they like a nautical feel, we might suggest a Ralph Lauren look with dark navy and gold; still nautical but upscale and sophisticated,” she says. Ultimately, how her clients use the boat determines the type of materials and fabrics that are used.
The quality and wearability of today’s marine fabrics have improved. “Sunbrella has really updated its line in a fashion-forward design and the type of fabric with new technology they’re using,” Wendy says. “A person would be hard-pressed to know the difference between Sunbrella and a more traditional luxury brand. It’s also very fade-resistant, so it’s great to use on deck, subject to the weather.”
Kathryn says many manufacturers of materials that are weather- and water-resistant now offer more of a selection, including solution-dyed acrylics, polyurethanes, and vinyl and polyblends that are not only luxurious and beautiful, but also practical and long-wearing.  “I suggest using high-end materials for patterns and prints. You can use a smaller amount and still get a very striking accent,” she adds.
Though every designer has his or her own signature style, most advise their clients to use the highest-grade materials possible for the top-priority items on their wishlist. Once the refurbishment  project is done, consistent air-conditioning will help to keep the yacht’s  new interior looking fresher longer.  Whether you keep your boat indefinitely or trade it in, the investment will pay off.