Prior to founding her Fort Lauderdale-based interior design firm in 2004, Destry Darr refined her skills as an interior designer for several world-class, well-known yacht interior design firms. Since then, Destry has overseen nearly 300 yacht design projects – both new construction and refit – and has honed her expertise to rank among the world’s
Gentle waves lapping on a sugar-sand beach, a sip of prosecco within a centuries-old piazza, local delicacies served overlooking an azure sea… The blur of sound, color and taste that permeates every inspired travel experience has eluded us en masse this year. Sure, we’ve managed to tick off a few road trips, maybe even a
“This is a complete Westport yacht transformation; it’s an absolute WOW,” says Westport Yacht’s Director of Marketing Ron Nugent of the 2003 Westport 112 Hannah, aboard which we recently completed an extensive nine-month refit. Our client had always wanted a Westport, and had been watching the resale market for the last decade. When this boat
Designing within a small space is always a challenge, but that’s the task we yacht designers are presented on a daily basis. The goal of each space is to be as functional as possible, with storage maximized and aesthetic appeal given prime placement! This year we have been working on an exciting project of our
© Adobe Stock On October 31st, 2020, a Blue Moon – the second full moon to fall within the calendar month – will illuminate the night sky, providing the perfect eerie effect for that intentionally spooky, candy-filled festivity we call Halloween. The rarity of a Blue Moon – as well as a full moon on Halloween
What draws people to the super yacht life? © Felix Mizioznikov / Adobe Stock According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), recreational boat sales in 2019 were the highest they’ve been since 2007, and 2020 sales are up roughly 5% per month in comparison. What draws people to the super yacht life? The short answer is,
A nautical chic yacht interior… A nautical chic yacht interior is one of the most beloved design looks, one that can capture the magic of the sea, the allure of the ocean, the emotion of a sun-kissed day, and bring it all into our interior space. Timeless in its popularity, coastal style has spanned generations
You bought the boat and now you want to offset the cost and make your yacht charter ready. Great news! However, while she might be perfectly fit for you and your family’s lifestyle, does she have what it takes to stand out on the competitive charter market? When designing your yacht for charter, keep these
TRANSFORM YOUR SPACE Spending a lot of time in your current surroundings can inspire – or even demand – a change of scenery. Now is the time to transform your space! Freshening up your space doesn’t mean throwing everything out to start with a fresh slate, however. Instead, approaching your space with the idea of
There is possibly no more common transition between design themes in yacht interior styles than that between Traditional design and Contemporary design. In its broadest definition and earliest implementation, Traditional styling aboard yachts illustrated “luxury” – a look reminiscent of the ocean-liner of yesteryear where velvet couches, sumptuous carpeting and gold tassels underscored opulence and
Much like the kitchen in a home, which so often operates as the central hub, facilitating entertainment, homework, life chats, baking and cooking, the design of the galley aboard a yacht demands similar consideration. How many appliances and what type, prep areas, service areas for the crew, considerations for guest interaction… In my large Italian
Considering Hiring a Yacht Designer Instead of An Interior Designer? This is a touchy question, but a common one that many owners will face: “I’m considering hiring a yacht designer, but I have a great designer for my home or homes, why can’t I use him/her to design my yacht?” Unfortunately, many owners have paid
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
NO CLIENT? NO PROBLEM! We’re often called upon by a builder to create a luxury interior design for a yacht that is being built for the speculative market. These projects – called “spec” builds – require a careful balance of design and decor so as to appeal to as wide an array of tastes and
Whether a yacht design project involves conceptualizing the layout of a new superyacht or bringing an older vessel up to today’s standards with a yacht refit, each yacht has a story to tell. As a designer, refitting a forgotten gem can be the most rewarding experience, particularly when the boat carries a strong pedigree or
It has been said in jest by many of us in the yachting industry that if it wasn’t for the owners, we could build our yachts on time and on budget. The truth is, of course, if it wasn’t for the owners, we’d all have to get real jobs! As Friedrich Schiller once said, “Grace
Most yacht interior design projects begin and end with the client. They educate us with their needs, challenge us with their expectations, and inspire us with their enthusiasm. Such was the case with the 120’ Nordhavn, Aurora, aboard which we collaborated with experienced – and adventurous – owners to execute a yacht interior design that
Traditionally, not unlike homes, yachts have been thought of as having two distinct spaces – the interior and the exterior. However, because of our inherent relationship to the outdoors and natural elements, there is a prevailing movement for yacht interior designers to capture that outdoor essence, creating yacht interiors that are in harmony with nature,
For the owner of the 96’ Nordhavn VivieRae II, an avid adventurer, yachting is an ideal way to engage in activities that push limits and break comfort zones. It provides a way to reach remote areas of the world and explore exquisite and unexpected hideaways; to experience the exhilaration of conquering fresh territory and new
To be in yachting, you’ve got to love it AND be a little crazy. Murphy’s Law was written for yacht refits. If it can break, crack, slip, fall off, tear or just plain wear out, it will on a yacht whether an owner has numerous refit experiences, or is planning his or her first. Keeping
Having spent quite a bit of time at various shipyards this first couple months of 2019, I am noticing that the yards are buzzing with refits and showing no signs of slowing down. Why the refits? We are continuing to see yacht buyers who are interested in customizing a yacht but are unwilling to wait
Yes, yes, yes, length, beam, draft, engines, cruising speed, range, fuel consumption, operational costs, maintenance costs, systems, etc. are all very important when it comes to a yacht. But… As we prepare for upcoming boat shows, it’s important to remember that first impressions sell. You don’t need a complete refit before you put your (or
2019 already has us off and running! As we close out projects we’ve been working on and begin new projects for yacht interiors. I think about a quote that is said to have been stated by the famous French artist Edgar Degas: “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”. Edgar
We were given the project of designing the interior of the 100’ Nordhavn Serenity at the onset of the yacht’s conceptualization, when the builder referred the owner to our firm. As designers we were pleased to have the confidence of the builder, meet such an endearing owner, and design the interior for this brand-new yacht.
Table top design and decor can be easy to neglect. But as the famous designer Charles Eames says, “The details are not the details. They make the design.” Table top design and decor is not to be overlooked. It has to tie into the overall design, functionality and needs of the owner. You can’t think
With over 1,500 yachts, 1,200 exhibitors and 52 countries being represented, the world’s biggest in-water boat show displaying the most extravagant dreams and aspirations, was very busy and successful this year. The days were hot and the docks were busy! We had scheduled as well as impromptu meetings with both current and prospective clients, which
As designers we often dream of having the good fortune of working with clients who know exactly what they want and give us carte blanche to make their visions a reality. We have designed, redesigned, updated, and minimalized; where yacht design in concerned, we thought we had seen it all. That is until we were
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