Inner Indulgences

The unique interiors of these recently launched megayachts soothe the soul and amaze the eye.

By Elizabeth Ginns Britten

More of this Feature • Lazzara 106 • Amnesia • Katrion • Sweet Doll
Related Resources • Megayacht Feature Index
Elsewhere on the Web • Heesen Yachts

SWEET DOLL
If the Crayola crayon company ever wanted to take a stab at interior design, perhaps it would come out looking something like what Frank Laupman, the design mastermind behind this burst of colorful prints, patterns, and fabrics, has put together. Heesen Yachts’ Sweet Doll, a 151-foot trideck, “was inspired by the 1960’s psychedelic colors and music of Jimi Hendrix and revived by Lenny Kravitz,” according to Laupman. He says Sweet Doll’s design “is about freedom, translated to versatility and spatial flow.”

The project was quite a challenge for the designer, however, since the owner’s younger wife wanted the bold use of color, while the Russian owner wanted a more “minimalist” look. So, to counteract the lively, fun fabrics and color scheme, Laupman used furniture pieces with a clean, curvy, minimalist design and a combination of semigloss lacewood and bamboo, chosen for its durability and lightness, together creating a more spatial flow inside. These touches are a departure from the typical big, plush, heavy furniture and dark wood found on most megayachts. Laupman adds that while some people might think the interior looks “too abundant,” there’s an obvious balance between fun and chic, making it an “optimistic” design.

Probably the most unusual aspect of Sweet Doll’s design is the circular skylight cutout in the saloon overhead, which is also the floor of the owner’s suite. Originally intended to be open but later closed off with glass for added privacy, the skylight features a curtain that can be pulled across to block out the lights and noise from the saloon, so the owner can relax in uninterrupted privacy. Laupman says the owner’s suite was also designed with an “open-plan layout” in mind, as evidenced by the use of translucent fabrics and curvy furniture as well as the lowered windows on both sides, which offer a panoramic view of the ocean.

Heesen Yachts North America Phone: (954) 522-2300. www.heesenyachts.nl.

Previous page > Feadship’s Katrion > Page 1, 2, 3, 4