Part 3: Classic Style

By Eileen Mansfield — May 2002

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Knowles thinks that the classic style is here to stay. "Traditional has a solid foundation and longevity," he says, adding that "there is a comfort in traditional and that is what people want now." Not to mention strong equity. Starkey feels that the brokerage community encourages owners to opt for a classic interior because they have chartering and resale value foremost in mind.

Starkey just finished the 187-foot yacht Excellence III. He describes the interior as "modern, but sophisticated and luxurious." He used mahogany, but mixed the traditional wood with high-gloss shine and mirrors, giving it a more modern appearance. Knowles agrees that dark wood is very popular these days. He also remarks that he hasn't had a client request leather upholstery (outside the wheelhouse) in years; he is getting more requests for wool and chenille these days. An idea that he has been working on, which he thinks he will see more of in the future, is wood floors and area rugs. "In the yachting industry everything has been done before," he says, but he thinks the simple use of area rugs over wood will appear novel and eventually catch on. A boat he is working on in Singapore right now has maple and cherry floors.

All the designers I spoke with agree on one thing in particular: They all work to make their yachts comfortable, convenient, and safe. As Johnson says, "The world is a different place now. People sometimes feel more secure on their own floating island." And as these "islands" become larger and more luxurious, the more like home they feel.

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