I am contacted when a luxury yacht owner needs to find quality items to outfit their yacht ready for charter or dress it for a promotion. It’s my job and privilege to provide products that finish off a yacht interior and compliment the design making onboard a luxurious experience that reflects markets expectations or owners tastes.

I’ve always had a keen eye for finding quality products that make spaces places you want to be in. Growing up in luxury yachting, as daughter of a well known Australian Naval Architect, it’s a natural fit to combine my creative eye, attention to detail, passion for yachts and love of interiors into a long loved career as a super yacht Chief Stewardess. Setting up Flagship Interiors has enabled me to utilise my skills, knowledge and network ashore to support owners and crews.

It’s a job I truly love so let me share some insights into what’s involved when outfitting a newly built yacht, fresh out of the yard.

The initial briefing

It’s important to sit with the owner or their representative to determine the scope of the project. In a briefing we cover what products are needed and who’s doing what, the budget, delivery time frames, share photos of colour palettes, materials, rendered drawings, discuss brand preferences and design aesthetics. Have some items already been bought or need incorporating into the plan. We look at samples, usually bedding and towelling as these are often customised and need to be ordered promptly to meet tight deadlines. I discuss what my service fees will likely cost for the duration of the job and if we’re agreed we officially begin. Now I head off and start getting together quotes, samples, and collate product suggestions.

The many items needed for a new build

A new build often has nothing onboard so it can be overwhelming how many items are needed and the number of choices to be made. Projects vary to source all or a selection of products from bedding, linens and cabin accessories, towelling, cushions, throws for indoors and out, complete table service, glassware, bar items, table decoration and general décor. Then there’s the galley, laundry, general household items and crew items. Some products may need to be custom made or personalised for example bedding because of shaped mattresses and logos on towelling.

Communicating and making choices

More often than not projects operate under a time pressure. Owners, crew and the yard are focussed on the build and the delivery of the yacht leaving items for living comfortably onboard till last. So good communication with all parties enables quick and efficient decision making so the end product is a success and everyone is happy. Product shortlists are presented either with a physical sample or in a photo arrangement. I’ll keep looking till the owner is happy. Regular updates keep everyone informed as to what has and is still to be decided and whether they have been ordered, paid and delivered. This way there are less surprises, especially with budget and costs.

Selecting the right products

The aim is to have a cohesive interior of beautiful items that create a luxurious experience. This means looking at the materials, colours, textures, and personality of the yachts design, the owners tastes and the feeling one wants to inject into the spaces. Items are selected to reflect this and compliment the build and add a personal story. It’s also the art of selecting items that do the opposite which adds the magic often people can’t put their finger on. It’s a balancing act of creating a home without overwhelming the yachts intrinsic design. The end result is a considered, effortlessly elegant and timeless yacht.

Managing the supply

To deliver quality products on time it’s necessary to know the right suppliers and have reliable addresses for sourcing products. Staying on top of the job with good communication, a little pushing, clever planning and problem solving gets products to the boat quickly wherever it is residing. If one supplier can’t fulfil the order then I look for creative solutions or find other alternatives. I can facilitate storage, so boxes of product don’t get in the way at the yard. I’ll help crew unpack and stow, remove piles of packaging, style for photoshoots and organise sea fixing of breakables, if needed. It’s about going the extra mile to do my best to get the right product, at a great price, at the right time onboard your yacht.

Finding unique products and trends

I’m always on the look out for new products and timeless items – I can’t help myself being drawn to beautiful things. Inspiration is everywhere – design trade shows, design centres and wholesalers, online or exploring the shops. I’m well travelled and understand luxury coastal culture especially growing up in Australia, having lived in London, France, Italy, Monaco, travelling the world over on super yachts for 15+ years and now settled in the Netherlands.

I’m noticing more and more quality products on the market with a core ethos towards the health of ourselves and the environment making trends towards sustainability easier to facilitate. For example natural fibres in bedding, aquatic friendly cleaning products and toiletries with large refills. Good quality is not usually associated with a throw away culture as they last and have a timelessness beyond fashion but it’s important to consider our footprint and try to provide options so owners can choose.

The final delivery of a yacht from the yard

I especially enjoy sourcing and supporting the owners and crew of larger big boats and super yachts under the 35 metres. My services are invaluable when there is a smaller crew. For them, the yard time at the end of a build is crazy, often with restricted boat access, limited to no shops on the doorstep and long hours trouble shooting the multiple last minute problems, determining warranty work, checking quality of workmanship, organising certificates and paperwork and much more. In some cases there are not even crew until the last month or so of the build. So why send them out looking for products when they don’t always know where to look, they don’t have access to trade discounts, they can’t bring the items onboard and have limited or no storage at the yard. Let me become part a temporary team member dedicated to outfitting your yacht. Reduce the pressure and stress, get more value.

More information

Please contact me if you need some advice or would like to discuss your project needs.

Check out other helpful resources like my Luxury Yacht Interior Inventory Checklist and other guides.