Uncategorized – Flagship Interiors

What to know when selecting bed linen and bedding for luxury charter yachts

What to know when selecting bed linen and bedding for luxury charter yachts

If you are selecting linen for a luxury yacht you need to consider two important factors quality and durability. You’re choices for home may not be suitable for onboard so here are some expert tips.

Choose and invest in quality

Your guests are expecting the best. They stay in top hotels and the linen is a luxurious experience. Choose the right fabric type, thread counts and weights, weaves and bedding materials. Natural is always good and sustainability is a growing factor. Quality bedlinen washes and washes and lasts the test of time.

Choose the right yarn for laundry care available

You can never go wrong with great quality cotton and some cotton blends. Egyptian cotton is historically considered the best, but other cotton producing regions match in quality now days. Linen, silk and cashmere blends need special care which is not easy to facilitate onboard. However top linens wash well and crease less – so choose wisely.

Thread count (TC) counts

Below 300 feels flimsy and is not advised for guest linens, 550 TC is generally accepted as the norm but around the 700 TC is more luxurious. 1000 TC plus can be heavy although if specially treated this is not so. Now to make this harder – Not all linen makers or brands are equal and thread count alone will not tell if it is a luxurious quality.

Do you like cool crisp of soft satin feel

There are generally two weaves and the feel of the fabric varies – it is usually a personal choice. Percale feels crisp and cool and satin feel softer with a slight sheen. Percale will soften with time, some say percale breaths better than satin if you are a hot sleeper.

Colour or not colour

Colours you choose for home may not be practical – but colour can work if you put the bed together in another way. Then it will look fabulous and last. A specialist can make this happen.

Bedding materials matter

Your pillows and duvets can regulate your body temperature – down has been a long term favourite, but select anti-allergy and animal friendly options. Wool is popular as a sustainable option and there are technology advances that have developed materials to keep you cooler if you are a hot sleeper.

Where is your yacht travelling

This will impact the type of duvets, blankets and even the sheets. Consider in hotter climates where there is no shore power a generator will run throughout the night for airco. Sometimes it’s a choice not to run it usually because of the noise – these things need to be considered.

How many do you purchase

Consider the laundry facilities – who will do the laundry, what facilities are available onboard or ashore. Generally you have 3-5 sets per bed depending on how often the beds are changed and whether you need to send it ashore. Some custom items may have higher numbers for spares. Some owners like to have a family set and a charter set.

Specialist are here to help

Looking for bed linens takes time and knowledge. Ask for help so you get the right supplier/brand to compliment your interior style, at the best quality for your budget and can deliver on time. Especially if you need custom items. Flagship Interiors sources and supplies interior products for luxury yachts and has years of knowledge working onboard superyachts and setting up yachts like your own to help you make the right choices and get the best out of your investment.

Contact Flagship Interiors today to chat about your project needs. Email info@flagship-Interiors.com or call +31 (0)651 669 439.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Flagship Interiors makes luxury yachting turn key – walk on your new yacht and enjoy it straight away

Flagship Interiors makes luxury yachting turn key – walk on your new yacht and enjoy it straight away

Flagship Interiors adds the finishing layer of quality homewares to luxury yachts so owners and guests can step onboard and get away.

It’s a special moment when a new build or refitted luxury yacht is unwrapped of its protective materials and the interior is revealed – the finishes, fixtures, larger furnishings and some decorative accessories look amazing. However, it’s not ready for use until the last layer of products are added to make it a home.

The beds need making, you’ll need something to eat off or enjoy a drink, towels for swimming and showering, items for yourself and/or crew to prepare food and more. These homeware goods make the experience onboard luxurious, personable, comfortable and stylish.

Flagship Interiors specialize in finding beautiful quality bed linens, towelling, table and glassware, interior accessories and household items so when you step onboard for your first charter you are ready to relax, dine, entertain, play and get away.

We make your yacht turnkey. Working with owners, interior designers, the ship yard and crew to make this last stage of dressing a yacht a success. Now you can quickly get onboard and live the luxury yachting lifestyle.

Give us a call to talk about your yachts needs.

How to set-up a luxury yacht for charter, so when people pay to use your yacht their expectations are met.

How to set-up a luxury yacht for charter, so when people pay to use your yacht their expectations are met.

Firstly, the design of the yacht will meet their basic needs like enough beds, table places, relaxing areas, bathrooms and activity preferences (sail, motor, sporting equipment).

Secondly and most importantly, the yacht needs to equipped and set up to meet and hopefully surpass quality expectations. The products onboard will provide an experience of luxury and enable great service. Luxurious bedding, towelling, toiletries, beautifully presented dining with quality table and glassware all create a memorable experience.

Product choices for your home may need to be tweaked for onboard so you get the same luxurious look and feel, but where needed can be cleaned and look fantastic over and over again. This is where experience helps.

You may ask –

How do I know I am getting the right products that will last, can be cared for correctly, look great and buy the right quantities?
How will linens be washed and how frequently? What capabilities are onboard and what services are available externally?
How will meals and drinks be served and on what? Breakfast, lunch, dinner, family style, fine dining, while sailing, on the beach? Breakability, durability.
How will you create different table moods so there is wow and variety?
Where and how will everything be stowed and secured? Consider access, frequency of use and the orientation of the boat? Underbed storage is great but not handy for frequent access if someone is sleeping on top of it!
Is the galley equipped? Consider kitchen items that are multipurpose, the right size, stackable etc.

Now days there is so much choice – There are high end brands and luxury hotel ranges. It can be overwhelming. Consider glassware – There is crystal some with additives to make them hardier, glass that can fall over without breaking, and luxury acrylic crystal. What’s best for you and where do you buy these items?

In a way you are setting up a boutique hotel. With the right choices setting up your yacht you will have a great charter yacht and happy guests

Flagship Interiors specializes in finding and supplying products that fit your desired look and feel while meeting the demands of charter usage and are of luxury quality. You are in good hands for setting up your yacht.

Please give us a call to find out more how we can help you.

Yacht interior cleaning tips and some tricks

1. Remove all personal items, declutter to clear surfaces and leave minimal items on shelving

Remove yourself from the interior
Declutter to clear surfaces means that nothing remains on any surface unless its fixed down including shelving – no knickknacks, minimal books (max of 3 on a shelf) no boats in bottles or jars of shells. Be very discerning if you do leave something. Stow everything away neatly, better still take it off the boat if your selling.

(TIP: get a few big baskets or boxes: Stow, throw, take home.)

2. Dust removal

Remove soft items like cushions, covers, throws, pillows and duvets and give them a good whack outside before dusting. If you have thin mattresses take them outside into the sun to kill bugs.
Use a brush nozzle on the vacuum and go over everything – ceilings, windows, walls, and floors get into all the crannies’ like vents, artwork frames, door jams etc.

(TIP: wrap masking-tape a few times around any hard edges on the vacuum spout to prevent scratching).
Get a damp cloth (even better a synthetic chamois) wring out excess water water and wipe over all surfaces. Then buff with a lint free cloth. (Tip: for woodwork wipe in the direction of the grain for a better finish). Do floors this way too.
Products for in the water – Vinegar or a wood soap for veneer or a mix of beeswax lemon oil and lavender oil is a great timber cleaner.

Note for French polished wood: be sure to buff it dry – water leaves white marks. (refer to stain removal tips)

3. Professional carpet and soft furnishing clean

Get carpets professionally cleaned, they can also do curtains, the fabric ceiling and wall panels and all chairs and sofas. (If you have a good steam cleaner with a vacuum function you can do this yourself).

4. Cleaning chromes and metals

Use a mixture of bicarb and vinegar – 2 sponge technique. First sponge the bicarb and then spray over with white vinegar to let it fizz. Let it work its magic, scrub where needed then rinse with fresh water. Use lemon and salt for brass and harder cleaning.

(TIP: If you use a metal polish buff off the residue and then clean as below with vinegar solution. Pantyhose are non scratch scourers.)

Use pantyhose to clean around taps, wrapping it around and pulling back and forwards
Use toothbrush to access harder areas like edge of drains, hinges, shower fixtures.
Dry off with a lint free cloth

5. Cleaning stone surfaces

Know your materials onboard. Natural stone is porous and acids like vinegar and lemon may stain. If you have stains you will need to get them polished out. It is important to seal natural stone at least every 6 months. Best cleaning product is a mild detergent, window cleaner, a water and cream cleanser mix or use weak ammonia and water mix. DO NOT mix ammonia with bleach (lethal combination as it produces bad bad gases).

6. Cleaning toilets or The Head

Wet the inside of the bowl and then sprinkle bicarb
Then wipe bicarb over every surface – seats, lid and the outside of the bowl.
Spray vinegar into the bowl and scrub with a brush or get the gloves on and a scouring pad! You can add cream cleaner for stubborn stains. Let the product work in for a while.
Use a sponge soaked in vinegar to wipe over all the surfaces covered in bicarb then rinse everything off with a fresh cloth.
If you have really stubborn stains then place a dishwasher tablet in the water and leave it while you clean the rest of the bathroom. Scrub and you’ll be amazed.

(TIP: Lemon juice mixed in water takes away the smell of pee – bleach makes it worse. If you put a few drops of lavender oil into the loo after cleaning it prevents stains)

The power of STEAM cleaners

These are the ultimate cleaning tool! Check out my Steam Cleaning Guide. You’ll be converted if you want an amazingly detailed result and fast. It’s not lie that steam beats grime fast.

Happy Cleaning,

Download a guide to help you outfit your luxury yacht ready for charter

Download a guide to help you outfit your luxury yacht ready for charter

Please fill in your email address to receive Ultimate Guide to outfitting your yacht.

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What is covered during a briefing session to outfit a new luxury yacht?

A briefing session provides a clear overview of the project.

The yachts design
The tastes and preferences of the owners
Private or commercial charter
The products, quantities and quality
The budget and time frame
Who’s involved and their responsibilities

1. Visualizing the yachts design

Interior professionals have a talent for seeing 2D drawings and making them 3D in their heads. The easiest way to communicate the design of a yacht by looking at:

Material samples show the colour palettes and textures onboard to be complimented in the product choices.
Rendered drawings are provided by the yachts interior design team to show the vision of the finished spaces. For a stylist this shows the atmosphere and the design aesthetic.
General arrangement drawings show the layout and the space in real terms. This tells a stylist the dimensions of the spaces and built in elements, the available storage and the general flow.

2. Private or commercial chartering

Knowing if the boat will be used by family and friends or rented out for luxury vacations impacts on the product choices, the quantities to order and the quality expectations. It also has implications on billing tax over goods (VAT).

3. Learning about owners preferences

When outfitting a yacht a stylist is sourcing and buying products for someone else. So it’s very important to get an overall impression of their tastes and understand their likes and dislikes. They may also have brand preferences. It’s ideal when you can meet in their home as this reveals a lot about their personal style.

4. The product list or inventory

In the briefing it’s decided which product categories need to be sourced. The general quantities may vary depending on how the boat will charter. Perhaps they have already found or desire particular brands. It likely they are not aware of just how many products are needed to complete the interior. The quality levels can be discussed for category as some people prefer designer items, others top hotel quality.

5. The budget and timeline

Its fair to say, “you pay for quality” as this is luxury yachting. However there are beautiful products for most budgets and it just depends on what products owners prefer. Luxury bedding and towelling is a given. However there are high end, exclusive and top hotel quality products depending on the budget and where the owner see value. The delivery time frame will impact costs. The faster items are required to the boat the more chasing, running around and expensive delivery fees.

6. The team and responsibilities

Outfitting a luxury yacht is joining a team. Most owners have personal assistants, office personnel, there is the yacht crew, the owners themselves, the yard and supplier network. Knowing the job allocation and how to best communicate, who can make decisions, etc is important.

At the end of the briefing everyone should have a clear idea of the projects scope, have clear expectations and the ball can start rolling. Products suggestions and samples can be made, orders placed so the yacht is set up ready to enjoy its first charter.

Life of a luxury yacht stylist outfitting a large new build yacht for charter

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.

A look into the life of a luxury yacht stylist dressing a large yacht for a promotional photoshoot

I am contacted when a luxury yacht needs to be dressed for a promotion like a sales photoshoot or boat show. It’s my job to dress up the boat so it presents beautifully with products that make onboard feel warm, welcoming and enticing to potential clients.

I’ve always had a keen eye and ability to make a space a luxurious place you want to be in. With 15 plus years as a chief stewardess on superyachts I know how to bring a luxury yachts interior to life by adding the finishing touches without overwhelming the yachts design features.

It’s a job I really love so let me share some insights into what’s involved when dressing a luxury yacht.

The initial contact

I’m usually asked to style a luxury yacht for a promotion when there is no interior crew. It’s not necessary for me to physically go on the yacht before quoting and preparing for a photoshoot. I can get an impression of the job with a general understanding of the yachts size, layout, condition and some photos or a film walk through. With this information I offer 3 packages from a basic to full service option depending on the products to be provided and the level of luxury they wish to portray. This means a client has options.

What products are needed for dressing a yacht

The basic products to dress a yacht are:

Bedding & bedlinen
towelling
home accessories
fresh flowers, fruit and cookies
table service items, and
decorative items

Different yachts have none, some or everything except the fresh products and vases onboard. The items provided by the stylist, the quality of the decorative objects, the better the setup like dressing a table for a lunch, more flower arrangements etc the more expensive the package.

The cheapest and quickest way to bring a used yacht up-to-date is with current home accessories and decoration. Careful styling can hide minor flaws and gives the impression of a well maintained and loved yacht. I’d advise you to invest in bedlinen so the beds can remain made up if you are having client visits after the shoot or show. I can organise new, if needed, at very reasonable prices or hire depending on your wishes.

The better the setup the better the result

The aim is not to clutter the interior, after all clients are buying the design as much as the experience. So knowing the right products and where to place them so the design looks its best is key. Like adding decorative items to add interest to empty corners and inject some personality, flowers and fruit add a feeling of life and colour, cushions and throws add cosiness and finesse, dressing a table sets a scene so clients can envisage the experience of dining onboard, folded towels and perfectly made up beds are inviting like a top hotel and being waited on.

Finding products and unique decorative pieces

I have a collection of decorative pieces which is ever expanding and being renewed for styling jobs. When I’m out and about I am always keeping my eye out, picking up bits and pieces. I also have a great network of suppliers and addresses to fall back on because I outfit yacht interiors. So if you need new items to stay onboard after the shoot I can get them quickly and I have a great eye for colour and design.

What needs doing before a stylist arrives

Clean, clean, clean… declutter and tidy up!! There should be nothing on surfaces, no personal items on show and I can’t stress enough how important it is to make sure it’s spotless. If you don’t do it yourself then hire someone in. I’ll detail with steam cleaners and the works for an hourly fee (but not on setup day). Print out my yacht interior cleaning checklist and my cleaning tips are useful.

The setup day and taking away

I gather everything needed to bring to the yacht over the days coming up to the photoshoot. With fresh flowers and products it’s wise to come no earlier than the day before the shoot. On arrival I may need to take off dust overs and put out cushions, however it must be clean. I’ll work my way around the interior placing items carefully where I think they’ll give the best impression. I may need to make up flower arrangements into vases. Then the beds and towelling. This takes time to get perfect as they are ironed to have minimal crinkles – it’s my talent. Towels are also ironed folded and hung. Then onto setting up a scene with a table setting or a coffee and tea with fruit and cookies, wine buckets and glasses – let me bring the yacht to life so clients can imagine themselves living the dream.

A photo shoot may only need items onboard for a few days but a show may need a week.

Once everything is over I’ll come back and take everything away and replace the covers etc. Beds will be left made-up and towelling out if that’s wanted. Then I’m off and look forward to seeing the photos.

Do you need more than styling? A photographer, a drone operator, a 3d scan or a cleaner?

I know photographers, film makers with drone licences, 3d scans, and detail interior cleaners. Please let me know if you need these services and I’ll put together a quote.

More information

Please contact me if you need advice or would like to discuss your project needs. I love to build good relationships with brokers, yards, owners, and industry professionals.

Check out my other helpful resources, tips and tricks to get the most out of dressing your yacht.

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