It’s not every day a designer is asked to spruce up a yacht, but Mara Darrow of Traditions Classic Home Furnishings was more than happy to oblige. “I knew this would be a fun challenge,” Darrow recalls. The owners of this 112-foot superyacht named Seaquinn were ready to sell. But first, the couple wanted to refresh the interior and decks to make it more appealing to buyers. “It had a traditional Tuscan vibe, which made the boat feel dated,” Darrow explains. “They have been customers for years,” Traditions owner Suzanne Schumann says. “So I was excited to partner with Mara on this beautiful yacht.”
Their inspiration was a luxury hotel, which made sense since a yacht is kind of like a posh hotel. Only it floats. “Yacht people spend days or weeks cruising to the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Virgin Islands and other destinations, often with guests,” Schumann explains. “So it needs to be comfortable and capable of accommodating different activities.”
Photography by David Seal
Unlike a hotel, a yacht is usually in motion, often wet and vulnerable to the corrosive effects of sea air. Darrow relished this aspect of the project, remaining vigilant about the seaworthiness of their selections. “I’ve spent a lot of time on boats, so the practical aspects are second nature to me,” she explains.
Darrow and Schumann started revamping all the furnishings, fixtures and finishes for the living room, bar, dining area, kitchen, four bedrooms and three outdoor decks — the spatial equivalent of a 3,000-square-foot house. They began by evaluating what was there, recommending that the client keep a few furnishings, a section of original wallpaper and the extensive mahogany woodwork, knowing it would shine in a fresh context. “The mahogany was beautiful,” Schumann explains. “We worked with the furnishings to update and enhance its traditional beauty.”
Beginning with the foundation — walls, floors and windows, Schumann and Darrow replaced the dreary beige tones with clean shades of white sand that instantly revived the interior: marine-grade synthetic leather on the wall and ceiling panels (“headliner” in boating terms), textured wool carpeting and crisp roman shades. Then, Schumann and Darrow moved on to the fun stuff, like light fixtures, which went from unremarkable to show-stopping. One example is a pair of glamorous sconces and a sophisticated linear pendant from Kelly Wearstler in the main cabin (“salon” in boating terms). “They’re fun but still timeless, so they work here,” Darrow explains.
Schumann and Darrow particularly enjoyed sourcing new artwork for the vessel to add splashes of color. One of their favorites is a large black and white giclee photograph — a Gatsby-ish nod to life on the water that anchors the dining area. Schumann and Darrow refinished the client’s mahogany dining table and added more sculptural white leather chairs to create a clubby feel. Even the kitchen (galley) got a facelift with a reupholstered banquette and new raffia and leather counter stools.
The lounge area in the main cabin features a custom sectional sofa with comfortable, clean-lined chairs in nautical shades of blue and white. “We used lots of performance fabrics,” Darrow says. “So people can relax.” Another decision that puts people’s minds at ease is that many of the furnishings, particularly the smaller pieces like end tables, are weighted and sturdy. Their heft keeps them stable in rougher water. When in doubt, Schumann and Darrow bolted down fragile accessories, such as a lamp in the salon.
Most would agree that one of the marks of a truly great hotel is the quality of the bed linens, and here, Schumann and Darrow delivered. Each of the four en suite staterooms has crisp, thick, white duvets and sheets and mounds of fluffy pillows that create an irresistible cocoon. The primary suite also has a generously sized bathroom with richly veined stone floors, walls and counters.
The yacht has three separate outdoor spaces to accommodate a variety of activities: reading, napping, sunning, happy hour, dining, playing cards and swimming. Schumann and Darrow paid attention to all of them, knowing each plays an important role, especially on longer cruises. “Every area serves a purpose, one of which is giving people space for quiet time,” Schumann says. “We wanted to make them comfortable whether they’re watching a movie in the main cabin, swimming off the back or chatting on the sun deck.”
The owners are thrilled with the changes and difficult though it was, they have put the Seaquinn on the market as originally planned, confident that with this sharp refresh, it’s sure to be a smooth sale.
