Boat International US Edition - June 2018

sycamore for the joinery. As you can see, we used it throughout

the boat for flowing consistency. This color for the paneling

and various similar tones became our palette.” Yachtline1618,

the joinery manufacturer that fabricated the minimalist interior

envelope on award-winning Sybaris, was tapped to execute this

equally stylish décor.

One look at the main deck layout shows how the family lives

beyond their cabins, and there are six of those below deck. The

cockpit area down four steps from the aft deck is designed as

an outdoor living room complete with an unobtrusive ofset

bar. The aft deck itself can be shaded by an awning. The cockpit

area is a multifunctional lounge with ample seating and the

primary al fresco dining area with a table that expands to seat

a crowd under cover.

Substantial curved glass and steel doors open to the salon

with its rounded modular centerline seating. The Giorgetti

sofas are positioned in the center of the room instead of built

in under the windows. This is because when the boat is sailing

this area is less afected by heel and the sofas also keep people

from disturbing a conversation in the salon as they pass

through on their way to the accommodation stairway, the

bridge or the media space to starboard or the formal dining area

to port. Orienting the dining table fore to aft preserves a great

deal of interior space and tucks it neatly out of the way. A pair

of pocket doors can close it of if needed for quiet games or

business calls.

The deeply curved sofas flank a beautiful triangular cofee

table under a highly unusual overhead treatment, with a

suspended black glass oval with LED strips. The black glass is

meant to represent a horizontal slice of the boat under water –

and it is exactly the shape of the hull. Recessed LED strips

above it define the shape while embedded strips in the surface

play upon the idea of the keel and booms. This sort

of chic bling-meets-industrial look – and a similar smaller

treatment in the overhead of the cockpit – is striking, and

immediately directs attention to all the lighting.

The salon’s

overhead of black

glass and LED strips

is like looking at the

yacht from under

the water. The

central seating

position is less

sensitive to heel

“Everywhere the surface

is soft and curved and

smooth, like a skin”

While the main deck windows are covered with blinds that

provide sheer difusion to total darkness, for the lower deck

accommodation soft, short curtains contained within wood

and upholstered wall paneling can be drawn over sheer Roman

blinds. The soft folds of the curtains and the fact that their

contours are lit from below provide a playful contrast to the

otherwise smooth and tailored surfaces in crisp horizontal and

vertical patterns. Double stitched leather worktops and

matching velvety rugs amplify a theme of subtle tone variations

on the walls and overheads with accents provided by

upholstered bed frames, pillows, cashmere blankets and

ottomans. It comes as no surprise when I learn that Benini has

collaborated with Giorgio Armani since 1984. The six double

cabins are nearly equal in size and amenities; in fact there are

two mirror image owner suites.

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