Iconic interiors: Superyacht designs that made waves

Talitha is a 82.6 metre motor yacht, designed by Cox & Stevens, and has had many owners and many lives. After she was purchased by Paul Getty in 1988, a full refit was undertaken at Devonport Yachts in 1993, led by the legendary Jon Bannenberg, and updated in 2009.

He was inspired by the original art deco interior, and his refit aimed to recreate elements of it while bringing her into modernity. What makes Talitha really stand out is the painstaking recreation of original parts with modern functions such as her on board telephones.

After serving as a surplus naval vessel in the Second World War, Greek ship owner Aristotle Onassis converted Christina O into a superyacht. It was an era when the golden age of Hollywood was recreated in interior design, and Christina O reflected this, with formal bedrooms and stylised living areas.

The original features of this 99.15 metre classic are well preserved – the famous Ari’s Bar is made of timber from a sunken Spanish galleon and has orca whales’ teeth to hold handbags. The updated cabins are named after Greek islands and adorned in a pastel colour scheme, selected by Jackie O. She hosted the Hollywood and political elite: Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill, JFK, Rudolf Nureyev… it’s a guest list as famous as they come.

She was designed by Jack Hargrave for Ogden Phipps, the owner/breeder of a string of famous thoroughbreds including Buckpasser, the boat’s original name. A true style icon of the Seventies, Buckpasser featured avocado green carpets and bedspreads that matched the wallpaper.

Later updated by American celebrity Frances Langford under the name Chanticleer, the yacht was then used to transport her and husband Ralph Evinrude (the outboard engine king) between their Canadian summer home and Florida.

During her ownership Chanticleer was redecorated in shades of pink, given a cockpit for fishing and the three small round portholes lighting the passage to the forward dining room were converted into vertical ovals – a shape now the norm but then very much ahead of its time.

A design ethos of understated beauty is what made this 72.5 metre yacht, launched as Coral Island, stand out. Interiors were by Jon Bannenberg to an owner’s brief that specifically forbade opulent marble, gold or bling.

Coral Ocean is credited as one of the first yachts to have this “casual elegant” motif, which is highlighted by myriad tribal details and African art and distressed furniture surfaces. It also featured a two-level master suite with a walk-in shower that begins on one deck and ends on another. While Coral Island was seen by only a handful of people until recently, enough details leaked out over the years to influence others in the style that has become today’s “beach chic”.

Ahead of her time in myriad ways, 88 metre sailing yacht Maltese Falcon has an industrial-chic interior that matches the high-tech appeal of her stunning FalconRig. It was designed by Ken Freivokh around her original owner Tom Perkins’ modern art collection, with heavy use of leather, glass, wood and steel that gave an edgy yet smart atmosphere.

Rather than hide the bases of the three masts behind walls and cabinets, Freivokh boldly makes them part of the décor, a technique repeated in other mega-sailers, such as Aquijo.

“Make it impressive” was Shahid Khan’s brief for his 95 metre Kismet. Impressive it certainly is, with a dramatic interior by Reymond Langton.

A massive staircase leads from the main saloon, replete with piano and opulent bar, to the upper deck, and the atrium is dominated by a magnificent art deco chandelier. Kismet is an icon for what is possible in an over-the-top superyacht interior and a layout based on being able to entertain large groups in style.

Yachting design newcomer CG Design was able to bring fresh eyes to 83.5 metre Savannah, creating an unusual layout with immense dimensions and an open main deck surrounded by sliding curved glass, leading to the pool on the same level.

In fact, everything on this boat is curved – except the plumb bow. She’s equally ground-breaking for her cosier spaces, such as the Nemo room, that connects guests to the sea, and for a spectacular catwalk connecting two saloons on her upper deck.

While some might still prefer heavy woods or overly luxurious details, the 77.25 metre explorer yacht's interior by Christian Liaigre represents the growing trend of contemporary modernism and support of the sport lover's lifestyle.

This "new modern" can be defined by subtle, refined and open areas – and the luxury of space. Curves and masculine, unadorned joinery are in abundance, and Cloudbreak also boasts a winter garden.