architecte intérieur & décorateur à paris depuis 1993
The interior design for yacht or sailboat is a discipline unto itself, far removed from the conventions of residential decoration. Life at sea brings with it a unique set of mechanical, climatic and technical demands that only true specialists know how to navigate.
Light shifts constantly with the hour and the season, moisture permeates every surface, salt works its way into every crevice, vibrations and movement require flawless fixings, and every centimetre must be optimised to ensure fluidity, safety and comfort.
Within this demanding world, Laurent Galle brings a rare expertise that unites design, interior architecture and a precise understanding of maritime constraints. His approach goes far beyond decoration. Each project is treated as a coherent, tailored work, shaped to reflect the owner’s personality while meeting the rigorous demands of life at sea.
The studio’s mission is to transform a yacht or sailboat into a living space that is harmonious, elegant, enduring and perfectly suited to navigation.
Working on the interior architecture and decoration of a yacht or sailboat means engaging with the very essence of the sea. Spaces must remain warm despite their refined lines, secure despite their luxury, and polished without sacrificing robustness. The challenge is to reconcile beauty with performance. On a yacht, every object has its purpose; every element is conceived to last, to endure and to elevate the experience of being at sea.
The studio’s aesthetic vision is rooted in a contemporary understanding of luxury: natural tones drawn from the marine landscape, organic textures, noble materials, fluid lines that echo the movement of the waves, and light thoughtfully arranged to create atmospheres that are both intimate and spectacular. The aim is to create interiors where one can breathe, escape and rediscover the serenity that belongs to life on the water.
The style is deliberately timeless. The goal is not to chase trends, but to craft a lasting world that ages gracefully and retains its aesthetic value long after years of sailing. Maritime luxury rests above all on the mastery of detail, a deep understanding of the vessel and the use of materials truly suited to their environment.
Every project begins with an immersion in the story of the boat and the owner’s vision. A sailing yacht intended for ocean crossings calls for entirely different choices than a family motor yacht cruising the Mediterranean or a dayboat moored permanently in a marina. Intended use shapes every design decision.
Laurent Galle takes the time to speak at length with owners: to understand their sailing habits, their aesthetic preferences, their way of life on board, the climatic regions they frequent, the number of regular guests and even the moments they most wish to savour at sea.
Some want a light-filled saloon with a soft, coastal atmosphere. Others seek a darker, enveloping owner’s cabin, intimate and restful. Some favour a contemporary, almost minimalist aesthetic, while others wish to recapture the warmth of traditional marine woodwork.
These conversations allow the studio to establish a precise identity for the future interior of the yacht or sailboat.
Once the creative intent is defined, the visual design phase begins. Laurent Galle’s freehand sketches capture the spirit of the project: proportions, rhythms, volumes, spatial flow, the interplay of light and shadow. Moodboards are used to select material families, colour harmonies, marine textures and the defining details that will give the whole project its unique character.
Photorealistic 3D visualisations play an essential role. They illustrate precisely how natural light will fall within the cabins, how a piece of furniture will sit within a confined space, the visual impact of a wood cladding on the overall feel, and the balance between matte surfaces and metallic finishes.
For a 30-metre yacht based in Antibes, the owners sought a calming atmosphere inspired by the Mediterranean shoreline. The 3D modelling allowed the studio to test different shades of sanded teak, soft sand tones and marine fabrics with a faint pearlescent shimmer to capture the quality of southern light. The final result reflected precisely their desire for a warm, understated and luminous interior.
In yacht and sailboat interior design, the selection of materials is a critical step. The sea is an unforgiving environment. Moisture, UV exposure, salt, impact, temperature fluctuation, constant vibration and permanent exposure all demand the most rigorous choices.
Woods, for instance, must be stable, resilient and treated to withstand fluctuating humidity levels. Teak is often the preferred choice for its outstanding stability and timeless beauty. Thermo-treated ash offers exceptional robustness alongside a naturally warm grain. Stabilised American walnut brings incomparable elegance to owner’s suites.
Metals must resist marine corrosion. 316L stainless steel is indispensable for structural elements and decorative fittings exposed to sea spray. Marine brass, when properly treated, delivers warm and luxurious finishes. Anodised aluminium offers precious lightness, helping to keep weight to a minimum.
Natural stones are selected with equal care. In most cases, lightweight or reinforced versions are used to maintain an optimal weight while preserving the appearance of high-quality marble or quartz. Certain floating residences also call for innovative composite stone, exceptionally durable and visually almost indistinguishable from natural minerals.
Fabrics must resist water, sun and wear. Exterior upholstery requires water-repellent marine fibres. Interiors can accommodate full-grain leather treated against salt, nautical Alcantara or high-performance upholstery fabrics that retain a pleasant softness while offering outstanding durability.
Each material is chosen not only for its appearance, but for its capacity to live at sea. The finished result must be beautiful, cohesive and built to last.
One of the studio’s greatest strengths lies in its collaboration with workshops specialising in yacht and superyacht fitting. These craftsmen have a thorough command of maritime constraints: complex curves, the integration of technical systems, anti-vibration mechanisms, secured storage solutions, reinforced fixings, weight optimisation and millimetric precision.
Marine cabinetmakers craft furniture with the precision of fine watchmaking. Every panel is adjusted to follow the lines of the hull, every edge is softened to prevent impact, every recess accommodates lighting or ventilation without compromising the aesthetic.
Nautical upholsterers produce custom banquettes, headboards, cockpit seating and mattresses tailored to intensive marine use. Specialist metalworkers create one-of-a-kind pieces, from structural furniture to decorative elements in marine-grade metal.
For the complete renovation of an 18-metre sailing yacht, the studio oversaw the creation of a redesigned forward cabin: a sculpted ash headboard, invisible storage integrated within curved walls, diffused LED lighting and matching nautical upholstery. Every element was assembled by hand, piece by piece, in a specialist workshop.
Installation on board represents the final stage, and arguably the most delicate. The work involves integrating every element without altering the vessel’s structure, strictly respecting technical runs, ventilation, electrical cabling, marine home automation and weight constraints.
The teams work regularly in renowned shipyards located in Antibes, Monaco, La Ciotat, Marseille, Palma de Mallorca, Genoa and Dubai Marina.
Every piece of furniture is fixed to marine standards, adjusted to the millimetre, tested under real conditions and validated through rigorous quality control. The aim is to deliver the owner a finished, cohesive interior that is ready to sail.
The main salon of a 30-metre yacht was entirely reimagined as a light-drenched space, featuring brushed teak flooring, a custom sofa upholstered in marine fabric and a television unit seamlessly integrated into a curved partition.
For a catamaran designed for a family who cruise regularly, the studio created a warm, welcoming atmosphere combining light wood, natural leather and soft textures inspired by tropical lagoons.
In a prestige sailing yacht, the owner’s cabin was transformed through a sculpted headboard, indirect lighting, a subtle interplay of matte and satin surfaces and a colour palette evoking driftwood and the shimmering reflections of water. The exterior spaces of a flybridge were completely redesigned with UV-resistant upholstery and raw teak structures, combining elegance with enduring durability.
(Images coming soon)
Fees vary depending on the scope of the project, the materials selected and the level of customisation involved. A light refurbishment may begin at a few thousand euros, while a complete interior redesign of a yacht can reach several tens or even hundreds of thousands of euros.
The design phase typically takes several weeks.
Yes, every material is specifically selected to withstand the demands of the marine environment.
The studio works on all types of vessels, from small family sailing boats to long-range cruising yachts, including luxury catamarans and superyachts.
Yes, the studio designs fully tailored furniture, perfectly integrated into the curves of the vessel. Every piece is conceived to optimise space, support smooth navigation and enhance the overall aesthetic.
“Designing the interior of a yacht or sailboat is far more than a purely aesthetic exercise. It is a demanding discipline that calls for technical expertise, a deep knowledge of the marine environment and an artistic sensibility capable of transforming a vessel into a true floating residence.
With Laurent Galle, every fitting is conceived to deliver a world that is luxurious, cohesive, comfortable and built to withstand the sea. The studio brings a genuine signature: a blend of precision, refinement and functionality in the service of an exceptional sailing experience.”