Making a statement, the nautical way
Patrick Knowles has never designed two yachts that were exactly alike, and he hopes to keep the trend going.
By Jennifer Martin
As unique as they are successful, his clients bring one-of-a-kind requests to the table. From Hollywood glam backdrops to airport-style skylounges, Patrick Knowles, an award-winning yacht and aviation designer, has taken on a wide palette of projects. In everything, he tries to stay true to his clients’ vision.
“A yacht is one of the few ways they have to express themselves,” he says. “Like a home, it’s highly individual for the client. It should reflect an identity that is all their own.”
While he has designed interiors on a range of boats, Knowles specializes in the megayacht and currently is engaged in projects involving yachts ranging from 161 to 190 feet. In one project, he infused an Asian theme throughout the salons and sitting rooms, with accents such as dragon embroideries, geisha sculptures and black lacquered tables side by side with comfortable lounges for entertaining guests or business clients.
In another recent endeavor, he designed a yacht interior with a European spa theme. Beige, cream, ivory and sand tones were used to complement materials such as travertine stone, river rock pebbles and medium-toned woods with expressed grains. “The moment you walked in, you felt soothed, as if you were in a spa environment,” Knowles says.
Knowles enjoys working with clients who understand themselves and their preferences. “My company attracts such a diverse clientele, and they’re very specific in what they ask for,” he says. “I prefer working that way because it keeps the challenge alive. It’s all about translating their vision into a reality that is not only functional but aesthetically pleasing.”
