Every year, the design community gathers at one of the epicentres of design excellence, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, for Focus/18. Across six design-filled days in September, the event is jam-packed with designers looking to explore new trends and discover what superyacht interiors may be calling out for this season.

Ahead of the Monaco Yacht Show – where many new vessels will be publicly viewed for the first time – it’s interesting to see what trends have been translated into superyacht design, which is often largely dictated by the residential trends that we see during Focus/18.

At the exclusive International Press Lunch earlier on this week, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour spent time studying and identifying the prominent trends that have come into light this season. “Exuberance, optimism and colour are the order of the day,” explained Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour’s PR Manager, Becky Metcalfe. “This season, fresh approaches channel the rising spirit of individuality.”

The use of bright colour palates is the first trend identified at the show, which has been broadly worked into the new collections of many of the 600+ brands situated across Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. With a bright new cushion collection, Zimmer + Rhode have incorporated an array of colours into the collection, Masterpieces Vol II. Another fine example of this bold trend is the new Oficina Inglesa chair which has been upholstered in stunning bright new collection fabric, called ‘Aviary’ by Weitzner.

The Royals are on trend as never before and design loves them right back. Stiff upper lip style in the form of trad tweeds and Balmoral-perfect interiors.

- Becky Metcalfe, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour

Haute heritage is next on the trend spot, as Metcalfe explains: “The Royals are on trend as never before and design loves them right back. Stiff upper lip style in the form of trad tweeds and Balmoral-perfect interiors.” It is a stunning and classically British interior style, which is often associated with that of the highlands; with layers of richly coloured damask with an antique appeal. Designers that have jumped on this trend, including Zoffany by Syle Library with their flamboyant contemporary take on 19th century fabric called ‘Rose Absolute’.

But country style hasn’t quite outshone the power of city style, as contemporary bachelor-pad aesthetics have also come through this season, with monochrome wallpaper coverings from Cole & Son and another contemporary monochrome piece entitled ‘Brush Stroke Rug’. “Taking inspiration from architecture and unique metropolitan experiences, we head into the city this season, with urban, authentic and understated pieces,” Metcalfe explains.

While botanicals have been with us for quite a while now, there doesn’t seem to be a sign of them disappearing just yet as they are identified as a growing trend at Focus/18 and across the 12 showrooms at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. The Ravishing Garden trend is about lairing plenty of greens and purples, which gives a bright and fresh appeal to an interior that has plenty of light. Cole & Son have once again proved to be on trend with its stunning new Fornasetti collection and specifically the Fern wallcovering, Fern from the Botanical Botanica collection.

My favourite trend that has been identified at the event is one entitled ‘Look East’, where designers look to the Subcontinent for inspiration. “Pink is the navy blue of India,” declared Diana Vreeland, the former editor of Vogue and it’s certainly a bright colour scheme that Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour as a trend that is here to stay. Anna French at Jacaranda Carpets have jumped on this trend with their stunning new ‘Palampore Leaf’ Wallcovering, named after intricate fabric panels of India. Another stunning example is the ‘Gaston y Daniela’ collection at Abbott & Boyd.

All of these stunning trend spots have been showcased throughout Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour as important up-and-coming elements this season. I hope we see many of these translated into the interiors of superyachts.

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Design Centre Chelsea Harbour

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