Visionnaire’s ‘Here Comes the Sun’ captures the luxury of yachting with finesse

‘Here Comes the Sun’ is an 89-metre yacht that embraces the interplay of sun and sea with its interiors designed by the renowned Italian brand Visionnaire. The meta-luxury brand’s expertise shines through, fostering a connection between humans and the serene natural setting of gentle waves and soothing water. This yacht design offers a complete onboard experience, including dining areas, a bar, a lounge, a cinema, a pool, and a wellness centre—each of them composed with incredible attention to detail in line with the high standard set by the brand. Each room features signature pieces; for example, the owner’s living room features the Bastian Dual sofa and Kerwan dining table, which blend harmoniously with the sea’s colours. Similarly, the office combines work and leisure with the Planet chair and Whitney armchair. The open deck features Galloway and Kathryn outdoor furnishings, promoting well-being through meticulous material selection and curation. The designers have adapted to the specific needs and aspirations of the clients and manifested a deep understanding of the yachting culture and lifestyle. Visionnaire excels in creating unique yacht interior designs by merging creativity, technical knowledge and attention to detail.

In an exclusive interview with STIR, Visionnaire’s Art Director and Co-Founder Eleonore Cavalli explains in detail the approach and process that resulted in the beautiful interiors of ‘Here Comes the Sun’, how it embodies the ethos of the brand, how it responds to the serene nautical context, and what’s next in store for Visionnaire.

STIR: Could you take us through the initial process and inception of ‘Here Comes the Sun’?

Eleonore Cavalli: As a brand, our main objective is to create excitement for our clients through unique designs that cater specifically to their design sensibilities and desires. ‘Here Comes the Sun’ was a refitting luxury yacht project that challenged us and made us find adaptable solutions since we did not begin working on it from scratch but reasoning on the basis of fixtures that were already present on the boat. We needed to create a project in which colour had great influence, it needed to provide relaxation, and therefore, we used white and variants of blue that could communicate chromatically with the ocean. As always, we have created an amazing environment on board the yacht, which is in sync with our clients’ wishes. Each room on the yacht was studied thoroughly by our technical department, right down to the smallest detail. We took into consideration rooms in which the family socialises, to the bedroom, spa and outdoor areas and also studied the more technical rooms of the boat with extreme precision.

STIR: Through expertise in interior design, Visionnaire has breathed life into multiple residential spaces. How does the approach change when designing a luxury yacht?

Eleonore: Each project is different from the other and we strive to create the perfect project for all our clients. The ability of Visionnaire to create one-of-a-kind projects can be seen yet again through our capability of creating the indoor and outdoor spaces of luxury yachts. Every yachting project stands out for its exceptional design since our clients who are yachtsmen have their own individual style. The design process for a boat involves the same parameters, just like the design of a home, with emphasis on uniqueness, exclusivity and personalisation. We have in-depth knowledge of our clients’ identities and therefore, have the ability to create dream homes for them.

STIR: The yacht is designed to ’embrace the interplay between the sun and the sea.’ How does this idea translate into the elements of design by Visionnaire?

Eleonore: Designed to embrace the interplay between the sun and the sea, the 89-metre yacht called ‘Here Comes the Sun’ provides an overall onboard experience from dining salon, bar and lounge area to cinema, pool and wellness centre. Visionnaire has taken part in the interior design and furnishing of the yacht, applying the sartorial approach to the creation of unique yet reproducible objects. Transforming dreams into reality, we built a space which connects humans and nature. The theme and inspiration for this project was the complete interplay between the yacht itself and the surroundings of the sea. A place to feel like home, away from home.

STIR: The yacht offers a variety of activities from a dining and lounge area to a pool and wellness centre. How do different Visionnaire furnishings enhance those activities?

Eleonore: Each area of the yacht has been designed with extreme meticulousness, to precisely respond to the functions of each area and it is very important that every piece of furniture chosen contributes to the final functions. We have designed two large living areas on the external deck, dedicated to socialising and conviviality. Similarly, the two internal living rooms respond perfectly to these needs. Even the more technical areas of the boat have been designed with the same philosophy. This is how we have come to employ the latest generation technologies for the cinema room or in areas dedicated to personal care, such as Turkish baths and spas.

The general design trend in the nautical world is that of extremely open spaces visually connected with large windows open to the sea and nature. As a brand, Visionnaire believes in this philosophy where contact with the sea is as close as possible for the inhabitants of the yacht. Thanks to technology, this feeling of openness and communication with the sea is achieved not only on the deck but also through large openings in the living rooms, bedrooms and other spaces.

STIR: The owner’s living room features colours in harmony with the sea. How did the brand ensure that the pieces stand out yet complement the serene backdrop?

Eleonore: For the colour palette, we decided to be very neutral but with bold accents of deep blue and azure, perfectly matching with the hues of the ocean. On the material side, we opted for those materials that are suitable for the yachting sector with high standards of efficiency and durability. We have also laid a strong focus on recycled materials such as the Neive fabric—used for the upholstery of the Adele armchairs by Marco Piva. These materials are from the Re-Generation project, consisting of fabrics and leathers that meet low environmental impact criteria. The Eco-skin, used on the Astrid chairs with foliage embroidery by Alessandro La Spada, is also a regenerated product obtained from the treatment of waste, reduced to powder and subsequently recomposed. Another example is the Living Leather, which can be seen on the Legend modular sofa by Fabio Bonfà. This innovative leather of bovine origins is made thanks to an accurate metal-free and biodegradable biological tanning process.

STIR: What is the theme you have tried to achieve in the second living room? What inspired the juxtaposition of works by different designers for different spaces?

Eleonore: The owner’s living room features the Bastian Dual sofa and Atreyu low table with the ‘envelope’ element in dialogue with two Auryn small tables, designed by Mauro Lipparini. The colours established harmony with the sea, which is seen through the panoramic windows. The Kerwan dining table by Alessandro La Spada is a gem of the room, combining metal and marble concave and convex forms. This sculptured table made with marble stands out for its special characteristics. The master bedroom with its neutral hues instils a deep sense of relaxation with its pure white Bastian bed by Mauro Lipparini that contributes to the overall balance and elegance.

STIR: The office space invites both work and leisure. How are the two distinct languages balanced through the interior design?

Eleonore: In the office space you can combine both work and leisure. The comfortable Planet chair by Steve Leung allows one to concentrate on business, whereas the Whitney armchair by Fabio Bonfà allows you to relax and read a book in peace. Although it may come across as two distinct languages, I think this is precisely the point of interior design where we find a balance between different areas in order to make them functional and transversal, suitable for different uses throughout the day.

STIR: The open deck is adorned with Galloway by Maurizio Manzoni and Roberto Tapinassi, and Kathryn, designed by Giuseppe Viganò. What brought these two outdoor families together?

Eleonore: On the sundeck there is a gym realised in collaboration with technogym which faces a beautiful terrace featuring our Galloway set of sofas and armchairs by Maurizio Manzoni and Roberto Tapinassi. The Kathryn upholstered family by Giuseppe Viganò’s fosters a sense of well-being, thanks to the thoughtful selection of materials. The Kathryn family is further embellished with a linen rope that wraps around the backrest. Both these outdoor families are characterised by soft enveloping cushions and a rigid external shell made of Iroko wood, which is the perfect material for nautical applications.

STIR: What considerations were made to select the material and colour palettes for the diverse spaces of the yacht?

Eleonore: As I told you previously, for the colour palette we opted for neutral tones but with blue accents of different shades to make each environment eye-catching. To make sure that we do not go outside the colour palette, we have focused everything on the different textures of leather and fabrics. Considering this, we have combined suede leathers with woven embroidered leathers, or with fabrics with bouclé motifs. Through this, we have managed to create different levels of interpretation. The chromatic importance of white and blue also serves the purpose of combining the interior of the boat with the natural elements of the sea and sky. It also provides a chromotherapy effect of great relaxation and well-being.

STIR: What is NEXT for Visionnaire?

Eleonore: A lot of amazing new residential and yachting projects are on the drawing board, but the very next one will be a private villa in Dubai. Visionnaire will be in charge of the interior design and its concept, covering all the fixed and mobile furnishings, lighting and accessories, all the way to the selection of works of art. Through our expertise and creativity, we will formulate an extraordinary environment, in which architecture and landscape combine in a unique harmony, totally in tune with the genius loci. The villa will be designed with a focus on responsible use of materials, and it will be furnished with products by Visionnaire that stand out for their quality and attention to detail.