Women's Touch in Yacht Interior Design

Dear Sea Lovers, in this article we focus on a young, successful Yacht Interior Designer who was born and raised in Ankara, graduated from Bilkent University Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, and then

progressed through life's turning points to pursue her professional career for the seas.

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE OR RADIO PRODUCTION?

After graduating from Bilkent University in 2000, Ceren Civaoğlu Tugay planned to stay away from offices for a while.

Meanwhile, she pursued her special interest in music.  

She produced various music programs at Capital Radio for 4 years.

Although she wanted to stay away from offices, she gradually started going to an architecture office as well. 

She believes that she should not disconnect from the profession.

When she reached her mid-twenties, she realized that she needed to work in the field she was trained in. 

But how, where, what would she do?

MARMARIS, THE ACTIVE CENTER OF YACHTING

First, 15 years ago, she went to Marmaris.  

There she met an Italian yacht designer who was working with family friends.

The friends and the Italian designer would cause her to open a brand new page in her life.

These are the first days of her professional career, during which she would develop herself in this field over the years and sign dozens of successful projects.

Rather than narrating the story in my own words, let's listen to Ceren Ceren Civaoğlu Tugay.

FIRST PROJECT WITH TURKS AND ITALIANS FOR AN ENGLISHMAN

“They were building a partner boat for an Englishman.

This Englishman was a partner in a famous company that provides technical support for world rallies.

They were getting information from me and consulting about fabrics and decorative details. 

While this work was continuing, after a while they offered me to settle in Marmaris and work with them.

I said I wanted to try it and came to Marmaris. But the first three-four months were very tough. 

I saw that the construction site environment and the shipyard environment are very different from each other.

LAND CRAFTSMANSHIP-MARINE CRAFTSMANSHIP

I saw the difference between land craftsmanship and marine craftsmanship. 

Over time, I was working partly in the office, partly in the shipyard in production. 

This way I was seeing both the design and the production connected to it.

My clients were very expert in their fields, there was a lot I could learn from them.

THERE IS A LOT TO LEARN FROM THOSE EXPERIENCED IN EVERY ASPECT AT SEA

With their guidance, I experienced a fast and positive process.

These works were beneficial for me as a young graduate in gaining experience and getting to know the profession.

The project we worked on was a 22-meter long motor yacht with a sheet.

Additionally, there was another motor yacht that the Italian designer was following.

For this motor yacht, I observed the design, proposal preparation, and manufacturing stages.

MARMARIS-BOZBURUN MANUFACTURES

At the same time, I received a proposal for the interior decoration of a 24-meter yacht to be built by a company in Marmaris doing charter business.

I started doing the interior design of this boat being built in Bozburun.

While continuing this work, a search for an interior designer began for a boat to be built for an Italian at the same shipyard.

AGAIN A PERFECT CLIENT WHO KNOWS HIS BUSINESS

The owner of the boat is an Italian naval architect.

He is the owner, partner of very large companies in the field of maritime and boat building.

His knowledge in this field is tremendous.

They first asked me for projects and drawings.

During the period we studied at university, we would draw projects by hand, not on computer.

Years of habit pleased them very much, and the project execution remained with me.

They had already drawn the project they designed in Italy and wanted me to follow it during the manufacturing phase. 

They also wanted my contributions on some details.

The process started and I followed the construction. 

We were working in detail on carpentry and painting works.

MARINE WOODWORK REQUIRES EXPERTISE

There is a huge difference between a regular carpenter and a boat carpenter. 

Even their way of thinking changes.

The team we worked with on this job was an excellent team. 

I learned a lot from them. 

At the same time, they were also learning to work with an architect.

We started to produce more aesthetic and ergonomic designs together in harmony with the carpenters who used to make all the decisions in the old style.

As a result, a boat with delicate details for the classic style emerged.

AS EXPERIENCE INCREASED, ANOTHER GREAT VETERAN CLIENT

Over time, I was gradually increasing my experience as well. 

Meanwhile, I received an offer from Karadeniz Yachting. 

They were going to make a revision by extending the length of one of their 3 boats (Princess Zeynep).

The company owner Osman KARADENİZ told us his requirements.

At their location in Cennet Island, with my own carpentry team, I conducted both the survey and made an offer on the same day. 

We agreed. 

The vessel would go to the Caribbean Islands the next day and work in those waters for 5 months.

We extracted the molds and measurements of what needed to be done here. 

A very difficult, risky project.

In the following process, we manufactured the additional parts for the vessel in the Caribbean in the large indoor area we rented in Marmaris Industrial Zone.

When the vessel returned 5 months later, we started and completed the assembly work.

Meanwhile, I managed the project for the manufacturing and refitting of some vessels belonging to the YEŞİL MARMARİS group, which has Turkey's largest maritime fleet.

MY GREATEST FORTUNE

My greatest fortune was that during my early days and development period in this business, I didn't encounter ordinary customers, but met and worked with the true experts of the field.

This caused me to become more committed to the work and develop rapidly.

WHERE DID THE UNIVERSITY COME FROM?

While expanding and continuing my work, our paths crossed with the management of Izmir University of Economics. 

They asked me to give a seminar at their school.

When the seminar ended, they made me a job offer. 

They asked me to participate in juries part-time and to teach some classes. 

I carried out this job along with the others for a certain period.

Then when my children were born, I had to take a break from everything.

When the children became manageable, I quickly started to continue my work from where I left off. 

REGULAR ARTICLES IN MOTOR BOAT MAGAZINE

Many projects, production...

I visit universities. 

Every month I write regular articles in Motor Boat Magazine about things that can create style and become trends on boats.

I frequently follow international fairs and publish developments.

I conduct research and publications on colors, natural textures, and methods that can be applied to boats.

MY CURRENT CLIENT IS AN EGYPTIAN FAMILY

Currently, I have been working for 2 years on a 40-meter motor yacht belonging to an Egyptian family.

I am making many changes on the yacht.

When the family had grandchildren, they decided to make radical changes in the interior design.

Cabin layouts are changing completely.

We are making modifications to the American-designed and built boat to make it more practical for themselves.

INSPIRED BY UNIFORM DETAILS...

Apart from these, for 2 years we have been producing and selling products inspired by details in the uniform to move away from clichés.

Products we named "Comodors" brand,

textile products, decorative accessories.

Cups, wallpapers, bags, pillows.

We produce all of these in different places.

I work with manufacturers in places like Kuşadası, Marmaris, Istanbul.

DIFFERENT DESIGNS, PRODUCTIONS IN DIFFERENT FIELDS

I work in different fields with a design focus.

During this time, within ALBATROS MARINA where I have been working for 14 years, a woodworking team was formed.

With our team that we have been working with for a long time, we realize productions at the quality we desire.

For designs and productions, we naturally form teams outside of Marmaris, in Fethiye and Istanbul.

STARTING WITH A NEW CREW TAKES TIME FOR COORDINATION

In our business, starting with new crews is always difficult. Coordination is achieved over time.

Understanding the language of the line takes time.

But in the end, we come together in harmony at a common point."

If you equip marine vessels, why not live at sea?

Finally, they bought a 76 model Canadian-made sailboat as a family.

MOTOR YACHT DREAMS ENDED WITH A SAILBOAT

"I would never think of anything other than a motor yacht in my dreams. 

A sailboat?

Never in my life!

But it happened.

The pleasure we got when we boarded showed me how wrong I was thinking without experiencing it.

Of course, I was used to comfort-oriented boats, but this was different.

The boat is close to the sea and we love it very much.

When we bought it from the Canadian owner, the boat was full of books, it smelled like a second-hand bookstore.

We made arrangements over time. 

We reduced the books a bit so there would be room for a family of 4.

Since it's a small boat, I pay attention to details.

I love our boat very much, I love the sea very much, I love my work very much.