De s
as de
n-a-dime o n i ig
CHEAP & CHIC lp he
sp
ru
ce
u p your
wners may step aboard their boat this season, look around and think, “Gee, my baby is looking kind-of scruffy and old.” They start obsessing about stained and worn surfaces, threadbare carpeting, scratched woodwork and frumpy, dated fabrics. Yet there’s no desire to blow a stack of hard-earned Benjamins on a complete refit. Relax: There are inexpensive solutions to make a beloved vessel look as fresh and homey as ever. In this first installment of a two-part Lakeland Boating series on boat renovations and retrofits, we provide tips on ways to improve a boat’s interior without spending an arm and a leg. [Next month, we’ll address giving the same money-saving treatment to your boat’s exterior elements.]
Not only will boaters better enjoy their home-awayfrom-home with these fun yet frugal tips, but they’ll also add to its resale value.
Designing for Marine
-a-dime id n o e n-
h
el
p
sp
ru c
e u p you
rior.
int e
By h bet Eliza ick Alt
ire d
_ <
to
If boat owners want expert advice, it’s wise to consult a designer who has experience with marine projects. “There’s a huge difference between residential and yacht design,” says Anthony Michael, a prominent Chicago, Illinois interior designer and principal of Anthony Michael Interior Design. “For one thing, the twists and turns on a boat require more thought. The adage, ‘measure twice, cut once’ on a boat becomes, ‘measure ten times, cut once.’ “Of course, only marine-grade materials should be used, right down to the staples,” he adds. But one should not feel entirely limited to products manufactured specifically for the boating world. Laura Gills, principal of Freshwater Gills, a design practice based in Mentor, Ohio, noticed over her 25-year career how isolated marine interior design was from the commercial and residential industries. “Although designing for moving watercraft is quite different from designing buildings, there’s a wide array of product suitable for marine interiors that the public isn’t exposed to,” she maintains.
as
Des ig
or.
d ire t ’s boat
O
Before
in te ri
to
By Elizabeth Altick
t ’s t a r bo
Fabric The least expensive, most effective makeover involves “soft goods,” according to Michael. These include cushions, window treatments, wall coverings and carpeting. “The commercial fabric industry has so much to offer in terms
30
LAKELANDBOATING.COM
|
march 2014
photos by laura gills