In a demanding landscape where personalised customisation is pivotal, the range of interior design requests that Sabrina Monteleone-Øeino – founder of the Monaco-based studio Sabrina Monte-Carlo – receives is dizzying. With four showrooms based in the principality and Saint-Jean-Cap Ferrat offering a diverse selection of luxury furniture, fabrics, tableware and accessories, it has become a one-stop destination for all kinds of interior and exterior decoration projects, from high-end residential to the elite world of superyachts.
Born, bred and now married in Monaco, Monteleone-Øeino is a kind of a staple in the international yachting capital. Indeed, she has decorated more than 150 of the world’s largest yachts to date, and while her design skills are not restricted to yachts, she certainly has a soft spot for them. Having initially concentrated on stocking high-end fashion brands and homeware, she began her adventure in yachting interiors and exteriors after struggling to find elegant outdoor furniture for the terrace of her own apartment 19 years ago. Much like a custom yacht build, perfection is in the detail when it comes to interior design, says Monteleone-Øeino.
“I try to make everything harmonious and elegant but never bland. I love mixing different materials, textures and fabrics, and I would say my style is quite contemporary and fresh, often with a little touch of colour,” she says. “No matter what, I always try to use the highest quality in everything, from linens to cushions, furniture and accessories.”
The fact that she is married to Norwegian yacht designer Espen Øeino has certainly given Monteleone-Øeino an edge (plus her parents worked in fashion, she points out). But as she explains, designing a winning interior is all about coming to grips with the brief.
“The first step is obviously understanding what the client wants: how he uses his boat and how he spends his time on board. Is it a family boat for relaxed holidays? Is it an exploration vessel that he will use to go skiing? Is it a party boat? Will he live on board? We work very closely with the client and it is very important to know what his taste is. But once we have a few indications of what he likes, the inspiration comes very quickly!”
It’s interesting to note that since founding the design studio in 1999, there has been a significant evolution of tastes and trends. Ten years ago, for instance, the preference was for vast yachts that were akin to a grand house in their dimensions and equipped with dining rooms, spas, salons and gyms. However today, the onus is on emphasising a connection to the sea, with fluid indoor-outdoor living, and beach club designs.
“Yacht interiors are now much lighter, more neutral and tend to resemble modern apartments,” explains Monteleone-Øeino. “Light carpets, contemporary furniture, simple yet sophisticated fabrics, and wall panels that are less heavy. Everything looks ‘easier’ these days. Floating palaces are, in most cases, a thing of the past.”
Drawing distinctions between superyacht design and land-based architecture has long-been a matter of debate. In the last twenty years, interior yacht design has come extremely close, aesthetically speaking, to that of land-based homes and the study of materials, composition, colour, and aspects of light and shadow have taken on new meanings. They affect the perception that the end user has of the space, and as a result, projects tend to involve more and more ‘soft’ features for a higher sensory experience.
Monteleone-Øeino’s creative process follows this credo which results in some shared traits and characteristics between her yacht interiors and her residential design. For the most part, though, it’s confined space and tight deadlines that are the common ground between all of her projects.
“No matter how long the vessel is, space is always an issue,” explains Monteleone-Øeino. “Everything has to be custom built and of course safely fixed to the boat. Outdoor furniture must also be resistant to all weather conditions. But interiors really do tend to look a lot more like apartments now.”
While Monteleone-Øeino has always found inspiration in Mediterranean-inspired tones, it is the client who dictates the palette. “Each client is different, but neutral and soft tones tend to dominate interiors,” she says. “However, we always have fun with more bold colours and fabrics for outdoor areas.” The current tendency amongst clients for both homes and yachts is somewhat informed by fashion. “Masculine colours, clean lines, sumptuous marbles and contemporary Italian furniture give the apartments the ‘Tom Ford’ look that everyone loves,” she explains.
Of course, the art of interiors extends far beyond the placement of furniture and choice of fabrics, and stretches into the realm of the living. For Monteleone-Øeino, the opportunity to keep on designing even once the project itself is complete is too tantalising to resist. “I am very particular about tableware. I have an arts de la table and Lalique shops, so I have to make sure that every meal on board a yacht is always a show!” Dinner and a show. What could be more fun?
