The team at Pocketspace Marine thinks so. And they are ready to take the New Zealand fleet to the ‘next level’.
“You should walk onto a boat and be wowed. It should reflect the style and personality of its owners. But we have done everything a certain way for so many years, and our boats are all starting to look exactly the same,” says founder Laura Heynike, a self-starter who created her Auckland business in 2015.
Over its nine years in business, the boutique design company has transformed homes and commercial interiors, forming long-term connections with its customers as it learns about their tastes, loves, and dislikes.
It made sense that some of those customers would ask them to create beautiful interiors for their vessels, and Pocketspace Marine was born, with Chloe Salthouse (of the famous sailing family) on board to blend marine and design expertise.
“You don’t need a different designer for each space you have. We can jump into any space with our client and deliver that,” says Laura.
“You might be a boat owner who just doesn’t have time to invest, someone who wants some direction but gets on and does the work themselves, or even a marine trades specialist that wants to give a customised design service to really make the end product special.”
The boats are already varied: luxurious production imports, classics that are due a refit, and the likes of first-generation Rivieras and Maritimos that are just getting a little tired – and even bigger boats visiting for a refit. (Pocketspace also created the interiors for Tourism Holding’s latest Jucy and Star RV fleets – and they really are subtly distinctive and special)
“We went onboard a number of production boats at the Auckland Boat Show, and they left us feeling sad for the marine industry. They all looked nearly exactly the same – there was a lack of detailing and craftsmanship. We were saddened about the direction, but it’s also a great opportunity to turn it around,” says Laura, who is already teaming up with marine tradespeople to up-spec the design side.
The first step is a boat audit
The first step for any new project is a boat audit – what’s working and establishing priorities with the boat owner.”
Following the development of concepts and a fee proposal, the work can then get underway – either in the hands of trusted tradespeople, directly by the owner, or project-managed down to the finest detail by Pocketspace. The work can take place all at once, or in stages.
Functional challenges
The great thing about boats is that there are lots of places and spaces that can be optimised. Some of the ways we can create more functional spaces are:
• Nets and wire baskets above the engine rooms
• Reconfiguring the captain’s chair to add storage.
• Replacing under-bed drawers with gas lifts for more flexible storage options
• Adding a character top to a kitchen can uplift it considerably – and by making it slightly bigger can add surface area too.
• Respraying cabinets and retrofitting drawers and cupboards with new hardware, baskets and bins .
Pocketspace is an advocate for layering and colour: natural colours like greens, blues and terracotta will offset blues and greens to make them exciting.
A berry and green palette will work well with on-trend rich dark walnuts and teak. Add some cashmere tones and the space will feel luxurious and inviting.
Steps to a better interior
Selecting the right products, and then carefully project-managing the full process, is key to creating a stand-out interior that’s perfect in every way.
Don’t settle for what’s in the brochure when you order a production boat.
Get a professional involved so that your upholstery and soft furnishings are perfect from the day you place your order.
Pocketspace Marine invites enquiries from boatbuilders and the marine industry, tradespeople and boat owners.
Find out more: www.pocketspacemarine.co.nz / Phone 09-212-6820/ Email laura@pocketspaceinteriors.com or chloe@pocketspaceinteriors.com, 021 081 37731
