Inside the Ocean's Diamond on the Water
Gliding gracefully along the water, the majestic luxury super yacht draws attention as her four-tired design and snow white exterior appeal to anyone attracted to exquisite nautical lifestyles.Inside, her interior was custom designed for an affluent clientele of owners who desire to relish the magic of the ocean on accommodations boasting lavish charm and imperial character.
Evan K. Marshall Ltd, the renowned interior designer, proudly shares the beauty on board Diamonds are Forever. The exterior styling of the yacht is by Benetti and she was completed in 2011 at the Benetti Ship Yard in Livorno, Italy.
Evan K. Marshall Ltd. worked with several interior contractors including Genesis Yacht line and Mobil Art, along with the original owners to create a theme which was ‘something spectacular’. The founder, Evan K. Marshall came from a family of avid sailors, drawing boats since he was four years old, and professionally starting his company in 1991 after six years working as a yacht designer.
Having held a long standing relationship working on projects for the original owners—John and Jenette Staluppi—Evan had an ideal picture in his mind for his interior masterpiece upon hearing the name, Diamonds are Forever.
“It is a valuable aspect of any designer to have a long standing relationship with a client because you understand their goals and expectations, which makes the project run more smoothly to ensure they are happy with the end result,” said Evan K. Marshall.
The yacht is one of several boats once built and possessed by the Staluppis, which carries the name of a James Bond movie, as John liked the association of his boats with the film for their optimal balance of performance and luxury.
Upon entering Diamonds are Forever through sliding glass doors, the sensation of royalty is felt as you venture into what appears to be a palace in the entrance foyer containing a mirrored elevator decorated with Swarovski crystals.
The main salon area contains the most expensive acquired piece of furniture on the boat; worth 25,000 Euros, the dining table comfortably provides space for 12 guests as they enjoy a gourmet meal on a work of art incorporating glass, chrome, and special LED lighting.
A second indoor social space, the Sky Lounge, features Diamonds are Forever’s full service bar along with a second dining table and an adjoining alfresco area, allowing guests to enjoy the outdoors under a shaded area in the comfort of air conditioning.
The outside decks provide additional space to relax or entertain, including plush outdoor sofas and a spacious hot tub.
The galley matches the sumptuous interior of the rest of the vessel, as the elegant space contains wood with a high gloss finish, granite countertops, and is fully functional with state-of-the-art appliances to prepare all types of cuisine.
Diamonds are Forever welcomes 12 overnight guests to stay in one of six lush state rooms, tastefully adorned with deluxe furnishings and each with its own marble en suite bathroom and entertainment system.
“The tufted fabric wall panels made of silk were chosen to replicate the diamond pattern which we felt gave a richness to the rooms,” said Evan.
The master stateroom contains a cream and champagne coloured bedspread with crystals woven into the fabric, and features mirrored ceilings to give the illusion of greater space for the owners’ comfort.
Specially designed for the ease of its guests, the yacht is equipped with an interface which uses iPad Minis to control everything on board including the leisure and entertainment facilities, lighting, curtains, and temperature.
Evan boasts that the most unique feature of Diamonds are Forever is what they call the ‘Beach Club’ located at the aft of the boat. A garage door folds down to allow the tender to exit and transforms into a 10” by 10” deck area with teak floors just six inches above water level.
Guests can enjoy loungers and swimming right off the boat when she is anchored, catering to yachting lifestyle desires.
Interior design of this ostentatious nature is on average a two-and-a-half year process, which begins at the time of the exterior build.
“Every detail, every knob, every fabric, every stone, everything has to be studied and selected and decided upon. We arrange numerous meetings to agree upon the best options to present to our clients, but as designers we are under pressure because we can’t allow the development of the interior to delay the boats completion,” said Evan.
Like her name, Diamonds are Forever is a diamond out on the water, representing wealth, class, and superiority extending a royal experience on the ocean like no other.
