5 1 Organic decorations Eco-friendly flooring Bringing the outside in is one of the most enduring trends in interior design. Many major shipowners have achieved this by displaying flowers, plants and even trees from greenery specialist Dauerflora. Made from organic materials wherever possible, Dauerflora’s decorations contain flowers and plants that were cut in full bloom, then preserved in a sustainable liquid to maintain their beauty for years to come. Similarly, preserved palm branches are used in trees. Not only do they look natural, but they are also environmentally friendly. Dauerflora also supplies fresh-cut flowers to ships by enlisting the help of its worldwide supplier network, choosing whichever one is located closest to the vessel’s port of call. Sustainability is a key priority for every passenger ship operator. Hence, many want to use naturally occurring and renewable materials to decorate public spaces and accommodation areas. Woollen carpets, such as those produced by Brintons Carpets, are created from the natural by-product of the annual sheep-shearing process so they have minimal impact on the environment. Thanks to the natural properties of wool, Brintons’ carpets reduce heat loss, absorb background noise and they are resistant to flames, dirt and water, meaning they are easy to maintain. Most importantly for guests, they are also warm and comfortable underfoot. these people will be travelling on our ships at the same time, so interiors designs must meet all these expectations.” Once Viking Line has decided what type of facilities to include, it faces an even greater challenge – creating contemporary, yet timeless, interior designs that stand the test of time. Incorporating the latest design and architecture trends can be tricky, particularly because interiors have to last for several years in between ship refurbishments. “We try to not focus on trends too much because the shipbuilding process takes such a long time that there’s a risk that whatever trends were popular when we first designed the interiors would be out of fashion by the time the vessel hits the waves,” explains Nordberg. “In addition, design trends will not always be equally popular with all passenger demographics. What may be considered fashionable by our Swedish passengers, for example, may be viewed as dated by our international tourists. This makes it tricky to choose which trends to prioritise over others.” However, Nordberg and his team have a simple trick to keep interiors current. “We create neutral backgrounds using different types of wood, other natural materials, and carpets and fabrics with subtle patterns and colours, then we add on-trend decorative details at a later stage of the design process,” he explains. The beauty of this approach is that these decorative elements are usually relatively quick, easy and inexpensive to upgrade to meet newer design trends during refurbishments. “By reupholstering furniture, adding a few trendy new chairs, hanging contemporary artwork, swapping curtains, or even upgrading the menus and crockery in the restaurants, we can quickly give spaces a new lease of life and bring them up to date,” says Nordberg. “LED and colour-changing lighting systems also allow us to completely transform the atmosphere of public spaces throughout the day. Sometimes something as simple as altering the type of background music we play is sufficient to create a new feeling in an otherwise unchanged space.” Natural assets Organic materials never go out of fashion, but they are currently surging in popularity on passenger ships. CFIasks two interior experts why The Seamore restaurant on Viking Grace shows Viking Line’s signature timeless, yet modern, design style
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