They always say that the first two years are the most challenging for a new company, but this month sees high end interior design studio KATHARINA RACZEK DESIGN (KRD) celebrate two very successful years working on interiors across the superyacht, residential and aviation realms.
“The last two years have been extremely exciting,” says founder Katharina Raczek. “I won’t pretend that it wasn’t overwhelming at the beginning, but I could not be happier with where the studio is today. My goal was always to go beyond superyacht design and do residential interiors as well as private jet interiors, and we have successfully completed projects in all fields: land, sea and sky.”
Over the past 13 years, Raczek has taken the lead on interiors for yachts like M/Y Triple Seven, M/Y Sapphire and M/Y RoMA as well as the award-winning M/Y Siren and S/Y Ganesha. Her first project under her own studio was also her first foray away from the superyacht world; the interior of a 135sqm apartment for a Hamburg businessman. Incorporating many of the clients own vintage pieces with specially selected artwork, it is an unfussy, masculine and effortlessly chic space that encapsulates the warm reduction that is at the heart of Raczek’s style.
KRD also completed an 880sqm high end office in Essen, Germany; a challenging project with a complicated layout that Raczek organised using carefully selected materials and muted, warm grey tones to break the long, convoluted corridors.
Several of the studio’s projects have come from Raczek’s past superyacht clients. KRD has just finished work on a superyacht client’s guest house in the hills overlooking Cannes bay.
“I have loved the atmosphere of this client’s entire mansion for years; it is very calm and relaxing, with shades of white,” says Raczek. “She asked me to work with her architect to modernise the guest wing but at the same time to keep its true spirit.” KRD has also developed two very different Global 6000 designs for another superyacht client, taking Raczek into the aviation realm as well. “As space and form choices are limited in aircrafts, the material and detail selection becomes even more important,” she says, admitting that her profound passion for detail is something that is particularly appreciated in this arena.
For Raczek, while moving from the superyacht world into aviation is fairly straightforward, land-based design requires an entirely different approach.
In the yachting the support for the team of owner’s representatives, project managers, interior builders and shipyard always allows the designer to concentrate completely on the design and the client’s vision. On land, Raczek says, you are involved in the minute of all aspects of the project.
The fresh challenges of the land and sky projects offer new inspiration, but for Raczek, superyachts will always remain her first love and focus. She is currently working on the interior refit of a 100m+ explorer yacht in Northern Germany; a prestigious project and an iconic yacht that is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
