Following Seas
In landlocked Munich, designer Thomas Mang creates a yacht-inspired home for a client who loves life on the water.
In the living room, curved armchairs are backed in metal and upholstered in coral-red suede by Dedar, through Holly Hunt. The color is splashed throughout in accents like pillows and decorative objects. Warm wood paneling gives the room a yacht-like vibe and the floor-to-ceiling windows are softened by voluminous draperies.
How do you reproduce the feel of yacht life in a home in landlocked Munich? According to designer Thomas Mang, you employ bespoke details, custom, perfectly fitted furnishings, warm wood finishes and polished surfaces, and an ample dose of Japanese-inspired Zen.
For his client with a passion for the high seas, Mang designed a four-story urban abode in the heart of the German capital. Having done a few projects with this client before, Mang was comfortable proposing new ideas. “The brief was to create a cozy and warm home, with the best quality in the surfaces and craftsmanship,” says Mang.
Left: In the entryway, a brass-based table sits on a rug by Tai Ping. The dining room is outfitted with streamlined, custom table and chairs.
Right: A streamlined and efficient kitchen includes marble countertops on an island replete with storage and an induction cooktop by Gaggenau.
To do that, he worked with Italian brand Promemoria to create custom, one-of-a-kind furnishings that evoke a nautical feel but are also perfectly suited to a home in the city. Take for example the bold, curved armchairs in the living room, upholstered in coral-red suede and backed with sleek metal. They would be perfectly at home in the main salon of an oceangoing vessel, but fit perfectly in this urban environment. Mang says, “This home fits with our usual design aesthetic, but in this case, we implemented a much warmer and more powerful colorway, a palette that developed from honeyed, amber hues to bronze and coral red.” He shares that the client loved the design concept from the beginning, but it took a little time to incorporate the vivid red tones found throughout. “Red is a color that runs vividly throughout the apartment in different tonalities and culminates in the powerful red of Promemoria clubhouse chairs.”
Faucets by Vola adorn the powder room and primary bath. Through Hastings Bath Collection.
Mang selected the honeyed tones of the wood paneling throughout the home, and working with an empty shell, they fitted the rooms with textures and surfaces that include linen, suede, wood, and stone. The team created a new layout so that the home had a relaxed flow, opening up the kitchen and repositioning baths and bedrooms. To enhance the yacht-like feel, they worked with wall systems for storage and display, and incorporated hidden systems for sound, climate control, and lighting. “The necessary systems were a challenge because of the low ceilings, and we wanted to make sure we didn’t interfere with the streamlined look.”
Left: Deeply veined marble adds drama in the bath. Vola faucet, through Hastings Bath Collection.
Right: In the entry, built-in cabinets house the bar.
The synergy between designer, client, and project is always important, and Mang says that this one embodies his design aesthetic perfectly. “My aesthetic revolves around excellence in craftsmanship, aiming to be both elegant, timeless, and modern. This home is a sleek design made of sharp lines, where the warm colors infuse a sense of timeless comfort and elegance.”