Interviews med Rezzan Benardete

My path into design was shaped by both formal education and life experience. I studied Finance at George Washington University, which taught me structure and strategic thinking. But my true calling was in design, and I followed that instinct. After working in brand strategy at Arçelik, I founded my own studio in 2010. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to high-end residential, hospitality, and yacht interiors, blending aesthetic refinement with deeply personal, functional spaces.

Design is my language — it allows me to express emotions, tell stories, and build environments that people genuinely feel connected to. I’m motivated by the power of space to transform how people live, move, and feel.

It was a choice — but more than that, it was a calling. I felt drawn to visual narratives and spatial harmony from an early age. Once I started designing professionally, there was no turning back.

I design interiors that feel both elevated and lived-in — homes, yachts, boutique commercial spaces. Yachts especially intrigue me, as they demand a deep understanding of spatial discipline and emotion. I’d love to do more projects that integrate movement and travel, like trains, retreats, or mobile living spaces.

Stay curious. Learn from everything — art, history, fashion, people. Build a strong foundation in materials and proportion, and stay deeply connected to your intuition.

A good designer creates beauty. A great designer creates meaning. It’s the emotional intelligence and narrative depth that set them apart.

When a design feels effortless, but every detail has intention. It balances function and form, resonates with its users, and stands the test of time.

Good design enhances life. It shapes how we experience our surroundings and ourselves. It supports wellbeing, joy, and clarity.

I’d design a floating home or a compact sanctuary in nature — something minimal, self-sufficient, and poetic. It would be for anyone seeking presence and simplicity.

A cultural space — a small museum or atelier — where design, craftsmanship, and storytelling converge.

Empathy. Listening deeply to people’s needs, desires, and memories, and translating them into form.

The Maya 37XP yacht. It’s both technically complex and emotionally resonant. The interiors evoke intimacy, while the layout responds beautifully to movement and water.

Travel. Observe. Touch. Learn from craftspeople. Always ask why something works — or doesn’t.

Perhaps something in art curation or anthropology — storytelling through objects and cultures.

Design is the art of making life feel more considered — it’s how we shape meaning through space, light, material, and memory.

My family, who believed in my vision even when it took an unconventional path.

Experience. Curiosity. The courage to take creative risks while staying deeply grounded.

Finding my voice — separating what looks good from what feels right. Also, being a woman in a male-dominated sector like yacht design has its own challenges.

With clarity, humility, and emotion. It’s not just what you made, but why you made it that matters.

To leave behind spaces that carry soul — not just style.

Originality, vision, and the ability to translate complexity into effortless beauty.

Design affects behavior. It can create dignity, inclusivity, calm, or joy. It’s a silent force behind how we live.

Yacht interiors — they’re immersive and require absolute precision. Seeing clients feel at home at sea is incredibly rewarding.

More sustainability, less noise. And a deeper appreciation for craftsmanship.

Toward adaptive, flexible environments — especially with smaller, mobile, or shared living becoming more common.

Depends on the scale — yachts can take 12–18 months. But perfection is never rushed.

With a conversation. I want to understand the client’s story, how they live, what they dream.

Design with intention, live with emotion.

Great design transcends trends. But it’s in dialogue with the times.

It’s a silent partner — enabling precision and innovation. But the soul comes from the hand.

AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3D modeling tools — but also physical samples, drawings, and lots of moodboarding.

They are everything. They define the emotional temperature of a space. I lean into rich textures, soft light, and bold yet natural colors.

“What does this space make you feel?” That’s the real question.

I study its intention — and quietly applaud the restraint behind it.

Yes — co-design, when done right, is synergy. I enjoy working with artisans and architects who bring different perspectives.

Clients — each brings their own worldview, and it’s an honor to translate that.

Books on Japanese wabi-sabi, design history, and even poetry — anything that deepens spatial sensitivity.

Eileen Gray. Her work with modernist furniture and interiors is endlessly inspiring.

Gratitude. Recognition is meaningful, but I remain focused on the work. That’s where fulfillment lies.

On one yacht, we had a secret drawer built into a bench for a client’s dog — complete with a cushion and air vent. The dog ended up ignoring it entirely.

Seeing beauty in small moments — morning light on a material sample, a new idea that clicks, a client’s smile.

Not obvious, but I was always rearranging rooms, collecting fabric scraps, and curating corners of the house.

Design will become more invisible and more emotional. Spaces will respond to our moods, needs, and even memories.

My work is about more than beauty — it’s about creating spaces that people feel. If something I’ve designed brings calm, joy, or clarity, then I’ve done my job.

My journey into design was not a straight line—but it was always driven by intuition and curiosity. After earning a Finance degree at George Washington University, I began my career at Arçelik, where I focused on brand strategy and global expansion. But my passion for spaces, objects, and aesthetics kept pulling me toward design. In 2010, I followed that instinct and founded Rezzan Benardete Interiors in Istanbul. It was a natural evolution of a lifelong fascination with art, architecture, and storytelling.

Rezzan Benardete Interiors is a boutique design studio based in Istanbul. We work across luxury residential, hospitality, and yacht interiors, focusing on projects that demand a high level of personalization and craft. Our approach is deeply collaborative and rooted in emotional storytelling—we’re not just designing beautiful spaces, we’re creating experiences that reflect our clients’ lives and aspirations.

Design is emotional architecture. It is the art of shaping how people live, feel, and connect within a space. For me, design must have both soul and structure—it must function beautifully and evoke feeling.

I’m especially drawn to yacht interiors and personal residences. These spaces are intimate, and they offer endless potential to explore individuality, detail, and emotion. I love the contrast: yachts require extreme precision and compact creativity, while homes allow for emotional layering and heritage.

Maya, a private yacht project we completed, holds a special place in my heart. It was designed with complete creative freedom and an incredible client. Every material, every stitch, and every corner was curated to reflect not just style but lifestyle. It represents the ideal blend of refined craftsmanship and lived-in elegance.

One of my earliest professional design projects was a residential interior in Istanbul. It was my first opportunity to translate vision into spatial reality—from layout to lighting to final styling. It taught me how powerful personal connection is in design.

Natural materials like wood, linen, marble, and bronze resonate with me—they age gracefully and carry soul. On the technical side, I rely on high-resolution 3D renderings and architectural modeling tools to convey precision. But nothing replaces a tactile material board.

I feel most creatively alive when traveling or in nature. But even more so, late evenings in the studio—when the world quiets—are my favorite times to explore mood, materials, and composition freely.

I always start with flow—how a space breathes, how people move through it. Then comes materiality and light. And finally, the emotion. The end goal is to create a narrative that feels inevitable, as if the space always existed that way.

Excitement, definitely. But also a sense of responsibility—to the client, to the space, and to the craft. There’s also a certain intimacy in understanding how someone lives and designing something that reflects their essence.

It’s magical. To see an idea take physical form and witness someone inhabit that space with joy—it’s deeply rewarding. It makes all the behind-the-scenes challenges worth it.

A successful design is one that’s lived in beautifully. If a client feels seen, comfortable, and connected to the space—it’s a success. Great design should feel like a natural extension of the person who occupies it.

Balance and authenticity. If a design feels cohesive, intentional, and not overworked—it usually hits the mark. I’m also very sensitive to proportion, scale, and material harmony.

Designers hold the power to shape not only spaces but behaviors. We must advocate for sustainable choices, honor local craftsmanship, and be mindful of cultural context. Every design decision carries weight—socially and environmentally.

Design is becoming more personal and soulful. People are moving away from over-styled, trend-driven interiors and leaning into spaces that reflect their heritage, travels, and lives. The future of design is intentional, tactile, and emotionally intelligent.

Our presentations are often private and client-specific, especially in yacht and residential design. However, I would love to create a more public, conceptual exhibition in the future—perhaps one that brings together interior design and contemporary art.

Inspiration is everywhere: travel, art, architecture, and nature. But also conversations, textures, films. Recently, I’ve drawn from both Art Deco elegance and Japanese minimalism when designing yachts. I enjoy layering references from different eras and cultures.

It’s a refined fusion of timeless elegance and contemporary sensitivity. I love mixing classical forms with modern finishes, and creating contrasts—structured and soft, minimal and ornate. My work is rooted in emotion, craftsmanship, and individuality.

I live in Istanbul—a city layered with history and diversity. Its eclecticism influences my work profoundly. I’ve always admired how the city blends East and West, ancient and modern. That duality is reflected in many of my designs.

We work closely with clients and brands through a transparent, collaborative process. I believe in listening deeply, presenting strong concepts, and adapting with elegance. Whether it’s a private client or a development group, trust is everything.

Choose a designer whose values align with yours—not just stylistically, but philosophically. Trust their process, give them space to interpret your needs, and don’t rush creativity.

It starts with immersion—understanding the client’s lifestyle, aspirations, and story. Then we build mood boards, material palettes, and 3D visualizations. The execution phase involves deep collaboration with artisans and specialists. From sketch to styling, I remain hands-on.

A handwoven rug I sourced on a trip to Cappadocia

A vintage Pierre Jeanneret armchair

Custom silk drapery that changes with the light

My niece Leyla’s paintings in the hallway

A mid-century Murano glass lamp

Mornings are for focus—emails, sketching, and studio time. Afternoons include site visits and material sourcing. Evenings are reserved for inspiration and family—often spent with my niece Leyla, visiting galleries or painting together.

Design with empathy. Train your eye, travel meaningfully, and never lose curiosity. Be patient—refined design takes time. And above all, design spaces that make people feel something.

The beauty lies in shaping lives and spaces—there’s immense emotional reward. The challenge? The invisible pressure of perfection and the mental load of constant decision-making. But if you love what you do, it energizes you.

Design from the inside out. Let the feeling guide the form.

Listening, sensitivity to detail, material knowledge, and visual storytelling. A strong aesthetic is important—but so is flexibility and emotional intelligence.

Sketchbooks, AutoCAD, 3D renderings, and material libraries. But also museums, photography, and physical samples. A tactile approach is irreplaceable.

With discipline and a clear structure. I delegate where needed but remain creatively involved throughout. I also protect creative time—some of my best ideas come when I’m not “working.”

For a custom furniture piece, it may take 3–6 months. For yachts or residences, 12–18 months is typical. Timelines depend on complexity and craftsmanship involved.

“Where do you get your inspiration from?” My answer is always: everywhere. Design is about seeing—not just looking.

Leading Maya, the yacht project, from concept to completion. It challenged me in the best ways—balancing beauty with technical constraints while preserving the intimacy of the design.

We’ve worked with private collectors, business leaders, and developers in Europe and the Middle East—each bringing a distinct personality that makes every project fresh and rewarding.

Yacht design. It demands absolute attention to detail, spatial efficiency, and emotional design—all within a floating environment. It’s architectural poetry at sea.

We’re launching a new yacht designed in partnership with a Polish shipyard—it’s about to hit the water. I'm also working on a luxury retail space and a private nightclub, each offering fresh creative challenges.

I lead every project creatively, but I’m supported by a dedicated team of designers and artisans. Collaboration is the heart of our process, but every design begins with my vision.

Yes—besides the new yacht, we’re working on several exciting interior projects in Europe, including a concept store and a seaside villa. Each brings a different aesthetic and challenge.

Through our website www.rezzanbenardeteinteriors.com or directly via email. We welcome meaningful partnerships and inquiries.

Design is deeply emotional. A truly beautiful space isn’t just seen—it’s felt. That’s what I always strive for: to design spaces that stay with people, long after they’ve left them.