Tell us about the journey that led you to start Marty A. Lowe Design Inc...
I come from a very large, very artistic family. Although my brothers and sisters have many different professions, each of us has an artistic flair. My children have inherited the gene as well. Artistry is in our DNA. I truly believe that is was my family that fostered my heightened way of looking at the world around me. I am always inspired by the items that exist in my daily life. I draw a great deal of inspiration from all things found in nature: the quality of light, the colors, the proportions. I see the world in terms of texture, light, color and form. My design philosophy has always been about lifestyle. I also follow fashion trends as I believe there is a great synergy between fashion and one’s environment. I design for the way that people live, taking inspiration from the things that I love. I always create a living space with the same timeless sensibility that I use to build a wardrobe. That’s what lends a room its spirit and enduring style. Our eponymous firm is a Florida-based interior design firm known for its tailored and refined design, often using elements from the past, which evoke an eclectic, polished and chic style. The firm’s clever use of color and refined eye for furnishings and objects d’art, create a sophisticated aesthetic apparent in all their work ranging from countless yachts to commercial offices, to high-end residences and boutique hotels. Marty Lowe Inc has earned much acclaim in the design world and has been featured in many yachting magazines.
Describe your relationship with Moore & Giles...
Don Giles called on me when I was working with Bertram Yacht in 1986. Along with Moore & Giles leathers, he was promoting a
Majilite product. I started using this Majilite product for headliner and bulkhead coverings on yachts and it was a huge success which quickly caught on in the Marine industry. Our firm also sold the complete interior packages for each yacht coming off of each assembly line at the shipyard. In this package were sofas and dinettes from Moore & Giles leather. We purchased thousands of square feet of
Deer Run leather each month. Flash forward 30 years and I am still using Moore & Giles leather on small yachts and mega yachts.
Tell us about any unique/different projects you have worked on recently…
A recently completed project was designed around my obsession with the Fibonacci sequence. The layout started with a circular staircase based on this mathematical sequence found in all nature including the nautilus spiral seashell.
What is one of your favorite Moore & Giles leathers to use in design projects?
I have many favorites. I am still a fan of Deer Run for its consistency when using it for cabinet faces and ceiling panels. See photos below. I love Finesse for its artistic quality. See the photos of the random “bricks" from Finesse used as a focal point in a stateroom. In another project, I had an Italian artist hand paint onto the Finesse leather and then we applied it to moving doors to create a mural. The sliding doors open to reveal the entertainment system. The surrounding cabinetry on this yacht had inlays of satin suede I love a natural leather-like Kipling and use it for handrails, cabinetry hardware and insets.
What are some challenges that arise with using leather in yacht design?
For smaller yachts, one must assume there will be wet bathing suits and sunscreen oils. I stay away from natural leather used for seating on these projects.
