Remi Tessier

Rémi Tessier, who began his career as a cabinetmaker, is now one of the world’s leading yacht interior designers. With an early start at the age of 15, he joined Les Compagnons du Devoir, a venerable French guild of craftsmen and artisans that dates back to the Middle Ages. His seven years of hands-on training instilled in him a profound respect for materials and honed his design skills. After venturing into shop interior redesigns, he transitioned into residential projects and eventually yacht interiors. Since launching his Paris-based studio in 1988, Tessier has accumulated several prestigious international awards and built a reputation as a go-to designer for the most discerning clients. His studio now boasts an international team, although Tessier himself remains intricately involved in every project, scrutinizing every millimeter of his designs.

Tessier’s design style is characterized by its timeless sophistication, merging tradition and innovation. His deep understanding of materials, informed by his background in cabinetmaking, allows him to blend different materials for unexpected finishes. Inspired by the purity and sophistication of nature, he is known to employ hidden light sources to bring out the subtleties of textures. Art plays an influential role in Tessier’s work; his relationships in the Contemporary Art world, from artists to collectors, often shape the schemes he undertakes. Describing himself as a “timeless architect,” Tessier seeks to capture the “soul” of each space, adapting his designs to develop their own unique personality, much like how he would raise his six daughters.

Among Tessier’s most notable projects are some of the industry’s most iconic yachts. These include Ernesto Bertarelli’s Vava II, the 49-meter superyacht Satori, Feadship Kahalani, and Fitzroy Yachts Zefira. His prior work on yachts like Squall, Parsifal II, Nahlin, Air, and Grace E, as well as private residences and jets, showcases the breadth of his design capabilities. Tessier’s furniture designs also feature prominently in his portfolio, stemming from his intricate knowledge of materials. His accolades include awards for his work on the Heesen Satori, Feadship Kahalani, and Aslec 4. Furthermore, he has embarked on brand collaborations, most notably with Baccarat, to design unique crystal taps that are lit from within, a testament to his continual pursuit of design innovation and excellence.