Just in time for next summer!

Toronto-based interior design studio Burdifilek has had a big year. Cofounders Diego Burdi and Paul Filek, known for their exceptional designs in private residences, luxury hotels and retail spaces – such as Neiman Marcus in New York and the Hyundai department store in Seoul – recently branched out into the yachting world, clinching BOAT International’s 2024 BOAT Design & Innovation Award for their spectacular interiors aboard the Amels 60 Entourage. Following the duo’s prestigious win, we had a chance to speak to Burdi about their successful start in the yachting industry.

What is the Burdifilek philosophy?

Diego Burdi: When we’re looking at projects, we always try to think about how it will sit on the world stage. From day one, we had the philosophy to think globally. We had that mentality already, when it wasn’t popular.

Also what’s important is that we listen to the client very carefully. Whether it’s a retail space, a house, a yacht, a winery or a hotel, it is, in a way, their home. They all function uniquely by themselves. It is important for us to make the client feel we are embarking on this journey together, and we always present our ideas that sometimes are quietly pioneering, in a way that you can’t put your finger on, there is something unique about it.

Can you tell us what it was like designing the interiors for a yacht?

Entourage was the very first yacht we ever designed. When the client approached us and asked us to do the interiors, I said we’ve never done a yacht before, but they insisted that they like our design DNA, our way of thinking. The client then suggested we should visit the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and have a look around. Upon boarding all of these mega yachts, the first thing that was really apparent to me was the level of execution on a yacht – everything comes together with beautiful craftsmanship, it was fantastic.

Redefining Yachting: Burdifilek’s Award-Winning Entourage Interiors