There is something endlessly inspiring about travelling by sea. The shifting light, the rhythm of the water and the sense of discovery that comes with arriving somewhere new each morning all encourage a fresh way of seeing. Design, after all, begins with observation. It is about noticing colour in nature, unexpected textures, collected objects and the stories people tell through the places they inhabit.
This summer, Kit Kemp will join Seabourn Ovation on the Midsummer in the Land of the Midnight Sun voyage. The journey traces Norway’s dramatic coastline during a season of near endless northern light, where day and night blur and the landscape feels almost theatrical in scale.
At our Design Studio, coastal settings have long been a source of inspiration for their sense of ease and quiet confidence. The most successful interiors by the sea never feel overworked or contrived. Instead, they draw on natural textures, weathered finishes and colours that shift beautifully with the light. On a voyage like this, inspiration is everywhere, from fishing villages painted in ochre and russet tones to the deep indigo of northern waters.
Travel also offers the opportunity to collect stories, and storytelling through design sits at the heart of Kit’s latest book, Design Stories, which guests will be introduced to during the voyage. The book explores many of the influences behind the studio’s work, including craftsmanship, colour, travel, art and the emotional connection we form with the spaces around us. Interiors should never feel static; they evolve through collected moments, much like a journey itself.
Long, luminous evenings cast everything in tones of gold and silver, while the sea reflects the shifting sky like brushed silk. It is a reminder that beauty often lies as much in atmosphere as in decoration, in how a place makes you feel.
This promises to be a memorable voyage filled with design, discovery and midsummer light. Discover more here.