We meet Terence Disdale

To find a man working at the very top of his game, you need look no further than Terence ‘Terry’ Disdale, who despite no formal training is now the interior and exterior designer of choice for some of the wealthiest yacht owners in the world.

He could be described as one of the ‘Bannenberg Babes’ because along with other leading lights in the superyacht design industry, including his close friend Tim Heywood and another West London-based designer Andrew Winch, he was a student of what became known as ‘Chelsea University’ – the late Jon Bannenberg’s iconic studio, which arguably invented the modern superyacht.

Today, Terence Disdale Design operates with a staff of 15 from offices adjacent to Richmond Green. Terry’s continued success at the very pinnacle of large yacht design, particularly for interiors, but also increasingly for exterior styling, can be put down to a simple mantra – “beach house not penthouse”. “Yachts can be too prissy and we’ve certainly had it with gold taps and embroidery,” said Terry, who believes that many yacht designers take far too formal a stance. Fisherman, fast vintage car enthusiast, party goer and party giver, Terry Disdale is – with his long flowing hair (now a touch on the silver side) and silver-tipped cowboy boots – instantly recognisable and much loved in the industry. Despite moving in the rarefied circle of top yacht owners, he also remains refreshingly down to earth and his ability to communicate his ideas quickly dissolves tension.