Timeless Design, Modern Vision: Winch Design’s Art of Living Well
For over four decades, Winch Design has built a reputation for transforming the worlds of yachting, aviation, and residential design with bespoke, boundary-pushing creativity. From their London studio, the brand has shaped floating palaces, airborne sanctuaries, and timeless interiors. In our conversation with Michael Noah, Associate and Furniture Designer at Winch, we step into the heart of their design process, explore their sustainability values, and uncover the story behind Tranquility—a luxurious collaboration with Savoir that celebrates 1930s ocean liner elegance and the restorative power of rest.
Winch Design began as a boutique yacht design studio and has grown into one of the world’s most revered names in luxury design across land, sea, and sky. How do you personally connect with the studio's origin and design philosophy, and what sets it apart?
Winch Design was founded in 1986. I joined about eight years ago, but in a funny way, I’ve always worked with them. Even when I was with other companies, I often collaborated with the Winch team.
What sets us apart is that we're really good listeners. We pay close attention to our clients’ briefs, ensuring what they want is what we deliver—and then we go beyond that. No detail is left to chance. We’re extremely fastidious and detail-oriented. My role tends to focus on the human scale—the finer details, almost like jewelry, so I anchor myself in those small, refined moments.
And we don’t have a house style, but a house ‘feel’, which is rare. We design based on what each client wants. One might want a beach house, another a chateau, another a New York loft—and we deliver bespoke experiences for all. It makes Winch feel like a magical place to work. As our founder Andrew likes to say, "We make dreams come true," and we get to collaborate with incredible artisans. It's an honor.
Let’s talk about the Savoir collaboration. The Tranquility bed was inspired by 1930s ocean liners. How did that specific era influence your design approach?
When we start any collaboration, we like to create a mood board with something that captures the look, tone, and feel we want to evoke. We pin up imagery and words to inspire us. One of the words we used was "embrace," and that became central to the concept—a bed that hugs you.
One of the images we pinned up was a traditional, ornate sleigh bed. I thought it would be exciting to reimagine it as a modern piece of furniture. That was the seed of the idea. From there, we began layering in details and lines inspired by the ocean liner era - the romance of transatlantic travel, beautiful ballrooms, first-class suites, sea air. It all came together
Even the photo shoot was special. We ended up photographing the bed at Eltham Palace. I’ve always loved that building. Seeing the bed there, in that incredible room, was amazing.
Sustainability is increasingly essential in luxury design. How does Winch Design embrace it beyond the surface level?
We have a sustainability specialist on our team, someone who sources innovative materials—like timber turned into fabric. It’s not just about using recycled plastic; it’s about creating heirloom-quality pieces that last generations.
One of our projects involved an explorer yacht with a client who was deeply invested in sustainability. Everything was carefully sourced. And we support causes like the Blue Marine Foundation. A colleague and I hand-built a bamboo bike and rode it from London to Monaco to raise money for this amazing charity and highlight the importance of sustainable materials.
It’s a big topic, but we try to do our part—whether that’s through long-lasting design or giving back.
Winch Design’s portfolio spans from yachts and private jets to residential interiors. How do you maintain both function and luxury across such different environments?
It comes back to listening. We started with small yachts, and clients were so happy that they asked us to design their homes, and then their friends did too. That ripple effect grew our portfolio.
Despite different logistics and dimensions, the attention to detail and care we bring remains consistent. That’s how we maintain the feeling of luxury across any setting.
Your team recently moved into a new consolidated head office in Putney. Has that impacted your creative process?
Massively. Before, we were scattered across different spaces in Barnes. Now we’re under one roof. It fosters spontaneous collaboration—those "water cooler" moments where ideas are shared organically.
The materials library is now in one unified space, which is inspiring. Teams from aviation, architecture, interiors, and procurement all sit near each other. It’s a creative ecosystem.
You collaborate with iconic brands like Savoir and Silverlining. How do you ensure a harmonious fusion of ideas while staying true to the Winch ethos?
We try to look at things through a different lens. With our partners, we aim to create something no one has done before. We work with people who share our commitment to excellence—whether it's in making handles, rugs, or beds.
The key is shared vision, mutual respect, and innovation.
What does luxury mean to you when aligned with deeper purpose?
For me, luxury is about the journey. Our work isn’t just about delivering a beautiful object; it’s about connecting the client to that object. They've met the designer, they've touched the samples, and followed the evolution. That makes the final product more than just a possession—it becomes part of their story. That, to me, is luxury.