Elizabeth McMillen makes herself – and her guests – at home on the water.
Launched on July 4th, 1926, the 104 foot long wooden beauty was christened Freedom to commemorate the 150 anniversary of America's founding.
She spent most of the glamorous '30s based out of Palm Beach, while owned by Mrs. J.P. Donahue, the daughter of F.W. Woolworth and the wealthiest woman in the country at the time. Freedom is the sister ship of the Presidential yacht Sequoia (1925), and both were designed by the renowned naval architect John Trumpy.But by the time Earl McMillen III found and rescued her in January of 2002, she was a neglected derelict and slated for imminent destruction.
Earl bought the yacht for just $100 and had her carefully shipped to his company's vintage yacht restoration facility outside of Newport.Seven years and a mere $7 million dollars later, Freedom recently returned in all of her refurbished glory on her maiden voyage south and stopped in Beaufort, where Earl and his wife Elizabeth have a home.
Besides having a hand in the design of their beautiful homes in the historic Point in Beaufort and an 18th century home in Newport, RI, Elizabeth has been responsible for the interiors of all five vintage yachts in the current McMillen company fleet, as well as others in the past.I visited her onboard Freedom and we talked about her approach to decorating a yacht.
"You want it nautical friendly, but not too nautical clichéd," said Elizabeth. "Not too many anchors and lighthouses.Plus I usually avoid the colors red, white and blue together, but I did use it on the stern of the boat because the flag is so graphic and large and the aft settee at the fantail is covered in navy.I like to use neutral backgrounds throughout the boat and let the throw pillows be the splashes of color.”
She tends to group pillows together in a variety of shapes and sizes, covered in different but coordinated graphic patterns.A nautical note is the white rope braiding around each pillow's edge. All have synthetic stuffing because down will mildew outside."I think the crew is furious with me because there are so many pillows and they have to keep them arranged and bring them all in so dew or weather doesn't deteriorate them."This keeps the pillows looking pristine, though all the fabrics are already marine grade –Sunbrella, for instance.Elizabeth found the fabrics at the Design Centers in Atlanta and Boston (F. Schumacher, Clarence House and Duralee).
The beige wool sisal carpet in the living and dining saloons are by Stark Carpet, and are specially treated for stain resistance.A coordinating beige carpet continues down below to the staterooms where all the walls are a chalky oyster white."I like to keep it bright and airy down below, everybody seems to like it that way, instead of dark; and I try to tie in all the colors so there is a feeling of continuity all over the yacht,” she says. The beautiful coral patterned bedspreads and pillows are by Jane Shelton from Travis & Co. in Atlanta.In total, there are five double staterooms that sleep 10 overnight guests, four full heads (bathrooms), and the owner's stateroom has its original tub.The day head or bathroom on deck is finished in mahogany and Carrera marble miniature subway tiles.
"I try to think a lot about the experience people will have on the yacht," said Elizabeth. "I want them to have the best time possible with all the conveniences of home." She makes sure there are fresh flowers in everybody's room, water by every bed, a full range of hotel amenities like shampoo, french soap, and even a sewing kit in every bathroom – along with clean white towels and bathrobes embroidered with the yacht's name Freedom."We have flat screen TVs, satellite radio, movies, ipod, books, lots of games and a full washer and dryer on board, which is great," added Elizabeth.
She also puts lots of throw blankets in baskets on the aft and upper decks for when it gets cooler.There is always a fully-stocked bar, a range of cheeses and chilled wine.She has a set list of wine brands, like Parallel 45 red and white, Les Setilles Chardonnay, and Domaine Ott Les Domaniers Rose that the crew restocks wherever they dock.
Earl's company sells fractional shares in the vintage yachts he restores so others can share in the yachting experience (and, I would add, the beauty that Elizabeth has created). Freedom has a limited number of shares available for ownership, in case you've dreamed of enjoying a yacht of your own.If interested, the company has a Lady's Island Marina office and their website can be found at www.woodenyachts.com.
Margaret Evans is the Editor of Lowcountry Weekly. She has been writing her regular column "Rants & Raves" for the better part of a decade, which is a lot of bloviating for someone who's not an expert. On anything.Read More >>
The beige wool sisal carpet in the living and dining saloons are by Stark Carpet, and are specially treated for stain resistance.
