In Profile:
Daoust Design

Name: Katerine Daoust
Company Name: Daoust Design
Position Within Company: Founder and design director
Website: www.daoustdesign.ca

Tell us a little about the company background:
Daoust Design is a Canadian interior design studio specializing in high-end residential projects, known for its refined approach to materiality, spatial composition, and bespoke detailing. The studio works with a discerning clientele, creating tailored environments that balance elegance, comfort, and a strong sense of identity.

With a background rooted in luxury residential design, Daoust Design has developed a distinctive signature defined by subtlety, craftsmanship, and a deep attention to textures and finishes. Each project is approached as a unique narrative, where spaces are carefully composed to evoke both emotion and functionality.

Today, the studio is expanding its expertise into the yachting sector, bringing a fresh perspective shaped by residential sensibilities and a focus on livability, material richness, and experiential design. This transition reflects a natural evolution of the studio’s vision—translating its design language into new and complex environments while maintaining the same level of precision and intention.

Daoust Design continues to position itself at the intersection of architecture, interior design, and lifestyle, with a growing international outlook and a commitment to creating timeless, meaningful spaces.

How does your company approach each project from concept to completion?:
Each project begins with a deep understanding of the client’s vision, lifestyle, and the specific context of the space. From the initial concept, we develop a clear design narrative that guides every decision throughout the process.

Our approach combines spatial planning, material research, and bespoke detailing to create cohesive and purposeful environments. We work closely with trusted collaborators and craftsmen to ensure that each element is executed with precision and consistency.

From concept to completion, we maintain a strong attention to detail and quality, ensuring that the final result reflects both the original vision and the highest standards of design.

Where inspires your company in this sector?:
Our inspiration comes from a combination of architectural clarity, natural environments, and the richness of materials. We are particularly influenced by the way light interacts with space, as well as by the tactile and sensory qualities of carefully crafted interiors.

In the yachting sector, we are inspired by the unique relationship between interior spaces and the surrounding seascape, where movement, horizon, and atmosphere constantly shape the experience on board.

We also draw from craftsmanship, art, and European design culture, which inform our approach to detail, proportion, and timeless aesthetics.

In what direction do you feel that your projects are moving towards in a general sense?:
Our work is evolving toward a more intentional and nuanced design language, where clarity, balance, and material depth take precedence over excess. We are increasingly drawn to creating environments that feel calm, immersive, and emotionally engaging, with a strong emphasis on proportion, tactility, and the overall sensory experience.

This direction also reflects a growing interest in projects that require a higher level of integration between architecture, interior design, and lifestyle. We aim to create spaces that are not only visually coherent, but also deeply considered in the way they are experienced and inhabited.

As we expand into more complex sectors such as yachting, our approach continues to develop in response to new constraints and opportunities. These environments require a precise understanding of spatial efficiency, material performance, and the relationship between interior spaces and their surroundings.

Overall, our work is moving toward a more refined vision—one that prioritizes meaning, longevity, and a strong sense of identity, while remaining adaptable to diverse and evolving contexts.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching projects in the future.:
1 – Spatial clarity and proportion
2 – Material integrity and tactile quality
3 – Comfort and livability
4 – Connection to context and surroundings
5 – Craftsmanship and attention to detail

If your company could offer one piece of advice when it comes to projects, what would it be?:
Prioritize intention over excess. A clear and thoughtful concept, carried consistently through every detail, will always result in a more meaningful and enduring project.

How important are The International Yacht & Aviation Awards?:
The International Yacht & Aviation Awards play an important role in highlighting innovation and excellence within highly specialized design sectors. They offer a valuable platform for designers to present their work to an international audience and to engage with a wider design community.

By recognizing projects that combine creativity, technical understanding, and a strong sense of identity, the awards contribute to elevating standards across the industry and fostering meaningful dialogue around design in unique environments such as yachting.

What projects are you currently working on?:
We are currently working on a range of high-end residential projects, primarily new-build private residences, along with selected large-scale renovations. These projects allow us to explore bespoke detailing, material depth, and refined spatial compositions at a high level of execution. At the same time, we are developing concept proposals within the yachting sector, expanding our design approach into more complex and specialized environments. This reflects our ambition to grow internationally and to apply our design language across diverse contexts.

What was one of your company’s key projects to work on and why?:
One of our key projects has been the development of our yacht concept proposals, particularly the Sportiva T55. This project represents an important milestone in our evolution, marking our transition into a more specialized and technically demanding sector.

It challenged us to rethink spatial composition, circulation, and functionality within a constrained environment, while maintaining a strong focus on comfort and overall experience. The project required a precise approach to material selection, detailing, and integration, ensuring that each element contributed to a cohesive and intentional whole.

Beyond its technical aspects, this project allowed us to further develop our design language, exploring new ways of creating immersive and balanced environments. It also strengthened our ability to adapt to different contexts while maintaining a clear and consistent vision.

Overall, the Sportiva T55 has played a key role in shaping our current direction, opening new perspectives and reinforcing our ambition to expand within the yachting industry.

Which products/services could you not live without when completing projects?:
Our projects are supported by a curated network of trusted suppliers and collaborators. We work with leading furniture brands such as Minotti, Paola Lenti, Poliform, and Baxter, whose craftsmanship and design excellence align with our standards.
In parallel, we collaborate with high-end lighting manufacturers to develop layered and atmospheric lighting schemes that enhance both perception and experience within a space. We also place great importance on the selection of architectural hardware, where detailing and finish contribute to the overall coherence and quality of the project.

Equally important is our collaboration with skilled artisans and independent creators, who craft unique materials and bespoke pieces that bring depth, character, and a distinctive artistic dimension to our interiors.
These partnerships are fundamental in ensuring a high level of precision, consistency, and refinement across all our work.

What are your company’s aims and goals for the next twelve months?:
Over the next twelve months, our primary objective is to continue strengthening our presence within the high-end residential sector while expanding into the yachting industry. We aim to develop new opportunities in Europe and establish meaningful connections within this market.

We are also focused on refining our design approach through increasingly complex projects, with a strong emphasis on material exploration, bespoke detailing, and spatial clarity. In parallel, we seek to build long-term collaborations with international partners, suppliers, and clients who share our vision and standards.

Overall, our goal is to position Daoust Design as a distinctive and credible presence within both residential and yachting design, with a growing international reach.