The Commodore Club – North Carolina (Usa)

Suspended between water and sky, The Commodore Club is far more than a restaurant – it’s a striking achievement in nautical engineering and contemporary design. Moored along North Carolina’s Intercoastal Waterway, this 6,000-square-metre floating structure is home to an exclusive social club , where every detail reflects the spirit of the sea and the elegance of refined luxury.

Two levels of glass and steel open seamlessly to the horizon, creating a unique architectural experience where the boundaries between inside and outside, land and sea, blur in a play of reflections and transparencies.

But it is inside where the real magic unfolds. Here, the tribute to the surrounding sea is expressed through a refined design language, where the gentle curves of naval architecture meet the warm glow of brass, the richness of wood, and the jewel-like tones that recall treasures from beneath the waves.

The true centrepiece of this space is the cocktail lounge, a refined tribute to the marine world. Here, the eye is drawn upward to a ceiling that becomes a dreamlike seascape, brought to life by Instabilelab’s Jellyfish graphics. The immersive display of colourful aquatic forms and shimmering metallic accents is made possible by printing on Prestige Gold substrate, which enhances the depth and luminosity of the design, further accentuated by discreet recessed perimeter lighting.

We spoke with Marika Caraganis of Project Actualized, to explore the creative vision and technical insight behind this remarkable undertaking.

 

– The Commodore Club posed a unique design challenge: creating a luxurious setting on an anchored barge, where contemporary architecture meets maritime heritage. How did you translate this conceptual duality into the interior design, and what influence did the surrounding aquatic environment have on your creative choices?

I’ve always been drawn to the opulent elegance of the Art Deco movement. The Commodore Club offered the perfect opportunity to incorporate an Art Deco–inspired wall covering within a contemporary setting. The marine environment made this contrast even more compelling—the sea can be serene one moment and unpredictable the next. Introducing a touch of the unexpected in the design felt like the perfect reflection of that dynamic.

– Choosing to install the Jellyfish graphics on the ceiling of the cocktail lounge was both a bold visual statement and a technical challenge. What inspired you to take this ‘overhead’ approach instead of a more traditional wall application? And how did you envision the interaction between the marine imagery and the guests’ sensory experience?

While working on the interior architectural design, I knew I wanted a recessed ceiling with a strong decorative element. A hand-painted fresco didn’t quite capture the level of sophistication I was aiming for. Having worked with Instabilelab on several recent projects, I turned to my trusted friends at Edition Home to help me find the perfect fit. We initially considered the Yvonne graphic, with its coral motifs, but the fluid movement of the jellyfish in Jellyfish evoked the sensation of being underwater—of observing from below. Placing this wallpaper at the centre of the second-floor lounge, I could instantly picture myself, drink in hand, in the evening light, getting lost in the scene. It just felt right.

The biggest technical challenge was deciding which direction to install it. I love using wallpaper on ceilings—it’s a canvas that’s often overlooked. Design should elevate every moment and every space, not just the most obvious ones.

– The Prestige Gold backing gives the Jellyfish graphics a sense of depth and a striking metallic sheen, further enhanced by the recessed perimeter lighting. What specific qualities of this material led you to choose it over other options? And how did you fine-tune the lighting design to maximize its reflective impact?

Golden hour is a truly special moment—especially when you’re in a glass oasis suspended above the water. Using the Prestige Gold medium felt like a natural choice; I love the texture and luminosity it brings to the imagery. To preserve that same warm, golden tone, we set most of the interior lighting to 2700K.

– Jellyfish evokes a vibrant yet sophisticated marine world, making it a bold choice for a luxury setting. What message were you hoping to convey through this graphic, and how does it connect to the geographical and cultural identity of North Carolina?

I’ve always been deeply fascinated by jellyfish—their fluid movements, vibrant colours, and delicate textures are both beautiful and utterly unique. They’re also known for their remarkable resilience and their ability to move with the natural flow of life. For me, and for everyone involved, this project embodied exactly that spirit.

 

 

The Commodore Club is a testament to how contemporary design can push beyond conventional boundaries, turning technical challenges and contextual constraints into opportunities for pure creative expression. Designing the interiors of a semi-floating structure—where every element must harmonize with the forms and colours of the marine environment—requires both bold vision and uncommon technical expertise. The installation of the Jellyfish graphic on the ceiling of the cocktail lounge perfectly embodies this design philosophy: a choice that defies convention by transforming a typically overlooked surface into the focal point of the entire spatial experience.

In this context, the collaboration with Instabilelab proved essential—not only for the technical quality of the solutions provided, but also for their ability to support ambitious ideas with flexibility and expertise. Prestige Gold became the medium that brought a visionary concept to life, turning the ceiling into an immersive underwater landscape where guests can lose themselves while enjoying a drink.

The Commodore Club is more than just an exclusive social club – it’s a testament to how space can be transformed into an emotional experience.

 

Photos courtesy of Commodore Club