Elegance Afloat

Coco Chanel once said, "Luxury must be comfortable; otherwise, it is not luxury." The famous designer would certainly have found Andale, the 164-foot Codecasa yacht of longtime Naples developer Raymond Lutgert and his wife, Beverly, luxurious in every sense of the word.

From the marble bathroom and the revolving television to the inlaid floors and the rich Italian fabrics, every inch of the yacht is exquisitely finished, but it's also warm and inviting, allowing the Lutgerts and their friends and family to feel at home on even the longest voyage.

"No matter what we do-the lobby of a building in Naples or the interior of a yacht-people really want to, and should, enjoy their environment," says Betsy Godfrey of Godfrey Design Consultants, which has offices in Naples and Winter Park. Andale is the second yacht she has designed for the Lutgerts. "We try to take the approach that every room should be comfortable and maintain a sense of elegance without overdoing it."

A pioneer of casual elegance, raymond Lutgert came to Southwest Florida in the 1960s and purchased a 760-acre beachfront parcel, which he developed into the prestigious Park Shore neighborhood in Naples, where the city's first generation of luxurious high-rises overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and open green spaces. He applied his innovative approach to land development to his lavish home on the water.

Working with builders at the Codecasa shipyard in Viareggio, Italy, Lutgert created a floor plan for Andale that drifted from the traditional. On the aft main deck, what would commonly be an open area for sunning is enclosed with wraparound windows to create a climate-controlled dining area. The formal salon became a library with pearwood-paneled walls; the room doubles as an onboard theater. The television screen, which ascends from below, can swivel around to entertain those in the formal dining room as well.

Lutgert also had an elevator installed to serve all levels of the yacht. "When I went to buy the boat, they didn't use elevators at all," he says. "Occasionally you have people who come onboard who find it inconvenient to use the stairway. And I was thinking about my future as well."

Codecasa now includes the elevator as standard in their 50- to 60-meter motor yachts, Lutgert says. "They believe it is that valuable of an asset."

Guests can retreat to opulent staterooms and baths awash in cream, taupe and shades of aqua. Those colors echo the neutrals used in the owners' suite, which has sycamore-finished walls and a glistening bath with white marble floors inlaid with gold marble.

On the bridge deck, passengers can relax at the bar in the casual salon, or eat in one of the two alfresco dining areas, aft of the salon or on the foredeck, where Godfrey used sunny blues and yellows. On the sundeck on the uppermost level, a barbecue grill and concealed hot tub provide more outdoor bliss.

"The sense overall was keeping comfort in mind," Godfrey says. "This is an elegant home that just happens to be on the water."

And that's exactly how the Lutgerts view Andale, spending several months of the year aboard. In September, the Lutgerts' son, Scott, who now runs the family-owned The Lutgert Companies, arranged for a fireworks show and belly dancers aboard Andale to celebrate his father's birthday.

Lutgert says his favorite destination is the Mediterranean. "And my favorite spot in the Mediterranean is Italy," he adds. "Both from a historical standpoint and a belly standpoint-I love the food there."

It was in Italy where Lutgert discovered the 181-year-old family-run Codecasa shipyard, which built his first version of Andale, a 161-footer, in 1998. He contracted for a second boat, at 210 feet long, but soon realized it would be too big. He sold it and had work begin on the second Andale, which launched in 2004.

"The whole boat is more sophisticated [than the first Andale]," Lutgert says. "I love this one; it's similar to the first one I bought, with many, many changes. I have no desire for anything larger."

He says he and Beverly will continue to do much of their traveling from the Gulfshore aboard their beloved Andale. "You can sum up [the appeal of yachting] in a few words: serenity, restful, relaxing," Lutgert says. "When I'm on the boat, I tend to forget or minimize troubles I might have."