Rethinking the (really big) business jet cabin

Let's face it: Some business jet interiors are about as exciting as a bowl of cold oatmeal. But in recent years, the situation has been changing, thanks partly to entre into the field of independent cabin designers who had previously occupied themselves with homes and yachts. In the beginning, the industry looked askance at these designers' bold and dramatic computer renderings, viewing them as little more than the imaginings of artists who had yet to deal with FAA regulations, weight restrictions and limited space.

Today, however, such proposals garner more respect–and are seen almost as often from independent completion centers as from independent design studios. Not everything in such computer renderings is certifiable, and designers have to reconsider some ideas when they face such realities as certification cost. But even designs that haven't survived intact have contained ideas that resulted in now-commonplace innovations–freestanding furniture, fiber-optics woven into carpets, trompe l'oeil ceilings and granite and marble flooring and countertops, to name a few.

Squared corners and straight lines have given way to curves, in everything from carpet design to cabinetry, and light-emitting diode (LED) technology has made possible illumination to fit virtually any mood. On these pages we've showcased some of the more dramatic renderings from adventurous independent design studios and completion centers. These cabin proposals are not necessarily for everyone. But on the other hand, you aren't everyone, are you?

Rethinking the (really big) business jet cabin (484K)