A wide range of options to satisfy any yacht owner —and their interior designer—.

Daniel Kerkhof knows well those who make decisions in this type of project. As Director of Marine at Crestron, he often faces a particularly demanding perspective when proposing keypads for a yacht: that of the interior designer.

“When building or refitting a luxury vessel, it is the designer who truly understands what will please the client most”, he explains. While Kerkhof and the integrators on a marine project know they can meet client expectations with a “backbone” based on Crestron Home® OS or a custom solution, those high-end details belong to another type of specialist. And those specialists demand options.

A designer working with Crestron should feel confident that we can meet their needs in four ways. First, with solutions manufactured by Crestron, such as the Horizon and Cameo lines. Second, our own keypads with a different faceplate, says Kerkhof. 

These devices incorporate the internal electronics of a Crestron keypad, but with a different aesthetic finish. “The third option is keypads from our partners: manufacturers who have developed their own products but integrate a Crestron chip”, he adds. “And the fourth, if there is no other alternative, is to use a C2N-UNI8IO Universal Keypad Interface to convert a third-party keypad into a Cresnet device and connect it to the system”.

Crestron Keypads

Crestron Horizon®

Crestron Horizon® keypads were updated a few years ago, improving their tactile response, refining their contemporary design, and adding advanced functionality. Precision alignment and consistent button feel deliver a highly polished user experience. “Metal finishes are the most popular and are built to withstand marine conditions”, notes Kerkhof.

These keypads feature finishes developed through dialogue with hundreds of designers and architects. They are available in a wide range of colors, materials, and sophisticated finishes to suit high-end interiors. They also include tunable backlighting that illuminates engraved button text, ensuring readability under any lighting conditions. Personalized engraving options are also available, including icons and foreign characters.

Crestron Cameo®

The Cameo® range has introduced a flush-mount model. 

It is designed to blend seamlessly into the wall, creating a continuous, architectural finish. Designers consistently tell us they prefer the ultra-low-profile aesthetic, as it is much more discreet than traditional keypads. This allows the focus to remain on the architecture and interior design, without drawing attention to the controls. The result is a cleaner look aligned with contemporary design trends, says Giles Sutton, Director of Business Development at Crestron. 

Sutton highlights features such as adaptable mounting options, a smaller footprint, and an ultra-slim profile: “All of this complements the designer’s vision rather than competing with it”.

A different aesthetic: faceplates

A good example of collaboration is Crestron’s partnership with Luhkee. This Belgian, family-run company develops solutions for residential, marine, and hospitality applications, including faceplates and fittings, with an aesthetic shaped by the architectural experience of its founder.

Their designs integrate directly over the electronics of the Crestron Cameo International Keypad (C2NI-CB). As noted by Luhkee: “Thanks to our balanced proportions, a keypad can stand out as a decorative element, provide contrast, or blend into its surroundings. The choice of buttons and finishes allows for full customization”.

With a wide range of options, these faceplates add significant value to solutions based on Crestron Home® OS.

“Our work with Mastermoulders and Rhombus Europe follows the same principle: leveraging the reliability of Crestron electronics and pairing it with a faceplate that transforms its appearance”, explains Kerkhof. “For fully custom metal designs, Mastermoulders in the UK delivers high-quality solutions for marine projects”.

Keypads with native Crestron integration

The third option includes manufacturers from around the world offering keypads and dimmers with native Crestron compatibility. “The internal design is their own, but they incorporate a Crestron chip that ensures seamless integration”, explains Kerkhof. “Again, metal finishes are very popular in this segment”, he adds. “We’ve received very positive feedback on Meljac keypads, and the Atelier Luxus collections also stand out”.

The Atelier Edges and Heritage series combine premium materials and custom finishes with the Crestron Home OS experience. More recently, Faradite keypads and sensors have been added, machined from solid brass and hand-finished in the UK, with a strong focus on material quality and durability.

Glass options are also available. Brands such as Arkadia and Black Nova bring high-end Italian designs, each with its own distinctive style. Domex offers keypads with customizable glass faceplates in various colors and finishes, supporting both horizontal and vertical installation. Tyba introduces a unique approach with Turn, its award-winning rotary keypad. Meanwhile, Vitrea’s VTouch keypads combine glass finishes, flexible button configurations, LED visibility, and versatile installation options.

It is essential for all stakeholders to be involved from the outset of a yacht build or refit. This ensures everyone is satisfied. When a designer sees the range of available options, that’s when everything starts to come together. Knowing that the Crestron system can be easily installed and deliver the same experience as in a home environment is key. In the marine sector, scenes based on circadian rhythm, human-centric lighting, and RGBW presets are becoming increasingly popular. And Crestron can deliver all of this without compromising the keypad aesthetic specified by the designer, concludes Kerkhof.