Autumn Elizabeth Design and the Art of the Cabin.

Rick Roseman
1 day ago
2 min read

There's a question Autumn Duntz asks at the start of every project: How can I make this journey as effortless and enjoyable as possible for my client? It sounds simple. In practice, it shapes everything. From the first conversation about how a client actually uses their aircraft, to the moment she's standing on the floor of a refurbishment facility making sure the work is exactly right.

Autumn founded Autumn Elizabeth Design in 2019 after more than a decade in the industry, including years at Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah. Based in Gulf Breeze, Florida, AED is a boutique firm specializing in full cabin refurbishments and exterior paint design for pre-owned business jets. Her clients are typically first-time aircraft owners: founders, executives, people who know what they want but don't want to manage the process of getting there. That's where she comes in.

Her approach is prescriptive and deeply personal. Before a single finish is chosen, she needs to understand the life the aircraft is stepping into. Who's on it, how often, what it needs to feel like after a long week. The result is work that is considered and specific, interiors built around a person, not a spec sheet, and designed to hold their value because of it.

One thing she's learned to prioritize early is alignment between design and scope. Getting the design solidified before proposals go out isn't just good process, it's the difference between a quote that reflects what the client is actually getting and one that falls apart when the materials are selected. The same logic applies to lead time: the projects that go smoothly are almost always the ones where the team was assembled early, the scope was clear, and the facility wasn't being asked to perform miracles on arrival. That kind of foresight is, in her view, part of the design work itself.

She also asks clients to spend time in their cabin before a single decision is made. What's working, what isn't, where they're always reaching for something that isn't there. A pre-owned aircraft offers something a new build doesn't: the chance to understand how you actually live before you commit to how it should look.

Stillpoint, her nominated concept at this year's International Yacht & Aviation Awards, is that philosophy made visible. A Global 6500 interior conceived around genuine quiet: soft curves, muted tones, controlled lighting, finishes chosen to age beautifully. It's a demonstration that a bespoke atmosphere doesn't require spectacle. It requires discipline, and a designer who believes the client's experience is always the point.

With more than a decade of experience in interior design and the aviation refurbishment process, I’ve learned how to combine sophistication and craftsmanship with the practicality of aircraft guidelines and restrictions. My role is to transform your aircraft with a stunning interior and exterior while navigating any challenges on your behalf.

I began my career as an aviation interior designer and refurbishment expert and held various roles that allowed me to develop a holistic approach to interior design for aircrafts. I love the extra level of problem-solving required to negotiate the intricacies of planes and associated regulations, and it’s allowed me to provide the best possible recommendations for my clients during the design process.