Houzz Tour: Big Bay Views Buoy a Seattle Floating Home
Two glass sides bring spectacular scenes into this newly industrial modern home on the water
Becky Harris
May 26, 2013
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
The owner of this floating home wanted to be able to enjoy the sublime Pacific Northwest views beyond its walls more. She had dubbed her existing home "a floating double-wide,'" says interior designer Kim Mankoski of Kim Mankoski Interiors. She wanted something more modern, open and industrial to make the most of her lifestyle on the water.
Mankoski, architect Ryan Mankoski of Ninebark Design Build and Dyna Contracting collaborated to create a cohesive design with an open layout. The result has two glass sides wide open to spectacular views of bay waters, the University of Washington and the mountains beyond.
Floating Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman and her cats
Location: Portage Bay (between Lake Washington and Lake Union), Seattle
Size: 1,200 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Mankoski, architect Ryan Mankoski of Ninebark Design Build and Dyna Contracting collaborated to create a cohesive design with an open layout. The result has two glass sides wide open to spectacular views of bay waters, the University of Washington and the mountains beyond.
Floating Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman and her cats
Location: Portage Bay (between Lake Washington and Lake Union), Seattle
Size: 1,200 square feet, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
The home was tugged away to nearby Ballard, Washington, where the work was completed, then tugged back. The original float serves as the foundation for the new home. Everything else was built from scratch. The project took about 10 months.
Glass walls fitted with double doors anchor two sides; the other two sides incorporate storage and smaller windows for privacy from neighbors. The open plan allows the owner to enjoy the views from every room.
The homeowner wanted a modern industrial style, but a concrete floor was out, due to its weight. Kim Mankoski found a marmoleum product that has a concrete look.
Floor tile: Click tile in Lava, 12 by 36 inches, Forbo; pendant light: David Trubridge Coral Pendant, YLighting
The homeowner wanted a modern industrial style, but a concrete floor was out, due to its weight. Kim Mankoski found a marmoleum product that has a concrete look.
Floor tile: Click tile in Lava, 12 by 36 inches, Forbo; pendant light: David Trubridge Coral Pendant, YLighting
The exterior has a tough industrial look as well, mixing structural steel, Cor-Ten steel panels and glass. Salvaged cedar accents hint at the warmth inside and remind us why this whole house floats in the first place — the cedar float below.
"My client wanted everything shipshape," Mankoski says, so she designed streamlined, efficient storage throughout the home to hold everything.
If you look closely, you can see a ladder outside on the left side of the photo. The homeowner uses this to access the canoe tied to her home.
Cabinets: custom, Baywood Cabinets
If you look closely, you can see a ladder outside on the left side of the photo. The homeowner uses this to access the canoe tied to her home.
Cabinets: custom, Baywood Cabinets
The design team took some inspiration from The Farnsworth House and used a central core to hold the kitchen, bathroom and closets, and to divide the main living space from the bedroom. A strict color palette throughout the home highlights the beauty in the materials' textures and the contrasts.
Sofa: Theater sofa, Design Within Reach; dining table: client's own
Sofa: Theater sofa, Design Within Reach; dining table: client's own
High-gloss red painted cabinets add a burst of color, while a steel backsplash and shelves add industrial style. Bamboo woodwork conceals the refrigerator on the right. The countertops are Squak Mountain Stone, a composite product made from recycled paper, recycled glass and low-carbon cement.
A wall of storage integrates spots for books and display. The "D" is from the exterior of the old floating house. Mankoski designed the built-ins with a TV in mind for that spot.
Tongue and groove fir paneling wraps up the walls and ceiling. Some of the cabinets have acrylic doors by 3form with an organic pattern on them, a detail that is repeated in the bathroom.
Coffee table: walnut, BoConcept; rug: Flor; cabinet doors: acrylic, 3form
Tongue and groove fir paneling wraps up the walls and ceiling. Some of the cabinets have acrylic doors by 3form with an organic pattern on them, a detail that is repeated in the bathroom.
Coffee table: walnut, BoConcept; rug: Flor; cabinet doors: acrylic, 3form
Reclaimed tongue and groove paneling extends into the bedroom, and the bed looks out through a generous wall of glass.
Wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore; bed: Malm, Ikea; shag rug: Ikea; Danish chairs: vintage
Wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore; bed: Malm, Ikea; shag rug: Ikea; Danish chairs: vintage
The bathroom also has streamlined storage composed of floating bamboo shelves and the same 3form acrylic doors used in the living area.
The custom zinc sink and countertop are all one piece. Mankoski chose porcelain tile with a patina that looks like that of basalt. The wall tiles have ridges that add a subtle industrial texture.
The custom zinc sink and countertop are all one piece. Mankoski chose porcelain tile with a patina that looks like that of basalt. The wall tiles have ridges that add a subtle industrial texture.
Skylights bring natural light into the bathroom. In this deep shower, an old part of the cedar log float that wasn't needed now serves as a shower bench. Since it had floated on the water for many years and survived just fine, the client opted not to seal it.
Tiles: BSP, Pental; showerhead: Raindance 240 Air Showerhead, Hansgrohe
Tiles: BSP, Pental; showerhead: Raindance 240 Air Showerhead, Hansgrohe
Cable rails and metal steps continue the industrial vibe outside. Untreated cedar creates a rain screen, a must in Seattle's climate. The wood also adds warmth and contrast to the metal and glass.
Between the roof deck and the smaller balconies below, the homeowner gained about 450 extra square feet of living space. The roof deck has the best uninterrupted views.
Learn more about life on a houseboat or floating home
Learn more about life on a houseboat or floating home
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Would love to retire in a place like this. Beautiful.
I love everything about it!