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All Aboard! A Return Voyage for 5 Stylish Floating Homes
Take a peek at these inviting homes on the water
The houseboat’s open living area includes custom glass folding doors that provide an easy transition to the deck and maximize the view of Portage Bay. Salvaged teak floors were chosen for their ability to hold up in wet environments.
The kitchen has floating shelves made out of repurposed cherry boughs flanking the range hood. The custom cabinets are coated in a soothing cream-colored paint, Benjamin Moore’s Buttermilk. A pair of industrial counter stools provides a perch in front of the island, topped in live-edge walnut.
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Shop for industrial counter stools
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2. Serene and Stylish in Sausalito
Deciding she was fed up with city life after lengthy stints in London, Boston and San Francisco, this homeowner bought a houseboat on a dock in Sausalito, California. After nearly 10 years of living on the boat, she turned to the team at Loczidesign to take the houseboat to the next level.
At first glance, the exterior deck appears to include an outdoor area rug, but it’s actually a custom-painted design by Lisa Donohue and Brynn Gelbard of Londubh Studio.
Deciding she was fed up with city life after lengthy stints in London, Boston and San Francisco, this homeowner bought a houseboat on a dock in Sausalito, California. After nearly 10 years of living on the boat, she turned to the team at Loczidesign to take the houseboat to the next level.
At first glance, the exterior deck appears to include an outdoor area rug, but it’s actually a custom-painted design by Lisa Donohue and Brynn Gelbard of Londubh Studio.
The newly remodeled kitchen features a custom backsplash covered in wallpaper featuring the likenesses of famous historical queens as well as a geometric porcelain tile. Multiple floating shelves are used to store cookbooks and dinnerware.
The two-story indoor-outdoor bathroom features a Japanese soaking tub and Moroccan brass pendants. The top of the 15-foot-high bathroom includes a glass skylight that provides natural light and an open, airy feel.
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See more of this houseboat
3. East Coast Style on the West Coast
The owners of this newly built houseboat on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, say the design of their home was inspired by the coastal houses of New England. The houseboat, designed by BC&J Architecture, features a classic wood shingle exterior and a metal seamed roof.
The owners of this newly built houseboat on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, say the design of their home was inspired by the coastal houses of New England. The houseboat, designed by BC&J Architecture, features a classic wood shingle exterior and a metal seamed roof.
Sailboats can be seen floating by through the home’s living room windows, which bring in plenty of light. Tongue-and-groove alder wood painted white was used for the wall and ceiling. The sofa and armchairs are covered in linen slipcovers for easy cleaning, and the colorful braided rug is a family heirloom.
A wraparound counter helps to delineate the classic white kitchen from the dining and living areas. The exterior of the outside counter is covered in shiplap. A small center island topped with butcher block provides additional prep space.
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See more of this houseboat
4. Polished Up in Portland
When designer Patricia Lockwood purchased this floating A-frame home in Oregon from her aunt and uncle, she says, she had no clue what she was getting into, but she “just liked to make things look pretty.” The home, built in 1965, felt dated, and the great room’s floor plan needed a major overhaul.
Making the houseboat’s first-floor great room brighter and more contemporary was the top priority for Lockwood. All of the interior walls were given a fresh coat of white paint. “I love how the white walls frame the views of the water,” she says.
When designer Patricia Lockwood purchased this floating A-frame home in Oregon from her aunt and uncle, she says, she had no clue what she was getting into, but she “just liked to make things look pretty.” The home, built in 1965, felt dated, and the great room’s floor plan needed a major overhaul.
Making the houseboat’s first-floor great room brighter and more contemporary was the top priority for Lockwood. All of the interior walls were given a fresh coat of white paint. “I love how the white walls frame the views of the water,” she says.
Before. While Lockwood isn’t an enthusiastic cook, she says that the previous corner kitchen was especially uninviting and didn’t take advantage of the great natural light near the water. “I believe the kitchen is the heart of any home, and the previous kitchen didn’t even have a pulse,” she says.
After. With the kitchen relocated against the former fireplace wall, it now takes advantage of the natural light coming through the sliding glass doors and the windows above. The area where the kitchen used to be located is now a small dining area. “Getting rid of the fireplace was a sacrifice I was more than willing to make,” Lockwood says. “The new open-concept kitchen is a much better use of space.”
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See more of this houseboat
5. Parisian Flair on the River Seine
The new owners of this barge on the River Seine in Paris knew architect Yann Coulouarn and asked him to perform a complete makeover before they moved in. “We took everything apart, broke it down to its bare structure and even played around with the hull of the barge,” Coulouarn says.
This houseboat is roughly 100 feet long and 16 feet wide — about 1,400 square feet (130 square meters) total. It has a living area, an open kitchen, three bedrooms and a bathroom. The hull was completely repainted.
The new owners of this barge on the River Seine in Paris knew architect Yann Coulouarn and asked him to perform a complete makeover before they moved in. “We took everything apart, broke it down to its bare structure and even played around with the hull of the barge,” Coulouarn says.
This houseboat is roughly 100 feet long and 16 feet wide — about 1,400 square feet (130 square meters) total. It has a living area, an open kitchen, three bedrooms and a bathroom. The hull was completely repainted.
All of the rooms inside the barge are on the same level. The living area has a sleek low-slung white sectional and other pieces already owned by the homeowners. Coulouarn replaced all of the windows for better insulation and to offer views of the skyline, and the portholes provide views of the river and its banks.
The master bedroom is in the bow of the boat. The original steel door was retrofitted to work better, while its rusted patina adds rugged character.
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See more of this houseboat
More on Houzz
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Search for interior designers
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When this Seattle homeowner purchased her 1918 houseboat, she intended to clean it up and move right in. But upon closer inspection, she realized she needed the help of an architect to keep the structure of the houseboat intact. Architect Theresa Freeman of SHKS Architects gave the exterior a face-lift with new wood shingles — replacing layers of damaged siding. “It really needed some love,” Freeman says.
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