Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Floating House Perfectly Suits a Sailing Couple
A new home on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, is inspired by New England lake cottages
What better place for two avid sailors to live than in a house on the water? Not next to it, but actually on it. Bill and LauraLee Symes lived in a large home in northwest Portland, Oregon, that overlooked a community of floating homes on the Willamette River, where they’ve been longtime sailors. The neighborhood of about 40 floating homes — not houseboats — has existed since the adjacent Oaks Amusement Park opened in 1905. When their kids moved away, they decided to downsize to a floating home of their own.
They bought a rambler-style house and then sold it, but they retained the spot on the river where the house sat and decided to have a new one built. The couple contacted BC&J Architecture after seeing one of the firm’s homes featured in a magazine, and a partnership began. “We had not designed a floating home prior to the Symes’, but once we understood the elements of the float acting as the foundation and the impact of the weight of materials, it was quite similar to our standard process of design,” says Stella Carosso of BC&J.
They bought a rambler-style house and then sold it, but they retained the spot on the river where the house sat and decided to have a new one built. The couple contacted BC&J Architecture after seeing one of the firm’s homes featured in a magazine, and a partnership began. “We had not designed a floating home prior to the Symes’, but once we understood the elements of the float acting as the foundation and the impact of the weight of materials, it was quite similar to our standard process of design,” says Stella Carosso of BC&J.
The homeowners were inspired by coastal and lake houses of New England and Canada and spent a lot of time poring over photos on Houzz and other sites. One particular source of inspiration was a book about the boathouses of Lake Muskoka in Ontario, Canada, called At the Water’s Edge: Muskoka’s Boathouses, by Judy Ross and John DeVisser.
“We really wanted to get the details — style, materials, colors, hardware — right,” says Bill Symes, who is retired but still on the board of the Columbia Gorge Racing Association and is a Laser Masters World Champion sailor. LauraLee is retired as director of the Willamette Sailing Club in Portland and is owner of Sellwood Flower Co.
“We really wanted to get the details — style, materials, colors, hardware — right,” says Bill Symes, who is retired but still on the board of the Columbia Gorge Racing Association and is a Laser Masters World Champion sailor. LauraLee is retired as director of the Willamette Sailing Club in Portland and is owner of Sellwood Flower Co.
The architects dealt with the damp environment of the Pacific Northwest by designing a sort of double vapor barrier for the exterior to mitigate thermal and moisture bridging, Carosso says. But a big challenge was animal in nature: “The main water concern was making sure the foundation was secured against the otters looking for new accommodations.”
The white boxes on the deck are used for storing sailing gear, barbecue equipment and gardening tools. The gutter and downspouts match the Kynar 500 weathered zinc coating of the Taylor metal roof.
The white boxes on the deck are used for storing sailing gear, barbecue equipment and gardening tools. The gutter and downspouts match the Kynar 500 weathered zinc coating of the Taylor metal roof.
The exterior of sawn cedar shingles dipped in penetrating oil is the best long-term solution for Pacific Northwest weather, Carosso says, because “the grain is vertical and allows for unobstructed shedding of rainwater.” Most of the casement windows are metal clad with brushed nickel hardware. Shown here is homeowner LauraLee with family dog Lucy on the home’s back deck, which was constructed of Red Balau, an Indonesian hardwood.
Windows: Kolbe; door paint: Noir 24-16, Pratt & Lambert
Windows: Kolbe; door paint: Noir 24-16, Pratt & Lambert
The homeowners consider this the home’s main entry, which is on the back side of the house, facing Fleet Street, a common dock that allows access to all the floating homes and their tenders. Tenders are smaller structures across the street from the main houses that are often used as guesthouses.
Sailboats can be seen floating by through the home’s living room windows, which bring in plenty of light. Tongue-and-groove alder wood was used for the wall and ceiling. The rug is a family heirloom passed down from Bill’s grandmother.
Gas fireplace: Mendota; sofa, chairs, window seat: Cisco Brothers
Gas fireplace: Mendota; sofa, chairs, window seat: Cisco Brothers
Like the prow of a ship, this corner of the living room is aimed at the water, and all windows have river views. An office area anchors the corner.
The homeowners entertain often and wanted a kitchen with a view of the water and guests in the living area. Carosso calls it LauraLee’s “command station.” There’s seating at the butcher-block-topped island and at the wraparound counter.
Stove and hood: Wolf; refrigerator: Sub-Zero; pendant lights over sink: Satellite Pendant, Schoolhouse Electric; sinks: Rohl; faucets: Chicago Faucets and Blanco; backsplash tile: 3x6 subway tile, Pratt & Larson; stools: Emeco, Design Within Reach
Stove and hood: Wolf; refrigerator: Sub-Zero; pendant lights over sink: Satellite Pendant, Schoolhouse Electric; sinks: Rohl; faucets: Chicago Faucets and Blanco; backsplash tile: 3x6 subway tile, Pratt & Larson; stools: Emeco, Design Within Reach
The wraparound counter envelops the kitchen and provides ample cabinetry and a small desk area. It’s open to the living area and looks out to the river.
Chandelier: Design Classics, Globe Lighting; dishwasher: Miele
Chandelier: Design Classics, Globe Lighting; dishwasher: Miele
The other side of the wraparound counter has storage cabinets and a wine cooler. The swinging door with a circular window leads to the pantry.
White wood cabinets separate the living room from the dining area and house a television that rises from within the cabinets and can turn to face either the kitchen-dining area or living room.
Salvaged old-growth pine reclaimed from a shoe factory in upstate New York was used for flooring throughout the house, including the steps leading to the second floor. Recessed light fixtures were used in the stair risers.
Both the master bedroom, shown here, and a guest room-studio are located on the second floor. Windows offer expansive views of the river and Portland to the northwest.
Bed: Nest Storage Bed, Design Within Reach; pendant light: Schoolhouse Electric; sconces: Restoration Hardware
Bed: Nest Storage Bed, Design Within Reach; pendant light: Schoolhouse Electric; sconces: Restoration Hardware
The master bedroom also has a gas fireplace from Heat & Glo.
The spa-like master bathroom utilizes alder tongue-and-groove siding similar to that used downstairs. Salvaged pine was used for the floors and marble tile for the shower and toilet area.
Custom cabinetry: Kitchens & More Northwest; countertop: Bianco Carrara marble; sinks: Vox, Kohler; fixtures: Atrio, Grohe; lighting: Schoolhouse Electric; tub: Oceania; tile floor: Pratt & Larson
Custom cabinetry: Kitchens & More Northwest; countertop: Bianco Carrara marble; sinks: Vox, Kohler; fixtures: Atrio, Grohe; lighting: Schoolhouse Electric; tub: Oceania; tile floor: Pratt & Larson
A cushioned daybed is built into the dormer area on the second floor, on the opposite side of the house from the master bedroom. This bonus room is intended to serve as a guest suite when the couple’s children and grandchildren visit.
A fire pit, with chairs facing the river, warms the deck area on chilly Northwest evenings.
Fire pit: Restoration Hardware; furniture around fire pit: Fermob; umbrella: Tuuci; dining table and chairs: loveTeak
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Fire pit: Restoration Hardware; furniture around fire pit: Fermob; umbrella: Tuuci; dining table and chairs: loveTeak
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Bill and LauraLee Symes
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 2,100 square feet (195 square meters); two bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Designer: BC&J Architecture
The home was built at a marina about an hour away and floated up the river to its current site. Now, in no time at all the couple can be on the water using their sailboats, dinghy or stand-up paddleboards. They spend their free time entertaining, walking around the adjacent Sellwood neighborhood and “playing on the river,” Bill says. It’s a 20-minute drive to downtown Portland, and a 10-minute boat ride to the Portland riverside.