Seattle has a thriving houseboat culture with over 500 floating homes that dock upon its lakes with unobstructed views of the skyline, mountains and on a clear day an enormous volcano. Now I'm not talking about creepy, decrepit, "who would live there?" kind of homes. The houseboats of the day are not what they used to be; there is a new generation of modern and chic floating homes that just might make you consider leaving your land based dwelling behind.
Houseboats give off that carefree, romantic, in tune with nature kind of vibe that can be quite alluring to the passerby. When I read about house boaters describing their way of life it just seems like I'm missing out on something special and unique. For them there is no going back.
Most houseboats are small; there is no getting around that. They are typically between 500-1200 square feet, but don't let that deter you. We have all seen what amazing and inspirational decorating can be accomplished with space challenged homes on our Small/Cool contest throughout the years. Now don't get me wrong, they aren't all small. If you have the means there are plenty of incredibly luxurious houseboats as well: the stuff dreams are made of.
Can we land dwellers just simplify our belongings and live in a small, modern, clean space that has been dropped on the water? I'm not sure if it floats my boat just yet, but I'd like to still daydream about it. You know what they say, "the water is always bluer ...".
For those of you who have a strong affinity to be on the water and can manage in a small space, then you may have a match made in heaven. Here are some examples of the modern day floating dwellings that are docked around town these days.
1. Sunset Magazine. See full slideshow here.
2. Dyna Contracting. See full slideshow here.
3. via So Seattle
4. via Doornob
5. via Arch Ally
6. via Special Agents Realty
7. via houzz
8. via American Digest
Images as linked above
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Oh, my! I think my heart just stopped beating for a moment with the idea of it all. Love, love, love it.
the one at the top right also made my heart stop- in a bad way. then I realized there was a glass wall and not just two toddlers on a ledge jutting out over the water!
Pic #4, lower left corner, is the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat. One of my favorite movies. Everytime I drive by that area I try to spot it :) I have yet to find it, though.
le sigh... I want a frickin houseboat.
Those are awesome, especially #3. But the snow in the background of #2's and it's bundled up residents reminds me that I'd rather live in Sausalito's nearly as large houseboat community. "Sitting on the dock of the bay..."
My fave houseboat gimmick is that every December, Northwest Outdoor Center coordinates this charity benefit kayak caroling session, and they always convince all the fancypants houseboaties to put up mad holiday lights and throw parties on the night of the carolpaddle. So we paddle around the boats, and the party guests pass us cookies and cups of mulled wine, hot buttered rum, etc. It's a really awesome way to get to peek around the boats (and you can see the insides better since all the lights are on and it's dark out), and you raise some money for charity in the meantime. And get tipsy while kayaking, which is a jolly experience in and of itself.
And @taverine you have to kayak to see it; it's on the inside part of the lake. If you paddle via NWOC the guides will point it out to you. :)
I grew up on the remote coast of the Pacific Northwest and we call these a "float house" or "house float" (interchangeable).
A "houseboat" is like a floating RV but with a boat motor so you can cruise around on the water.
Those new ones sure are nice, but I like the old decrepit ones too.
The one in the 3rd photo was featured in an HGTV special of unusual homes (can't remember the name of the program) but it has a train car incorporated into the house. You can see it as part of the exterior.
Having grown up in Seattle, I remember when most of the houseboats were tiny and decrepit (and AWESOME). It was cheaper to live on the water than in an apartment. My mom had a friend who lived on a houseboat and it was so cool...
Now the houseboats cost more than houses, and because there's a sort of finite amount of dock space that will never be expanded, I don't see that changing any time soon.
Siiiigh....
In the UK they have narrowboats - the insides of them would be interesting...
hmmmm..... in bc these are called float homes. houseboats up here are boats with live-aboard quarters. the homes in these pics only sit on pads that are on floatation devices
I just finished a book that you all might find interesting. "Atachafalaya Houseboat: My Years in the Louisiana Swamp," by Gwen Roland. She and her partner built a beautiful, funky houseboat in the '70's. Google the title, and see the amazing photos by C.C. Lockwood, famed wilderness photographer. I loved the book and the houseboat they built!