Meet Sweet Pea. She's a 550-square-foot houseboat in Olympia, Washington, and the first houseboat to be certified by the state's Built Green agency.
As the first floating home built by owner Mike Auderer of Olympia Construction, Sweet Pea sits on top of a fiberglass-covered plywood hull in Swantown Marina & Boatworks. The tiny houseboat offers modern amenities like an LG washer/dryer combo and a two-burner induction cooktop.
Sweet Pea is a personal home for Auderer, but he is now building similar turnkey boats (under his new Affordable Floating Homes company) for around $150,000 — all you have to do is move in and enjoy the views. The boats can also be customized any way you want.
For a look at the construction process, check out Auderer's Facebook page.
Read More: Sweet Pea is a Built Green Tiny Houseboat
MORE HOUSEBOATS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Sue's Simply Stunning Houseboat
• Hello Houseboats! Life On Seattle's Shores
• Living Large On A Small Houseboat
(Images: Affordable Floating Homes)
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
T.hanks
I've wondered what she looked like inside! I see Sweet Pea on my walks and am working on downsizing so I can eventually move into a houseboat.
I wish they made them as rentals, though. I know the romance of some living quarters is not what it appears and that's a bit of an investment to find out 6 months later it's not for you.
Sigh.
If only.
One day.
Sigh.
I wanna live in that one!!!
A lifelong fantasy of mine is to live on a little houseboat. I loved seeing this one.
I always have the same question about these things:
plumbing. how do they get clean water in and wastewater out?
Adorable! I would be very happy living there.
Interesting... Viewing just the interior photos with no context, it looks like a bland, renovated condo or apartment. The exterior is beautiful (mostly the color), but the interior lacks inspiration.
I wish it were more economical to buy one of these, it looks fantastic and I definitely want to live small, living on the water would help mitigate the costs of buying land in a close to urban setting. But for 150k it doesnt really compete with building a small or tiny house on dry land - I guess you're also buying the lifestyle and craftsmans know how on building this well and water tight? I also know there are regular costs associated with doing regular dry dock inspections etc. Still I'm glad someone is doing this green.
According the FENG SHUI, living on water is bad because you are not grounded which I thought odd. Being that water is so soothing, I would think the opposite so I'm kind of a part time FENG SHUI follower. Can you do that?
Any who; I've always wanted to live BY water but not sure I could handle living ON water due to rough waters or does one feel the rough waters when so close to shore?
Rentenna The malaysian condo is priced by square foot.
In high school I used to dream of running away and living in a houseboat. Thank you for reviving my high school dreams!
I really like the houseboat itself. But at $272 a square foot I'm balking at the price tag. Obviously some of the finishes are nice, but I don't think that convinces me this home is worth $150,000. I wonder what the average price per sqft is in that area for a regular home?
cute name.
must feel like you are on a vacation every day.
MARSTARR there are houseboats for rent, try Google.
One has city sewer and water lines in these homes. The houseboats are usually not moveable, but the lines are flexible to take the tidal action into account. As a child I was fascinated by our family's friend's houseboat on Lake Union. As an adult I recognize the water issues include perpetual mildew - in your fabrics and in your paper. There is naturally a lot of humidity living near the water, but living on it takes a special kind of vigilence.
So cute!
Ye gads, I know I've been in Sydney NSW too long when 550 sq. ft. for 150k seems downright reasonable. Especially for green, artisanal construction and you could presumably have it towed somewhere else if the neighbourhood goes to crap.
The interiors are uninspiring, but the concept is sound.
Just a weekend on Sweetpea would be great.
Appropriately named - SWEET!
I happen to live in the little community of Olympia and noticed this beauty on the way to the farmers market last weekend. It really is lovely in person! Stopped me in my tracks! SO cool to see it here :)