This Houseboat Has One of the Cutest Tiny House Kitchens
Name: Jennifer Hutter, my husband Bodhi, our 19-month-old son Ryder, and our two dogs Daisy and Summit
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Size: 400 square feet
We spent the past nine months renovating our vintage 1968 Chris Craft Cavalier. Bodhi did all the work inside himself. I did the design work. It was one of the biggest challenges we’ve had together as a couple to really figure everything out one step at a time, but one of the most rewarding.
Bodhi and I both own our own business and work from home and love spending time with Ryder on the water. We realized in this competitive housing market here in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada that we were not going to be able to buy a house as they all start at one million dollars, so we had to think outside the box. Both growing up on boats—my dad built boats and sailed in Sausalito, California and Bodhi grew up in New Zealand—we have a love of the water. We already lived in a tiny 600-square-foot apartment with a baby, so we thought, why not? Why not renovate a houseboat and have Ryder grow up on the water? Every day is an adventure and with a waterfront view! We will be mooring our boat at a marina with many other liveaboards. It’s a wonderful community feel, with many other families living in the marina as well.
Stylistically it has a bright, airy feel. We brought this dated interior back to life but also added our own modern, bohemian touches to the space. Bodhi refinished all of the exterior wood, and much of the interior floors. We completely created a new modern, bright kitchen space that is functional with all the comforts of land, like a custom drawer Dometic fridge, new gas stove and oven, and fresh paint; we renovated both bathrooms, and modernized the shower with subway tiles and Kohler fixtures. It turned out beautiful! We maintained many original features and kept many of the wood elements in the interior. It’s a warm and inviting space. The Captain’s Quarters is a great space for having breakfast and watching the sea otters swim up. Ryder loves all of the wildlife. We are planning on having a small deck garden as well.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: A mixture of traditional nautical with bohemian touches.
What is your favorite room and why? I definitely would say my favorite room is the salon (living room) with its cozy IKEA VALLENTUNA custom sleeper sectional. This fit perfectly into the space and really makes the space functional and cozy. Two of the pods open to a queen size bed and the other pod serves as storage. Versatility is key. We also love the display of artwork, the original boat drawings from the Chris-Craft Archives at The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia. The table also opens to convert into a full tiny room table or office space.
Any advice for creating a home you love? I would say don’t wait; if you want to make something happen think outside the box. You only have one life to live! A small space is still capable of being functional, tasteful, and cozy even on the water, without the cost of a large mortgage.