MODERN FLOATING HOME

Location: South Lake Union, Washington
Type: Residential

This floating home was originally built in the 1960s, and it had been in the same family for nearly six decades. It needed work—but once construction started, it became clear it needed a lot more than expected. What began as a remodel quickly became something closer to a rebuild. 

The home is modest in size—about 1,000 square feet—but every inch was designed to work hard. Storage is tucked under stairs, built into toe-kicks, and hidden in the walls. A Murphy bed lets the office double as a guest room. The kitchen is full-size, on purpose: cooking and gathering are a big part of the client’s lives, and they wanted a space that could hold both of them comfortably, plus a circle of friends. The kitchen backsplash opens out to the wraparound deck, to ensure the grilling is supported by a drink passed through the opening. In the bedroom, a metal screen provides privacy from the public dock, operated by a hand crank and leather band that feels straight off a boat. Outside, shou sugi ban siding gives a nod to traditional floating homes, with bright red accents woven in for warmth.

Photography: Eirik Johnson