A Once-Cramped “Haphazard” Houseboat Is Now a Spacious, Bright Floating Home

published Nov 12, 2025

A Once-Cramped “Haphazard” Houseboat Is Now a Spacious, Bright Floating Home

published Nov 12, 2025

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About this tour

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Home Type

Houseboat

Location

Lake Union, Seattle, Washington

Style

Modern

Scandinavian

Bedrooms

Square feet

992

Sq ft

992

When Lucy purchased this 992-square-foot houseboat in Seattle’s Lake Union neighborhood in 2023, it was a haphazard mix of previous renovations from the 1980s and 1990s.

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Credit: Ed Sozinho

Lucy says that a lot of people ask her if she can feel the house moving on the water. She says you can, "but only when a really big boat goes past on the lake. Even then, it’s a very gentle rocking, never enough to knock anything over. The next question is normally if you can swim, and that’s also a yes. The lake is about 30’ deep here, so you could even do a cannonball off the second-story roof."

“Originally formed by stitching together several small cabins, the structure lacked flow, modern systems, and the thoughtful design necessary to fully embrace its incredible setting on Lake Union,” begins designer Kailin Gregga, who along with designer Alex Sheehan, form Best Practice, the architecture firm Lucy hired to breathe new life into this old houseboat.

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Credit: Ed Sozinho

"I love how the reflections from the water dance on the ceiling on a sunny day," Lucy writes. "All the south-facing windows, including some new ones in the kitchen, mean that when the sun comes out, the entire ceiling reflects the lake. A very close second would be the view of the Space Needle from the bed; every night I’m reminded how much I love this city and this view."

“The original house was a mixture of styles and elements that had been cobbled together (lovingly) by the previous owners. Clearly taking inspiration from the boating and floating home culture around them, the house had many different styles of cabinetry, tiles, and many small niches and cupboards spread throughout the house, including mirrors located in window openings to help get more natural light into the dark space,” Kailin continues.

Credit: Ed Sozinho

"The remodel process was an interesting one!" admits Kailin. "When working on a floating home, many traditional construction methods are not applicable. Namely, it is hard to use normal leveling techniques on a structure that moves with waves and tides, so careful use of squares and measurements is required. It is also important to rebalance the floatation depending on the materials being added or removed from the structure – the whole house is floating on a mixture of large logs, floating blocks and air tanks. Periodically, the floatation is adjusted by divers that can fine tune and re-balance the house. During construction, 50 gallon barrels were filled with water and employed to temporarily rebalance the house when material deliveries or construction processes tilted the structure. When the materials were distributed, the barrels can be simply drained of water and moved to a different location."

The existing kitchen, in particular, needed a lot of work. Its layout was awkward, and there was hardly any storage. “The kitchen used to feel like a bit of a cave, with minimal windows, grubby cabinetry, and huge appliances. Additionally, the mismatched tile (five different types in the kitchen alone!) always felt chaotic, and even when clean, it never felt tidy,” explains Lucy, the owner. “I really didn’t love spending time in there.”

Credit: Ed Sozinho

Lucy says the floatation issue was the most challenging thing about the home's renovation. "At one point in the renovation, we had to urgently get divers out to add floatation because the house was leaning against the dock, at another point, the contractor was there on the weekend, filling 50-gallon barrels with water to act as a counterweight. The floating foundation also means it’s impossible to use a spirit level, so even though we made the best effort we could, there are a few spots where, if you look closely, things aren’t quite square."

Best Practice completely transformed the homes interior, making it look fresh and bright inside, while also creating more storage and function. “A reconfigured layout improved circulation and functionality, including expanding the kitchen, moving laundry indoors, and enlarging the living room to take advantage of natural light and water views,” Kailin writes.

Credit: Ed Sozinho

Lucy says the "Art Deco bronze that lives on the kitchen shelf is from the 20s, and one of the framed pieces in the living room is a French botanical world map from the mid-19th century."

“Throughout the home, systems, structure, and flotation were upgraded to ensure long-term durability,” Kailin continues. “The redesign also celebrates the joy of life on the water — from a bright pistachio-and-oak kitchen with channel views to a roof deck connected by a playful hinged window, complete with a wet bar for sunset gatherings. The result is a cohesive, spirited retreat that finally lives up to its iconic Lake Union location.”

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Resources

Credit: Ed Sozinho

PAINT & COLORS

Walls & Ceiling — Benjamin Moore “Chantilly Lace”
Green Cabinets — Benjamin Moore “Sweet Caroline”
Pink Door — Benjamin Moore “Tippy Toes”
Green Exterior — Benjamin Moore “Brewster Grey”

Credit: Ed Sozinho

ENTRY

Tile in Entry and Hallway — Daltile Keystones 2×2 Mosaic in Arctic White
Tile in Rear Entry — Daltile Keystones 2×2 Mosaic in Mint Ice
House Letters — Etsy

Credit: Ed Sozinho

"The art is mostly purchased at auction, thrifted, or is a family piece. My favorites are the sardines oil painting, and the set of vintage Qantas posters from the '50s. The pink Macbeth poster is the only piece from the 21st century. It’s in a cheap frame, with the idea that it can be swapped for a new poster from another show I’ve seen, but I ended up liking the pop of pink too much and never changed it," Lucy writes.

LIVING ROOM

Barett Sofa — Crate & Barrel
Stockhold 2025 Sideboard — IKEA
JÄTTESTA Shelf — IKEA
Bobby Falwell Rocking Chair — Vintage
Gold Side Table — Vintage
Yellow Chair — Consignment
Lamps — IKEA
UNDERVISNING Rug — IKEA
Vintage Rug — Revival Rugs
Room Diving Curtain — Etsy

Credit: Ed Sozinho

KITCHEN & DINING ROOM

Check Seat Pillows — Toast (no longer available)
Countertop — Custom Stainless Steel
Countertop (Coffee Nook) — Concrete Collaborative PACIFICA in “Green SR XLGC Scarpa” 
Kitchen Backsplash Tile — Daltile Classic 4×4 in Arctic White
Kitchen Cabinets — Custom
Cabinet Knobs — Lo& Co “Ascot Knobs”
Cabinet Pulls — Lo& Co “Isla Pulls”
Kitchen Sconces — Schoolhouse “Harlow” sconce in Chamomile Satin
Floating Shelf — Shelfology
Coffee Machine — La Marzocco Linea Mini
White Oak Wood Kit for Coffee Machine — Spect Designs

Credit: Ed Sozinho

BATHROOM

Towels — Bathing Culture
Hooks — Muuto Dots

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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