House boat interior help needed
Hello all
We have recently purchased a wide beam canal boat, which I will be living on for a couple of years in London. It has been beautifully (and expensively) fitted out in an art deco style, however this is not to my personal taste. I am therefore looking for a way to lighten and modernise the interior, and would be grateful for any ideas!
The interior has been lined with a mixture of wood - mainly American Oak, Maple and British Oak, with an even darker wood floor. Combined with the portholes, this makes the interior of the boat rather dark.
My parents (experienced boat owners) have kindly helped me to purchase the boat, and we will be looking to sell it on again in a few years. They are keen to retain the 'integrity' of the boat as much as possible ready for the resale and would probably choose to keep the boat as it is, but are keen for me to feel comfortable and happy in my surroundings while I am living on there. We are therefore keen to find a compromise in terms of how we can brighten/modernise the boat without destroying the structure, and therefore keep both parties happy.
We have agreed to rip out the fitted sofas as they are so large and inflexible, and rather dark in colour, and I am hoping to replace this with a (probably mid grey) L-shaped sofa bed (see pic). We all agree that some white-ish paint would probably work wonders, but my parents are keen to minimise how much of the wood work is covered. I have suggested the upper half of the walls.
We would all be grateful for any suggestions that you may have!
Many thanks in advance.
Comments (7)
torjones
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (11)You are asking all the right questions to ensure you enjoy the process and that will make your new home reflect your personalities in a stylish, unique way. Getting professional advise will not only help you understand and achieve exactly what you hope and dream of, but it can also save you money. Hiring a designer will help you envision the concept through 3D models, sketches, moodboard etc, will help you avoid costly mistakes and also can save you money as we can offer you a discount of many items that would cost more on the high street. We also source many items full of unique character that are only available to designers and not easily available to the public. We are based in the North West, but I travel down to London on a regular basis. I am next in London end of September, and offer a free initial consultation where I see the property and what is best for you and your house. From there we quote for the services that would be suitable for your needs, whether that is a consultation service, design concept or the full concept to completion service. If I can be of further assistance please don't hesitate to get in touch, even if just for a chat to talk about your concerns....See MoreNeed help with living room interior.
Comments (2)Your new furniture looks lovely. A vibrant blue would work well with the white and wood furniture and also your sofa. You could think about a feature wall, (behind your sofa maybe) and some new curtains that pick out the chosen colour. Keep the rest of the scheme neutral, some black and white prints on the wall would add a hint of cool and also bring in the grey sofa cushions. Good luck!...See MoreYou don't need an interior designer but still want some help?
Comments (7)I'm not offended by this post, but I do feel that it's important to delineate between professional's helping users on here, with the option for the user to ask about their services and professionals just outright posting adverts or marketing on a forum. There are avenues to market your services on here, but generally I think it should involve engaging users on their design dilemmas. I just don't think this would be the design dilemma forum if every professional decided to do this....See MoreWould you live on a house boat?
Comments (15)I've stayed on narrowboats and wide beams on the canals a number of times over the years but have never "lived" on one. I take my hat off to those who do. For many these days its not out of choice and can add many new problems to already busy lives. For many the difficulty/cost of finding a residential mooring anywhere near jobs, shops, transport and family can stop the project dead. Finding a lovely boat is very much a secondary consideration. The alternative of "continuous cruising" doesn't work well for many since you have to move on every 2 weeks - the Canal & River Trust are getting tough on this point. Comfortable living is much more of a weather related issue on a boat since the impact of cold, rain, muddy and very slippery towpaths as well as heat in mid-summer (you are living in a tin can) are all issues that don't affect bricks and mortar dwellers to anything like the same extent. In winter the canals can freeze over and canal maintenance is normally done then. Both can stop you from moving. If you can't move you can't easily fill up with water, fuel or empty the tank. Lugging heavy and smelly cans for a long distance is not fun. The upsides for me are the closeness to wildlife, the feeling of freedom and fresh air, the people you meet and the gentle movement on a canal - I've seldom slept so well. Other boats do pass by and even if they do slow down the boat can rock enough to make you spill your tea. Other points in favour are that you can move location for better/different views, most dogs love it even if they become muddier than you can imagine and you can moor at a canalside pub and not have to drive anywhere afterwards. The downsides are the need to fill with water, gas and fuel and to pump out the waste tank or empty the toilet cassette - not always at convenient times or locations, and the congestion for mooring spots now that there are over 33,000 narrowboats on the system - many more than in their heyday of the industrial revolution. The canals can have dead spots for mobile phone and broadband coverage. Also consider that boats do go wrong - not much fun in winter if you can't get the heating going and that not everybody you meet is nice, thoughtful or helpful. Best to try it first before you give up living on solid ground and move to a boat....See Moretemple274
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