FLOATING HOME Armed with excellent design skills, one couple have created the perfect canal boat dwelling
Using their design skills and renovation experience, one couple have created an airy, contemporary interior for their cosy dwelling on the water
Ajourney on a dark, stormy night sounds more like the stuff of a sea shanty than the start of a successful interiors project – but this is how Rosie and Dave Rogers’ new home set sail. The couple had bought a steel shell of a wide-beam canal boat and reaching the final destination of the marina at Canary Wharf, where it’s now moored, meant a nine-hour trip. Rosie describes it as, ‘a very hairy experience, but we had to laugh about it to get through it’. Fortunately, this wasn’t Rosie and Dave’s first time navigating choppy waters. They had been living on a boat for the previous six years, inspired by the canal in Little Venice where they previously rented a home. A new mooring every two weeks meant they explored London via its river network, but the practical challenges of constant cruising lead them to seek out a marina. Still hungry for adventure, the couple were keen to free themselves from the rental market and build their own home.
With a sleek steel shell and similar to a shipping container on the inside, the vessel was created by the builders the couple had used on their first boat project. They stayed in another unusual location for the duration of its transformation. ‘We lived in our 1970 MK1 transit camper, which we also renovated during the same period; we actually
enjoyed it,’ explains Rosie. They set themselves the task of renovating the boat in just 12 months, a target they beat even with the happy complication of deciding to get married in the middle of the build.
Creating a sense of space was a priority. The boat is 60ft x 12ft with 7ft ceilings, so it required an innovative design approach. Dave’s background in building meant he was able to take care of the plumbing, electrics and joinery, with guidance from friends and family in various trades. The only contractors on site were employed to fit the granite worktops, a sophisticated choice in line with the other materials. ‘We used what we really wanted – reclaimed pine flooring, marble and porcelain – rather than compromise,’ says Rosie.
The couple chose to buck the tradition of nautical details in favour of a warm, calm interior featuring timber on the floor and one wall for a Scandi feel. ‘I design and build and also work as a stylist, so I had a clear idea of the look I wanted. It was all about tonal layering and use of complementary natural materials,’ explains Rosie. None of the furniture was custom made, but Rosie did use her skills to customise a few pieces, such as a sideboard transformed with panelled cane. The open-plan space comprises a living area and kitchen/diner featuring a breakfast bar and range cooker, and there’s a large bedroom and a simple bathroom. ‘We’re so lucky to have the front deck connected to our bedroom;
Creating a sense of SPACE was a PRIORITY
The couple bucked the TRADITION of nautical details in FAVOUR of a warm, CALM interior
we often have breakfast out there.’ The main entrance is on the rear deck, an ideal place to entertain guests in summer. Rosie’s favourite feature, however, is a cosier spot. ‘I love our fire nook. The woodburner is on a marble base in a snug corner that’s perfect to sit in,’ she says.
Life on the boat sounds serene, but creating this home wasn’t without its problems. Work took place in winter before heating was fitted, and agreeing on a look was initially tricky. ‘From an aesthetic perspective, I have a bit more ambition than Dave, which he then tempers with reality,’ explains Rosie. One practical goal the couple agreed on was a more ecofriendly lifestyle, which they achieved via solar power that enables them to be self-sufficient for energy during seven months of the year. This helps when it comes to the cost of living on board. ‘We have carefully considered what equipment to fit in our boat, so it’s very cheap to run – it costs about £600 a year,’ says Rosie.
The couple’s advice for others hoping to live on a boat is to get organised. ‘Do your research well in advance – we planned everything in detail before we bought our first boat. Mortgages are available and it’s important to use a surveyor you trust and a reputable boat builder,’ Rosie explains. When it comes to persevering through a project, she has a sage, straightforward motto. ‘It will always come together in the end; patience is key. Nothing beats digging in to get the job done.’