Floating Home by Martin Forster

Unfortunately, I can't read German, so I know nothing much about this floating home designed by Martin Forster -- other than that it's in Hamburg. If, however, you read German, there's more information here.

Images: Architekten Martin Forster

Blueprint Nautical Chart Wall

Artist Lori Barnaby painted a nautical chart in the style of a blueprint on the wall of a beach house in Southampton, New York. Stunning.

Image: James Merrell/House Beautiful

Small Spaces: Built-Ins

Built-ins rock because you can tailor them to funky, otherwise-unusable spaces. Like this great little desk tucked away into a corner.

Image: From the Desk of Lola

Antiqued Whale Linen Pillow Cover

I like this simple, black-and-white pillow cover from Branch Handmade. I also like that the design was created from a photo they took of a rusted, vintage whale statue seen on an antiquing excursion.

Image: branchhandmade/Etsy 

Carmel

I grew up in Carmel, and I return every month or so for the day, but staying overnight in the small coastal town recently was a sensory delight.

• The forgotten smell of kelp and of eucalyptus

• The onset of sudden pea-soup fog

• Fresh, clean air

• Muscle memory -- being able to drive from place to place without even really thinking about it

• The very blue-green water

• The sight of boats on Monterey Bay

• The sand beneath my feet

• The laughter of kids swimming

• The unexpected surprise of seeing a boat close to shore (which I've never seen before there)

More Magazine, Part 6

This, my friends, is a flemished line. It's coiled like this so that it looks neat, and it also allows for less slippage if you step on it.

It's also the last pic from the article that I have to show you.

Image: David Meredith

The Pelicans Return

Not only are the ducks back, so are the pelicans. They make me happy.

Image: cdw9/Flickr

Long Shelves

I thought, briefly, of building just a long, narrow, simple shelf like this when I re-did my galley. I must have decided there wouldn't be enough storage.

Image: Skona Hem via Purple Area

Jane Hallworth's Spartan Caravan

While I love my houseboat, I still have a fondness for Airstreams, and, now, Spartan trailers. This cool aluminum 1955 caravan makes my heart race. It was redone with reclaimed rosewood, modern hardware, Ann Sacks metal tiles, and a Miele kitchen, and it's used for actors on movie shoots.

Images: Roger Davies/Los Angeles Times

Rainstorm

We've all battened down the hatches in preparation for a predicted big storm that's supposed to bring copious amounts of rain and strong winds. And so our autumn/winter begins.

Image: sushisan/Flickr

Houseboat Life

To live on a houseboat, you not only have to change your life...

You have to change your idea of what life is about.

-Jeremy Saxon, in The Houseboat Book by Barbara Flanagan

Image: Waqcku/Wikipedia

Jacks Print

Photo by Katie Baum. (Which I blogged over here, too. I'm just sayin'.)

Image: Katie Baum/20x200   

Return of the Ducks

The ducks are back. And not because B&W are feeding them again. Nope, this time it's other neighbors who've been sucked into buying duck food. (I do have to admit, it was kind of lonely without them.)

Image: HelloMokona/Flickr

Another Mediterranean Settee

I'm not a big fan of pink, but other than that, I could happily hang out on this settee every day. (See another mediterranean settee here.)

Image: House to Home via my ideal home

Prince van Orangien

Yowza. Book me a room on the Prince van Orangien, please. Located on Oaxen Island in Stockholm's archipelago, the 1940s boat is moored next to an award-winning restaurant that serves five-course gourmet meals. (Oh, and don't forget to reserve a table for me at Oaxen Krog. It'd be a shame to miss out on that.) Details here.

Images: Prince van Orangien  

Window Seat Overlooking the Water

Have I mentioned that I love window seats and windows like this? Of course I have.

Image: Unknown via we heart it via create a space

Dancing on the Beach

I love this photo of Gerald and Sara Murphy dancing on the beach at East Hampton, ca. 1915. It's just so joyful -- and, dare I say it, fun.

Image: Making It New: The Art of Sara and Gerald Murphy by Deborah Rothschild via artnet

Alaskan Canoe Lighting

Designer Erin Martin used an Alaskan canoe as lighting in a Calistoga home.

Images: Dominique Vorillon/Western Interiors & Design

More Magazine, Part 5

I'm running out of pics from the article to show you -- but here's my little stateroom/bedroom. Borrowed IKEA striped euro shams from R, stylist's props on the shelf, my own vintage linen bedding, and art from Colette.

Image: David Meredith

Road Trip Recap

What I learned last week: While blind, aged dogs adore walking in the water at the lagoon, and getting attention from kids on field trips, they don't particularly like being away from their homes overnight. Lily's signs of stress included whining and barking when left alone in the car for short periods of time, and even an accident in the hotel room. Sigh. We came home early, and she immediately, happily, fell asleep in her bed.

Vintage Strip Quilt

I'm still yearning for vintage feedsack quilts. If I saw one like this '40s cotton strip quilt, you can bet I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.

Image: Ricco Maresca Gallery via batixa

A Lot of Fun

Yesterday I saw a truck with a huge sign that said, "There is a lot of fun to have." It's good to be reminded of that every once in a while.

Image: timparkinson/Flickr

Small Spaces: Places

In small spaces, everything needs a place. And it needs to go back into that place as soon as you're done with it. Otherwise, the clutter will make you crazy.

Image: Remodelista

Living Aboard

Being away from the harbor has been a good "re-set," a way to gain perspective on various things. It's also made me very aware of how appreciative I am of the following:

• Good friends who are also neighbors

• The sense of community

• The cries of the red-tailed hawks, herons, seagulls, the honking of geese, the quacking of ducks

• The sound of lines clanging against masts

• Sharing delicious meals with friends

• Sleeping incredibly well

• Really seeing the sunrise and sunset and the stars

• Fresh air

• The unexpected sight of a harbor seal, a pelican, a leopard shark, a bat ray

• And, of course, my houseboat

Image: masaaki miyara/Flickr

Second Houseboat Anniversary

Two years. Really? How did that happen so quickly? Well, 730 days later, I still know that buying and moving aboard my houseboat was the best decision I've ever made.

Image: GraciesCottage/Etsy   

Sea Legs

Since this is our first time away from the boat overnight in two years, I wonder if when we return after a few nights away, Lil and I will feel the motion of the houseboat more. Usually I don't notice it unless it's windy or a boat goes by too quickly.

Image: Today is a good day/Flickr

Vintage Wooden Model Sailboat

I drove by a house across from the beach yesterday and saw a big model sailboat on a fireplace mantel. It reminded me of this.

Image: kissavintagedesign/Etsy

Road Trip

Print of a watercolor by Vivienne Strauss (actual title: Florence Vanderploeg and Otto take a drive and enjoy the early fall foliage, September of 1938... ). (Lil and I are (gasp) taking a little road trip and staying overnight away from the harbor for the first time since we moved aboard. Shocking, I know.)

Image: vivstrauss/Etsy

Settee Nook

Oo, a combination settee and nook, be still, my heart.

Image: Andrea Raisfeld Locations via The Improvised Life 

Flying Geese Photograph

Photo by Sharon Montrose. I love how they look like they're dancing.

Image: Sharon Montrose/The Working Proof  

His & Hers MetroShip Houseboats

Need a Christmas gift idea? Neiman Marcus is offering a pair of MetroShip houseboats (I blogged them here) for (cough, cough) a mere $250K. Click here for more info.

Image: Neiman Marcus

Water 2 Painting

Oil by Pamela Munger. (See another painting by the artist here.)

Image: pamelam/Etsy

Seahorses

Aww, how sweet. Who knew?

Image: Unknown via Miss Mabel

Cozy, Colorful Bed Nook

Lovely, cozy bed nook.

Image: Kathryn M. Ireland via tinywhitedaisies

Red-Tailed Hawk

A minute ago I heard a red-tailed hawk cry. It sounds just like the hawk in the opening to "Northern Exposure" -- and is preferable to the cry its baby makes when it's hungry and wants its parents to return to the nest with food.

Image: Mila Zinkova/Wikimedia