CasaSugar

Casa Verde: MetroShip

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:27 -0700

Do you want to get away for a weekend, but don't have the land or Summer cabin to flee to? Consider taking to the seas instead. The MetroShip, a new houseboat design that favors modern aesthetics and high-efficiency materials, makes it possible.

MetroShed and MetroShip founder, David Ballinger, writes, “ I wanted [the MetroShip] to be like an updated Frank Lloyd Wright home but with an open New York-loft-condo style mixed with a midcentury Eichler home post and beam style. Using structurally sound lightweight aluminum panels was important. Using a single piece roof was important. Using the very best doors and windows available was important. Design, as they say, is in the details.”

To find out all of the details, and to take a complete photo tour, read more.

The spacious design is 48 feet in length by 12 feet beam and 7 feet interior height, though custom sizes are available. The kitchens feature islands, top of the line Viking appliances, and Iin the open-living area, entertainment is provided for with an HD-TV projector for TV, movies, gaming, and Internet access, while sound is piped in through in-wall Jamo speakers by one of the best Danish speaker manufacturers. The bathroom features a Kohler corner full-size shower, imported Italian vanity with a Sloan touch-free water-conserving faucet, full-size touch-flush toilet an LG Steam Fresh Washer Dryer.

You'll keep cozy in your MetroShip no matter what the season with remote-controlled heat and AC, air conditioning units. Rest assured your heat or AC won't disappear out of the boat's doors or windows, etiher, since the MetroShip is constructed with double-glazed low-E door and windows. The entire boat is built out of UV-coated aluminum grid opaque walls, which are opaque, and cause the MetroShip to glow at night like a lantern. MetroShips start at $239,000.

Are you interested in boating away down the nearest river, lake, or bay? Check out all the photos if you need convincing.

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Summer Style: Take Up Residence on a Houseboat

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:00:29 -0700

The only thing better than having a Summer house on the lake is having a Summer house in the lake. This lovely Swedish houseboat is perhaps the most charming little structure I have seen in some time, and I'm ready to hitch a ride.

There's very little more romantic to me than the idea of taking to the seas (or lakes) in a houseboat. Can't you imagine you and your sweetie floating through a chain of lakes in this little boat? Perhaps catching a few fish for dinner off of it? To see more lovely photos, read more.

Interested in finding out more about this boat, or perhaps building one yourself? The houseboat was featured in the pages of Swedish interiors mag Sköna hem, and was built by carpenter Stefan Dillner of Stockholm.

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Could You Live on a Houseboat?

CasaSugar — Sat, 09 May 2009 08:30:48 -0700

A mother and baby watch television from the living room of their houseboat, which is moored along the inner waters of the Amsterdam canal. While houseboats are common as permanent dwellings in some parts of the world, especially Southeast Asia, others use them as vacation homes, or as temporary dwellings.

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Coveted Crib: The Floating House

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:00:44 -0700

Living on the water is nothing new; it's been a tradition in many cultures for ages. And, of course, societies have developed by the water for logistical reasons. Naturally, many people also want to live near the water to take advantage of all the activities it has to offer, and for the view. In areas surrounded by water and in densely populated urban centers with high real-estate costs, permanently living literally on the water in a houseboat just makes sense. Unfortunately, though, traditional houseboat designs have left much to be desired. So, design label Confused Direction, based in Oldenburg, Germany (which features the most important noncoastal harbor in Lower Saxony), teamed up with carpentry company Schreinermeisterei to develop a residential boat that balances both good design and maritime romance. "Das Schwimmhaus" has the same fresh and elegant look of Confused Direction's furniture and interior designs, but departs from nature-inspired curves and waves towards a more angular look.
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Houseboat Beautiful

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:42:15 -0800

Over four years, Todd Biernacki and his wife Krissy renovated their small houseboat on Seattle's Lake Union to make room for their growing family. While the family saved money by using salvaged and recycled materials and doing the majority of the work themselves, they also splurged on items such as huge windows and skylights, which in turn would help save money down the road by cutting down on electricity use, thanks to the natural sunlight they'd provide. Overall, the addition cost them $250,000.

To find out details about this renovation as well as to see a gallery of photos, just read more

The extra weight from the addition required more floatation devices for the houseboat, which had been originally built on a "raft" of old-growth cedar logs 100 years ago. The solution came with 80 new 55-gallon plastic barrels, recycled from a local soda-bottling plant. The family used recycled and salvaged materials throughout the home, including recycled wood floors. They saved space throughout the renovation by using multiple built-in cabinets and drawer systems. Undoubtedly, one of the coolest parts of the addition is the inch-thick, two-foot-square Plexiglas window in the floor, where the whole family can check out fish as they swim through the boat's raft timbers.

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Swedish Houseboat

CasaSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:43:46 -0700

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:00:13 -0700

Design*Sponge has a sneak peek of Pia's houseboat.
AT:SF shows you how to make a cheap bathroom upgrade.
Dwell reports from the ICFF.
IkeaHacker constructs speakers with sexy legs.
Bluelines proposes a potted plant potluck.
Re-Nest highlights redesigned furniture items.
YumSugar asks if you have family recipes.
SavvySugar explores whether local vacations are better.

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Your Favorite Alterna-Homes

CasaSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 06:30:41 -0800

As part of our Best of 2007 polls, I asked you, if you could take a flight of fancy, what type of alterna-house would you like to shack up in for a while.

While treehouses won out, there was a nearly even four-way tie for second place between lighthouse, houseboat, renovated church, and renovated schoolhouse. I've actually lived in a renovated schoolhouse and a renovated church in the past, but I still have to tick those other choices off my list. Here's to fun housing possibilities in the new year!

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Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 10:00:21 -0800

West elm sweepstakes winner Kavi484 showed us her new digs.
We showed you how to bring nature indoors by making a tree branch curtain rod.
We heard all variations of "eww" and "gross" from you over this Simon Racheli meat chair.
Todd and Krissy Biernacki's home is houseboat beautiful.
We actually wished to have an old-school radiator, just so we could warm our morning muffins.
We launched the CasaSugar holiday gift guides with some cool rockers for the new moms in your life.
Moroccan poufs are good, better, and best for your home.
We shined the spotlight on designer Karim Rashid and the laundry list of awards he's received.
Oh, and it turns out that Rachel Zoe doesn't style interiors.

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 06:03:29 -0700

Your mission, if you choose to accept it: Take a trip to Sylvie's store, Blossom Home, recently featured on SFGirlbyBay.
Shak in Style is showcasing Darlene Shiels' beautiful art.
GeekSugar has the lowdown on the disappointingly toxic iPhone.
I have houseboat envy from looking at this post from AT: SF.
This lantern is so cute, so autumn-entertaining appropriate, and such a brilliant Ikea hack.
The new Thomas Paul rugs are absolutely crave worthy.
Design*Sponge will teach you how to make some pretty vases.
Do you know what Heineken bottles double-dutied as? Find out on Inhabitat.
More Ways to Waste Time has some stunning art by Jen Ferguson.
YumSugar found an amazing reader recipe for Fright Night Cake. You'll love the picture.

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