A luxurious two bedroom houseboat in London, one of the world’s first to be made of sustainable steel, is up for sale for £149,950.
The recently crafted boat, with its exterior made of Corten Weathering Steel, comes with two bedrooms, an open plan kitchen and living space, a utility room, dining area which seats up to ten people and a modern bathroom.
Owners Owain Harris, a designer, and Rosie, an art teacher, have lived on houseboats in the capital for eight years before building their dream home.
The luxurious houseboat is made of a sustainable type of steel which gives it is distinctive orange, rusty look on the outside
Inside the houseboat boasts of a large open plan living, dining and kitchen area with plenty of space for everyone living there
The spacious boat also has two separate bedrooms which the couple have designed to high standard, including one with a door to the side onto a seating area to sit and enjoy the views
The boat is one of the first to be made of sustainable Corten Weathering Steel and even comes with a modern, fully-functioning bathroom
All the furniture inside the houseboat is recycled and is inkeeping with the style of the property. Inside there is also plenty of storage and even a Smeg fridge
Drawing upon their experience living on the water, they created a luxurious open plan living space on the boat which currently sits in Regents Canal.
The boat is perfect for those wanting to get on the property ladder or escape to a more rural way of living and has a ‘continuous cruising’ licence – allowing owners to move the boat around regularly instead of staying in one place.
The houseboat’s striking appearance weathers to an orange patina, something which the current owner, Mr Harris, says was selected to pay homage to the heritage of Regents Canal.
The living area is so spacious it currently houses a table capable of seating ten people and still maintains a large area to easily move around in
The current owner Owain Harris says one of the main draws for purchasing the property is the ability to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city
The impressive houseboat has a large rustic kitchen-dining area, with a working sink, wooden worktops and a full size Smeg fridge
Inside there is plenty of room for several people to live comfortably as well as having guests over to stay and entertaining
This property is the perfect choice for the eco-concious as once the rust-like appearance on the outside develops, it requires little to no maintenance – meaning the new owners can avoid using extremely hazardous marine paints which contain toxic substances.
The rust forms a protective coating that slows the rate of corrosion, meaning it never requires painting and its appearance will improve over time as other on-trend patterns come and go.
The impressive boat was fitted out by the owners friends and the hull was commissioned by a tradition boat builder in Mansfield.
The modern bathroom is beautifully tiled with gold rustic tap fixtures and fittings, and a small bathtub with a step-in shower
The main bedroom is incredibly spacious, and is able to fit a large bed comfortably without taking away space from the room
The portholes make for a fantastic statement feature in the tiled bathroom, complete with working compost toilet
In the main bedroom, the current owners have also designed a large floor to ceiling mirror wardrobe perfect for storing clothes and other items
Owner Harris Owain said: ‘Boat life is far more environmentally friendly than living in bricks and mortar. We don’t take up any land, we are a much smaller space and use much less energy to heat up and keep warm.
‘We burn recycled wood pellets from local joineries. We are far more conscious of resources we use and waste we produce as everything has transported on and off the boat.
‘We have a closer relationship and awareness of nature and our immediate environment as we meander through.
‘We grew up in the country and by the sea and living on a boat in London gives a taste of rural life in a big city.’
The boat has a ‘cruising licence’ but is currently sat in Regents Canal, London. The new owners will be able to travel on the boat, which does not have a fixed ‘home’
The smaller bedroom has a quaint port hole, complete with a small blind for privacy, and fits a single bed inside
There is just enough room to walk along the length of the single bed in the second bedroom, which also has hooks for clothes to avoid cluttering the small floor space
The owner says coming home every day is a ‘delight’ and described the canals they have lived in as the ‘arteries of the countryside’.
‘The contrast in landscapes is striking and keeps every day exciting – one minute we can be in the sticks and the next surrounded towering skyscapers.
‘The change in seasons always offers up a lot of romance, we always hanker to light the first fire of the year, or the sun to ride higher in the sky in the spring.’
As well as having an sustainable boat, the couple take up other measures to stop pollution of the waterways, including using eco-friendly soaps and detergents and using a compost toilet which does not require water.
As well as the mirrored wardobes in the bedroom, the living area has a large double bookcase built in which is perfect for storing more belongings
The new owners will be able to wake up in the morning and stroll out of bed onto the side of the boat and take in the scenery
The perfect compromise of city and rural, the houseboat would give its new owners the opportunity to explore and live in a rural location while only a few miles from the capital
They also furnished the boat with entirely recycled furniture, and ensured they installed efficient insulation and double glazing.
Mr Harris said: ‘All of the wood used in the fitout was FSC certified and the floor is made of reclaimed scaffold boards.
‘Being out in the open allows you good opportunities if you’re green fingered to forage or grow your own food on the roof. We’re selling to be nearer our family, boats allow a great deal of flexibility in location but unfortunately there’s no canals where we’re from.’