I’ve got a real love/hate relationship with anything that deals with property transformations, home improvements or DIY. These are some of the largest time wasters on the internet. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t say this as a bad thing… More of a form of addiction whose narcotic effect is something that really gets my gears turning and throws me into a daydreaming state where I quickly realize I’m drowning in the possibilities of what ‘could be’.
While sifting through the photos I noticed something peculiar that caught my eye. The windows on this house, with a large, open floor plan, didn’t quite seem kosher. The next photo I saw had an extremely odd door, almost like it belonged in a submarine. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that the photos I was looking at were actually a converted barge. Talk about upcycling an old unused piece of machinery.
With a large, open floor plan, there aren’t too many signs that this isn’t just a normal apartment or home.
Piano, shelves, couches, fireplace… Seems pretty typical, until you take a closer look.
That odd-looking door was my first indication that something wasn’t quite right.
After the door, I realized that there was something unusual about the windows, as well.
Kitchen, dining room, entertainment/ living room. All of this combined as a great room is not a bad idea. I’m a fan of open spaces.
The kitchen has a nice island, with all necessary amenities, including a good-sized stove.
With a large skylight, one would think that this apartment was on the top floor… But wait, where do those stairs lead?
The top of the stairs, when coming from the great room, leads to the main housing compartment of the barge. But first, a peak through the door.
The skylights of the great room take up a large portion of the deck of the barge.
Entering the main bedroom, you’ll find a nice sitting/ reading area with plenty of natural light!
The sitting area is nestled nicely into what would otherwise be wasted space as the wall travels sharply outward from the floor.
With a good-sized sitting area with storage and a nice, cozy bed, what else would a master bedroom need?
Well, I guess every master bedroom needs a master bathroom.
While this may not stand out as extraordinary to most, I can’t get get over the looks of that giant rectangular tub. That’s definitely not what I expected to see in a converted barge.
The dual sink vanity has a wood looking finish that matches the large tub to perfection.
The guest room has a comfy looking sitting chair, while the simplistic bunk beds offer you little more than a place to sleep and a cubby to store your personal effects.
The secondary bathroom is a half bath that doesn’t hold a candle to the master bathroom, but affords guests a little privacy while in the privy.
Leaving the main quarters up a very steep flight of stairs that is more like an attic ladder.
Here we find the captains lounge and the helm of this very fine ship.
This area is complete with 360 degree views, as you could imagine would be necessary while captaining such a sizable vessel.
Once you’re out on the open sea, or traveling between port towns, you’re sure to be surrounded by exquisite views when you have a barge that is also your home!
I guess this is how they roll in Sweden!
Level 0 appears to just be the captains lounge and the helm. Level 1 contains the sleeping quarters and the restrooms. Level 2 houses the greenroom, along with the important functioning parts of the transformed barge.
More info: Homedsgn
It’s hard to believe that someone could have the vision and time to actually make a home from a converted barge. While this is something that I can daydream about while pondering the possibilities of traveling from town to town on the river front, I seriously doubt that the $800,000 price tag will ever find its way into my meager budget. Nonetheless, this 1600 foot upcycled home was definitely well done and has left me with a few new ideas I can hold on to until the time comes that money is no longer an object.