This past weekend I attended a friend’s Labor Day party on his houseboat. I’ve mentioned a few times that I LOVE living in California for a number of obvious reason but one of the main attractions is the diversity of homes. In the Bay Area it’s common to see mini mansion, ranch, Victorian, craftsmen, Eichler, Spanish, industrial warehouses, and houseboats. The party was a blast and it inspired me to design Heart Homes Floating House, currently available at Collabor88. Jaylin Whitewood and Marina Ramer, creators of Aphrodite Shop & Heart Homes were guest designers at the 3rd Anniversary shopping extravaganza, theme Odyssey. The design duo outdid themselves offering two fully furnished houseboats, Sailors (180 prisms) and Fisherman’s (130 prisms, both copy/modify) for $888L, at a deep discount. They are also selling an empty house for $188L (57 prisms), as well as complementary pieces.
I used the Floating House with Pier, mixing and matching items from the other two furnished homes with past releases; the Sailor Seabreeze & Seashell Finder bedroom sets (available at the main Aphrodite Shop), to create a mermaid hideaway. Nautical decor was very popular this summer and I created a whole maritime beach house (hint, hint, open house till Sunday, September 7), but I wanted to style a feminine Mer-creature dwelling in pinks, mint, and sea foam. Since the floating houseboat is one room, I needed to divide the spaces. I used the Heart Homes Sailor Seabreeze and Seashell Finder curtains to drape and section off the boudoir area, creating privacy for the little mermaid. The star of the build is the pink seashell shaped Pure Mermaids Bed sold separately at C88 ($488L). I highlighted the ceiling with seashell fishing netting and Neptune’ Staff netting on the wall (both from the Fisherman’s House), reminiscent of the depth of the oceans. I flanked the seashell bed with the seahorse craved Poseidon Fishing Chairs ($288L) in bright pink, purple and teal blue. Our little mermaid has a lounge spot all her own and a view of the rest of the houseboat.
The main area is a sea foam and mint green living room complete the Sailor’s Couple Sofa, Wheel Chandelier, Sailor Boat Table, and Sailor Deco Frames (all from the furnished Sailor House). I added the Seashell Finder beige fireplace and rug, as well as the Sailor Seabreeze ocean triptych, dresser, wing chairs, rug, and decor. In the corner of the living room is the large Hades Lamp ($188L), greeting guests and lighting the way.
The long hall space on the sidewall contains a buffet kitchenette from Brixley and a bistro dining spot from LISP (*not part of Collabor88). I added a few seashell prints I had in my inventory and inserted the Shipwreck Mirror (Sailor House) in one porthole above the main kitchen counter.
The outside of the houseboat is just as important as in the inside since so much time is spent enjoying the water views. Entry deck is appointed with a Rope, Rusty Anchor with Rope, Brass Stand Anchor (Sailor House), and Fishing Rod, Netting with Shark Jaws, and Red Seashell Netting (Fisherman’s House). I also decorated the exterior of the adjacent houseboat with the Good Catch Fishing Chairs ($288L), Rope, Red Lifeguard Anchor, & Planters (Sailor House). I had a wonderful time staging the houseboat and showcasing TONS of Heart Homes items. Hope you RUNNNNNNNNNNN over to C88 before they close (in 2DAYS!!!!!) to steal these deals and always remember Let’s Get Decorating! Taxi please…
Gloria Silverstone 