What do you think life would be like on a houseboat? - "Living the Houseboat Life" [Lake Union, Seattle) Design Home Game Challenge

“What do you think life would be like on a houseboat?”

I have to admit that I always thought it would be cool to live on a houseboat.  In fact, one of my favorite movies is  “Houseboat” (1958) starring Sophia Loren and Cary Grant.  In this delightfully funny romance, Grant (a wealthy widower with three young children) purchases a dilapidated houseboat and hires Loren (who is an Italian socialite under disguise) to become his nanny and housekeeper.  By the way, she’s a disaster at her job duties.

Image from IMDb. Houseboat. Web. Retrieved 22 Mar 2017.

This challenge introduces use to our DH clients, Marie and Jess who lives on a houseboat on Lake Union in Seattle.

Entertaining is an integral part of their lives, therefore they are requesting a living room with contemporary seating and tables that will compliment their social lifestyle.  Since I really love this movie, you’d think I would have jumped at the chance to enter this challenge…but I didn’t…and really don’t know why!  But many other Design Home Players did, and there were some great submissions.  Here's one of my favorites!

Lynns Design Firm

The first thing that grabs me about this 5 Star design from Lynn's Design Firm, is not the chevron patterned rug from the Loloi Venice Beach Collection, but the analogous color scheme of the navy and bluish gray that really looks like a color from Sherwin Williams called Soulful Blue (#SW6543).  I think that Lynn did a fantastic job of blending the colors to a harmonious palette.  The Apt2B Lawson Sofa (in blueberry) was an excellent choice since it is modern in style and being 83.5" in width it will most certainly meet the seating needs requirement.  Also from Apt2B is the Redondo Pier Coffee Table that adds  texture and a bit of  rustic ambience to the space.  The Kathy Kuo Home Devin Sailor Stripe Roped Iron Stool  provides extra seating for guests.  On the back wall the Townsend Plasma Console by Brownstone offers additional seating that can accentuate more intimate conversations.  Here's a close up of this stunning console table!  Lynn adds a touch of elegance to the space by specifying lighting from DWR.  The Fun 1 Floor Lamp features hand-cut mother of pearl discs that, according to the product description "make wonderful musical sounds when stirred by a breeze" (Design Within Reach).

Image from Brownstone Furniture.  Townsend Plasma Console. Web. Retrieved 22 Mar 2017.

This challenge was an HGTV House Hunter's, and I've often wondered what special reward players acquire for submitting  a design for the HGTV challenge or even scoring 5 Stars.  To my knowledge, there are no special awards like diamonds or packages, like you receive when submitting the "series" designs.  I think Design Home should hear your suggestions and thoughts, so feel free to comment below on with your thoughts and suggestions.