Life Is Better On The Water
In today’s world, tradition is a fading relic of the past when it comes to creating innovative projects. With the exponential increase in technology and the abundance of resources available, there’s no shortage in the imagination department when it comes to bringing a project to life. That being said, we focused on a truly extraordinary project that is sure to turn many heads and have people reconsider what it means to own a home.
Jay Blackmore, a resident living in Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, decided it was time to move away from his country home and focus on building a future that was more cost-efficient and catered to his lifestyle. He brilliantly devised a plan that would take 4 years in the making, but the result will completely blow you away.
As a single parent, Jay wanted to demonstrate to his children and to himself that they can lead normal life in a way that was non-traditional. Jay realized that he wanted to live on the water someway, somehow. He began planning for a year; chipping away at his plan in the midst of work, life, and being a parent.
The first step was to build a large barge that was 16ft wide, 40ft long, and 3 feet deep. The barge was with materials gathered from 4 independent water-type boxes that were framed up from locally harvested seeder and sheaved in plywood. It was important to make sure the structural integrity was sound and that it was strong enough to support a two-story, 700 sq.ft. living space.
Breaking From Tradition
The stunning home comes equipped with a full, off the grid solar panels that provide about 400 watts of energy to the home. Additionally, it has a pellet stove, a composting toilet, and an evaporation greywater system that makes sure nothing is inadvertently dumped overboard.
Furthermore, the living space contains a kitchen, living and dining space, two bedrooms on the second floor, and a master bedroom and bathroom on the main floor. Did we mention that cool wraparound deck on the second floor? It offers a stunning 360-degree view of the beautiful lake and mountains surrounding the home.
Jay mentions that part of the reason he made the decision to make this change in his life was that he was looking to lower his cost of living as well as lower his carbon footprint. Now he has no lawn to mow, no snow to shovel out of the driveway, not too far from town and people, and it doesn’t require nearly as much maintenance that his last home required him to have.
A Bright Future Ahead
Although it may seem like a complete plus, there are some drawbacks to consider. This kind of lifestyle is tough in the sense that you have to carry everything that goes in and out of the float home including propane tanks, pellets for the woodstove, groceries, garbage, tools for home, and anything else that needs to be a part of the float home.
Another drawback includes the many paddlers and boaters that use the nearby area for transport or entertainment, however, Jay says he’s grown used to this kind of noise and it really is all about mindset when it comes to minor distractions.
All things considered, Jay Blackmore has it made. Thanks to living out his dream day by day for 4 years he has finally turned that dream into a reality. It goes to show anything is possible if you really put your mind and heart to it.
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