Houseboat Rehab

This week was an exciting week here at our house.  The official start of summer vacation was marked by two very significant events.  First, school is officially out for the year.  Second, our houseboat was put into the water this week!!  I am so excited!

This boat has been a labor of love for us.  We bought it approximately three years ago and have been fixing it up ever since.  It was manufactured in 1969 so that probably tells you a little something about how the boat looked when we bought it. 

This is a picture of it when we bought it.

And this is a picture of it as it was being taken to its slip for the first time this year.  (The boat sits in dry dock during the extremely long South Dakota winters!!)

We bought this thing for a steal and are putting a lot of sweat equity into it.  As small business owners we are unable to take vacations that last more than a few days, having this boat as a getaway has been amazing.  While we will probably never see Europe or Mexico, we do get a lot of quality family time on our own little oasis!

My husband completely repainted and and gave the outside an overhaul this Spring.  No easy task!!

Here is a glimpse of the inside pre-reno.  Don’t be scared.

I don’t know what my favorite part is…the gold curtains, the green vinyl bench seat, the ultra plush seating, or the gorgeous brown carpet.  Although these are all great, the paneling has to be the best!

Lets just say, this project was not for those without some kind of vision.

Although it is still, and probably will always be, a work in progress, I wanted to share a few pictures of how it is coming along.  These are  pictures of the main “salon”.

This space got a fresh paint job, a new wood-look laminate floor, new curtains, and new furniture.  We totally got lucky with the couches.  These couches are from World Market and fit perfectly into this space.  It could not have been better if they were custom made!!  And, they have slip covers which is essential in a small boat filled with kids and friends.  The curtains are also made to be easily removed for washing.

This is the booth area in the kitchen.  Where is the green vinyl you ask??  G-O-N-E!!

The kitchen rehab was very limited.  See the “big green machine” other wise know as the refrigerator from 1969…we kept it for now and painted the cabinets the same color and added new hardware to make it look modern. 

This next area is called the wheel house. It also got new paint, flooring, upholstery, and curtains.

I took all of these pics not planning on using them for this,  but I got so excited this week that I had to share.    I had resized the pics for something else and now cannot get them back to their original….thus the smallish pics.  

I wasn’t sure if you would want to see this next pic, but I figured some may be curious as to what the “head” on a houseboat looks like…well this is it.  It may be small but at least it has one. 

This next pic was taken at the end of last season and so the beds are not prettied up for presentation.  This is the “cutty”.  There are steps that go down under the boat and there you will find two twin beds and storage.  It usually looks so cute with the bedding and the polka dot upholstery! 

Here is where you will find me most of the summer.  I just bought two loungers to go here and I am hoping to be a permanent fixture on one of them!  This is where I read books, relax, and watch my kiddos swim.  Love it!!

 

This is where the kiddos jump in to swim in the mighty Missouri River.  That’s my little Natalie checking things out.

The boat will soon be renamed “The Three Belles” in honor of my three sweet daughters.

If you can’t tell, I love Summer! 

Here’s hoping that your summer is as great as I am hoping mine will be!!

 

I don’t always make to all of these parties every week but I sure do love them all!

Mondays

Alderberry HillAsk AnnaBetween Naps on the Porch

DIY Home Sweet HomeMaking the World Cuter

Be ColorfulSumos Sweet StuffDebbie Doo's

Rustic CraftsMy 1929 CharmerThe Southern Institute

Tuesdays

Crafty Texas GirlsJillify It

Wednesdays

Handy Man, Crafty WomanThe Shady PorchEmbracing Change

Savvy Southern StylePrimitive and ProperThe NY Melrose Family

Thursdays

The Shabby Creek CottageYesterday on TuesdayThe Brambleberry Cottage

The Vintage FarmhouseSomewhat SimpleHouse of Hepworths

Fireflies and JellybeansA Glimpse InsideSaved by Love Creations

Seven AliveAKA DesignCrafty, Scrappy, Happy

Thrifty DecoratingNot Just a HousewifeThe Crafty Blogstalker

Our Delightful HomeThe Artsy Girl Connection 52 Mantels

Fridays

Blissful and DomesticShabby NestRomantic Home

Finding FabulousRemodelaholicThe French Country Cottage

WhipperberryChic on a ShoestringStuff and Nonsense

Naptime CraftersSimply DesigningOne Artsy Mama

Days of Chalk and ChocolateAt the Picket Fence

RedouxAddicted 2 Decorating

Saturdays

Funky Junk InteriorsLolly Jane Boutique

Serenity YouTatortots and JelloToo Much Time

Be Different Act NormalSix Sisters StuffPositively Splendid

Love Notes by LaurynIt's Overflowing

Sundays

I Heart NaptimeNifty ThriftyPetite Hermine

Cherished TreasuresTwigg StudiosFlamingo Toes

Thank you to all of these amazing sites that are so gracious to host each week

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