They call it the “Venice of the west.” It’s a quasi-sensical moniker, well-suited to the neighborhood of roughly 400 floating houses in Sausalito, California. The community was first established in the late 1800s by fishermen and San Franciscans looking for a budget-friendly getaway (because the homes weren’t on land, they weren’t regulated by taxes and the like), but it was the beatniks and hippies of the 1950s and ’60s who made it a cultural fixture. Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, and Maya Angelou were frequent guests; Shel Silverstein owned a home here; and Otis Redding penned “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” during a weeklong stay.
Many decades—and regulations—later, Donna and Eric Colson purchased one of these floating houses as a weekend pied-à-terre. Theirs had a less-colorful history (it was built in 1983), but it featured an open layout with panoramic views of Richardson Bay. “It was red-tagged, completely dilapidated,” Colleen Dowd Saglimbeni, founder of CDS Interiors, says. “We had to wait until the tide was low, haul it onto the land, and then get the contractor in there.” For the next eight months, Dowd Saglimbeni, who has worked with the Colsons on several projects, set about transforming the structure. Different from a houseboat, a floating home is situated on an immobile barge that can’t be used for transportation but does offer an unmatched proximity to the water.
“It’s amazing how destructive the saltwater is. I had to use outdoor fabrics on everything, the siding is virtually bulletproof, and the kitchen is all electric,” Dowd Saglimbeni says. “Plus, we had to consider the weight of each item: When we installed the cabinets and range, we had to balance the furniture in the living room and then adjust the cinder blocks under the barge.”
Practicalities aside, there are plenty of opportunities for fun. “The whole scheme is very serene and the design centers on entertaining because this is such a magical place and a very communal neighborhood,” Dowd Saglimbeni says. “They walk straight off onto a paddleboard, take their boat to Angel Island, and last Fourth of July hosted a party with a band on the roof deck.” The Sausalito docks may no longer be a countercultural haven, but the bon vivant lifestyle floats on.
Front Entrance
Red-orange Galanter & Jones chairs, color-coordinating with the nearby Golden Gate Bridge, offer an opportunity to sit and chat with neighbors. Siding: Vytec.
Living and Dining Rooms
Pictured on main.
With the home’s barge foundation in mind, Colleen Dowd Saglimbeni selected seaworthy furniture. Dining table: custom. Dining chairs: Palecek. Stove: Jøtul. Swivel chairs: custom, Cypress Furniture. Coffee tables: Anthem.
Kitchen
Maximizing views of the bay was the modus operandi for the kitchen and living areas.
Stools: McGuire. Glassware: vintage tiki and Blenko Glass Co. Island: Caesarstone. Tile: Pratt + Larson.
Dining Nook
A pied-à-terre should be primed for entertaining, so built-in storage is a must. Floors: All Natural Stone. Stool: Beachwood Home. Banquette pillows and cushions: Anthem. Table: family heirloom.
Powder Room
A 1927 watercolor by C.F.A. Voysey printed on wallpaper lends a nautical vibe sans kitsch. Mirror: Pot-Pourri. Sink: Stone Forest, with Palmer Industries legs. Toilet: Toto.
Primary bedroom
Sleepers are lulled by the sound of water and the gentle rocking of the house. Wallcovering: Phillip Jeffries. Bed: Palecek. Sconce: Urban Electric. Side table: Made Goods. Roman shade: custom, Kravet.
Guest Bedroom
Seaside-inspired accessories make for a soothing retreat. Headboard: Pottery Barn. Side table: Palecek. Pendant: Bright on Presidio. Roman shades: custom, Cowtan & Tout. Wallcovering: Phillip Jeffries.
Kid's Room
Rooftop Deck
The surrounding islands and neighboring roof decks set an idyllic scene for alfresco evenings. The sophisticated teak parquet is waterproof. Furniture: Palecek, in Perennials fabric. Table: custom, Sue Fisher King.
