Life on a houseboat is as different as you might imagine, but thanks to the nonprofit Floating Homes Association, you can see for yourself at a tour of 12 houseboats on Sept. 14, in Sausalito.
One standard for houseboat residents is embracing whimsy, and Mari Steeno who rents the “White Elephant” houseboat, has whimsy in a bear hug. This bright and colorful, light-filled home — originally named the “Golden Hindsight” — has a great room that blends kitchen, breakfast bar, dining and living rooms. The space is decorated with Steeno’s collection of eclectic art, which includes a mobile by a neighbor, the late Tim Rose, and a four-panel unnamed piece over the sofa that was dubbed the “corrugated crowd.”
The back bedroom doubles as an office for Steeno and has a door leading out to the dock.
The main bedroom is accessible up a flight of stairs and is flanked by dual decks. The deck on the lagoon side has views of the Marin Headlands and, on a clear night, the lights of San Francisco and the Bay Bridge. The dock side deck has a view of Mount Tamalpais and neighboring houseboats on Issaquah, A Dock and East Pier.
White Elephant
Address: 2 Issaquah (Use the path to the right of the Issaquah Dock entrance and enter through the Indian carved portal leading to the lagoon-side entrance. While you are at it, note the beaded pelican sculptures on the railing.)
Renter: Mari Steeno
Square Footage: 900
Number of Stories: 2, plus large stand-up storage space below decks
Tickets: Prepaid registration is $50 per person; $55 on tour day
Time: 11 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Sept. 14
Location: Tour events are anchored at the Kappas Marina Green, 100 Gate Six Road, Sausalito, where there will be live entertainment, food and refreshments for sale, and artists and authors from the community offering their creations for sale. The tour, back after a one year hiatus, is the primary fund raiser for the association and also benefits other local non-profits, including Sausalito Village and the Friends of the Marin City Library.
Other homes
Check out the other homes featured on the tour:
- Floating on a dream
- Houseboat is a salute to modern Danish art and Hawaiian wood
- 4-story ‘Dragon Boat’ houseboat will be open to visitors
- Tiny houseboat makes a big statement
- Romance is only part of this houseboat’s attraction
- Floating museum celebrates Denmark, old San Francisco and Jimmy Carter
- Landlubber transforms houseboat and himself
- Summer always in season on this Sausalito houseboat
- Colorful floating home suits a ‘pair of docs’
- Contractor takes his floating home ‘by storm’ to build his dream
- Transforming tiny floating home into a weekend getaway
