Float House VII

Water lover, Klaudia Keller, always knew she would return to her roots in Portland. Having lived on a 600 sq. ft. floating home on Seattle's Lake Union for almost 20 years, she also knew she couldn’t give up that kind of proximity to the water. She finally happened on the perfect location for her forever floating home -- a spot at the very end of a floating home moorage on the Willamette River with a 270° view of the city.

With her spot secured, she turned to Phil Sydnor of Integrate Architecture and Planning in Portland to help design her dream home. Phil and Klaudia, along with Project Designer Ana Gonzalez, worked collaboratively for over a year to create this one of a kind floating home.

The exterior of the home is inspired by the language of the original Willamette and Columbia River floating homes of the 30s and 40s -- low slung rooflines, large eaves, and horizontal Nakamoto siding. The team was looking to create an aesthetic they lovingly termed “Modern River Shanty".

The interior of the home is designed to be as flexible as possible with sliding partitions and much of the furniture on wheels to accommodate the changing sunlight and use of the space in each season on the river. Keller's long and successful career in textiles played a major role in the interior design. Full of bold, rich patterns and textures from wallpaper to upholstery, the home reflects Keller's passion for color and fun.

When she's not luxuriating in a bath, doing yoga on the top deck, or kayaking on the river, Keller is enjoying her retirement years hosting friends, family and neighbors for annual parties like the 4th of July where she has a perfect view of the fireworks over the Sellwood bridge and the Christmas party where the Christmas Ships Parade passes right by the house. The home is a vibrant buoy on the river, full of life and color and communion with the river.