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Private Notes
In this new series, presenter Mark Evans charts the exploits of individuals, couples and families who aspire to leave landlocked suburbia behind to live in stunning aquatic homes that float on water. This opening episode meets Mark and Holly in Chichester, as they design, build, launch and furnish a unique floating home in an area of outstanding natural beauty. They want to design a ground-breaking floating house in the middle of all the narrowboats and pleasure cruisers moored along the Chichester riverbank. The design has unique features, such as cedar baffles that prevent outsiders looking in, and a beautiful mezzanine leading to a rooftop deck-space for socialising. But transporting the boat's superstructure to Chichester in one piece and on time proves a challenge. And then they must fit it all together.
Mark Evans meets Dwayne and Janet, who have a dream to design and build an experimental oversized houseboat, so they can take their home with them anywhere on the vast network of UK canals. Never having lived on the water before - nor even driven a boat - taking the plunge with building their own floating home from scratch is a huge challenge. Also, water-loving couple Lydia and Wout live on an old steamship and have decided it's time to modernise and join a small community of floating homes on a canal south of Amsterdam. Will they be able to get their spectacular home, with its wraparound deck, to its mooring?
Mark Evans follows British-born Steve King and his friend Rick Keith, who meet up in Maine, New England, every year to restore old boats. Now Steve wants to make his own tiny floating home - and, by using recycled materials, he plans to spend no more than ú7000 on it. There's also Michelle Lanker and Bill Bloxom - outdoor-loving environmentalists who want to make a floating home with a breathtaking design: the curved roof of their boat will be covered in grass and solar panels. They also plan a huge underwater basement, with a window looking out into the fishy waters below. But making the window thick enough to withstand the elements proves a real struggle.
Mark Evans follows Vancouver thirtysomethings whose dreams of a floating home become reality when they find a company able to build what they want within budget, with stunning views of both the mountains and the city. Plus, a couple in Ladner on Canada's west coast, whose wish list includes a large three-storey layout with sun decks.
Mark Evans follows water-loving couple Shirley and Russ, who enjoy kayaking and living on their yacht. Now they want to join a large community of 600 floating homes in Canada, designing a luxury ranch-style home, including wraparound sundecks for year round entertaining, a bar area and pool table on the upper levels. Plus, adventurous retirees Glenn and Margaret build a nautical-themed floating home in a marina on Vancouver's north shore with stunning sea and mountain views, which will allow them to stay close to their family and friends, yet away from the hubbub of inner-city life.
Mark Evans meets Milt and Judi Taylor, who want to swap their Oregon apartment for a floating home in the forests around Portland. In Amsterdam, Roy and Rianne create a floating starter home.
Susan Dunn is passionate about building a stunning floating home using the latest in contemporary design in Seattle, Washington. And Harry Janzen and Tina McComb dream of a massive three-storey wilderness retreat.
