M ark Howorth used to enjoy looking at narrow boats on the canal near his house in Islington, north London. The interior designer, 54, never dreamt he’d end up living on one. His perception of life on a boat was spartan: “Tiny, no water, no electricity, no heating, rats running past .
.. I had a misconception that living on a boat is very bohemian and hippy dippy.
” His new home shatters the old stereotype. Moored in Limehouse Marina, east London, Howorth’s wide-beam barge is large: 73ft long x 12ft wide, with a 700 sq ft cabin below and ceilings that top 7ft. It’s light (ten large windows and a large skylight).
And it’s comfortable: it has an oven, hob, washing machine, dishwasher, double-glazing, insulation, a Nest smart heating system and a bath and shower. The bathroom has electric underfloor heating and heated towel rails. It’s even luxurious, with parquet floors, granite worktops and designer bathroom tiles.
“It’s like you’re in a very good five-star apartment,” Howorth says..