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Tiny houseboat Carrot is 200 square feet of nautical living

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Live small on Lake Union

By Sarah Anne Lloyd Updated
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A boat with a green-gray hull and a white cabin with blue-trim windows along a dock with other houseboats. There are foldable fabric camping chairs on the roof.
The exterior is a full-on tugboat look, with a curved set of windows above a pointed bow.
Courtesy of Special Agents Realty

Craving a life on the water? This itty-bitty houseboat on Lake Union, named Carrot to match root-vegetable brethren like Turnip and Rutabaga, is docked off Westlake Avenue North. The aesthetic is more boat than house, with a tugboat-style design outside and close, wood-paneled quarters inside, adding up to just 209 square feet.

Although the boat was built in 1984, it was constructed with an eye for vintage details, so functional pieces double as decor, like the metal-and-wood steering wheel. A bench next to the throttle also acts as a second bed for guests, or for someone who never wants to leave the helm. In the back, a built-in sleeping nook has a little more privacy—and built-in storage. The kitchen also does a lot with a little space, with miniature versions of a fridge and range, plus plenty of shelving.

The wall of windows along the curved, bow-side wall let in plenty of light, but for maximum sun (and a practical amount of space for company), try the rooftop deck. It has room for a few chairs and a good vantage point to the rest of Lake Union.

1818 Westlake Avenue N Slip D18 is on the market for $115,000 through Special Agents Realty.

A built-in wooden bench with gray upholstery and blanket sits under a round mirror and to the right of a wooden console with a nautical steering wheel.
The boat’s actual, functional steering wheel doubles as nautical decor.
A wood-paneled room is curved, with a bank of several windows lining the curve. A built-in grab fabric sofa lines the wall.
The living room has plenty of space to spread out, considering the size, a long, built-in sofa curving along the inside of the bow.
A small kitchen in the corner of a room, with a small-size built-in range, built-in wooden shelves, and a skylight above.
The kitchen is small, but equipped, with a small range, a mini-fridge, and open storage.
Bedlinens with a floral-paisley motif cover a built-in bed under a row of built-in shelves, surrounded by wooden beadboard wall. Behind the shelf wall, there are windows and built-in seating.
The built-in sleeping nook includes storage to maximize the square footage.
A built-in single bunk contains a bed with a floral-paisley bedspread. To the left of the foot, steps lead to the outside, where a dock and other boats are visible.
The water is just a few steps from the foot of the bed.
The back side of a boat with a gray-green hull, a gray outboard motor, and a white cabin. A full-length wooden door is open to the inside, and a short ladder leads up to the roof. It’s in the water on a dock.
In the back, there’s a kind of split-level effect: A full-height entrance descends into the cabin, and a short ladder leads up to the roof deck.

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