Every boat has a story. For thousands of years, water-borne vessels have provided livelihoods and catered to our spirit of adventure – as well as retreats from the pressures of modern life. It is little wonder that life on the water calls out to the creative and the curious – the mavericks, artists, architects, crafters and designers who have made their homes on barges, clippers and houseboats.

Featuring an international range of vessels, Making Waves celebrates those outliers seeking a different way of life, exploring how living on a boat offers the chance to achieve a more satisfying life/work balance while holding much of the paraphernalia and constrictions of the modern world at bay. With stunning photography and packed with practical advice and inspiration, the book reveals how anyone can transform one-time working crafts into beautiful and unique places to live and work.

Each home featured affords its dwellers a retreat. Some glide through extraordinary countryside; others bob companionably in city wharfs. Their interiors reflect the residents’ imaginations, styles, families and working lives, demonstrating how even seemingly challenging spaces can be transformed into unique and intriguing living quarters. The compelling personal stories behind each boat will encourage and inspire readers to consider a shift in their own lifestyles and embrace a life on the water.