Episode 2 - First Time Floating Home
Adventurous young professionals, Ani Ridley and Charles Anderson are taking on the project of a lifetime – they’ve bought a busted old oil barge, ‘the Dutchess 1910’, that they want to turn into their rustic first home. Based on the Thames in Hampton, south west London, the couple have a tight budget which leaves no option but to do nearly all the work themselves. With no experience, are they biting off more than they can chew? Can they make some big savings by trying to make the stove, interiors and wheelhouse themselves?
Ani and Charles want to create an open plan living area, with antique brass windows and portholes, heated by a custom handmade wood burner. brand new hand built oak wheelhouse which will lead into their industrial steel kitchen. This will have corten steel for splashbacks and a concrete worktop…. all made by them.
As they get stuck in, it’s a steep learning curve that comes close to costing them dearly. The couple visit a specialist blacksmith who helps them build their stove from a scavenged iron buoy. Faced with a £20k quote, the last big challenge for Charles was to learn how to build the wheelhouse. It’s a long road – will the pair pull off a near miracle to produce a Thames floating home fit for a cool stylish first home?