July 25, 2013

Even for the creature of comfort like me – this video felt good, almost enticing. Imagine the freedom of your own boat, parked (or moored rather, if we’re being serious about sailor jargon here) in pricey West End London. Freelance fashion stylist Emma Freemantle lives on a narrowboat, the type of a vessel built over the centuries to fit Britain’s narrow channels (some are less than 7 feet wide). Her floating home is part of the community of narrowboats on London’s Regents Canal where she has lived for 6 years. Emma describes her tiny dwelling as a “floating caravan log cabin” that made her go back to basics. Woodburner, filling the water tank, replacing canisters of butane gas, heating water on the stove… It’s camping in the middle of the city allright. But Emma loves it. “I think it’s really good to have a little bit of hardship to really appreciate how you live and where it’s all coming from,” – she says. Check out the video above, shot by Fair Companies, to see the full tour of this unique home.