Designer Spotlight: CDS Interiors
Photography: Jonathan Mitchell
A Seaside Retreat: The Story Behind a Floating Home Renovation
In the realm of design, some projects surpass mere renovation; they blend passion, history, and innovation. Colleen Saglimbeni, Principal of CDS Interiors, masterfully renovated a pied-à-terre in Sausalito's Waldo Point Harbor . This project stole her heart from the start—a tale woven with a 107-year connection to Sausalito. The Clients’ family traces their lineage back to her great-great-great grandfather, who ventured from Portugal to Sausalito in 1885, embracing the life of a fisherman. With a shared love for the ocean and nature coursing through their veins, the current owners sought to transform their floating retreat.
This marked Saglimbeni’s third collaboration with the family, each project deepening their bond as they embarked on this deeply personal endeavor.
From its humble origins as a barge, the floating home underwent a remarkable transformation. Over eight months, the team navigated the challenges posed by renovating a historic floating home, carefully planning around tides and moving the house by tugboat across the San Francisco Bay to a dry dock for its renovation. The design goals were clear: blend creative, multi-living spaces, and maximize the tiny home’s potential to take advantage of the views and abundant light.
To achieve this, Saglimbeni turned to All Natural Stone for a variety of hard finishes, including the perfect kitchen backsplash tile inspired by the colors and textures of the ocean.
“I knew I needed to find some very special finishes to make this project work. My go to resource is All Natural Stone. They have an incredible selection of amazing tile, as well as a huge inventory of slabs to choose from. I know I can always find exactly what I need!. “ Shares Saglimbeni.
Photography: Jonathan Mitchell
The kitchen features a handmade Pratt & Larson tile, which captures the essence of the sea and harmonizes beautifully with the vibrant orange kitchen range—a nod to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
For the flooring, Saglimbeni selected All Natural Stone’s Cabane floor tile in Bark, a durable and sustainable porcelain option that mimics the look of reclaimed wood, a practical choice given the home’s unique floating structure. The countertops are a durable, low-maintenance quartz that met the weight requirements for a floating home while also supporting the family’s goals for easy entertaining in their magical, communal neighborhood.
The completed project stands as a testament to collaboration, creativity, and sustainable living. "My favorite thing about this project was the incredible collaboration with my client and the unique design opportunity it provided," Saglimbeni reflects. "Floating homes have their challenges, and it was definitely an amazing learning experience."
Yet, perhaps the most striking feature lies in the exterior—a spiral staircase, in hues reminiscent of the Golden Gate Bridge, ascending to an elevated vantage point. The project blends history, family heritage, and contemporary seaside elegance, honoring the past while embracing a sustainable, vibrant future. The residence at Waldo Point Harbor is a perfect example of how thoughtful design, executed with the right materials, can transform even the smallest of spaces into something magnificent.
Recently featured in House Beautiful, read more HERE.
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