Gabrielle and Callum, aka owners of The Boat Fit Co, renovate canal boats into luxury abodes. Based in the heart of London’s canals, the couple has also turned their own canal boat into a cosy home, which they now live in with their cockapoo, Bilston. The couple tells Lusso all about the renovation, which was featured on season nine of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, as well as a recent client project which includes Lusso bathroom fixtures and fittings.

What was the initial inspiration that made you take on boat renovations?

My partner and I decided that we wanted to live on a boat and because of my plumbing and building background, we were up for a fixer-upper. In the end, we went for a new build shell as this meant we could create exactly what we wanted and we wouldn’t have to worry about the hull of the boat. We spent a year fitting ours out, mainly on weekends and evenings fitting it around our full-time jobs, but it was totally worth it because we created something we loved and a bit different from your bog-standard boat interior. Most boats are like old 70s caravans and we realised there was a gap in the market for something a bit more modern. After a feature on George Clarke's Amazing Spaces and posting what we’d done on our social media, it just kind of snowballed. People wanted to live on the water but didn’t want to sacrifice their creature comforts or style, and I love that I can help people create their own beautiful spaces that are fully set up for the continuous cruiser lifestyle.

How many boats have you renovated? 

We've done five full fit-outs and four assisted builds for those wanting to take it on themselves with a little help and advice for the more challenging parts.

What was the brief for this particular project? 

The brief was to create an open and dynamic second home for a family of three. The boat had to have two bedrooms and they didn’t want to compromise on creature comforts, the feeling of light, space and style.

Which Lusso products have you chosen, and why? 

We used the Wall Mounted Basin Mixer Tap in Brushed Gold, Thermostatic Shower in Brushed Gold, the Opulence Reeded Glass Enclosure and the Elegance Kitchen Tap. We used Lusso under the client’s recommendation and absolutely loved working with the products. They added that extra bit of luxury as well as a bit of practicality as you can adjust your flow rates at the tap which is so great for boat life and keeping an eye on that water usage.

What is the most important factor for you when it comes to interior design?

I try to read the room itself as well as understand my clients and their needs. This allows me to design something that fits the relevant space. I find the age of the room matters a lot in the way I approach the style.

Can you tell us about the full remodel of your bathroom?

We totally tore down everything. The only thing that was left was a marble window sill. I needed the toilet to be more or less where it was before and I needed a big walk-in shower. My dream has always been to have a freestanding tub and we also wanted double sinks. So in eight square metres I managed to fit that all in easily – I had to move the doorframe slightly but it worked out very nicely. I used two 120cm Volini units for the vanity, the Picasso tub was 165cm and was a perfect fit. All the fittings are brass which I love. I would recommend the head cushion and it is also very easy to clean. The taps are very nice and the shower head is powerful.

How did it feel to be featured on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces? 

Being followed by Channel 4 was great. It meant our journey was documented and it pushed us to finish our build in a decent time frame. It took us a year but lots of self-builds can end up taking a lot longer than that.

What is your favourite part about living on a boat?

We love waking up on the water, always being aware of nature and the changing seasons without having to compromise on our creature comforts. It’s also made us so much more aware of our environmental footprint so we do everything we can to create builds that are as self-sufficient as possible.

How did you find the service from Lusso? 

The service was great, everything arrived on time and the helpline service was an added bonus as it allowed me to double-check that the products would be compatible with the space.

What other exciting projects do you have coming up? 

We have several builds happening across the year but I think the most exciting is that we are actually building a new boat for ourselves which will double up as the showboat for clients to see what we create and Lusso will definitely be on our list of go-to products.