Kristie Wolfe embarked on an ambitious DIY shipwreck home renovation after stumbling upon a partially submerged, boat-shaped house in a small Idaho lake.
While most would have considered it beyond saving, she recognized its unique history and charm.
Initially built in the 1960s—long before whimsical homes gained attention online—the structure reflected the imagination of its creator.
For the past five years, Kristie has worked tirelessly to restore it, salvaging wood, strengthening its foundation, and reviving its distinctive character.
In its multi-level design, the home featured open spaces beneath each floor, which she cleverly transformed into hidden nooks and secret rooms, enhancing its fairytale-like appeal.
A playful vision: The inspiration behind the DIY shipwreck home
Kristie’s DIY shipwreck home renovation began with a simple yet powerful idea—saving a unique piece of creativity from being lost forever.
When she first saw the half-sunken, boat-shaped home in an Idaho lake, she immediately connected with its whimsical spirit.
“I just love that someone built this lake house in the shape of a ship seemingly just for the fun of it,” Kristie said. “It’s so rare to see adults still be playful and creative just because they can.”
Built-in the 1960s, long before social media showcased unusual homes, the structure was a passion project with no online audience in mind.
Kristie couldn’t stand the idea of the home being torn down. When she first saw its deterioration, she knew most people would see it as a lost cause and demolish it.
What made it even more special to her was that the original builder had created it purely for fun, without seeking attention or sharing it online.
Without documentation or social media posts to preserve its story, she strongly wanted to save it from being forgotten.
That deep appreciation for the original builder’s vision fueled her determination to bring the ship-shaped home back to life.
Restoring the ship: A labor of love
The home’s design, with each level stepping down the hillside, presented both challenges and opportunities.
“The way this house was built is each floor stair steps down the hillside and creates a void underneath,” Kristie explained.
Initially used for storage, these spaces became the foundation for her creative renovations.
One such space, once filled with “paint cans and nails and things like that,” is now a bedroom with custom-made windows.
The restoration process was no easy feat. Kristie and her friend Kitty worked tirelessly to rebuild the ship’s structure, covering the exterior with sheeting and tar paper layers. Even simple tasks turned into significant efforts.
“Getting a stupid board out of the lake and onto the second floor” became a challenge, she recalled.
Embracing the quirks: Keeping the ship’s character
Instead of modernizing the home, Kristie celebrated its original quirks, including its slanted floors.
Originally designed for water runoff from the outdoor deck, the uneven surfaces became a defining feature.
“As you can feel, it’s very slanted when you walk in here… but I decided to not try to level everything,” she said. “It just kind of feels like a ship when you’re walking around. Everything’s a little angled… but I just think that is—there’s a good creek, it makes it feel like a ship, so I didn’t worry about it too much.”
Some visitors say the slanted floors make them feel “a little drunk,” but Kristie believes they add to the home’s authentic nautical feel.
Hidden treasures: Bringing magic to the DIY shipwreck home
For Kristie, this DIY shipwreck home renovation is more than just a renovation—it’s about creating an experience.
Hidden rooms and secret nooks add an element of discovery, making the home feel like something out of a storybook.
One standout feature is a “cave bedroom” accessed through a hidden entrance.
“Down here, you know, The Count of Monte Cristo—I read all of the books while doing this,” Kristie said. “I think if my kids were here, they would want to sleep down here.”
She even designed a guest treasure hunt with a codex and hidden clues throughout the house.
Kristie designed the treasure hunt to be an engaging, hands-on experience.
She wanted visitors to explore the space and enjoy the adventure without relying on their phones.
Other playful details include a “little mouse door” and a cannon connected to a pressure washer for water fights.
A connection to the past
This DIY shipwreck home renovation has also led Kristie to unexpected connections.
The granddaughter of the original builder reached out to share stories about the home’s origins.
“He worked at the lumber mill in town, which I kind of had thought because there’s the same material being used over and over again,” Kristie said.
Kristie added that she hopes to meet the original builder to learn what motivated him to create the unique home.
She is eager to understand his vision and what drove him to build something so creative purely for enjoyment long before social media popularized such projects.
The home’s original owners built it by hand, and their granddaughter even wrote pirate-themed books inspired by her childhood experiences there.
For Kristie, these stories add another layer of meaning to the project.
“It’s the most beautiful area,” she reflected, appreciating both the home’s transformation and the history that shaped it.
Be amazed with Kristie’s DIY shipwreck home by watching the video below:
Subscribe to Kristen Dirksen’s YouTube channel to watch more unique house stories like this.
You can also follow Kristie Wolfe on Instagram to see her other projects.
Discover more from My Positive Outlooks
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.