A family of 7 lives in a 2-story, 4-bedroom floating house docked in St. Petersburg, Russia. Take a look inside.

Caroline FoxJul 1, 2020, 03:22 IST

The floating home is covered in large windows.Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

For five years, the Afonin family has lived in a two-story floating home on the Zhdanovka river in St. Petersburg.
Afonin told RBC Real Estate that renovating the space was "comparable to the construction of a country cottage."
The home has a fireplace, five bathrooms, and a trampoline. Next, the family hopes to build a spa area, a garden, and a recording studio.

St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, is uniquely carved up by the Neva River and hundreds of canals. The Afonins, a family of seven, took advantage of their city's makeup and developed a two-story, four-bedroom floating home that sits on the Zhdanovka river.

Take a look inside.

The Afonin family's floating home is docked at a moor in on the Zhdanovka river in St. Petersburg, the second-largest city in Russia behind Moscow.

The Afonin family houseboat docked at a moor on the Zhdanovka. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

Daniil Afonin, a businessman, and his wife, Anna, have always shared an interest in unconventional housing.

The Afonin family unlocks the front door. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

The Afonin family's home is two stories and has four distinct bedrooms.

The family is seated in their large living room. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

While smaller-sized houseboats have to get creative with storage, the Afonin family's space is large enough to resemble a house.

Anna Afonina with two of her children, Serafim and Ksenia. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

The windows throughout the home allow for plenty of natural light.

Natural light floods into the main space. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

Cooking dinner on a houseboat isn't much different from on land, except for the occasional visit from a boating neighbor.

The kitchen has plenty of cabinet storage. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

Unlike many other houseboats, the floating home has separate bedrooms.

Nika Afonina in her bedroom. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

There's plenty of space for the children to spread out to play ...

The stairs leading to the second floor are lined with windows. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

... and there's even enough room out back for a full-size trampoline, a rare find in any city.

Masha Masha Afonina jumps on the trampoline with a view of the river. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

They have a great view of the Lakhta Center skyscraper, a reminder of just how close they are to city life.

A skyscraper illuminates the Zhdanovka river. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

Floating homes and houseboats can offer a unique, oftentimes less expensive chance to live close to a popular city.

The floating home is covered in large windows. Alexander Demianchuk\TASS via Getty Images

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