It's been fun building but what a relief to be in!  We moved in the 
day before Xmas eve.

Sure there's much to do yet like finish the bathrooms and almost 
all of the millwork but it's already feeling like home.  Moving meant 
we were able to host my folks visiting for the holiday in the studio we 
vacated, so we all got the much needed space at the same time as we 
got to be close, if that makes sense.

The house is a nice size for us, at 1700 sq. ft., not too big but well 
designed and built by yours truly.  It's what has become referred to 
as a "green" home, with many recycled, durable or natural materials 
and efficient systems.

The roof, counters, doors and tub are either recycled product or 
reused, and the heating system is a radiant floor system using an 
on-demand (tankless) water heater.

Careful site planning to locate amongst the deciduous trees, wood-
saving framing methods and extra insulation ensure extra daylight 
and cozy warmth in the winter, and cooler temps in the summer.

The floors are either finished concrete on the lower level or all-
natural Marmoleum on the upper level.  Marmoleum is old-fashioned 
linseed-oil based roll flooring that is not only natural and biodegradable, 
but available in a dizzying array of colors.  Siding is a combination of 
natural wood and durable, steel, and the roof is unpainted galvanized 
steel.  Unpainted is important because the roof runoff can be used for
various uses and there's no paint to peel off.  Steel is both recycled 
and recyclable, and it was great to work with by myself.

Timber framing members were produced from trees from the property, 
and many key items like the multi-panel, hand-carved mahagony front 
door came from neighbors, helping create and support our local 
community.  For counters we used Paperstone, a locally made resinous 
solid created using 100% recycled paper and water-based resins.  It's 
kinda line the stuff high school science labs had, only better.  The guy 
who invented it created it for skateboard ramps of all things.

The best part is we did it for about 1/2 the usual cost by doing most of 
the work ourselves and reusing a lot of high cost stuff.  Other cost savings 
were realized in the smallish size and by omitting some of the usual luxury
redundant stuff like extra bathrooms and living areas.  Long-term savings 
will come from the efficient heating system, extra insulation, efficient Energy 
Star rated appliances, compact florescent lighting, and durable surfaces where 
they count like the roof and floors.

The home is also designed for use as we age, with accessible design features 
like 1/4" thresholds, grab-bar blocking pre-installed for future use and 
wheelchair turning circles.  The main floor features a den/media room that 
can be used for a guest room now or a bedroom by us when we are old 
enough that the stair become a challenge.  The lower floor's bath features a 
full-sized walk-in shower stall and the laundry facilities.

Our former living space, the 600 Sq. ft. studio over the garage, can now be 
used as a guest house or for hosting the all-important Fiat get-togethers...

Hope everyone else has just as good of a New Year!

Gregory Smith
Olympia, WA
'87 Bertone X1/9 Corsa

Wow Gregory, it sounds like your new home is awsome!  Nothing is more 
satisfying than driving up to your new house and being able to say you built 
it yourself.  Pictures would be nice!
Ron and I did the very same thing.  It took 3 years and two babies to build 
ours and I have very fond memories of working side by side with my husband and 
neighbors.  We moved in Christmas Eve of '99 (Ron promised to be in by Xmas)
with just a Christmas tree and a mattress.
I hope you enjoy your new home as much I have mine.

Thats awesome... I bet the whole family is happy to be in the house.  Nothing 
like space.  
So now that the construction is done what will you do with all your time? 

Oh yeah there's that 600...  *GRIN*

Andy (Medford, Oregon)
1974 X 1/9 (new Race Car project)
1974 X 1/9 (Smokey Joe)
1976 Spider (long term project)
1979 Spider (IDFs, wrecked 12/19/2006)
1978 Dodge Adventurer 150 (Tow Rig)
1988 Yugo GVX Daily Driver
1997 Dodge Caravan (Family Truckster)
http://www.sofia1.com

That's super!  Really good to hear and I enjoyed the tour last spring, before 
it was complete.

: For counters we used Paperstone, a locally made resinous solid created using
: 100% recycled paper and water-based resins.

That's one I haven't heard of... going to google now.

George Emery

Congratulations.  You've come a long way since I saw it a year ago.  It's a 
very unique and attractive home for sure.

I'd love to see it some day when it's all done.

Gil Nicholls

Gregory Smith, Olympia, WA USA wrote:
: It's been fun building but what a relief to be in!  We moved in the 
: day before Xmas eve.
: Sure there's much to do yet like finish the bathrooms and almost 
: all of the millwork but it's already feeling like home.  Moving meant 
: we were able to host my folks visiting for the holiday in the studio we 
: vacated, so we all got the much needed space at the same time as we 
: got to be close, if that makes sense.
: The house is a nice size for us, at 1700 sq. ft., not too big but well 
: designed and built by yours truly.  It's what has become referred to 
: as a "green" home, with many recycled, durable or natural materials 
: and efficient systems.
: The roof, counters, doors and tub are either recycled product or 
: reused, and the heating system is a radiant floor system using an 
: on-demand (tankless) water heater.
: Careful site planning to locate amongst the deciduous trees, wood-
: saving framing methods and extra insulation ensure extra daylight 
: and cozy warmth in the winter, and cooler temps in the summer.
: The floors are either finished concrete on the lower level or all-
: natural Marmoleum on the upper level.  Marmoleum is old-fashioned 
: linseed-oil based roll flooring that is not only natural and biodegradable, 
: but available in a dizzying array of colors.  Siding is a combination of 
: natural wood and durable, steel, and the roof is unpainted galvanized 
: steel.  Unpainted is important because the roof runoff can be used for
: various uses and there's no paint to peel off.  Steel is both recycled 
: and recyclable, and it was great to work with by myself.
: Timber framing members were produced from trees from the property, 
: and many key items like the multi-panel, hand-carved mahagony front 
: door came from neighbors, helping create and support our local 
: community.  For counters we used Paperstone, a locally made resinous 
: solid created using 100% recycled paper and water-based resins.  It's 
: kinda line the stuff high school science labs had, only better.  The guy 
: who invented it created it for skateboard ramps of all things.
: The best part is we did it for about 1/2 the usual cost by doing most of 
: the work ourselves and reusing a lot of high cost stuff.  Other cost savings 
: were realized in the smallish size and by omitting some of the usual luxury
: redundant stuff like extra bathrooms and living areas.  Long-term savings 
: will come from the efficient heating system, extra insulation, efficient 
Energy 
: Star rated appliances, compact florescent lighting, and durable surfaces 
where 
: they count like the roof and floors.
: The home is also designed for use as we age, with accessible design features 
: like 1/4" thresholds, grab-bar blocking pre-installed for future use and 
: wheelchair turning circles.  The main floor features a den/media room that 
: can be used for a guest room now or a bedroom by us when we are old 
: enough that the stair become a challenge.  The lower floor's bath features a 
: full-sized walk-in shower stall and the laundry facilities.
: Our former living space, the 600 Sq. ft. studio over the garage, can now be 
: used as a guest house or for hosting the all-important Fiat get-togethers...
: Hope everyone else has just as good of a New Year!
: Gregory Smith
: Olympia, WA
: '87 Bertone X1/9 Corsa

Gregory Smith, Olympia, WA USA wrote:
: It's been fun building but what a relief to be in!  We moved in the 
: day before Xmas eve.
: Sure there's much to do yet like finish the bathrooms and almost 
: all of the millwork but it's already feeling like home.  Moving meant 
: we were able to host my folks visiting for the holiday in the studio we 
: vacated, so we all got the much needed space at the same time as we 
: got to be close, if that makes sense.
: The house is a nice size for us, at 1700 sq. ft., not too big but well 
: designed and built by yours truly.  It's what has become referred to 
: as a "green" home, with many recycled, durable or natural materials 
: and efficient systems.
: The roof, counters, doors and tub are either recycled product or 
: reused, and the heating system is a radiant floor system using an 
: on-demand (tankless) water heater.
: Careful site planning to locate amongst the deciduous trees, wood-
: saving framing methods and extra insulation ensure extra daylight 
: and cozy warmth in the winter, and cooler temps in the summer.
: The floors are either finished concrete on the lower level or all-
: natural Marmoleum on the upper level.  Marmoleum is old-fashioned 
: linseed-oil based roll flooring that is not only natural and biodegradable, 
: but available in a dizzying array of colors.  Siding is a combination of 
: natural wood and durable, steel, and the roof is unpainted galvanized 
: steel.  Unpainted is important because the roof runoff can be used for
: various uses and there's no paint to peel off.  Steel is both recycled 
: and recyclable, and it was great to work with by myself.
: Timber framing members were produced from trees from the property, 
: and many key items like the multi-panel, hand-carved mahagony front 
: door came from neighbors, helping create and support our local 
: community.  For counters we used Paperstone, a locally made resinous 
: solid created using 100% recycled paper and water-based resins.  It's 
: kinda line the stuff high school science labs had, only better.  The guy 
: who invented it created it for skateboard ramps of all things.
: The best part is we did it for about 1/2 the usual cost by doing most of 
: the work ourselves and reusing a lot of high cost stuff.  Other cost savings 
: were realized in the smallish size and by omitting some of the usual luxury
: redundant stuff like extra bathrooms and living areas.  Long-term savings 
: will come from the efficient heating system, extra insulation, efficient 
Energy 
: Star rated appliances, compact florescent lighting, and durable surfaces 
where 
: they count like the roof and floors.
: The home is also designed for use as we age, with accessible design features 
: like 1/4" thresholds, grab-bar blocking pre-installed for future use and 
: wheelchair turning circles.  The main floor features a den/media room that 
: can be used for a guest room now or a bedroom by us when we are old 
: enough that the stair become a challenge.  The lower floor's bath features a 
: full-sized walk-in shower stall and the laundry facilities.
: Our former living space, the 600 Sq. ft. studio over the garage, can now be 
: used as a guest house or for hosting the all-important Fiat get-togethers...
: Hope everyone else has just as good of a New Year!
: Gregory Smith
: Olympia, WA
: '87 Bertone X1/9 Corsa

...more than any other place.

I am sure that few of us will ever experience what you have done, but all of us
can recognize how great 
your efforts are.  What a superb accomplishment!

Kudos....  now get that 600 finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phil
Cedar City, Yewtaw

A home you designed and built yourself is something rare indeed.  I'm looking 
forward to seeing it sometime!

MikeR (enjoying mirafiori.com since 1995)
'77 Fiat 124 Spider
'76 Fiat 128 4 door
Beaverton, Oregon


Previously owned:
'81 Fiat Spider 2000 Anniversary #236 
'78 Fiat 131 four door (sold in 1980)
'74 Fiat 128 four door (totalled in 1978)

Past resident of the Magic Garage: son David's 86 X1/9, sold to Tom Bennett - 
July 2006