Hi Matt and Amy,
Obviously we think your home is amazing, and so much more than a home. Having gone through a recent home renovation there's definitely a steep learning curve, and things we would have done differently given a second chance. We're beyond happy with our renovation, as I know you are with the Fusion Home, but curious if you could wind back the clock A) What, if anything, would you have done differently B) Any material choices you would make now that wasn't available back then?
Wow @Lance - coming in with such a loaded question and you haven't even uploaded a profile pic yet 😉....I'll bite.
Thank you for the kind words, we feel the same way about our home and find ourselves pinching each other daily in disbelief.
While there were some learning curves, the standard building formula for us did not apply and the problems for us were really solutions. We didn't know it at the time but our style of construction was very permaculture based. Back then we just thought it was common sense but having lived like this for awhile now and studying up on permaculture, it's easy to see that those two elements go hand in hand.
I can tell you honestly that we would not like our house if we had handed the plans and all the money to the contractor saying - build this. We laugh when reviewing our earlier designs...
I'm only going to share an early design and mid-design as we have about 20 different ones 😂.
In this design, it was clear we wanted spacious outdoor space and rooms that capitalised on the views - little did we know that the Sky Lounge would soon be born!
In pic above, you can see we are getting closer to the current structure but its a third wider, the kitchen is outside, the big dining room and bathroom view windows are missing and the lower level does not exist. Not to mention that sunset is the bedroom side and sunrise would be the Sky Lounge. It was my amazing wife @Amy that pointed that one out so we inverted the design.
In a similar scenario, we were contacted by HGTV prior to construction for an amazing opportunity that we were very excited about. They wanted to document the whole construction process for a TV documentary show that was 90 min long. I will always remember lying on our backs where the home was to be built with the film crew looking up into the sky discussing how we were going to create this awesome show and home....that's how close it got to actually happening.
Unfortunately or rather fortunately the show did not go on, they didn't have enough money in the budget to pay Finca Bellavista to come onto the property to shoot. At the time we were rather upset but just like the first scenario where had we had the money to just build what was put on paper, we would not have liked the end result.
So, why am I blabbing on about everything that has nothing to do with your question 🤣. Well, I guess for us and especially me, everything happens the way it should. I wouldn't take a 2nd chance or a do over on anything, and believe everything that has led up to this point got me to where I am today (a loving wife and MJ, a beautiful life and home) - I wouldn't risk it.
One of my favorite mottos (if not favorite) is quite simply: 'restrictions create creativity'.
Side note: (Hypothetically speaking) Let's say someone threatened to disconnect the water to my house so I started thinking about ways to make sure we have water. Well, something like that can lead to me researching rain harvest collection which in turn may turn into a rain catchment swimming pool that requires a balcony and gabion rock wall...
Hopefully this will lead more into my point. By not having the money or the ability to do the show, we had to:
accept that the build would take longer and
get more creative in finding solutions
Even with the final design, we changed several things while building (that's the beauty of managing your own project) -- the projector room nearly didn't exist!
We moved in long before we had power, a kitchen, cupboards, gardens, etc and have been extremely blessed and fortunate enough to let the rest of the design develop organically - the house and grounds speak to us and show us what works where - no jokes.
So in closing this very brief response, I wouldn't change a thing or do anything differently - it all happened the way it was supposed to.
P.S. :
A) What, if anything, would you have done differently:
I would have used 8 x 8 galvanised, slightly thicker steel instead of the 4 x 4 steel for the corners of the home so we didn't need to double up at the end.
B) Any material choices you would make now that wasn't available back then?
Can't think of any material changes (it may be because I spent months researching and am too proud to say otherwise 😂) but aesthetically speaking I would change the bathroom wall tile to black to give them a more modern feel and replace the current cameras we have around the home (not for protection but rather motion sensored to capture the wildlife) to these new battery operated ones. @Amy ?
Man, I could have just started with that and called it a day 🤣
Who knew your answer would be so poetic and long winded. Love the response though, and more so the early drafts of Fusion 1.0 and 2.0. I can't imagine things without those balcony and bathroom views! Won't be my last question, maybe I'll direct the next one to my twin - Amy!
Hi @Lance!
I'm gonna go ahead and give you a way more concise answer than @Matt 's long winded one (you're welcome, hehe).
The things I would have done differently with the overall design/construction are:
1. Build longer roof overhangs on the East side of the Fusion Home. Very rarely, only when there is heavy rain and strong wind, some rain will get blown into the second floor on the East side of the house.
**To anyone reading this who isn't too familiar with the Fusion Home - we don't have glass windows so we can't "close" our windows when it rains. The home only has screen to allow the fresh air to circulate throughout the structure and keep the house cool.
As a solution to this we have added blinds in the master bedroom that can be put down when it rains. They do a good job at blocking out any moisture that might be blown in otherwise. But extended roof overhangs on that side of the house would be cool.
2. Prime the steel before painting it. Our construction crew was great, but there were a few minor finishing details that we wish we would have been more on top of. Because the steel wasn't primed properly before painting, some of the paint on the balcony railings is cracking and peeling. At the end of the day it's just a minor cosmetic detail, but since we're OCD with the details we get annoyed when we look at the railings and see the cracky paint.
3. Include a kitchen island in our design. I had no idea how much I'd start to enjoy cooking once I had my own kitchen and garden, and would love to have some extra chop space, but again just a minor issue and when we design our future mountain cabin I know I will include a kitchen island, yay. 😊
Fun question, thanks for giving me the chance to reflect on the design/construction process!
Thanks Amy and nothing to stop you from building a small Fusion Island on wheels ;)