Backyard Home Office

A couple design ideas I found online of what can be created out of these containers. I know there are thousands upon thousands...

Back Yard Office/Shed

Looking forward to doing a few custom back yard office sheds! Here is one I found online that a designer created. Simple, functional design. From what I've found it is possible to do one of these in Ventura County as long as it is under 120 sq ft, no higher than 8'6, non habitable, (not suppose to have a bed) and meets set back requirements. Power is not allowed to it unless you can get a permit. This should be easy to do solar, 2 exterior solar lights and 1 battery or solar interior light.

Exterior Siding

Here is where we are headed with the exterior siding of MOTT1, which will be a half wrap of siding. I would like to keep a good portion of the original container siding. Gotta stay close to the steel roots! Monday work begins and it's almost done!

One Step Closer

After putting on a few coats of the vinegar, water and steel wool mix at the crack of dawn yesterday morning our floors are finished! Thanks to AR Painting  we got the MOTT1 and Mini MOTT2 coated with some extra primer and flat back paint. We painted the top of both roofs white to try and reflect a little bit of the sun which can heat things up on the inside of the windows are closed. The black paint on the side exterior walls will go behind the wood siding we are going to put on the exterior on Monday done by J Tap Construction. We will be adding a steel frame on the exterior walls, then attaching our siding without penetrating the cargo container interior walls. Our goal is not to puncture the container walls, other than adding the electric in a few locations. This will keep the container much more water proof with the minimal amount of exposure to the outside elements. We are on our way and close to the finish line~

Insulation, eletrical, etc, etc etc.

We have added a lot in the last few days, powerhouse crew! Special thanks to my friend Kevin Golden @ Golden Flooring who helped me install floors and the old reclaimed barn wood fencing wall. MOTT1 is looking like it may be done early next week! Here are a few photos of what we have accomplished the last few days.

What's possible.

Here's a little inspiration for what's possible with shipping container construction and design.
http://www.inspirationgreen.com/container-homes.html

MOTT MOTT MOTT MOTT MOTT MOTT MOTT MOTT

Mobile.Operation.Think.Tank. Wish this was ours...

Interior

Here is where we are headed on the interior & exterior of MOTT 1.

 

The Young Brave Foundation

Part of our proceeds from the sale of MOTT Box #1 will be donated to The Young & Brave Foundation.

The Young and Brave Foundation began from LOVE. In 2010, founders Nathaniel Curran and Matt Coulter were hit with a devastating blow, when a loved one was diagnosed with the unthinkable: cancer. It was a complete shock to all, and no one knew quite where to turn. Not ones to sit on the sidelines, Nathaniel and Matt jumped into action; helping raise money to cover medical expenses, creating community awareness and offering support to their friend in need. It was the fight for life that occurred after the diagnosis that truly opened their eyes to the harsh realities of cancer. From this experience, Nathaniel and Matt’s passion for helping others was born.
In March of 2011 The Young and Brave Foundation received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with the vision of helping young adults, children, and families with little ones diagnosed with all forms of cancer. This was a huge accomplishment and essential to the growth of the Foundation. Fulfilling this goal gave them the confidence to realize that they were on the right path. With many new opportunities coming their way they are humbled and excited for what the future holds.
Founders Nathaniel Curran, Matt Coulter and original board members Josh Curran and Frank Tesoro each bring their own creativity, visions and goals to the Foundation. With every individual and family the Foundation takes a direct step into your corner helping you and those you love beat cancer. No matter the circumstance, they are dedicated to fighting alongside those young and brave.
From the beginning the theme of the foundation has been LOVE. Cancer is one of the most difficult challenges anyone can face in their lifetime. “Always LOVE” has become their battle cry because with LOVE, absolutely anything is possible!

Follow The Young & Brave- http://www.theyoungandbrave.com/about/

Framing begins

New Home

Off to our new home at MTI! Thanks for giving it a new temporary home.... Clutch on the timing.

Thanks Matt & Andy @ Noble Fabrication

Thanks for all the hard work on this first one Matt & Andy at Noble Fabrication, good times! Many more to come. If you ever need a car restored or need welding done for your project these are the guys to do it!   http://www.noblefab.com

Window Installed

The MOTT Box Collective # 1 windows are installed! Now the exterior and interior construction begins. We will be adding interior lights, insulation, framing, drywall, skylight, finished flooring, bunk bed, ladder, etc. Off to our next location thanks to our friends at MTI. Stay tuned...

Windows

Only a few hours until these windows go in MOTT#1!

Work Begins

It's arrived and going to be split today! Im heading over to Noble Fabrication where Matt & Andy will cut the 20 footer in half. My friend Dustin Ross, DR Finishes who has done amazing work on some projects for us stopped by as well (photo). He has a ton of great ideas and is always the master of the finish work details.

I haven't found a home for it to be worked on after its cut, so I'm kind of stressing on what to do. It's hard to find cheap commercial yards with power and water hooked up and no one will want us working on this thing in their residential yard. Hoping a couple places open up and come through, real quick! Bringing the whole family over to watch this thing be cut in half, very interesting.

Great news on the barn wood, metal find. I reached out to an ad on craigslist about some old wood beams that were for sale. I guess my name came through from my email and come to find out the person posting was a family friend of about 20 years! I went to Goergy and Karens lot and found some amazing old barn wood, doors, metals etc for these Motts! So stoked, it was a yard full of items they collected from their demolition company over the last 30 years. So much stuff!! I bought an old door from the show Dexter that is going to work out amazing for the bunk bed cushion to rest on. I think it is going to look great if you are working on the desk and above you is this old steel and wood door. Here we go!!!

Insider trading

The other day I was looking for some unique pieces of property to put our MOTTS on and I found a a container fishing hole... I was roaming on google earth of different locations in ventura, and I came across a shipping container graveyard! I was blown away at how many old shipping containers were on this lot so I decided to do some investigating. Left right left and I found myself at shipping container rental place where they had an endless supply of old looking containers. I ended up getting in touch with the owner and come to find out that they are cheaper than the one I just ordered from Long Beach. I think the owner even knows some friends of mine. Small world...
There were a few that were pretty worn and torn, but one we came across had all the likings of what . It was wind and rain proof, looked good on the outside and some old wood floors that we can sand and finish. If we found these floors in a regular old fixer house we would be amped! So, I put  in the order today to hold one for us. Getting a bit ahead of myself with my holdings but you don't want the gems to get away...

There she is...

I just got emailed a photo of the shipping container that will arrive in the VTA on thursday. Pretty cool looking with all the logos etc on the side. I think we come up with something that will keep the original design with this thing.  It's going to be interesting to see what the inside of this thing looks like, kind of scary not seeing the inside before the drop off. Hopefully they were only shipping gold bars in this thing from China... We shall see in 2 days.

MOTT BOX on the main drag

Yesterday I stopped by Ventura Motor Works and met the owner Tim. When ever I drive by that lot I am always looking to see what they have for sale. They always have some very unique vehicles, boats, and rv's parked there. I told Tim what we were working on and he sounded very interested in the project. He offered to give us the prime location on his lot! Once we get #2 finished looks like we will have a #1 spot on the main drag...

Sold!

Yesterday we told our good friends that we ordered a container to make an office. Chad mentioned doing one almost exactly how I wanted to do the first one with reclaimed barn wood. He even mentioned the new Trancas Market center in Malibu which I had photos on my phone for examples. I guess that means we are meant to be friends...
After talking about it i asked if they would want us to make this first one for them at cost. Sold! this week we are going over to their house to see where it will fit best in their backyard. We are going to have to take down about 10 ft of the fence to get it in, but I don't think that will be a problem. We just need to find some experienced people who move these things around, and back it in there safely. I am pumped about doing this first one for them because it will be more of a hangout area vs an office. Looks like I am going to have to order another one already to start working on #2!

Hurry...

This box can't get here fast enough! We are still working on the conceptual ideas for the one we will be working on. Here is another design that got me excited for what is possible.

Obsessed...

I have been obsessed with shipping containers for many years.  Always late on the bandwagon of the trendsetters which is exactly where I am meant to be. I have been completely amazed at what people have designed and created with the space. They way I see it is worst case scenario I will own 80 sq ft of steel... With any new creation and lots of friends with unique ideas, I'm sure it will be more of a collection design of many.

The container should be here next week 2nd week of April 2014 and delivered to my friends welding shop on Ventura Ave. Matt Noble is well known for being a surfer, welder & working on high end vintage cars and bikes. I am excited to be working with him on this project, what he's done to the cars I've seen is ridiculous.

Shanoah and I got started a few days ago and got a huge pane window and double clad doors from Habitat For Humanity. That is another thing that I am excited about, working on something that will have an enormous amount of reclaimed materials. The goal would be to make it really low impact on the environment, solar and very functional. Like many ventures I have done, Im hoping that some really cool and lasting projects will come out of it. I would really enjoy building other ones for friends etc, and one day building custom container homes.

So with that said here is a little inspiration for me to look at for a week.