Modern Garage in Far East

[abstamaria]

Hello, Rick, Dubber. Yes, the reviews on the new MX5 have been very good. It is lighter, shorter, and lower than the original Miata, so that is quite an accomplishment these days. From the little I've driven it so far, it is great fun and handles well. Controls are well placed, and the pedals are perfect for heeling and toeing.

Last year I thought I should get an older, inexpensive car that would qualify for the local sports car club's out-of-town tours for historic cars. The club defines "historic" as cars built before 1973. I thought a car, like a good but not concours MGA, would allow me to enjoy the tours without worrying about the car.

I eventually decided on the 1997 Mercedes SLK I mentioned here, as the club allows senior citizens like myself to tag along in a non-historic sports car. The SLK was ideal, I thought, because it offered some reliability for the long tours and comfortable as well.

And then the 2016 MX5 (I hear Mazda wants to use that name) came along with great reviews. And that is how I ended up with a new car. The SLK has gone to my best friend.

Traffic here is such that I don't drive myself to work, Rick, or on weekdays. There used to be a time I could bring even the Stratos to work, but that was decades ago.

Best,

Andy

 

[Clemson13]

Any updates?

 

[abstamaria]

No updates I'm afraid

The thing with a bare, modern style is that the point when it is finished is clear, and adding anything else beyond that threshold will detract. At least that is my excuse, as there has been no real addition to the garage and nothing to report. We continue to use and enjoy the garage, and I do spend an extraordinary part of my time at home in there. Even my friends rarely enter the house when they visit.

The other thing about a bare house is that stuff will accumulate and must be constantly addressed. I have to do that now, as we’ve lived here some 13 yearsnow. I was looking at the library and think I need to try to go back to what it was before, just a table and a single chair. But I wouldn’t know where to put the printer! I will try anyway.

Best to all,

Andres

 

[amgsl55]

Andres, love reading this thread and looking at your pictures, they look like they belong on a coffee table book. I imagine the minimalist lifestyle would be hard to maintain for many, especially myself.
One thing that does puzzle me though is how does the stick family window sticker fit in with the minimalist lifestyle?

 

[Madhatter10-6]

abstamaria,

I just got caught up on your thread. You have a beautiful home and cars!

 

[abstamaria]

Haha, you have good eyes, amgsl55. The sticker was a gift from a Canadian fried - a man and a woman and two dogs. It keeps us from running into a closed glass door.

Yes, the minimalist architectural style requires a lifestyle change, too, but it is a refreshing one. I tend not to buy things, since I wonder where I would keep them.

But thank you, amgsl55, Madhatter.

Andres

 

[dubber]

Haha, you have good eyes, amgsl55. The sticker was a gift from a Canadian fried - a man and a woman and two dogs. It keeps us from running into a closed glass door.

Yes, the minimalist architectural style requires a lifestyle change, too, but it is a refreshing one. I tend not to buy things, since I wonder where I would keep them.

But thank you, amgsl55, Madhatter.

Andres

Those darn stickers have become an epidemic here unfortunately. I have enjoyed a few of the spinoffs. One more notable was one with a Storm Trooper theme from Star Wars.

 

[abstamaria]

Yes, they have, Dubber. I see them all over. The friend who gave them - 2 people and 2 dogs - knew we were exactly that home. The funny thing is that when we first installed them, maybe eight years ago, one of the dogs noticed them and barked at them. He understood the stick figures! Both dogs are gone now. But we have a 5-year old Rott and a year-old rescue with us now.

Best,

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

English Mews

I went on a nice early drive this morning and took this phone photo of the Dino as it cooled on the driveway. I thought I would show the outside of my garage, which is actually not a large structure. Being a Lotus man at heart, I wanted something similar to the small English mews where Lotus began.

 

[Boosted1]

Re: English Mews

Nice car and photo.
The Dino seems like it would be a very fun / engaging car to drive.

 

[abstamaria]

Many thanks, Boosted1. Yes, the Dino is quite engaging to drive; a nice counterpoint to modern cars.

Best,

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

Many thanks, Chilly Moose.

 

[abstamaria]

The Timelessness of Good Design

Fiddling with a car in the garage the other night, I saw the lounge and, although I have had it almost 20 years, was struck by how beautiful—and modern—it looked. I had to take a photo. Yet the lounge, by the architect Le Corbusier, was designed in 1928.

 

[abstamaria]

The Corbu Lounge

Some Trivia. While the lounge is of course attributed to Le Corbusier, it is believed his assistant Charlotte Perriand,played a major role in its design. She also posed for this famous photo, considered quite daring in 1928.

That's Charlotte Perriand and Le Corbusier.

 

[Denwood]

Great design simply never ages A great piece indeed. It's always great to see pics from your space and collection Andy. I trust "retirement" is treating you well

 

[roger440]

One of the first garages i looked at and read from the first page. Still looking just as good.

Wish i could de-clutter my life!

 

[abstamaria]

Many thanks, Denwood. It's an amazing chair; young friends can't believe it was designed 90 years ago.

Thanks, too, Roger. The garage seems to be holding up well and serving its purpose. It's a constant battle - decluttering. We have a 2nd garage, used for the commuter cars. That needs serious decluttering. I should post a photo.

Best regards.

Andy

 

[RG500NOR]

You have an exquisite taste in all you do. The collection of cars, design and style of your house and furniture. I share your fascination for the LC series. I saw several mentioning to the Scandinavian style and there is one chair I would like to mention in this connection. Bruno Mathsson's Jeson 66. For me it resembels the style of seats in cars like Miura, GT40 and Ferraris of that time. Really cool.

 

[abstamaria]

Bruno Mathsson's Jeson 66

Thank you, RG500NOR. I'm sorry I missed your post and didn't reply right away. It's nice of you to say that.

I did not know of Bruno Mathsson's Jeson 66 chair and had to Google it. Yes, you are right. It reminds of the seats in the early 1970s supercars. It is beautiful.

I attached a photo for those who may not know it.

Many thanks, and regards,

Andy

 

[Pig In A Poke]

All I can say is Wow!

 

[FunBags]

Wow, you sir have incredible taste! I can't find one thing I would change.

 

[Audicon]

Wow, you sir have incredible taste! I can't find one thing I would change.

Just the address

 

[abstamaria]

Grass Driveway

Many thanks, Pig-in-a-Poke, FunBags, Audicon. I think the things just seem in good taste because there are so few of them. The house and garage are quite bare!

The switch to grass pavers for the driveway has been a good decision in this tropical island. They seem to have made the place cooler. The grass – a hardy local variety – has taken and is holding up to traffic quite well.

 

[Audicon]

I do think the lack of clutter is a big part of the aesthetic. It really is a stunning place.

Much of it though is your impeccable choice in automobiles, architecture and landscaping. I have always loved the grass pavers. So many different styles for those it will make your head spin. How did you choose yours?

Now to go back to the beginning of this thread again. A couple more times, and I will probably have it memorized.

 

[abstamaria]

Grass Pavers

There were few grass paver designs available here, Audicon, so it was an easy choice for me. Initially, the pattern was evident through the grass, but eventually grass has taken so well that the pavers can’t be seen, as shown in the two hoots below. The pavers do show where cars pass regularly, so it is important to chose a pattern you like. Most will be pleasing, in my view.

Good luck!

Andy

 

[ODIS]

Looks very nice, Andy. Great shot of the grass and the lovely 300SL. Can you tell us of it's history?

Trust you have been well.

Ody.

 

[abstamaria]

300sl

I wish I could say the 300SL were mine, Ody, but it isn’t. It belongs to an old friend who has owned it since the late 1960s. It has been repainted, but is unrestored. A lovely car, and it is always a treat when it visits.

As I related before, in the later 1980s, another friend of mine was casually offered a 300SL long in storage. I helped him retrieve it. A true barnfind, his wife was aghast that we would buy such a dust-covered, neglected thing.

I am fine and hope you are keeping well.

Andy

 

[markviii]

I confess I haven't visited your thread for a while. We're very busy with our new home construction next to the Restored 1930's Auto Shop. Congratulations on the new car added to your collection.

We thought about pavers when we were contemplating the driveways we're going to have. We definitely love the concept, but after the alternating extreme heat and then torrential rains this summer, we don't think they're going to look as good as yours. I think some areas of the country/world are better suited than here in central IL.

I have the same assortment of boxes of paper from my 35 years of teaching (well, actually more than you!). I brought them home 7 years ago with good intentions of sorting through and tossing things out. Then I home schooled some high school students part-time for the next two years, putting off the task because there was still stuff I could use. The ensuing 5 years have been extremely busy with selling the old house, moving into the temporary house and beginning to build the new house, so it was put off again. Now that we'll be moving into the new house by Christmas (I hope), I don't want to move the boxes again, so I better get moving with this project!

Your house still looks very nice and peaceful!

Chris

 

[abstamaria]

Boxes

Many thanks, Chris. We do have torrential rains here – water sometimes rises above the pavers - and very hot summers. We don't have winter though, and the temperatures range just from 19C early in the year to 35.

I'm going through a second weeding of boxes and went through a few just the other day. I threw away old receipts (which will of course trigger an immediate tax audit) but decided to keep old desk diaries. There are so many old names, places, and dates I shouldn’t forget in there. I lived each of those pages a day at a time. The diaries ended when I moved to Palm Pilots, and then of course my calendar is all on my phone now. Going through them is not the same.

Good luck with your boxes and your new home and garage.

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

Update

To answer private messages, I’m afraid I’ve added nothing to the garage! In a modern, minimalist setting, the threshold when anything added will begin to detract is probably more obvious, so that has been a regulating mechanism. That means signs and décor given by friends “for the garage” tend to get given away.

The garage has worked very well also, so there hasn’t been pressure to improve things. The shop is great, the floors are holding up well, and the garage has been pleasant for relaxing, reading, and having a few car friends over.

The only repair I’ve done was to replace the casters on roll cabinets (the rubber wheels have broken apart on their own!) with neat red polyurethane casters.

The sad news is that my constant companion Sundance took ill and passed away suddenly two months ago, breaking everyone’s heart. We still miss him badly, and I do particularly miss him as he was quite attached to me. We still have Charlie, who we rescued from the pound along with his mom and sister. The mom and sister have since been adopted by other families, but Charlie was born with hind legs that cannot bend, so we decided to just care for him. He seems not to know about his legs though, and runs and goes about as if nothing were wrong. He was just two months when he joined us (and when Sundance—a large Rottweiler—promptly took little him under his wing), and is now two years old. For a few weeks after Sundance passed away, Charlie still waited for him to come down the stairs every morning.

We now have a little Rottweiler puppy, whom Charlie enjoys playing with. That’s the two of them in the hill behind the garage. It looks the same as before.

Best,

Andy

 

[OscarTango]

Sorry to hear about your dog.... Hopefully you can find comfort in knowing he has lived a good life. We also have a rescue doggy ( little one ), and he's like a shadow to my wife, and me when she's not around ( priorities, eh ;-) ).

Thanks for the update.

 

[abstamaria]

Rescues

Many thanks, OscarTango. Our rescue Charlie is quite a little one, too. He was wary of people and found comfort in Sundance. It is wonderful you have a rescue.

Best,

Andy

 

[Bob Heine]

Andy, so sorry to hear about Sundance. The passing of a pet always reminds us how short our time is as well.

Charlie looks like a wonderful and happy dog. He doesn't know he has a handicap because no one ever told him. It's just the life he's been given and the love you give him is all he needs for it to be perfect.

 

[abstamaria]

Many thanks, Bob. Yes, we always say that about little Charlie - that he is completely oblivious of his handicap. He is a good dog and such a gift.

Warm regards,

Andy

 

[5.SLO]

Any updates? This is the most amazing thread I've ever read on GJ!

 

[PDM]

Andy.... love your thread and as many others have stated....I am finding inspiration from your well thought out house. (I'm in the middle of a fairly extensive house/garage reno in Vancouver B.C. at the moment.)

One question about your grass pavers..... - are they a concrete type mess paver ? or plastic ?

Before I started my property rebuild, I had plastic grid inserts that I had temporarily layed down into my side yard with zero ground prep.....so no hard pack, no gravel and poor drainage control, so in the PNW my fall and spring side yard where I roll my 24 foot triple axled trailer and dually F350 with large camper on would have a tendency to "chew up" the grass whenever I would drive over my boulevard as I have to back up and foward a few times to make the swing off my main street to my side yard.


You don't seem to have heavy vehicles on your driveway, but curious what kind of grass pavers you used and what was done to prep before the grass was put down ?

What kind of max vehicle weight have you rolled over your driveway to date ?



TIY Don

 

[Jocke_D]

Hi Andres et all

Greetings from Örebro, Sweden

Just spent the better part of the last week and this to read through this entire thread of stunning storys, pictures, cars, dogs etc. You should really write a book about your life. With lots of pictures and diagrams. I would love to read it.
I'm just blown away by the way you keep all of your stuff in shape. Truly amazing and an example to most of us. At least I think so.

I myself have a 10x15m garage that I bought just over three years ago. I always pictured it to look like the scandinavian version of yours, without knowing you existed. Unfortunately with two boys (4 & 6½) and lots of hobbies (mostly cars and motorbikes) there just is no way I can make it happen. But trust me when I will try a little bit harder after reading your thread.

I was glad when I first laid eyes on your collection as it sort of shows how my own collection would look like if I had the space and money. Especially the Elise S1 since I have a Lotus type 116 myself. It's cooler to say you have a Lotus type 116 than an Opel Speedster
It's no way near the state your cars are in but I want it that way since I take it to track days as often as I can. Have mounted a supercharger to it which makes some 250hp instead of the standard 150. It's a multi year project that I intend to keep like you have done with your cars.

I have so many questions but the one that must get out is what happened to the electric car that was pictured pretty early on in the thread? It was built by a friend of yours if i recall correctly? It looked pretty good

 

[abstamaria]

Thank you, 5.SLO. I’m afraid we haven’t done anything to the garage. When it was finished, it was done. It has worked very well for us. There are naturally some things we could have done better, but overall the garage has been a pleasure to work, entertain friends, and even just relax in. I am glad you liked it.

Andy

 

[abstamaria]

Many thanks, Don. The pavers are concrete and well braced at the borders. The contractor took care to prepare the foundation; I recall sand on gravel, tamped down. The pavers have been holding up well. We do have the occasional construction truck deliver supplies, but I can’t estimate the weight. The pavers do show on the driveway, where our cars pass regularly.

Best of luck,

Andy

 

[thomfr]

Hi Andy,
Are you oké? No problems with the storms?
Thom