"We ran out of money three times because, let's say, lenders don't totally understand how construction projects work, especially one they'd never dealt with before," he says. "The best advice I could give anyone is to use your own money to start off, and then go for the financing. That way, lenders can see what you're doing and you won't run into the problems we had to deal with."

"We wanted the master bedroom to be both accessible and big, so I put in a double french door entrance that helps make the room feel bigger than it is (about 18 feet by 20 feet). It's also very bright thanks to three skylights and three huge windows on the back wall," says [Mark Fossay], adding there's also a huge, rectangular walk-in closet. "The windows give you a great view of the back yard and all the mature pines. With its skylight (a way to let light into the space), the bathroom is a great place to relax with a soak in the jetted tub."

"It was very fortunate how it happened," he says. "Yes, it was a lot of work, but it was absolutely worth it. The interior, I think, looks good and is very functional. Structurally, it's very solid -- quonset designs are 10 times stronger than normal homes. There's all kinds of space in and out that people can enjoy, so it's going to make a great home for people who enjoy space, privacy and understated country style."