Michael Vacirca
Much of the inspiration for LastingNest came from my grandfather, Vito Vacirca. He was a stucco and plastering contractor providing services to the New York City area and Long Island for more than fifty years. I accompanied him as his helper when I was a teenager, and he would often point out his work from decades past as we drove around. I couldn't help but be deeply affected by the care he held for the details that he put into his craft.
I went to college, graduated, (B.S. Exercise Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1986) even went to a little grad school, but realized I really loved making things.
I started in the trades as a shipwright, working on the restoration of tall ships on the East Coast. This included time as the ship's carpenter on the 106' Hudson River sloop Clearwater and as mate on the Herrshoff sloop Ventura.
After working in the marine industry in Seattle for a while, I got a job as a remodeling carpenter. A few years later I started LastingNest.
Lastingnest proceeded to build out projects large and small. In 1996, working with legendary natural Builder SunRay Kelly, we built the first straw bale home to receive a conventional construction loan, the Conner Residence in Skagit County. Returning to Seattle, my partners and I became expert in the art of second story additions in vintage Craftsman homes, seamlessly blending old and new.
In 1999 I met Faye Baker selling Pottery at the Fremont Sunday Market. A talented artist and teacher, Faye owns and runs Fayezart Pottery studio. In 2002 our son Vito was born, followed in 2006 by daughter Vanda.
As a family we like to sail our little wooden sailboat "Kiva" over to go camping on Blake Island, go snowboarding in the winter, and play around with our old farmhouse in Ballard.
The rest is history (and in our portfolio).
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