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The ADU’s entrance opens to the kitchen and dining areas, which are flanked by a bathroom and bedroom on either side. Grey utilized smart space-saving techniques, such as a sliding door in the bedroom that reveals a desk tucked away in the closet. The garden makes the ADU feel connected to the existing house, but it still retains a measure of privacy with a living area positioned perpendicular to the primary structure.
4 Hidden Costs of Accessory Dwelling Units You Need to Know - Better Homes & Gardens
4 Hidden Costs of Accessory Dwelling Units You Need to Know.
Posted: Fri, 02 Apr 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Check Your Area’s Zoning Laws
Normally, an interior ADU costs around $130,000 to $150,000. Rather than converting your garage into an ADU, building an ADU above your garage can also be a smart idea to maximize your existing space. • If the garage is already connected or attached to your main house, it would be easily accessible to the converted ADU. In turn, this would make it easier for you to move between the main house and the ADU whenever you please.
Can you put an accessory dwelling unit on your property?
Architectural designer Grey Shaeffer of Willa Work looked no farther than her backyard in Portland, Oregon, to find her next project. The resulting 360-square-foot ADU accommodates guests, while a separate tree house fits a tiny office for herself. A new outdoor area complete with a sprawling patio and pool was constructed along with the 672-square-foot ADU.
Not Sure Where to Start with Your ADU Project?
Most attached accessory dwelling units are converted from attached garages, but you’re allowed to build a larger attached ADU, as long as it is not more than 50% the size of your main house. For Wendy Yates, creative director and founder of Abigail-Elise Design Studio, conversions are more common. Shipping containers are quite easy to move onto a property, and they make ideal tiny units if designed well,” referring to structures similar to Friedman’s ootBox. A popular choice in many urban areas, garage conversions are the most cost-effective way to build an accessory dwelling unit. ” breaks it down for you and compares low-end and high-end garage conversions. The 1,178-square-foot ADU replaced the existing garage’s 20-by-30 foot footprint.
Take Advantage of Outdoor Space
On Washington’s Bainbridge Island, an architect father and his 12-year-old daughter built a small cabin that acts as a backyard studio for his practice and a bunkhouse for her sleepovers. To build the 80-square-foot structure, Jim demolished the family’s tool shed and used part of the foundation for the ADU. Furniture designer Ash Dipert transformed three disused structures behind his parents’ Craftsman home in Bakersfield, California, into a fun and functional accessory dwelling unit. The goal was to turn the space into a guest suite that "feels like an out of body experience; a Willy Wonka vacation hideaway," says the designer, who now lives in the ADU. One of the perks of bringing an ADU into your backyard is the built-in outdoor space that comes with it.
ADU House Plans

On the other hand, the rules are less restrictive for ADUs in some places, meaning it could be much easier to add one to your property than it would be to build an addition to your home. Learning about your area’s zoning laws might just be the final push you need to decide to go the ADU route. Here’s all you need to know about the process, from three Airbnb hosts who did it themselves. Search for images of ADU designs and ideas online so you can determine the best design for your house.
ADU Garage Conversion
You won’t ever need to worry about any legality and safety issues once the structure is built. In this case, you might have to reinforce the overall structure of your garage. You have to ensure that its foundation, walls, framing, and roof are well-built and strong enough to hold another floor above.

A mini patio, balcony, or seating area adds more comfortable living space for guests, and can make a world of difference. Implementing outdoor lighting, too, will help you keep an eye on your space, and will make coming and going much easier for visitors. Whether you’re building an ADU for your family or for Airbnb guests, you’ll want to make sure to provide everything that your visitors need to feel comfortable, no matter how long their stay. Bathroom and kitchen amenities may seem obvious, but there are some things you won’t want to forget if you want to avoid trips back and forth from the main house—or out to the store. Some locations have size and rent restrictions that should inform the rest of your design process. You need to comply with the local zoning laws to build an ADU.
ADU House Plans FAQ
OBY’s preliminary concept is a 576-square-foot ADU that includes an open-concept living and dining area, two bedrooms, a galley kitchen, and a bathroom/laundry room. With ideas of spaciousness in mind, Cover created an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area to give Alice’s ADU a voluminous feel. Cleverly repurposing an existing garage, this flexible ADU in Santa Monica, California, allows a creative couple to work, recharge, and host family and friends. Wedged with precision between the existing garage and pool, the new structure is only 13 feet wide. “Maximize the interior space by adding height and as many windows as you can afford, because sunlight makes a small space feel larger,” says Diana.
A second-floor entrance leads to an open-plan living/sleeping area with a full bathroom tucked away in the southeast corner. Large windows make the studio unit feel lighter and more spacious, despite the ADU’s small footprint. Architect Valery Augustin of DNA Architecture + Design and his wife, Kim, an art historian, set about transforming the existing garage of a 1940s bungalow in Ladera Heights into the ADU of their dreams. Having lived in their 1917 bungalow in Hancock Park for over 20 years, Joanna and Steve Vernetti decided they needed more space for their growing family. Designer Christina Roughan converted her late 1700s-era shed into an office and design studio, featuring stone-walled interiors, a fireplace, a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a loft.
A run-down garage in Los Angeles is reborn as a tiny, light-filled ADU - Los Angeles Times
A run-down garage in Los Angeles is reborn as a tiny, light-filled ADU.
Posted: Wed, 05 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
We align the kitchen and the bathroom along one wall to save on plumbing construction costs. If possible (and it isn’t always), do not have the door to the bathroom opening right next to the kitchen. Whether you’re sketching your ADU floor plan on a napkin or meeting with a designer, think about these important factors. Enter your information below and we’ll send you all of these floor plans to your email in one convenient PDF. Depending also on the rules and regulations in your state, there might be some guidelines regarding the minimum lot size or the maximum number of ADUs you can build on your property. There are also laws that dictate the ADU designs or types and sizes that you can build.
The average total cost of constructing a basement ADU is $185,000. The total cost of building an ADU varies, depending on the size, materials, permit, and labor costs. • Since your garage is already a pre-existing space, you would no longer need to give up any more space from your garden or backyard.
If you’re the one who owns your house, it’d be wise to leverage your home value against renovations that would be built on your property. This makes sense because those improvements should eventually increase your overall home value. Learn more about the differences between renovation vs remodel here.
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