Sunday, April 28, 2024

22 ADU Floor Plans That Make the Most of the Backyard

adu design ideas

Whether you’re converting an existing structure or building a new one, Maxable can guide you through every step. If you’re doing a garage conversion, the garage can stay on its original footprint even if that’s on a property line. But you are not allowed to put a window or door on a wall with less than a 4-foot setback from the property line. Professional contractors are extremely well-versed about the legal restrictions regarding ADUs. They’re also quite familiar with the implications of building codes in the final space design.

Garage conversion accessory dwelling unit

As the name suggests, it’s small enough to fit in a backyard but proper adherence to building codes is still required. Many popular backyard units rented out on AirBnB are yurt kits that are inexpensive and can be installed within a couple of days. This is especially advisable if your house has two main entrances and you have extra interior space to spare. Wide windows frame the architect’s built-in desk, which overlooks the water. Opposite the workstation, a single bunk that doubles as a couch folds down from the wall.

ADU House Plans FAQ

In a small space with shifting uses, clever storage solutions are essential to a comfortable (and uncluttered) stay. As charming as they are, the prospect of building one might feel daunting. If you’re in the market for an ADU—or simply want some small-space design inspiration—you’re in the right place. We spoke to three ADU owners (and Airbnb hosts!) to get the inside scoop on what goes into designing and building these cute and compact homes. Dreaming about floor plans is fun, but before you get too far into the fantasy you might want to check to see what type of ADU you can put on your specific lot. We try to design a “wet wall” in our ADUs, especially the smaller ones.

What stage is your ADU project at?

The total cost of constructing a prefab ADU can range from $30,000 to $80,000. The total cost of converting a garage into an ADU can range from $80,000 to $140,000. The overall cost of constructing an attached ADU ranges from $100,000 to $155,000.

“Many of the early projects were conversions, typically garages. Because the existing footprint of these structures were grandfathered in, there was some benefit to using them, although they almost always needed to be fully rebuilt,” he says. Accessory dwelling units are small houses (typically between 350 and 1000 square feet) that are usually situated close to a primary dwelling.

Work With Your Small Space

A window nook surrounded by built-in cabinetry helps delineate a cozy living area near a curved, open staircase that leads to the lofted bed. A 19-foot desk accommodates three workstations in the 350-square-foot backyard office, and there’s a table for meeting with clients. Toward the back of the shipping container, there’s a kitchenette with storage space and a bathroom nestled behind it.

Since the garage’s exterior is already built, it would be much easier for you to add an ADU without spending a lot. • If your garage already has a comfortable and pleasing ambiance, an ADU would undoubtedly make for an exceptional additional unit to your house. Every ADU is a part of the same property as the main house. Furthermore, the owner of the ADU is also essentially the owner of the main house. This terminology is a part of an architects’ professional jargon. The concept of an ADU has been around for sometime under other names such as backyard cottages, guest houses, granny flats, in-law units and others.

On the ground level, an open-plan, double-height living space is surrounded by sliding glass doors that open to a Japanese-style engawa deck. Upstairs, two bedrooms are connected by a bridge that overlooks the living room, and a rooftop deck creates additional space for entertaining. A tiered mahogany deck wraps around the small rectangular structure, adding additional living space and seating outdoors.

Los Angeles Plans To Find The Solution To Its Housing Crisis In Its Backyards - Fast Company

Los Angeles Plans To Find The Solution To Its Housing Crisis In Its Backyards.

Posted: Mon, 09 Apr 2018 07:00:00 GMT [source]

It’s also quite beneficial for the homeowner because he can add another living space to his property without completely sacrificing his garage. Since the existing garages are not structurally built to support another floor above it, building an ADU on top of it will be much harder than converting a garage into an ADU. The one show above is wired with electricity and comes equipped with a wrap-around deck, walls of windows and wood burning stove. It’s a very simple and effective concept that is constructed in a separate small area that dwells on the same ground as your main house, like a small house in the backyard.

adu design ideas

OBY Cooperative designed affordable, turnkey prefabs for homeowners in California’s East Bay as a way to combat the housing crisis. "The idea is that OBY takes on the cost and hassle of building an ADU, and homeowners benefit from having extra room on their property available to rent," company representatives say. Built from carbon-light materials–such as wood sourced from ethically harvested forests and powered by solar panels—the homes are designed with sustainability in mind as well.

Here are the most popular types of ADU designs you can use to enhance your home. Read on to know more about various ADU designs in this article. In the ADU, a multipurpose, greenhouse-inspired sunroom serves as both a dining patio and an extension of the kitchen, with new millwork concealing a washer/dryer station. In the newly constructed volume, the living room of the ADU would double as an art gallery, connected to—or closed off from—the rest of the residential wing via a pocket door. Separate entrances to the gallery and living/sleeping zones would allow private access for a future renter or caregiver, or the couple’s adult children when they visited.

Compile all of your collected ideas and let your contractor or architect review them. Finally, you may also have to attend a local public hearing to ensure that you will properly adhere to the zoning laws. Similarly, you need to take your neighbors into consideration regarding your ADU construction plan. This financing method is recommended for homeowners who don’t have enough equity to be qualified for a loan that’s property-secured. Take note that the interest rates could be higher for this type of financing. Below are the average costs of various ADU designs or types.

See our modern farmhouse backyard office with loft house plan here. This type of ADU is a standalone construction that’s separate from your main house. A detached ADU can be constructed as an entirely separate living space.

A coastal Massachusetts family used reclaimed materials to build this 168-square-foot multipurpose backyard space. The ADU doubles as an office for the dad, a playroom for the three kids, and when guests visit, it’s a place for them to bunk. The homeowners DIY’ed the construction almost entirely by themselves and completed the project for around $10,000.

An ADU garage conversion extends a property in order to either provide a home for relatives or to manage a small business. When converting a garage into an ADU, make sure to take your neighbor’s land boundary lines, as well as permits, fines, and additional utility expenses into consideration. The idea of adding an extra structure in your outdoor or indoor space such as constructing a gym, home office, or hangout area made ADUs very interesting and attractive to numerous homeowners. Inspired by the design of space capsules, Hello Wood’s Workstation Cabin is a timber-clad geometric pod that can fit up to six people. The uniquely shaped prefab ADU can be used as a guesthouse, office, or hangout—and it can be easily installed in a backyard.

Accessory Dwelling Unit ADU Plans, Designs & More

adu design ideas

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.

Can I Build An ADU On My Property?

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.

Can you put an accessory dwelling unit on your property?

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.

What Is An ADU? (Accessory Dwelling Unit)

adu design ideas

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 design ideas

Looking for Cost Estimates?

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.

Will they walk through your driveway, or past another side of the main house? This will affect the placement of the entryway and main living space. Maybe you’ve googled something like “400 square foot floor plan” and gotten a screen load of images. The problem is, these generic floor plans are often for apartments, not houses. A backyard ADU is under the category of a detached ADU but it’s generally built at a smaller scale. Normally, backyard ADUs can measure between 450 and 1200 square feet.

Garage conversion accessory dwelling unit

After that, it might be already safe enough to build an ADU above your garage. A prefab ADU above the garage is a great option and cost efficient. This is also a better alternative for homeowners who don’t want to give up their garage entirely. If you’re going to convert your garage into an ADU, finding another place to park your cars may be a hassle. ADU designs can take many forms such as this treehouse cabin overlooking the lake behind the primary residence.

Plan #

Set apart from a detached single-family home, or tucked into an upper level of a garage, an ADU is the perfect private getaway, just steps away from your front door. Get creative and try not to waste a centimeter of space in your accessory dwelling unit floor plan. Furniture can serve double-duty as storage, but don’t rely too much on that. After you’ve checked them out, scroll down to learn what design elements you can’t afford to ignore when you’re planning your accessory dwelling unit.

Aside from providing some much needed space, ADUs can be profitable, too. Whether you’re still in the researching phase or have already started your project, we’ve helped thousands of property owners like you source design and GC bids for an ADU project. After planning and finalizing the house layout, design, and budget, you may begin constructing. Make sure to keep your calendar noted with important dates for inspections, expected completion, and other important matters such as deliveries of construction materials. This financing option is ideal for homeowners who want to try other mortgage providers, receive a lower rate, or amalgamate the latest project costs into a current house loan. This ADU financing method would be the best choice if you’re planning to let others rent your ADU.

ADU:RE-THINK - US Building of the Week - World-Architects

ADU:RE-THINK - US Building of the Week.

Posted: Mon, 12 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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.

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.

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.

Also, in a pinch, mirrors will reflect light around the ADU, giving the illusion of a larger space. Windows, and the natural light they bring, are essential, but there are other creative ways to brighten up an ADU. Kimberly suggests mixing natural light with ambient and task lighting fixtures, and says that installing skylights above the bed and in the bathroom in her ADU really helped open up the space.

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.

22 ADU Floor Plans That Make the Most of the Backyard

Table Of Content Garage conversion accessory dwelling unit ADU House Plans FAQ What stage is your ADU project at? Garage Plan Collections Wo...