A homeowner in Oakland wanted to add space to her home that could be used as storage, a guest room, a laundry room, or a home office. New Avenue created this accessory building to enhance her property, making her home into a place that better suits her busy life.

For many homeowners, adding an accessory structure like this makes it possible to stay in the neighborhood they love. It’s an efficient way to add square footage to your home without the expense and difficulty of buying a new home in the area.

Many people replace their detached garages with ADUs, scrapping the garage entirely. Others say, “Why not both?” and add an ADU over their garage. For this project in Berkeley, the homeowners contacted New Avenue to create an entirely new two-car garage with an apartment over it. Here's the design.

Most people choose to build a full ADU. Sometimes, though, a homeowner wants an accessory structure without a kitchen or an ADU with just a small kitchen facility. That was the case with one homeowner in Kentfield, CA, who asked us to create a detached gym with a bathroom and room for a bed.

These Oakland homeowners wanted to build a detached office/studio that could also be used as a guest room. They also wanted to remodel part of the main home. The existing office would become a bedroom, and the existing half bath/laundry would be upgraded to include a shower. One of their requirements: preserve the property’s beautiful trees and tea house. Here’s the design.

Knowing the value an accessory dwelling can provide, he asked New Avenue to create an accessory structure that could be converted into a full accessory dwelling later. The designer created a 288-square-foot structure with space to add a kitchen and a shower in the future. Here are the drawings.

A New Avenue design professional designed a 637-square-foot backyard accessory building that met the homeowner’s needs and fit in perfectly with the main home’s design and landscaping. The design includes a bathroom, a one-car garage, and a hobby room. This will be an ideal place for the homeowner to use as a home office, a creative studio, or a workroom for any activity that requires a dedicated space. Here are the plans.

When Valerie and Tim wanted to add a darkroom and home office to their property in Berkeley, they contacted New Avenue. The space in their backyard was perfect for a detached accessory structure, and New Avenue’s design professional created a place that would work as storage, a creative studio, and a workspace for the homeowners. The space includes ample storage, an important consideration for those who want more space for their work and hobbies.

A Berkeley homeowner, asked New Avenue to remodel his existing garage into a music studio and storage area. He also wanted an ADU to use as a guest house, additional space when needed, or rental home. New Avenue’s designer created a design for both buildings and worked with the city to permit the entire project. Here’s the design.

New Avenue created a 384-square-foot accessory structure in San Carlos with an open work/entertaining area, bathroom and a utility sink. Large windows give the structure an open, fresh feel, and solar panels enhance its sustainability. Here are the plans.

A New Avenue design professional created the perfect space for Jose’s classic car (a VW Thing) and his bicycles. The designer was careful to create a plan that would protect the big Ponderosa pine in the yard. The garage door entry means Jose can store his VW, motorcycle, and bicycles in the accessory structure when he’s not using it as a workspace. The half bath makes it a great personal retreat and a well-appointed workspace. Here are the drawings and floor plan.

Brian and Dawn’s designer created plans to replace the existing accessory structure with a new 352-square-foot detached studio with a half bath. A deck and firepit give the owners and guests a comfortable place to relax or entertain.

The designer created plans to extend the owner’s suite in the main home, giving the homeowners more space in their bedroom and bathroom.

Here are the plans.