Cost to design and build a backyard accessory dwelling in Mountain View, California

When Kim's daughter graduated from college and returned home, Kim decided to replace the 200-square-foot storage structure in her backyard with an accessory dwelling that her daughter could live in. Kim planned to rent the home out when her daughter no longer needed it, and she wanted to include mobility-friendly features so it could be used by an elder resident if necessary.

Kim came to New Avenue with her design ideas. She wanted to build an accessory dwelling that would coordinate well with her main home, a 1946 bungalow, but she also wanted the new structure to be a bit more modern and have larger windows. 

New Avenue created an accessory dwelling that could be used for many purposes: a place for family and friends to stay, a rental home, or a retreat or office for the homeowners.

The unique form of this structure gives it a special character, and features like an on-demand water heater and skylights add to its efficiency.

At the time of construction in 2015, the complete cost of this backyard accessory dwelling was $235,678.