This ADU is loaded with extraordinary features including solar energy, an incredible storage loft, an accessible bathroom, and luxurious finishes.

When California passed AB 68, among other groundbreaking legislation related to ADUs, we were thrilled. The new laws gave California homeowners more rights related to adding ADUs to their property, including the right to add two accessory dwellings. So for most homeowners, the answer is yes, you can add two ADUs. Here’s a look at some plans for adding two ADUs developed for a client in Berkeley.

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.

New Avenue Architect Randolph Ruiz designed this beautiful ADU for a client in Berkeley. Living in a 70-year-old house, the homeowners decided to add an accessory dwelling that they could use for their parents, for their children, or as a rental. Another option was for the homeowners to move in themselves, allowing their family members to use the main home.

The owner of a multi-family home in Berkeley came to New Avenue for a major remodel of a two-bedroom, two-bath rental unit. While parts of the unit were salvageable (e.g., the beautiful redwood and a few of the walls), this unit was almost entirely rebuilt. It needed a new foundation and major work in all areas.

The main art studio area is equipped with floor-mounted electrical outlets and receives tons of natural light through the unit’s clerestory windows and NanaWall, which easily folds back to open the entire front wall. The homeowners can enjoy the light and fresh air when the wall is open and will be protected from the elements when it’s closed.

When a couple in Berkeley, CA, looked at the shed in their backyard, they saw its potential to help them with their mortgage. They knew they could replace the shed with something better: an accessory dwelling that they could rent out, bringing in $3,000 or more in rental income—enough to pay for the new ADU and the mortgage on their main home. They also wanted a backyard home they could use for themselves or family as needed.

Steve, a homeowner in Berkeley, wanted to add more space to his one-bedroom, one-bathroom home. He hired New Avenue to design and build a second story with an additional bedroom and an additional bathroom. Here are the plans and costs.

Many homeowners find that their detached garages could be more useful as something else: a guest suite, a home office, or a rentable accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Here are plans and drawings for one garage conversion project in Berkeley.

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.