This design is unique in that an interior ladder leads to a loft, which opens onto an upper-level deck. The unit also includes a bedroom, half bath, and living area. large windows and sliding glass doors provide ample natural light. The plans call for a green roof, including climbing vines to form a privacy wall on the upper deck.

If Patricia rents out her new ADU, she can use the rental income to pay for the mortgage on the main home and the mortgage on the ADU. Or she can use the money to cover other expenses such as education, travel, retirement…anything she needs now or in the future. Here are the floorplans and elevations for Patricia’s new ADU in Berkeley.

Robert and Rose of Redwood City, CA, owned a beautiful property with a detached workshop and a detached garage. They came to New Avenue looking to get more from their existing structures through a major remodel. New Avenue created a design that would unite the two smaller structures, making the most of the existing buildings while forming a usable space that supports the homeowners’ needs.

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 adding an addition or building an accessory dwelling, your property taxes will go up. In general, we expect an increase of one-half of one percent of the total cost of the project. In this case, the family will see a tax increase of $2,625 per year. The total cost of a project like this is $525,000. That includes everything: design, permitting, engineering, all the red tape, site work, and construction.

This project, built in 2018, cost a total of $290,964.78 for design, permitting, and construction.

With a versatile design like this one, the family will be able to use the ADU as a gathering space, an additional home, or a rental for additional income. Over time, the ADU can serve multiple purposes, evolving to meet the owners’ needs.

In an interesting twist on a garage conversion, a homeowner in Los Gatos, CA, contacted New Avenue to add an ADU that could one day be converted into a garage if necessary.

Here’s the floor plan.

The homeowner will be able to rent this home out for more than $3,000 per month, or they can use it for family and guests. If the owners decide they need this space as a garage later, it can be converted.

The backyard’s slope provided a lovely view from the rear of the yard, and Betsy hoped to take advantage of that in adding an ADU for her family. A New Avenue design professional created an ADU that could serve as a comfortable home and gave it a large deck and stairs to accommodate the unique backyard. The plans include a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living area.

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.