High-end Renovations Made This Backyard Condo a Sustainable Luxury Home

This ADU condominium offers high-end finishes with low VOCs and high sustainability in a totally walkable, bikable neighborhood.

A family of three in West Berkeley purchased a two-bedroom, 774-square-foot backyard condo for $818,000. Then they hired New Avenue to build a total remodel of the home.

The cost of major renovations like this can vary, but remodels like this tend to be about $500-$1000 per square foot. This client went high-end (and got a deal, thanks to our skilled team, groundbreaking technology, and extensive experience.)

At the top of this client’s list of must-haves: sustainability and outstanding indoor air quality. We helped them create a space with extremely low VOCs that is energy efficient and built with high-quality, environmentally friendly materials.

Tile: The tile in this home was all made in the United States by Fireclay Tile, which is known for sustainable manufacturing and social responsibility. (By the way, Fireclay Tile is a B Corp like New Avenue!)

Paint: The homeowners chose Benjamin Moore Aura paint for its low VOCs, longevity, reputation, and color compatibility. They also selected an EMF-blocking paint to use on a wall in their child’s room.

Floors: The wood flooring throughout is red oak from Hickman Mills. The homeowners loved the appearance and the company’s sustainability practices. They chose to finish their floors with Bona Traffic HD, a low-VOC, low-odor waterborne finish.

Cabinets: The homeowners took a mixed approach to installing new cabinets. Some of their cabinets were custom-built by a local company, and others are upgraded Ikea cabinets with solid, hard-maple fronts by Scherr’s Cabinets and Doors.

Wood Finishes: The homeowners finished the cabinet fronts themselves with Rubio Monocoat finish, which boasts 0% VOCs. The windowsills are rift white oak, also with a Rubio finish. The floating living-room seat is Douglas fir and finished in Odie's Oil, a food-safe, non-toxic oil. The cedar siding is sealed with a water-based poly by General Finishes.

Insulation: Researching the use of GPS foam on top of the roof as an alternative to spray foam, the homeowners found that this kind of installation isn't usually done in the US. They went with Rockwool mineral wool, which is made from all-natural materials and is naturally fire resistant, sound dampening, and moisture resistant. They also added Rockwool Safe n’ Sound to the interior walls for additional sound absorption.

In addition to the sustainable, healthy features, this home makes great use of the space available. Having lived in New York City and San Francisco for years, these homeowners have a lot of experience getting the most out of small spaces. They know how to make a table for 8 work in a small space, how to use a window bench for maximum enjoyment, and lots of other efficiency tricks.

This happy couple and their child will enjoy living in this hip community, which is, by the way, a walker’s and bicyclist’s paradise. In this neighborhood, you can go days without using a car.

For clients wondering about AB 1033, this is not an AB 1033 project, but this is certainly what those projects will look like. AB 1033 permits the sale of ADUs separately from the main home on the property. You can do backyard condos without AB 1033, as well.

New Avenue priced and built this project from a non-New Avenue designer. If you have a design but need project administration and construction, ask us for a price check any time!