The owner of a 900-square-foot home in Davis, California, wanted to expand the living space on her modest lot. She turned to MAK Design + Build to create a versatile backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that could host visiting family. As a medical professional, she also saw the potential to rent the space to medium-term tenants, such as traveling nurses, in the future.
Constraints such as the locations of the main house and garage on the property, along with setback requirements, helped shape the design. The homeowner also had two must-haves: a separate bedroom and privacy between the main house and the ADU. After exploring numerous layout options, she ultimately chose a one-level ADU tucked into a corner behind the garage. The finished space supports both her current lifestyle and possible future plans. In fact, once construction was complete, she liked the ADU so much that she told the designers she planned to move into it herself.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman
Location: Davis, California
Size: 537 square feet (50 square meters)
Design-build firm: MAK Design + Build
The new ADU is a ground-level, single-story structure that shares a wall with the garage but remains completely separate from the main house. (See plan below.) Maintaining privacy between the two buildings was important to the homeowner, and that extended to the entry sequence. A dedicated path to the ADU runs along the side yard beside the property line.