Efficient and Open 2 Bedroom Accessory Dwelling Unit in Castro Valley

After buying the original home in early 2020, this Bay Area couple immediately saw the backyard potential for an accessory dwelling unit. As three large heritage trees guard the back property line, the large space was perfect for a 750 sq.ft, 2-bedroom in-law unit.

The Cottage design team sought to strike a balance between modern aesthetics, quality and efficiency for the space. The homeowner had looked into prefab ADUs in the past but settled on a custom project since it would be seen from the rest of their property. They wanted the unit to balance functional needs with their preferred look and feel.

Two sets of French doors open into an open kitchen, dining, and living room space, making the ADU feel extra roomy. The indoor-outdoor connection was especially important to the homeowner, who wanted the ADU to let the summer breeze blow through the unit and encourage the use of the spacious backyard space.

Cottage also designed a full kitchen and peninsula space perfect for cooking, hosting, and entertaining guests. Design details such as open shelves for linen in the bathroom, corner under-counter cabinets to maximize storage, and outdoor access from the bedroom were important to the homeowner, and Cottage's custom ADU approach was able to satisfy all of those needs.

The layout is a straightforward mirrored bedroom and closet design that minimizes structural costs, saving the homeowners time and money. One larger bedroom (~120 sq. ft) can host a king bed and offers privileged backyard views and access. The two bedrooms also share a rather generous bathroom with a full tub and in-unit stackable washer-dryer unit.