Perfect Pleasanton ADU For Aging-In-Place

Ever since moving to this quiet Pleasanton neighborhood in 2017, these homeowners longed for grandma to join them close by.

However, with rising home prices fueled by an influx of San Francisco Bay Area buyers during the pandemic, buying an entirely separate home became out of the question. Furthermore, having extended family close was important—but not under the same roof.

With the new statewide ADU regulations, however, having a separate unit on the property suddenly became an option—and the homeowners quickly realized that their backyard/side yard space overlooking the East Bay hills was the perfect spot.

With the homeowner's mother intending on moving into the new ADU unit, the use case dictated the custom design decisions for the floor plan and finishes.

The Cottage Design team worked within the backyard space, taking required setbacks and distance from the existing home into account to arrive at a rectangular-shaped floor plan with a closet bump-out to fit as closely to the property line as possible. This feature maximized the master bathroom space and allowed for the bedroom to be separated from the kitchen, dining, and living room area.

Location-wise, the custom and efficient floor plan that pushed the ADU as far from the street as possible minimized the neighborhood impact of the new unit. It also left as much open green space as possible around the front and sides of the existing home to maintain a shared backyard space for the multi-generational family to enjoy for decades to come.

Upon entering the ADU, viewers are immediately struck by the vaulted ceilings and huge skylight within the main living area. These lofty ceilings draw the eye upwards to help make the area feel extra spacious while also visually matching the gabled roof exterior.

With family moving in, the homeowners made sure to choose high quality fixtures and finishes that matched the existing home. Quartz countertops, shaker cabinets, and recessed lighting highlight the kitchen and living room, while recessed lighting, fan, and wide windows in the bedroom expand the space further.

Like any Cottage ADU, this ground-up construction was built to last for multiple generations. With the ADU and existing home overlooking the picturesque Pleasanton hills to the south, the optimal area to build sat on a slight slope.

From the start, the Cottage team took the property-specific characteristics into account for the overall ADU design. Based on the site survey and structural engineering portions of the design, this resulted in additional concrete foundation work to ensure that the project would last well into the future.

At Cottage, we believe in providing homeowners the best ADU experience possible. From feasibility, to design, permitting, and construction, we're here to guide you through each step of the journey.