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You Do ADU, Part 1: The first question to ask before deciding on an accessory dwelling unit is, ‘What am I trying to accomplish?’ Then check whether an ADU is the way to achieve that goal.
Building an ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, is becoming a popular option for homeowners in Southern California. But doing an ADU project the right way is vastly more complicated than putting up a backyard shed or some other weekend project. The You Do ADU newsletter can help you navigate the permits, processes, problems and people you’ll be dealing with.
But once you have a small living space, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style or succumb to clutter. It just requires creative thinking. That should be no problem in Southern California, where homes are known for their architectural variety — Craftsman, Spanish and Midcentury Modern among them. Here are some inspiring ADUs from Times coverage that are noteworthy not just for their design, but also for their small footprint.
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Design inspiration
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More ADU, housing and design coverage
Los Angeles artist Julie Burton hand-crafts elegant glass jewelry, ceramics and home decor in her Silver Lake ADU.
Interior designers reimagine a historic 1907 estate for the Pasadena Showcase House of Design in Arcadia.
Interior designer Meeshie Fahmy turned a barn-style home in Inglewood into a bold, colorful space filled with secondhand furniture and plenty of art.
Theme park fan Brandon Shahniani created the dream life he’s always wanted to live — at home in L.A.
Following a 2011 windstorm that devastated Pasadena trees, architect Chris Peck started Keita Design to make sure that trees were utilized and not wasted.
A 230-square-foot ADU was meant to be a music studio. It’s now a “lifeline” for this South Pasadena family.
