When California lawmakers made it easier and more affordable for homeowners to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), it didn’t take long for a Los Angeles family to join the effort to relieve the state’s housing crisis.

$17,720 Site Upgrades	$16,350 Foundation	$28,800 Framing
$14,435 Windows & Doors	$17,790 Siding	$8,375 Roofing & Exterior Flooring
$1,760 Gutters & Rain Tank	$15,210 Wall Coverings	$1,485 Flooring
$2,235 Trim & Millwork	$7,055 Paint	$3,800 Mechanical
$5,420 Plumbing	$12,975 Electrical	$11,980 General Work
$10,220 Kitchen	$8,325 Bathroom	$36,787 20% Overhead & Profit
Grand Total: $220,722

The clients, a young couple with two small children, turned to local architect Martin Fenlon to create a compact and sustainably minded studio apartment atop their detached garage in Los Feliz, a hillside neighborhood where they have lived for over five years.

Working with a tight timeframe of just a little over a year, Martin crafted the 350-square-foot addition—named Rodgers ADU after the clients—for a total cost of $220,722. He also enlarged the garage to 400 square feet for extra storage space.

Seven months were spent on the drawing and permitting process, and another seven months were spent on construction.

The most challenging part of the project was dealing with the existing garage, which was right on the property line, says Martin. “It was only during construction that we learned the garage had no footings!”

For privacy, the ADU is angled away from the main house, a Spanish bungalow built in the 1920s.

Inside, the light-filled studio apartment consists of an open-plan living/sleeping area and a full bath tucked away in the southeast corner.

“ADUs are exciting because they have the potential to be a small, controlled design exercise that can be turned over faster than larger projects,” says Martin, who has designed four ADUs to date.

A lesson learned is that a small building is just as complex as a large one, so the drawing set can't be thorough enough.
—Martin Fenlon, architect

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Martin Fenlon Architecture / @martin.fenlon

Builder/ General Contractor: Preferred Home Builders

Structural Engineer: Martin Fenlon Architecture

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Budget Breakdown: A Cozy Studio Tops an L.A. Garage For $220K