“Economy was always at the forefront of all of our decision making due to the high cost of building in California,” explains Kille. But that did not stop her and the design team from selecting strong color choices, like green kitchen cabinets and a bold orange-red front door. Photo 5 of 60 in Here’s What It Cost to Build 10 of Our Favorite Homes of the Year

Here’s What It Cost to Build 10 of Our Favorite Homes of the Year

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To transform an underused garage into a guesthouse, homeowner Kille Knobel hired the L.A. firm MR Studio, a growing architecture practice led by Emily Mohr and Jonathan Rieke. With a construction target of about $230,000, they sought to "maximize space and effect on an efficient budget," says Mohr.