For many years, homeowners Reggie Vinokur and Matthew Deters discussed the possibility of adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit, or ADU, to the backyard of their Los Angeles home.

By 2017, that goal was complete, thanks to a collaboration with their close friend, architect Hunter Knight of Weather Projects. Knight’s firm took on architecture and construction management duties, while the couple also chipped in considerably, doing much of the landscaping and fabrication work themselves.

$2,000 Site Prep	$9,750 General Conditions	$700 Insurance
$15,000 Overhead & Profit	$25,700 Foundation	$4,340 Structural Steel
$3,500 Rough Carpentry	$7,137 Roofing	$1,994 Insulation
$14,634 Rainscreen Membrane	$15,720 Stucco	$13,000 Exterior Cladding
$15,458 Windows & Skylights	$3,000 Steel Doors	$6,500 Millwork
$6,786 Drywall	$1,500 Paint	$3,200 Tile
$3,850 Wood Flooring	$1,300 Shower Glass	$1,500 Door Hardware
$2,400 Stair Treads & Guardrails	$500 Shelving	$6,642 Appliances
$5,375 Plumbing	$5,500 HVAC	$8,577 Electrical
$23,400 Utilities	$11,500 Landscape
Grand Total: $252,463

“Matthew by trade is a metal fabricator, and Reggie is a graphic designer, and they both contributed to many aspects of the project,” says Knight. “Reggie has an incredible eye for landscaping and interiors, and Matthew is a very talented metal fabricator with a great knack for furniture.”

At the outset of the design process, says Knight, “The home needed to maximize indoor/outdoor spaces, have low-maintenance materials, preserve open space for their dogs to run, and be cost-effective with an efficient layout.” His solution was a “structurally simple box” that adjoins the existing home. Stacking the larger volume atop the bottom creates protected outdoor spaces that flow easily with the interior, and are accessed by large sliding glass doors, fabricated by Deters.

“Since the structure was quite simple, we focused on maintaining a simple material palette and focused the more costly materials in high-touch zones, like the kitchen, stairs, and bathroom,” says Knight.

Shop the Look

Knight took on the challenge of creating privacy for the pair while maximizing indoor/outdoor connections and managing the budget. The upper floor hosts a bedroom, second bath, and an open mezzanine area that can sleep guests or act as a secondary living room. High clerestory windows and operable skylights aid air circulation, ensure privacy, and let natural light pierce the interior and the kitchen below. “This move in section also expands the vertical volume of the spaces, which, again, helps make the small footprint feel expansive,” says Knight.

More Budget Breakdowns:

This Hip Multifamily Pad in Austin Cost Under $515K

A 1920s Guest House Bathroom Gets a Bold Revamp For $34,800

A Raleigh Colonial Is Reinvented for $259K

Project Credits:

Architecture: Weather Projects / Hunter Knight

Builder: Reserved Builders / James Speilman

Structural Engineer: Jose Nieto

Steel Fabrication: deter fabrik / Matthew Deters

Appears In

Budget Breakdown: A Trio of Friends Build a Backyard ADU in Los Angeles for $252K