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Large windows bring lots of natural light into the living room.

Kitchen of Berlin Apartment by Jäll & Tofta

Pops of blue appear throughout the apartment in different shades.

White-painted wood floors provide a backdrop for the ever-changing home.

“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.

Savings were made by selecting an IKEA kitchen with simple appliances and a Caesarstone countertop.

While Kille didn't get a separate bedroom, MR Studio was able to fit in a California king-sized bed into the space, complete with its own integrated curtains for privacy.

The ceiling on the sleeping niche is lower and creates a more enclosed feel, while the vaulted ceiling in the living area creates a sense of space, light, and openness in an otherwise smaller space.

“Other than the wood ceiling and built in for the bed, the finishings and lighting fixtures were more important to me to invest in as that is what would define the elegance and beauty of the space,” says Kille.

The bold colors of the bathroom tiles and fixtures provide a bright contrast to the more subdued tones of the rest of the ADU.

Kille's oldest son currently lives in the space, but moves back to the main house when family come to visit.

Although finding a contractor who could build the project on budget was one of the biggest challenges -- until MR Studio found the right contractor, Uriel Rosales of Delta Development Construction.

Floor Plan of Glendale ADU by MR Studios

The den is now outfitted with custom storage for Joel’s vinyl collection. Also, this creates an area for the couple’s television out of the main living space.

A built-in banquette with a custom table designed by Engelsman saves space. The bench has a cushion made by Caroline and the chairs are Vintage J.L. Moller Model #75 Dining Chairs. A partial wall now separates the adjacent den and TV room, to balance connection and separation.

Before: Caroline Hwang and Joel Speasmaker bought their Pasadena home in 2021. The existing kitchen was small, dark, and “boxed in” from the rest of the plan. “It just felt very sad,” says Caroline.

Engelsman gave the kitchen an L-shaped layout with a large island workspace at the center, and pushed the tall storage into the garage, to create a wide circulation space to access the dining room and backyard.

Before: The previous kitchen lacked a good run of counter space, since both the sink and stovetop were set in the middle of each leg.

A skylight was added to bring in more light, and the existing ceilings painted Benjamin Moore ‘Black Tar’ for contrast. The island pendant is the Schoolhouse Ray 17” Pendant and the stools are the Artek Aalto High Chair K65.