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Owners and tenants of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) share key insights about how to navigate the unique living experience.

Scott and Marilyn lived in the home for a year before tackling the exterior, which gave them an opportunity to make adjustments to the plan, like adding a central stair from the first floor terrace down to the backyard. Pup Leo approves.

The organic placement of the windows echoes the knots on the trunks of the surrounding trees.

Topped with solar panels, the gabled prefab is equipped with 12-foot-tall aluminum security gates that keep the dwelling secure when not in use.

“I envision people writing their books, music, refuelling their creative flow,” says Castillero. He should know about its energizing power more than anyone, really: it brought him back to his love of architecture, after all. “It’s truly my new happy place.”

My Cabin launched after Draugs couldn't find a prefab structure he'd want to vacation in. The exterior is made of spruce, which can be stained according to customer specifications.

"The 1970s houses of Whangamatā were the design source for this new beach bach—the simple gables, lean-tos, decks and yards. ‘The clients and I walked the neighbourhood to have a look at the existing character,’ says architect Paul Clarke. ‘They wanted to build sympathetically in the form and size of the building, so we’ve reused elements we know well, but combined them in a new way to put together something different.’"

The Patton New Century House treads lightly on the land while providing wide-open living spaces.

Inception Shades feature milled aluminum brackets, available in anodized clear or anodized black finishes, and premium fabrics. Request a design consultation to learn more.

The 1969 summer house needed a gut remodel—so Carisa Salerno and Aaron Levin rebuilt it piece by piece: “In the end, we feel like we built a sculpture, not a house.”

"Another tricky aspect was finding a place to stack the sliding doors,

A detached garage and guesthouse/studio creates a buffer between a busy street and the rest of the property, which includes the main house as well as a pool, sauna, and pond, so that life in the residence can feel more private and secluded.

A sauna was a non-negotiable part of the family's wish list. Because of Handa's clever layout, it fits comfortably into the 1,500-square-foot floor plan.