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Keeping ample green space on the property was a top-tier goal. One of the house's original screened-in porches remains, but, according to Emily, "we dropped the screens so when you're sitting in the dining room, you can look out and see the bamboo." The divide between the new and old sections is marked by a gap in the roof that lets the sun into a small planted area.

The original ceiling, made from old-growth pine, adds warmth to the living room, balancing out the white walls and salvaged white oak flooring.

Floor Plan of Glendale ADU by MR Studios

Matthew built the soaking tub from yellow Alaskan cedar. “There’s no finish on it, so every time the water hits it, you get this burst of cedar aroma,” says Matthew. Adds Holly: “It smells amazing.”

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

Kaviar Collaborative livened up this blank-slate three-bedroom apartment with a pastel palette and custom built-in furniture.

The countertop is a custom Concrete Collaborative terrazzo, and the colored flecks nod to the wall tiles.

Brian and Melissa's two young children spend hours playing in the yard. With Melissa's mother in a house on the same property, the kids have easy access to Grandma whenever she's in town. "It's such a unique experience having multiple generations together," Brian says. "If the kids get up early, they can just run over to Melissa's mom's and spend time with her."

One of four sited in South Los Angeles, a starter home designed by Lehrer Architects and constructed for roughly $200,000 occupies an infill lot provided by the city.

Floor plan of San Crescente Houses by Cristián Izquierdo

West Adams House floor plan