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Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)—also commonly referred to as garden suites, in-law apartments, or granny flats—can provide homeowners with extra space for family, additional workspace, income as a rental, or a guesthouse for visitors.

6 ADUs You Can Buy Right Now for Less Than $100,000
Whether you need a guesthouse for Grandma or additional rental income, these dwellings starting at $26,000 provide extra space...
Think Small With This Gigantic Guide to Tiny Homes
Downsizing your life? Big benefits await.
7 Big Lessons to Learn From Tiny Home Design
Acclaimed for being sustainable, affordable, and adorable residences, tiny homes are also superb teachers when it comes to...
Everything You Need to Know About Building an ADU in Portland, Oregon
Accessory dwelling units help the city meet its density goals and extend housing options—but only after striking a...
So You Want to Live in an ADU? Here’s What to Consider
Owners and tenants of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) share key insights about how to navigate the unique living experience.
10 Tiny Homes You Can Buy for $60K or Less
Big dreams of downsizing? Check out these affordable tiny homes.
Everything You Need to Know About Building an ADU in Chicago
A new pilot program by the city to add housing has yet to catch on—but that could soon change.
This ADU in Texas Looks Like a Miniature Midcentury
The glass-and-limestone structure by Matt Garcia Design evokes the heyday of modernism, and provides an elegant stay for an...
A Couple Convert Their Parents’ Garage Into a Transforming ADU
Flexibility rules in an airy Southern California garage-turned-ADU that gives two professionals the chance to ride the wave of...
8 Modern In-Law Units
You may recognize an Accessory Dwelling Unit (or ADU) by one of its many other names, including in-law unit, granny flat, laneway...
A Streamlined ADU in Texas Pays Homage to Midcentury Architecture
M Gooden Design creates a striking guesthouse next to a historic 20th-century home in Denton.
22 ADU Floor Plans That Make the Most of the Backyard
These compact layouts create ideal guesthouses, tiny offices, art studios, and more.
A Modest ADU in Michigan Prioritizes Energy Efficiency and Affordability
The 730-square-foot residence by T+E+A+M is one of the first accessory dwelling units to be built in Ann Arbor under the city’s...
Why Now, More Than Ever, the ADU Is the Future of Home
Whether it serves as an investment, backyard office, or intergenerational housing, the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) has never...
A Svelte ADU Gives a Los Angeles Bungalow Room to Breathe
The backyard dwelling by OKB Architecture packs a large program into a narrow lot, allowing a family to spread outward from their...
A Bright Red ADU Anchors a Lot on L.A.’s Westside
With a clever arrangement comprising a cottage and a primary residence, local design firm ORA gives a family outdoor access at...
These New Prefab ADUs Promise Affordable Housing for Years to Come
If you provide OBY Cooperative with a 99-year backyard lease, they’ll build an ADU—at no cost to you—that will pay out dividends...
A Luminous Midcentury Home and ADU in Los Angeles Ask $3.2M
The Schott House, designed by A. Quincy Jones and respectfully updated by Cory Buckner, hasn’t hit the market in 26 years.
With Three Good Reasons and $400K, an L.A. Couple Build the ADU of Their Dreams
In housing-strapped Los Angeles, a designer couple take on their own backyard build—and create a new rental in the process.
A Designer’s $210K Prefab ADU Captures the Allure of California Living
Oni Lazarus of AO Studio commissions Cover to add a svelte prefab rental unit to the backyard of her Los Angeles home.
A Blue ADU With Cloud-Like Doors Represents the Los Angeles Sky
Architectural designer Ben Warwas converts a dilapidated two-car garage in Los Angeles into a whimsical backyard dwelling.
A Portland Designer Revamps Her Backyard With a Peaceful ADU and a Tiny Tree House
See how architectural designer Grey Shaeffer of Willa Work transformed the space with two dreamy retreats.
Budget Breakdown: A Playful, Postmodern ADU in Los Angeles Is Built for $249K
Bunch Design imagines a colorful, dynamic backyard dwelling that looks and feels larger than its 850 square feet.
A Two-Unit ADU in Los Angeles Offers Inspired Spaces for Creative Tenants
Architect Max Kuo transforms a back house and garage into a white-gabled duplex for a diverse mix of residents.
A Creative Couple’s Backyard ADU Makes Room for a Gallery and Art Studio
Cleverly repurposing an existing garage, this flexible space in Santa Monica, California, allows the pair to work, recharge, and...
A Color-Blocked ADU in Los Angeles Takes a Cue From Talking Heads
The 750-square-foot home, aptly named Stop Making Sense, recalls the chunky proportions of David Byrne’s iconic gray suit.
Budget Breakdown: A Trio of Friends Build a Backyard ADU in Los Angeles for $252K
The 1,000-square-foot dwelling mixes raw and refined materials in a cost-effective strategy.
Salvaged Wood From a Neglected Shed Shines Again in This Los Angeles ADU
A couple enlist woodworking experts to turn the run-down shack in their backyard into a gleaming guesthouse.
This New Company Wants to Help Homeowners Turn Their Unused Spaces Into Rentable ADUs
The Los Angeles–based design-build company, Homestead, converts underutilized garages or backyard sheds into ADUs that can be...
Los Angeles Fast-Tracks New ADUs by Offering Homeowners Pre-Approved Plans
Teaming up with emerging firms, the city’s Standard Plan Program makes it easier and more affordable than ever to build a...
Construction Diary: A Self-Taught Designer Makes a Career Switch After Building an Artful ADU
An advertising strategist in Portland, Oregon, builds a minimalist retreat in her own backyard—and launches her own design...
Buying a Prefab ADU Was Supposed to Be Easier Than This
Several builders are making promises they can’t keep—or never intended to—leaving buyers in the lurch and thousands of dollars...
West African Textiles Inspired This Los Angeles ADU’s Rhythmic Cladding
Timber slats topping the two-level indoor/outdoor plan recall the weave of kente cloth.
Thinking About Hiring an ADU Builder? Read This First
Housing nonprofit Casita Coalition shares a checklist for what you can do to avoid scams and ensure a successful build.
7 Smart ADUs and Additions That Cost as Little as $18K
From a shingled studio in Minneapolis to a two-bedroom guesthouse in L.A., these backyard projects are something to emulate.
Why Is Dwell Making ADUs?
Editor-in-chief William Hanley and CEO Zach Klein explain our new backyard house initiative.

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