A topographic site analysis map, black triangular architect's scale ruler, digital laser distance measurer, and compact binoculars resting on a weathered wooden table overlooking a lush backyard garden

How to Choose an ADU Site: Feasibility & Requirements Guide

Picking the right spot on your property decides whether your ADU gets approved in months or

A bright modern living room with hardwood floors and black-framed sliding glass doors opening onto a sunlit wooden patio and lush green garden

ADU Windows & Doors: Complete Selection Guide (2026)

The windows and doors on an accessory dwelling unit do more work than people expect from

An open-concept ADU interior featuring a modern walnut kitchen with a waterfall quartz island, adjacent living room with neutral boucle seating, and a vaulted ceiling with an exposed wood beam

ADU Interior Finishes & Design Guide

The finishes inside an accessory dwelling unit determine whether it feels like a cramped afterthought or

Under-stair storage drawers and built-in bookshelf in a modern compact ADU interior

ADU Storage Solutions & Space-Saving Ideas

An ADU with smart storage feels twice its actual size. The difference between a cramped accessory

A contemporary bathroom featuring a curbless walk-in glass shower with matte black fixtures, gray large-format porcelain tile, a floating oak wood vanity, and a round black-framed mirror

ADU Bathroom Design & Layout Guide

I have walked through hundreds of ADU bathrooms in various stages of framing, rough plumbing, and

A modern Scandinavian-style kitchen with natural oak flat-panel cabinetry, white quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and fresh rosemary with a bowl of lemons on an island cutting board beside a sunny window

ADU Kitchen Design & Layout Guide

A well-designed ADU kitchen fits real cooking habits into 100 to 300 square feet without feeling

A detached ADU electrical blueprint laid out on a workshop bench with a digital multimeter, heavy-gauge electrical wiring, circuit breakers, and copper grounding wire overlooking a modern backyard ADU

ADU Electrical System Design & Code Requirements

Most ADU electrical failures trace back to one decision made too early: undersizing the electrical service

Copper and brass plumbing pipe fittings arranged over an ADU plumbing blueprint with a black drafting pencil on a wooden desk

ADU Plumbing System Design & Installation

I’ll say this upfront: ADU plumbing costs more per square foot than main house plumbing, usually

Spray foam insulation applied to timber stud walls with mini-split heat pump for ADU climate control

ADU Insulation & Climate Control Guide

Good insulation is the difference between an ADU that costs $40 a month to heat and

A timber house frame with roof trusses under construction on a concrete slab foundation during sunset in a residential backyard

ADU Framing & Structural Methods Explained

Wood framing remains the most common structural method for California ADUs, but steel and panelized systems