While open floor plans enable greater flexibility, the notion of a well-planned and truly private living area – more than just an open loft or an extra bedroom - has become as important to many clients as large bathrooms, home offices, or family rooms.

Siting a house and its ADU* to create a very special shared space.

Clients with an adult son who will live with them for the foreseeable future. A heavily wooded site on steep terrain with a north- facing view. The only buildable area is within 50 feet of the street to the south side of the site.

The challenge is to open up the south and west elevations of house to create a sunny interior, while maintaining privacy from the street. The ADU must be a totally independent home but still relate to the main house.

South-facing clerestories in the great room and master suite will admit sunlight into the center of the house. A west-facing 12’ wide slider opens onto a large, partially covered dining deck to welcome late afternoon winter sun.

The 450 square foot ADU is located 40 feet to the west of the house. All its windows face south and west for sun, view, and privacy from the main hose. A pair of high transom bedroom windows and the frosted glass ADU entry door are just enough to signal that the son is home in the evening.

The ADU is built into a gentle slope, providing privacy from the nearby street, and the 6’ high foundation wall is extended 25 feet toward the house to leave a ten-foot "gate" into a lush private yard between the two buildings. The shared yard – clearly defined by the two buildings, the extended ADU foundation wall, and the steep slope to the north – will be the only formally landscaped area on the otherwise wild site. It will contain the main house’s outdoor eating deck, a sunny manicured lawn, and a walk made of pavers set into the lawn that will connect the two homes, loving parents, and son...

NOTE: We are proud to report that the Warmmodern Living custom design featured here has been selected for inclusion in Lindal's Elements portfolio as the xxxxxxxxxxxx. See it on Lindal.com

*An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a second house on a single family lot, not attached to the main house.