Backyard Rental
Client
Intergenerational Family
Sqft
355
Location
Westchester
Originally
2-Car Garage

Backyard Rental

A Westchester woman living with her mother and grandmother (in a house that had been in the family for 50 years!) asked Otto to convert their garage into an ADU. The family needed an accessible space for the grandmother to age in place, with rental potential for the future as the family’s needs change. Otto handled everything from accessibility-focused design through permitting and construction, giving the family time to focus on caring for the grandmother and enjoying each other’s company.

The Existing Conditions

  • The garage served as the family’s storage and workshop for many decades
  • Large backyard with generous space on 3 sides
  • Since the existing building systems hadn’t been upgraded in decades, the homeowners decided to upgrade their main house’s electric panel and meter during ADU construction

The Design Decisions

  • In order to promote accessibility, Otto chose flush interior floors (to minimize tripping hazards) and a curbless shower with grab bars for support
  • French doors and a large window in the bedroom open up the interior and connect with the exterior
  • A sizeable window in the shower brings light into the bathroom for a pleasant bathing experience
  • Integrated blinds and a frosted door promote privacy and allow for control of light
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