The homeowners live in a very small home and decided to convert their garage into a detached auxiliary dwelling unit (DADU) to be able to house guests, host parties, but also to simply GET. MORE. SPACE!

Mighty House Construction believes, it’s not always about making the most green choice, it’s about knowing all the options and finding the greenest solution that balances need, budget, and aesthetic. The design originated with Mark Johnson of Signal Architecture and was then collaborated on with Mighty House Construction and the homeowners resulting in unique detailing and creative solutions in every square foot of the space.

Longevity – Building for sustainability means considering current and future needs when designing a space. Right now the DADU needs a simple kitchenette, but the homeowners thought ahead to aging in place and designed the DADU as a multi-use space with a kitchen that will be useable by a caregiver or other on-site family.

Budget Conscious Kitchen – Although the materials used for the kitchen aren’t high on the eco-conscious scale, they kept the project within its budget. Because of these cost-efficient choices, the homeowners were able to maximize their investment in the green-ness of the other features and more quickly invest in more solar.

“Wet Room” Bath – The bathroom is designed so that everything in it can get wet! This means that square footage is maximized within the bathroom and the rest of the DADU. The “skinny” sink and towel nook commanded a custom cabinet built by MHC staff on-site for a perfect fit.

Multi-Functional Space – A Murphy bed folds into the wall and can then function as a dining space. Features like this make this DADU functional for anything from an art studio or expandable party space, to guest quarters or a quiet place to escape for cat naps. Every design choice was made with an uber- flexible space in mind.

Salvaged Materials – The pendant lights were purchased from Second Use Building Materials, which means they were salvaged from another project. By renovating the garage, we also repurposed the space itself. Reusing and repurposing is a great way to minimize resource consumption and breathe new life into old materials.

Creative Daylighting – By including skylights, Solatubes, and a huge west-facing entry door, we were able to maximize the natural light entering an otherwise dimly lit room. Taking advantage of daylight also reduces the amount of mechanical illumination needed for this space. The homeowners took it one step further and used LED bulbs throughout.

What would you do with the extra space of a backyard DADU? Tell us your ideas!