Houzz Tour: Stylish 515-Square-Foot Backyard Unit Packs It All In
This accessory dwelling unit in Portland, Oregon, has everything — and can do everything — the homeowners need
Nora Burba Trulsson
22 February 2018
Houzz Contributor. Freelance writer specializing in architecture, interiors, landscape, design and lifestyle topics. http://www.noraburbatrulsson.com
Houzz Contributor. Freelance writer specializing in architecture, interiors, landscape,... More
After years of living in their small 1926 bungalow in Portland, Oregon, Leighann Franson and Mark Timby decided it was time to expand their living quarters. Rather than adding on to their charming vintage home and ruining its scale, the couple eyeballed the dilapidated garage in their backyard and decided to raze it to build a new accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, that could accommodate multiple uses in the years to come.
Photos by Carlos Camarena
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Leighann Franson, a creative strategist and copywriter; Mark Timby, a graphic designer; and their young son
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 515 square feet (48 square meters); one bedroom, one bath
Designer: Alan Armstrong of Strongwork Architecture
After countless hours of studying and touring neighboring ADUs, Franson and Timby made a detailed list of needs, came up with a $160,000 design-and-build budget and hired architect Alan Armstrong and builder Joe Robertson to bring their plans to fruition.
Accessory dwelling units, called guest houses, casitas or mother-in-law units in other urban areas, have become increasingly popular in Portland. “Since 2010, Portland has waived significant development fees on these structures,” says Armstrong, who designed and built his own ADU. “It’s a way to increase urban density and alleviate Portland’s housing crisis with its recent growth.”
Armstrong’s design for Franson and Timby followed city codes dictating that the new building had to match the characteristics of the existing home’s roof pitch, window style and siding, resulting in a charming Craftsman-style cottage placed on the footprint of the old garage. Variances allowed the design to include a full-height loft for the bedroom.
The homeowners kept part of the old driveway to serve as a courtyard for the new ADU.
Windows: Milgard Windows & Doors; doors: Simpson Door; exterior lamps: Barn Light Electric
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Leighann Franson, a creative strategist and copywriter; Mark Timby, a graphic designer; and their young son
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 515 square feet (48 square meters); one bedroom, one bath
Designer: Alan Armstrong of Strongwork Architecture
After countless hours of studying and touring neighboring ADUs, Franson and Timby made a detailed list of needs, came up with a $160,000 design-and-build budget and hired architect Alan Armstrong and builder Joe Robertson to bring their plans to fruition.
Accessory dwelling units, called guest houses, casitas or mother-in-law units in other urban areas, have become increasingly popular in Portland. “Since 2010, Portland has waived significant development fees on these structures,” says Armstrong, who designed and built his own ADU. “It’s a way to increase urban density and alleviate Portland’s housing crisis with its recent growth.”
Armstrong’s design for Franson and Timby followed city codes dictating that the new building had to match the characteristics of the existing home’s roof pitch, window style and siding, resulting in a charming Craftsman-style cottage placed on the footprint of the old garage. Variances allowed the design to include a full-height loft for the bedroom.
The homeowners kept part of the old driveway to serve as a courtyard for the new ADU.
Windows: Milgard Windows & Doors; doors: Simpson Door; exterior lamps: Barn Light Electric
To reflect the existing house, Robertson built the unit of lapped fiber cement siding and cedar shingles. Spray foam insulation in the ceiling adds extra thermal protection, while a ductless heat pump heats and cools the whole structure.
Timby built the cedar fence to add privacy between the main house and the new unit.
Siding: James Hardie; exterior paint: Soot, Benjamin Moore; trim paint: Mascarpone, Benjamin Moore
Is an accessory dwelling unit right for you?
Timby built the cedar fence to add privacy between the main house and the new unit.
Siding: James Hardie; exterior paint: Soot, Benjamin Moore; trim paint: Mascarpone, Benjamin Moore
Is an accessory dwelling unit right for you?
Inside the bright and airy unit, the open first floor includes a living area, kitchen, bathroom and laundry, while the loft serves as the roomy bedroom. The flooring is polished, sealed natural concrete.
“When we planned this building, we wanted it to give us many uses,” says Franson, who also teaches yoga. “We wanted it to generate income, so we have used it as a short-term vacation rental. We’ve also used it as a yoga studio and entertained in it. In the future, we might use it as a home office, a community space, guest house for friends and family and as our house if we choose to rent out our main home.”
Paint: Aura Bath and Spa, Benjamin Moore
“When we planned this building, we wanted it to give us many uses,” says Franson, who also teaches yoga. “We wanted it to generate income, so we have used it as a short-term vacation rental. We’ve also used it as a yoga studio and entertained in it. In the future, we might use it as a home office, a community space, guest house for friends and family and as our house if we choose to rent out our main home.”
Paint: Aura Bath and Spa, Benjamin Moore
Windows (21 of them in all) became an important design element, creating a connection to the garden and visually expanding the dwelling. The Douglas fir windowsills were salvaged from a friend’s 1920s home that was undergoing renovation.
When it came to the furnishings, the couple opted for simple, durable and budget-friendly pieces. “We like the modern Scandinavian sensibility,” Timby says. “We had traveled to Iceland recently and liked the way many of the interiors there were modern and essential.”
Working with a neutral palette punched up with yellow and red accents, the couple chose furniture with simple lines. The sofa is a double sleeper, so the unit can accommodate four people.
Sofa, area rug and draperies: Ikea; floor lamp: World Market; see more area rugs
How to upgrade your windows for efficiency
When it came to the furnishings, the couple opted for simple, durable and budget-friendly pieces. “We like the modern Scandinavian sensibility,” Timby says. “We had traveled to Iceland recently and liked the way many of the interiors there were modern and essential.”
Working with a neutral palette punched up with yellow and red accents, the couple chose furniture with simple lines. The sofa is a double sleeper, so the unit can accommodate four people.
Sofa, area rug and draperies: Ikea; floor lamp: World Market; see more area rugs
How to upgrade your windows for efficiency
Another important design element for the dwelling was the staircase. “We wanted the loft to be accessed by a real, permitted staircase,” Timby says. “We didn’t want a ladder or a spiral staircase. We wanted it to be safe when our parents come to visit.”
The architect designed the stairs to include a powder-coated steel and cable railing, and he used Douglas fir for the treads.
Railing: Metro Custom Iron Works
The architect designed the stairs to include a powder-coated steel and cable railing, and he used Douglas fir for the treads.
Railing: Metro Custom Iron Works
The view from the loft bedroom reveals some of the dwelling’s window configurations.
The design kept the void under the staircase open for future use as a small office. For now, it serves as a reading nook. The print is by Portland artist Carson Ellis.
Chair and floor lamp: Ikea; see more chair options
Chair and floor lamp: Ikea; see more chair options
One of the many operable windows brings in fresh breezes.
Framed by the exposed joists of the loft above, the kitchen is efficient enough to allow for cooking full meals. The glass door leads to the back of the property.
Cabinetry, countertops, sink, range and hood: Ikea; refrigerator: Summit Appliance
Cabinetry, countertops, sink, range and hood: Ikea; refrigerator: Summit Appliance
Open shelving adds interest to the kitchen walls. The wood was salvaged from a demolished Portland home.
Shelving: Salvage Works; pendant lamp: Olde Brick Lighting; browse more kitchen lighting
Shelving: Salvage Works; pendant lamp: Olde Brick Lighting; browse more kitchen lighting
A window placed above the apron sink illuminates dishwashing chores.
Faucet: Delta; tile: Daltile
Faucet: Delta; tile: Daltile
A wall-mounted dining table next to the kitchen doubles as a narrow shelf when it’s folded down, saving space when not in use.
Table: Ikea
Table: Ikea
White subway tile and old-fashioned plumbing fixtures give the bathroom a vintage look.
Shower fixtures: Signature Hardware; wall tile: Daltile
Shower fixtures: Signature Hardware; wall tile: Daltile
Open shelving provides storage for towels and bath essentials, while a dark-painted wall adds a sense of depth to the small bathroom.
Vanity: Ikea; faucet: Luxier; mirror: Target; shelving: Salvage Works; paint: Carbonized, Sherwin-Williams
See 9 small bathroom transformations that wow
Vanity: Ikea; faucet: Luxier; mirror: Target; shelving: Salvage Works; paint: Carbonized, Sherwin-Williams
See 9 small bathroom transformations that wow
A stackable washer and dryer handles the laundry. The bathroom’s frosted-glass pocket door saves space and borrows light from the living space.
Washer and dryer: Blomberg
Where to put the laundry room
Washer and dryer: Blomberg
Where to put the laundry room
Skylights help illuminate the loft bedroom as well as the staircase.
Skylights: Velux
Skylights: Velux
At its peak, the ceiling height in the loft is tall enough to accommodate adults. Natural fir flooring provides a rustic touch to the simple space.
Nightstands, bedding, lamps and rug: Ikea
Nightstands, bedding, lamps and rug: Ikea
The unit’s back door opens to a small garden area.
Door: Simpson Door; door paint: Glimmer, Benjamin Moore; lamp: Urban Barn
Door: Simpson Door; door paint: Glimmer, Benjamin Moore; lamp: Urban Barn
The site plan shows the configuration of the new ADU (the darker square to the left) in relation to the main house, in the center.
The floor plans reveal the unit’s compact design. The builders slightly reconfigured the bathroom layout during construction.
Builder: Shelter Solutions
More
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Builder: Shelter Solutions
More
Design Workshop: Is an In-Law Unit Right for Your Property?
Houzz TV: A Couple’s Garage Becomes Their Chic New Home
Find a professional designer or builder in your area
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“Short term vacation unit”means AirBNB or VRBO rental. Is anyone else her sick of seeing these rental units promoted here on Houzz, ‘cuz I sure am.
No... I think it’s quite nice. Does it matter? Short term is just that....it’s the end product I get something from. Thus was very tastefully done!
I love this! I'm trying to figure out where the clothes closet is, tho.