One move across the country. One short walk next door.
Built so Dad could come home. He moved from California to live right next door, in a space designed for the years ahead.
The homeowners had a specific goal: bring a parent from California to Madison and give him a home of his own, close enough to share dinners and far enough to keep his independence.
They didn’t want an addition, and they didn’t want a spare room in the main house. They wanted a fully independent home a few steps from their back door, built for how he lives now and for how his needs will change.
That’s what an ADU does best. This project is about as clear an example of aging in place as we’ve built.
Small on purpose.
At 436 square feet, this is one of the smallest ADUs we’ve built. We based it on our B-436 model, whose L-shaped plan keeps the bedroom separate from the living space, so the home feels like real rooms instead of one compact box.
Every square foot had to work, so the design leans on a few deliberate moves:
- Vaulted kitchen and living area. Raising the ceiling plane over the main living space adds air and light without adding floor area.
- Accessibility built in from day one. The bathroom has a curbless walk-in shower, grab bars, and a handheld shower head, so the home doesn’t need retrofitting later.
- Laundry where it’s used. A stacked washer and dryer sits right off the bathroom.
- Ductless mini-split heating and cooling, with an indoor unit in the living area and one in the bedroom.
- Natural light on every side. Sliding windows line the living area, and there’s a window above the kitchen sink.
Finishes that read like a house, not a unit.
- Light wood-look luxury vinyl plank floors throughout the living areas, with tile in the bath
- Gray shaker cabinets with soft-close doors and drawers, and black bar pulls
- Light quartz countertops
- Full-size kitchen with range, over-the-range microwave, and refrigerator
- Matte black plumbing fixtures and hardware throughout
- Wider baseboard and door casing than our standard trim, an upgrade made on this build
- White subway tile shower surround
From slab to move-in.
- Nov 2025: Contract signed after a site visit and proposal for the B-436
- Dec 2025 – Jan 2026: Plans engineered and stamped, and zoning approved (zoning final 1/9/26)
- Late Mar 2026: Excavation, then the monolithic slab was poured
- Mid-Apr 2026: Framing, trusses, roof, windows, and siding, with the shell closed in within about a week
- May 2026: Insulation, drywall, cabinets, and flooring
- Jun – Jul 2026: Finishes and final inspections, with the building final on 7/14/26
- Jul 16, 2026: Public open house, with roughly 75 visitors
- Aug 17, 2026: Certificate of occupancy issued
Utility coordination: worked around, not waited on.
The project needed a new underground electrical service for both the main house and the ADU, which meant coordinating with the utility to cut the existing home over to the new line. As with every job, we kept interior work moving while utility scheduling caught up.
A home for the next chapter.
A 436-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bath ADU with a vaulted great room and an accessible bathroom, built so a family could be together without giving up anyone’s independence.
He didn’t move into a spare room. He moved into his own home, right next door.
Planning for a parent, or for your own future?
We’ll walk your property, confirm what’s possible, and give you clear pricing in days, not weeks.
Related:
Accessible ADUs in Madison
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ADUs for Retirement
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B-436 Model
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Multigenerational Living