Disused Workshop to Comfortable Backyard Home
When a young family in Clayton approached us about reimagining the disused workshop and gym in their backyard, we immediately saw the potential to create something truly transformative. Their goal was to maximize the value of their property, provide flexible living space for extended family or rental income, and do it all while maintaining privacy and accessibility. From these needs, the Clayton Backyard ADU was born.
Starting with What We Had
Rather than tearing everything down and starting from scratch, we chose to work with the existing structure as much as possible. The old workshop’s framework, foundation, and openings gave us a head start on keeping construction costs low — a major priority for the family. By repurposing walls, reusing openings, and designing within the footprint, we not only saved significant money but also accelerated the build timeline.
Designing for Life and Accessibility
One of the key design goals was to ensure the new ADU would be wheelchair friendly. Wider doorways, a zero-threshold entry, open-concept living spaces, and an accessible bathroom were seamlessly integrated into the plan. The result is a modern, comfortable 2-bedroom home that’s ready to serve family members of all ages and needs for decades to come.
Balancing Privacy and Connection
Privacy was another top priority. We carefully positioned windows, fences, and landscaping to create a sense of separation between the ADU and the primary residence, without making the backyard feel closed off. The ADU even has its own dedicated yard space, giving its residents a private outdoor retreat while still feeling part of the overall property.
Big Returns from a Thoughtful Build
By strategically reusing parts of the old structure and focusing on efficient, smart design, the young family was able to achieve an incredible return on investment (24% annually at time of writing). The ADU now serves as a flexible space for rental income, multi-generational living, or even a future home office or guesthouse — all while significantly increasing the overall property value.
Clayton ADU: A Success Story
This project is a perfect example of how thoughtful design and strategic reuse of existing structures can turn underused space into vibrant, livable homes. If you’re dreaming about creating an ADU in your backyard, we’d love to help you bring your vision to life!
Interested to see if we can help you?
Lets start the conversation: design@dwelling-lab.com