CASE STUDY

The Maxwell ADU

From underutilized space to a modern family oasis

A forgotten outbuilding was replaced with a modern ADU (accessory dwelling unit) with the flexibility to serve as a pool house, guest suite, or rental.

A cozy kitchen with pinkish-brown textured tile backsplash, open wooden shelves holding glassware and potted plants, a black coffee machine, a cutting board, and a stovetop. Decorative artwork leans against the backsplash, and a small green pot is on the stove.
Cozy kitchen with a patterned backsplash, granite countertops, and orange barstools, featuring modern décor and natural light from a window.
Interior of a living room corner with a wicker chair featuring a leopard print pillow, a furry round stool, and large potted plants against a dark cabinet and light-colored wall.

The challenge was replacing a crumbling, rarely-used storage unit with a fully functional, adaptable dwelling.

Outdoor patio with pink chairs, black side table, and a wooden pergola attached to a modern black house with large windows

A modern take on the garden shed

The form references the traditional backyard outbuilding but distills it into a minimalist volume. Dark metal cladding allows the structure to settle quietly into the landscape, while cedar siding provides warmth and proportion. Steel doors open directly to the pool, extending the ADU’s presence outward.

A cozy living room with a yellow sofa, a patterned rug, a black entertainment center with a TV, a record player, and various plants, accented by colorful artwork on the wall.

Light-filled interior

Vaulted ceilings lift the small footprint into a spacious experience. The plan accommodates multiple roles — pool house, guest suite, in-law unit, or rental. Above, a loft with a green mesh railing overlooks the main space, creating an additional sleeping area and a layered sense of depth.

Kitchen with green cabinets, black and white granite countertops, pink patterned tile wall, and a window showing green trees outside.

Material character

An Italian marble terrazzo countertop introduces pattern and richness to the compact kitchen. Storage is carefully tucked under stairs and along walls to preserve openness. The bathroom is designed as a micro-cement wet room, creating a serene spa-like retreat within a minimal footprint.

View through open glass doors to a backyard with a swimming pool, red chairs, and a covered patio with trees and a house in the background.

Designed to last

Every element was considered for longevity—premium materials, including standing seam metal roofing and siding for a watertight seal. Cedar siding in a rain-screen setup allows the wood to dry fully after rain while adding an insulating air layer. Six-inch stud walls exceed code insulation standards and boost energy efficiency.

Gallery

  • Backyard patio with a small pool, two pink outdoor chairs, a black side table, a wooden pergola, and a modern black house with sliding glass doors and large windows.

  • A bathroom vanity with a black and pink speckled terrazzo countertop, wall-mounted mirror, pendant light, and wooden shelves with towels, plants, and a framed landscape painting.

  • Modern kitchen with a marble counter, brown chairs, and a pink tiled accent wall featuring a stove, artwork, and decorative shelves with plants

  • Modern kitchen with pink tile backsplash, green cabinets, granite countertops, a window view of trees, and kitchen utensils and decor.

  • Decorative kitchen corner with a stack of cookbooks, two potted plants, a wooden cutting board, and a modern wall light on a pink tile wall.

  • A living room with a large abstract landscape painting on the wall, a beige sofa with a red patterned throw, a wooden chair with a woven seat and decorative pillow, a black cabinet with plants, a pink round ottoman with a tray, and a concentric circle rug on the floor.

  • View of a backyard pool seen through open double glass doors from inside a house, with a large window above and brown curtains on either side.

  • A living room corner with a woven leather chair, decorative pillow with a leopard illustration, tall houseplants in black planters, a fluffy textured ottoman, and a nearby black bookshelf.

  • A small wooden table with potted plants on top, positioned against a wire grid wall with a framed picture of a tree, and a black chair with a cushioned seat underneath.

  • Interior view of a modern home with a staircase on the left and a kitchen on the right. The staircase has light wood steps and a metal railing. The kitchen features a patterned island, counters with various items, and a red textured wall with two round black and white wall lights.

A man with glasses, a beard, and light brown hair smiling, wearing a navy blazer over a striped shirt, standing in a modern kitchen with a large window, patterned backsplash, and green cabinets.

I’d love to show you what the possibilities are for your ADU, home, or business.

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All ADU photographs this page by Angie Terrell.

Artwork featured courtesy of Spalding Nix Fine Art.