PARADISE LOFT

This backyard dwelling was designed to accommodate a garage workshop and an accessory apartment that would be comfortable as a longer term rental. The owners live in the 1940’s bungalow that shares its site with the ADU, and began the project with the main objective of adding value to their property and removing a fairly run-down garage building that straddled the building setback.

  • Every square inch was considered to maximize space, including the tiny eat-in kitchen, murphy bed, and loft with just enough head room to make a bonus play space (but not count toward the floor-to-area ratio). The small scale is counterbalanced by grandiosity: soaring 14-foot ceilings in the living and shower and an oversized double hung window that bring in light from all sides.

    With just a few pieces of furniture, the home feels complete and cozy. Thoughtful touches, like the deep window sills and recesses that allow furniture to be inset into the room, make efficient use of every square inch of space.

    PROJECT TEAM

    ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS BY Rick & Cindy Black Architects; CONSTRUCTION BY Clean Tag LLC; PHOTOGRAPHY BY Leonid Furmansky

A modern two-story house with wood siding, a front porch, and outdoor seating on the ground level. A child is walking up the stairs, and two people are talking on the upper balcony, which has hanging flower pots and a paper lantern inside.
A boy looking out of an open window on a wooden house balcony with trees in the background.
Close-up view of the corner of a house exterior showing brown wooden siding, white trim, an open window, and a small balcony with a metal railing, with flowering trees and blue sky in the background.
Interior view of a dining area with a wooden table, a bouquet of white flowers, a yellow upholstered bench, and decorative pillows. Large windows with cream curtains, a black sideboard with a lamp and plant, and a wooden staircase leading to a loft are visible. A doorway shows a home office with a desk and computer.
A cozy dining or study area with a wooden table, a mustard-colored cushioned bench with decorative pillows, and multiple chairs. There is a large window with curtains on the left, a blue bookshelf filled with books against the back wall, and a fireplace with a marble mantle and a large ornate mirror above it. A paper lantern hangs from the ceiling, and a small flower arrangement is on the table.
A cozy room with a large window, a wooden dining table, a yellow bench with patterned pillows, a white curtain, a blue bookshelf filled with books, a small black chair with books stacked on it, a wall poster, a wooden chair with a striped cushion, and warm lighting.
A cozy corner with a wooden table and a single wooden chair, a cup of coffee on a saucer, an open notebook, and a pen. The wall has a large black and white map and framed art, with a glass shelf holding glasses and decorative bottles, and a small lamp with a beige shade.
Home office with a desk, computer, task lamp, framed graduation documents, drafting table, and a doorway leading to a bathroom.
Interior view of a home featuring a wooden wardrobe with yellow and white patterned sliding doors, next to a white door opening to a room with a bookshelf, a chair, and a lamp.
A white bathroom with a marble countertop, a silver faucet, a mirror, colorful towels with red and white patterns, a window with a wooden frame, and a modern toilet.
A bright room featuring a black digital piano with red lamps on top, a stool in front, a cowhide ottoman, and two open windows with white curtains overlooking trees outside.
Three people walking down a residential alleyway next to a wooden house with a car parked outside. Tall trees lining the alley and power lines overhead.
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