About this build.
This detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Fairfax, in Marin County, California, is a 700-square-foot studio with one bathroom, built by Burton Builders in 2023. The plan is an L, and that is the whole idea — rather than force a rectangle onto an awkward backyard, the building bends around the lot, tucking into the space actually available and opening a sheltered corner at the entry. Outside, sage-green lap siding and white trim sit under a low shed roof, with a redwood deck and stair at the door.
Inside, a vaulted ceiling lifts the studio well past its footprint, and skylights, clerestory windows, and a sliding glass door to the deck keep the single room bright from more than one direction. Warm white-oak floors run throughout beneath soft off-white walls, a black ceiling fan, and ductless mini-splits for zoned heating and cooling. The kitchen is efficient and quietly upscale: white shaker cabinetry, a quartz counter with an undermount sink, a matte-black faucet, an induction cooktop, a stainless refrigerator and microwave, and open shelving with integrated lighting. A wide closet and a private full bath finish the plan.
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