OUR WORK
Garage ADU in Burns Park, Ann Arbor
An aging, underused garage became a private place for music, family time and overnight guests.
THE STORY
What the homeowners wanted, and what we found.
WHAT THEY WANTED
A Burns Park family wanted one heated and cooled space that could do several jobs. They wanted a casual room for family time and music, a private guest studio with a bath and kitchenette, and a garage with real storage for bikes, tools and gear. Their old garage was aging and underused, and the side sunroom where father and son played music was dim, uninsulated and leaking.
WHAT WE FOUND
The old garage was deteriorating, and the sunroom next to it was uninsulated, dim and leaking. The site was tricky too. A power-line easement shaped where the rooflines could go, and ADU rules set tight limits on square footage.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We replaced the old garage with a new one-car garage and put a private guest studio right on top of it.
THE INSPIRATION
A place of its own, without feeling apart. The family wanted a retreat that clearly belongs to the property, so the new building sits easily beside the main house instead of competing with it. A modern, transitional look keeps it fresh but familiar.
THE PLAN
We replaced the aging garage with a new one-car garage. The garage level got planned storage for bikes, tools and household gear. Attached and above, we added a family room, kitchenette, bath and guest room. The living level was laid out to feel open and bright within the ADU size limits.
THE OUTCOME
How it turned out
The family has a bright, comfortable place for music and time together. Guests stay in a private studio with their own bath and kitchenette. The new building feels like its own retreat, yet it fits right in beside the main house.
FINAL PHOTOS
The finished space.
AT A GLANCE
Creating Additional Space for Quality Time
A new one-car garage with a finished guest studio attached and above.
Burns Park, Ann Arbor.
Guest room, bath and kitchenette, vaulted ceilings, Delft-inspired shower tile, storage for bikes and tools.
THE FLOOR PLANS
What changed, and why.
We replaced the old garage with a new one-car garage and put a private guest studio right on top of it.
BEFORE
AFTER
WHAT MAKES IT WORK
Three details that carry the design.
FEATURE 01
The guest shower tile takes its cue from traditional blue-and-white Delft porcelain, with a more modern pattern and texture. It adds personality to a small room without taking it over, so the bath feels thoughtful and special.
FEATURE 02
Vaulted ceilings follow the rooflines inside, made possible by a detailed truss plan that worked within setbacks, roof limits and ADU size rules. The compact space feels bigger, brighter and more comfortable than its footprint suggests.
FEATURE 03
The studio works as both a family hangout and a private guest suite, with a kitchenette, bath and guest room. Guests stay comfortably without interrupting the main house, and the space could one day serve as a private place to rest and recover.
THE PROJECT
Creating Additional Space for Quality Time
AT A GLANCE
A new one-car garage with a finished guest studio attached and above.
Burns Park, Ann Arbor.
Guest room, bath and kitchenette, vaulted ceilings, Delft-inspired shower tile, storage for bikes and tools.
THE STORY
A Burns Park family wanted one heated and cooled space that could do several jobs. They wanted a casual room for family time and music, a private guest studio with a bath and kitchenette, and a garage with real storage for bikes, tools and gear. Their old garage was aging and underused, and the side sunroom where father and son played music was dim, uninsulated and leaking.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We replaced the aging garage with a new one-car garage. The garage level got planned storage for bikes, tools and household gear. Attached and above, we added a family room, kitchenette, bath and guest room. The living level was laid out to feel open and bright within the ADU size limits.
