290 square feet. The size of our garage where we never parked a car. The space that was filled with things we didn’t really need. The expansion we have been dreaming about since the day we moved into our home. And the project that pushed me out of the constrains of my computer and into physical materials.
Our garage remodel, or as the city of Alameda refers to it our “ADU” remodel (auxiliary dwelling unit), has been ongoing for over a year. We broke ground in May after a year of architectural design reviews and then city approvals.
And that’s when the true fun began - at least for me. Sure, I enjoyed the architectural renderings portion but just like with website wireframes, the true fun begins when you get to start putting color and type to it. (At least for a designer).
I started my design research on Pinterest as we were developing the building renderings so I could envision this backyard studio apartment we were essentially creating. From kitchen to space-saving furniture boards, I was saving everything from tile colors to Murphy-bed sofas. Dreaming is the best part of any design project - thinking about what would be amazing then transforming into what’s possible. Similar to when I start an ad design project, the dreaming of what shape or form it could take to the reality of when I start to lay it out.
My Pinterest ADU board
So as the construction crew started demolition, I started physically looking at the materials.
I had no idea how many things I was going to have to make choices regarding and luckily our contractor spaced them out over weeks. From appliances, tile, flooring, hardware, fixtures, to wall and grout colors. And just when you think you’re done, lights!
My husband let me be the key decision maker on all aesthetics, and I let him handle all the fun things like water lines and electrical. It made us a good team.
Choosing appliances was probably the hardest part of the process. So many factors to consider, beyond that I wanted them to look similar and how best to utilize smaller versions to accommodate the space. From induction stoves to drawer dishwashers, I was overwhelmed with sizing, specs and aesthetic. We netted out with three different brands for our fridge, stove and mini dishwasher - but I was able to make sure they coordinated to look like they were all one family. I surprised myself by choosing an induction stove that did not have smart features. I might regret I can’t preheat my backyard oven from my phone, but when I look at my beautiful Bertazzoni stove, I will remember why I opted for it instead.
I knew early on what I wanted for the bathroom and kitchen countertops and tile. Since I was a child, and my bedroom was teal blue, pea green, yellow and orange (it was the 70s) I’ve craved clean white simple spaces. So I knew for a space this small I wanted simplicity to be at the heart of the space. So this was my easiest decision. Subway tile! I went with grey in the kitchen and white in the bathroom. Which worked with my desire to have my cabinets be two colors: white tops and grey bottoms as is the trend with a lot of new kitchens.
Side note, I think the only decision my husband questioned me on aesthetically was going all white on the walls and ceiling (remember the 70s bedroom). He graciously agreed that I was right when he saw how open it kept everything.
When I see the space, I get this “giddy, pat myself on the back feeling” just like when I nail a design. I love it so much that it will be hard to want to cook in my main kitchen which is a dark color scheme that came with the house.
It’s funny the phases you go through in projects like this. There’s the excitement to get started, the dread and noise of demolition, the “I can’t make one more decision” anxiety, the construction fatigue where you’re just tired of everything and then in the final weeks all that goes away as you see this amazing space.
We are now finished with the studio even the yard, which is a whole other story complete with a putting green for the golfer and future golfers in our family.
4 months of work
Big thanks to Synapse Design Studio and Big Red Construction.