Designing a Carriage House Accessory Dwelling Unit in Colorado

Thinking about adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to your property in Colorado? We recently designed and built a detached Carriage House that includes a two-car garage and a fully equipped Accessory Dwelling Unit as part of a custom home project.

This 350 sq. ft. studio-style Accessory Dwelling Unit is thoughtfully designed to accommodate a range of uses—whether as a private workspace, guest suite, live-in family quarters, or even an art studio. If local zoning codes allow, the adjacent 400 sq. ft. garage could be reimagined into a more spacious ADU cottage—expanding the total area to 750 sq. ft. and creating a comfortable one-bedroom unit ideal for a live-in nanny, caregiver, or rental tenant.

What’s Inside This Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Carriage House?

This compact Accessory Dwelling Unit includes:

• Sleeping area and sitting space

• Dinette and bookshelf niche

• Kitchen and ADA-compliant bathroom with skylight

• Walk-in closet and covered patio

• Views into a long landscaped side yard

The interior showcases a high, sloped ceiling for volume, bamboo flooring, skylights, and dimmable lighting for ambiance. ADA-friendly features include an accessible bath and kitchen, plus an intercom system for emergency communication with the main house.

Additional Custom Features:

• Fire-safety sprinkler system with recessed heads

• Wall-bed niche for studio use

• Pull-down shelf for writing/laptop surface

• In-wall stereo speakers connected to the TV hub

• Doggy door and optional pantry or stacked washer/dryer

Interested in exploring the potential for an Accessory Dwelling Unit on your Colorado property? Whether for family use, rental income, or added flexibility, we can help you design a tailored solution that meets your needs and complies with local zoning requirements.

Let us know if you would like to discuss the possibilities for an ADU on your property in Colorado.

Best Always! Barry R. Shaw AIA, GC