The Challenge: Maximum Living Space Plus Outdoor Living on a Tight West LA Lot
Most West LA lots are tight. Most ADUs that fit those lots top out around 600 to 800 square feet and surrender the entire backyard to do it. This client wanted both — a full 1,200 square foot ADU and outdoor space that didn’t cost them their yard. They came to us because the only way to get both was to think vertically.
They also wanted real outdoor living — not a token balcony, but a genuine roof deck that could host dinner parties and weekend afternoons. The kind of outdoor space that’s standard on a single-family home but almost unheard of on an ADU.
The Design: Two Stories, Two Decks, One Architectural Statement
We designed a two-story ADU with an attached garage at ground level and full living space above. The architectural language is Mediterranean — clay-tile pitched roof on the lower volume, white stucco walls, a warm wood entry door, and planters at every transition. At home in a West LA neighborhood that draws from Spanish revival and California ranch traditions.
The outdoor living strategy was the key innovation:
- A 600-square-foot wraparound rooftop deck at the second-floor level, accessed directly from the living room — large enough for a full outdoor sectional, a dining setup for six, and integrated planters along the edge.
- A smaller upper rooftop accessed by an exterior spiral staircase — a private rooftop perch with neighborhood and downtown LA skyline views.
- A ground-level entry patio off the attached garage, landscaped with drought-tolerant plants.
Inside, the interior matches the architectural ambition. The kitchen pairs solid oak cabinetry with a hand-patterned Spanish-tile backsplash and a full-size gas range. The primary bath doubles up with a dual vanity and dual sconces. The living room anchors around a tile-clad fireplace under a vaulted ceiling, with the kitchen and dining area opening directly off it. The secondary bath features a frameless walk-in shower with the same oak cabinetry and warm-toned tile.
The Result: A Real Second Home, Built for Multigenerational Flexibility
Today, the homeowners live in the front house and rent the ADU to their adult son, who recently graduated from college — a private place of his own, on the same property, while he gets his career off the ground. But the plan from day one was bigger than that.
The ADU was sized and finished to function as a complete standalone home, with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a real kitchen, and outdoor space that any household would happily call its own. When the family is ready to swap, the parents will move into the ADU and rent out the front house. One property, two homes, three life stages: a finished family home for the kids growing up, a launch pad for a recent grad, and a downsize-without-moving option for the parents.
That’s the real value of building at the 1,200 sqft legal maximum with this level of finish. The ADU isn’t a fallback unit or a glorified guest suite. It’s a real second home — the kind that any of three different households would happily call primary — producing rental income today and protecting future options for the people who built it.
It’s also a project that demonstrates what custom design unlocks. None of our nine Signature Homes have a rooftop deck. None of them attach to a garage. For clients with the right lot and the right vision, custom is the only way to get a Mediterranean two-story ADU with multi-level outdoor space on a constrained West LA lot.
Want something like this for your backyard?
Most clients find their fit in our nine-home Signature lineup. A few each year commission a fully custom build like the one above. Either way, start with a 15-minute Backyard Review — we'll place a Signature Home on your actual property to scale, walk you through the interior in 3D, and quote your project before you commit to anything.
9 Signature Homes · $219K–$459K all-inclusive · or fully custom from $9,990 plans
