The New Avenue blog

More than decade of content on the things we love: your home

Kevin Casey Kevin Casey

Cost of adding a basement to a new addition

A designer in our network is working with a client who is considering adding a 400-square-foot basement below a new 400-square-foot addition. They are debating whether it is worth the added cost in order to gain added usable area…

Read More
Kevin Casey Kevin Casey

Cost to convert a garage into a studio ADU in Berkeley, CA

When a family decides to add an accessory dwelling unit, they often consider converting an existing garage into a rentable ADU. In this post we will break down the cost of converting a detached 11′ x 22′ garage into a studio apartment for our client’s mother…

Read More
Kevin Casey Kevin Casey

Adding a detached accessory dwelling (ADU) in Atherton, CA

New Avenue created a plan that would fit their property, meet the city permitting requirements, and be a comfortable guest suite for anyone who stayed there. The detached guest suite features a living area, a closet, a bathroom with a shower, a refrigerator, and a sink. The design makes use of natural light to keep the space bright and reduce electricity costs. Here are the rendering and floor plan.

Read More
projects, accessory building Kevin Casey projects, accessory building Kevin Casey

Converting a detached garage to a studio workspace in Oakland

A New Avenue design professional created the perfect space for Jose’s classic car (a VW Thing) and his bicycles. The designer was careful to create a plan that would protect the big Ponderosa pine in the yard. The garage door entry means Jose can store his VW, motorcycle, and bicycles in the accessory structure when he’s not using it as a workspace. The half bath makes it a great personal retreat and a well-appointed workspace. Here are the drawings and floor plan.

Read More

Schedule a free Assessment.

First step:

There’s no commitment, no pressure, no obligation.

Free 30-min Chat ➜