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Garage-to-ADU Conversion for Family Living

Brentwood, California

SCOPE: This Brentwood two-car garage was transformed into a comfortable, fully equipped accessory dwelling unit designed for family use. The conversion created a self-contained living space with a kitchen, full bathroom, bedroom, and living area—all within the existing garage footprint.

The project required a complete interior transformation, including new framing, windows and doors, insulation, drywall, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, cabinetry, countertops, appliances, and flooring. The existing garage floor was raised approximately 14 inches to bring the new ADU floor level with the main residence, while the existing concrete slab foundation remained in place.

Carey Bros. also coordinated the project’s permits, project management, site protection, cleanup, and construction supervision. Architectural details and new finishes were designed to complement and match the existing home as closely as possible.

This ADU Conversion Included:

  • Complete garage interior demolition and preparation
  • New framing for floors, walls, ceilings, windows, and doors
  • New attic and crawl-space access
  • New windows, interior and exterior doors, trim, and hardware
  • New insulation at exterior walls, ceiling, floor, and rafters
  • New drywall with a 5/8″ Type X ceiling for the ADU
  • New plumbing and sewer connections
  • New gas tankless water heater
  • New heating and cooling through ductless mini-split systems
  • Complete electrical work and upgraded service panel
  • New kitchen cabinetry, quartz countertops, and backsplash
  • New kitchen appliances
  • New bathroom fixtures and shower
  • New LVP flooring throughout the ADU
  • Fence and gate modifications to accommodate the new ADU entry
  • Interior and exterior finish work designed to integrate with the existing residence

Features:

Full Function in a Compact Footprint
The new ADU kitchen was designed as a fully functional everyday kitchen, with manufactured cabinetry, quartz countertops, a 4-inch backsplash, and a dedicated appliance package.

Kitchen:

  • Manufactured kitchen cabinetry with cabinet hardware
  • Quartz countertops with backsplash
  • Undermount kitchen sink
  • Pull-down kitchen faucet
  • Refrigerator with water connection for an ice maker
  • 24-inch gas range
  • 24-inch microwave hood
  • Garbage disposal
  • Dedicated electrical circuits for kitchen appliances

Comfortable Everyday Living
The former garage was reconfigured to create a dedicated living area with the comfort and functionality expected of a permanent living space.

The living room includes a ceiling fan with integrated light, dimmer-controlled lighting, dedicated electrical outlets, and a wall-mounted mini-split for heating and cooling. A hardwired smoke/CO detector provides additional safety.

Private and Comfortable
The new ADU includes a dedicated bedroom with new windows, finished walls and ceilings, LVP flooring, and its own wall-mounted mini-split cassette for individualized heating and cooling.

Practical Comfort with a Full ShowerThe new full bathroom includes a vanity with an undermount lavatory sink, a water-efficient toilet, and a four-piece shower unit with a center drain and built-in bench seat.

Bathroom:

  • Vanity with undermount sink
  • Single-handle lavatory faucet
  • 1.28 GPF two-piece toilet
  • Four-piece shower unit with bench seat
  • Wall-mounted handheld shower head
  • Pressure-balance shower valve
  • Dedicated shower controls
  • Water-efficient plumbing fixtures

Comfort & Systems
Behind the finished surfaces, the ADU received the infrastructure needed to function as a comfortable independent living space.

A new gas tankless water heater provides hot water, while ductless mini-split heating and cooling serve the living room and bedroom. A humidity-sensing bathroom exhaust fan vents directly outdoors.

The electrical system includes dedicated circuits for major appliances, GFCI/AFCI protection, new lighting and outlets, and a new exterior circuit for the mini-split condenser.

Finshes: Designed to Belong
Throughout the ADU, new materials and architectural details were selected to complement the existing residence. New LVP flooring runs throughout the ADU, while new drywall, trim, doors, windows, stucco, and siding work create a cohesive transition between the converted garage and the original home.

The result is a thoughtfully integrated ADU that transforms previously utilitarian garage space into a comfortable, functional home for family—while maintaining a visual connection to the original residence.

Designer: Carol Carey

Lead Craftsman: James Carey

ADU living area with leather sofa and wall-mounted TV, view through to the kitchen and exterior entry door.
Kitchen with white shaker cabinets, butcher-block counter, gas range with over-the-range microwave, top-mount refrigerator, and a family photo gallery wall by the entry door.
Hall between the bedroom and bath, with mirrored bifold closet doors on the right and the bath entry on the left showing navy shaker vanity and toilet.
ADU bath overview: navy vanity, 1.28 GPF two-piece toilet, and four-piece shower unit with sliding glass door.
ADU bath with navy shaker vanity, undermount lav sink, three-globe chrome sconce, and 1.28 GPF two-piece toilet.
ADU bedroom with mid-century wood dresser, ceiling fan, and mini-split above the doorway to the hall.
ADU living area with leather sofa, ceiling fan, frosted-glass laundry closet doors on the left, and a fiddle-leaf fig by the window.
ADU living area with leather sofa, ceiling fan, frosted-glass laundry closet doors on the left, and a fiddle-leaf fig by the window.
Kitchen wall detail: 24-inch gas range, over-the-range microwave hood, undermount sink with chrome pull-down faucet, and marble-look quartz backsplash.
Compact ADU kitchen with gray shaker cabinets, 24-inch gas range, over-the-range microwave hood, undermount sink, and marble-look quartz backsplash.
ADU kitchen and living area with gray shaker cabinets, top-mount refrigerator, ceiling fans, and marble-look quartz backsplash.
Open-plan ADU living and kitchen area with leather sofa, wall-mounted TV, mini-split, and doorway to the bedroom on the right.
Vanity detail: navy shaker cabinet with undermount sink, single-handle chrome lav faucet, and framed mirror.
Vanity detail with chrome gooseneck faucet, undermount sink, and GFCI-protected wall outlet.
Four-piece shower unit with sliding glass door, wall-mounted handheld shower head on a slide bar, grab bar, and teak shower mat over the center drain.
ADU bedroom with brushed-nickel ceiling fan and LVP flooring, open doorway to the ensuite bath with a navy shaker vanity.

Before & After

Before After
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