Budget Breakdown: This Southern California Home Is Technically an ADU—and It Started as a Garage
A family of four in Oceanside spent $725K squeezing every last inch out of the lot to create a soaring two-level residence.
A family of four in Oceanside spent $725K squeezing every last inch out of the lot to create a soaring two-level residence.
After getting outbid on a series of houses, Sarah and Brant Barrah had all but given up on ever owning a home near the coast, when they were presented with an unexpected opportunity. Brant’s dad and stepmom proposed they build an ADU on their property in the Southern California beach community of Oceanside.
"I told my dad we were about to move out of state, and he pointed to their standalone garage," Brant recalls. "He said, ‘Let’s knock this thing down and build something. Build your dream home.’"
Wanting to become homeowners but frustrated with the Southern California housing market, Sarah and Brant Barrah built a two-level ADU in Brant’s father and stepmother’s backyard. For the interiors they combined off-the-shelf elements like quartzite counters and oak cabinets with glazed ceramic Arto Kozo tiles that Sarah bought on Facebook Marketplace. Arbor and Mud Raku pendant lights illuminate the kitchen island, while ribbed pendant lights from West Elm are suspended above a custom leather banquette. Brant sourced the banquette and the Danish rosewood table on Marketplace, too.
Photo: Lauren Geis
Sarah, an elementary school STEAM educator, small business owner, and inventor, and Brant, a water distribution operator for a local municipal district, began drawing up their wish list for themselves and their sons, age 10 and 13. Overwhelmed by the setback requirements and the puzzle of building on the irregularly shaped plot, they realized they’d need the right help. The solution was surprisingly close at hand: The bass player for their church’s worship band happened to be Owenn Geis, an architect with experience designing ADUs.
The couple splurged and bought LaCantina doors for the opening to the deck, along with the large corner windows from Milgard in the dining area. "Bifold doors are expensive, but they’re worth it when you use them correctly," says architect Owenn Geis.
Photo: Lauren Geis
The red balau deck brings a natural element to the exterior, while complementing the existing house on the property. "I knew from the get-go that we weren’t going to be able to put fancy finishes like vertical siding on the outside—that drives up the price pretty fast," says Geis. "But the deck breaks up the massing and keeps it from being a white box."
Photo: Lauren Geis
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: This Southern California Home Is Technically an ADU—and It Started as a Garage
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