Dynamite DADU
This compact detached accessory dwelling has an efficient layout with a vaulted ceiling that enhances the sense of space.
The motivation behind this 637-sq.-ft. DADU (detached accessory dwelling unit) was to keep a daughter close to her aging mother while allowing them both to live independently. Thoughtfully nestled into the hillside, the compact cottage sits at the edge of a meadow, distanced from the ridgetop main house.
The beautifully landscaped, wooded property creates both a visual and physical separation between the two residences, striking a balance between togetherness and privacy. The DADU features an efficient layout with a bathroom in the front corner of the first floor, allowing the kitchen and dining area to extend the length of the home.
Above the kitchen and bathroom, a sleeping loft accessed by a ship’s ladder allows for a vaulted ceiling in the living room, enhancing the sense of space. This design choice invites natural light into the living area, which is brightened by glass doors and multiple windows that connect the indoors to the lush forest outside. The dark-charcoal board-and-batten siding complements the woodland surroundings, blending the structure harmoniously into its environment.
| Architect: CAST architecture | Builder: Blackfin Development, (425) 318-9863 |
| Location: Bellingham, Wash. | Photos: Peter Bohler |
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