Homeowner goals
Planning a home for several generations
Parents, adult children or relatives under one roof — or on one lot — need privacy, shared space and accessibility to coexist. This page sets out the options KB works on and the questions that decide between them.
What matters
Separate unit or shared house
A detached ADU or garage conversion gives a separate door and kitchen; reworking the main house keeps everyone together with zones for privacy.
Plan for changing needs
Step-free entries, wider circulation, a ground-floor bedroom and bathroom are easier to include now than to retrofit.
Agree the rules of the house
Shared laundry, parking, outdoor space and utility costs are household decisions that also shape the design.
Comparison
Scroll the table sideways on small screens.
| Option | Gives | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Detached ADU | Most separation; own entry and kitchen. | Lot size, access, utilities, local review. |
| Garage conversion | Separate unit reusing a structure. | Garage condition and permit history. |
| Reworked main house | Shared living with private suites. | Existing layout, structure and systems. |
How to decide
Household needs to settle first
- Who needs privacy from whom, and when the household is together.
- Mobility needs today and those the household expects, discussed with the people involved and, where useful, an occupational therapist or accessibility-experienced designer.
- What is shared: kitchen, laundry, parking, costs.
Tradeoffs to weigh
- More separation usually means more new construction and site work.
- A shared house keeps help close but needs zoning for quiet and privacy.
- Features planned now are easier than retrofits; they are design choices, not a promise of code or ADA compliance.
Hypothetical: a grandmother who uses a walker may join her daughter's household. The family lists what she wants to keep doing independently, then compares a ground-floor suite in the main house with a backyard unit on that list rather than on floor area.
Questions
- Can an ADU be rented later?
- Rental and occupancy rules vary by city and change; check the reviewing authority before relying on it.
- Is accessibility required?
- We do not state requirements here; we can design for it as a choice and the authority confirms what applies.
Where the facts come from
Educational, not a service offer
These pages explain decisions in general. Service pages by community describe KB's work in a specific place; permit pages describe each authority. Nothing here confirms what applies to your parcel.
Discuss this with KB →This page sends nothing. On the contact form you choose what to share.
KB Remodeling · Greater Los Angeles
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