The Casita ADU

Into the backyard,
to Grandma’s house we go!

Year
Winter 2025

Architectural Design
McFadin Design/Build

Photographer
Robb Farrington

This NE Portland family had been eyeing the corner of their backyard to host an ADU home-away-from home for Grandma, keen on getting her digs setup sooner, rather than later in life. Quickly dubbed ‘The Casita’, a colorful and artsy SW desert spirit was captured in this project’s material pallet - a wonderful representation of it’s future occupant.

The building’s footprint was designed with independent access in mind, but also close proximity and a connectedness to the main house and yard. The multigenerational family envisioned a seamless transition for the kids to go from playing in the yard one moment, to sitting at the table for a card game with Grandma the next, then back into the main house for a family dinner.

The ADU lives like a chef’s studio, with an option to close a set of double pocket doors to separate living and sleeping areas. Soaring vaulted ceilings allow for extra tall yard-facing windows, and a clever custom casework package delineates an entry area while concealing closets, mechanicals, and laundry.

Age-in-place considerations were incorporated with extra blocking in walls and a no-threshold shower.

Upon completion, we couldn’t be happier with the outcome. The house and ADU complement each other wonderfully and will certainly be an amazing place for this family to live with and age together.

ADU interior entryway with a closed wooden storage unit on the left, a pink door to the outside on the right, a potted plant on a wooden bench, a window above the door, and a view of a fence and trees outside.
ADU interior entryway with an open wooden storage unit on the left showing stacked washer and dryer inside, a pink door to the outside on the right, a potted plant on a wooden bench, a window above the door.
Modern ADU kitchen with white cabinets, a blue accent wall, a skylight, and a window with a view of a backyard.
Modern ADU kitchen with blue wall, white cabinets, black countertops, stainless steel appliances, a skylight, a window, and a small wooden cart.
Modern ADU kitchen with light wood cabinets, black countertop, stainless steel oven, blue teapot, knife block, microwave, and multiple electrical outlets, with a window showing greenery outside.
A modern ADU kitchen with white upper cabinets, a stainless steel Haier refrigerator, open wooden shelving with cups and plates, a blue accent wall, and a black countertop with a sink.
Open wooden cabinet with shelves holding tableware including stacks of black and white plates, various cups and bowls, and a green potted plant on the top shelf.
ADU kitchen wall with white subway tiles, decorated with small eco-themed stickers. To the left is a wooden shelf holding cups and bowls, and next to it are electrical outlets. A window on the right shows a wooden fence and some greenery outside.
Close-up of the corner of a Richlite Hood countertop with a decorative striped edge, viewed from a side angle.
ADU kitchen with beige tiled wall with various decorative tile pieces featuring geometric and animal designs, next to a white electrical outlet.
Interior of ADU with a view of a bedroom and kitchen area, featuring a bed with colorful pillows, a potted plant, wooden shelves, and a stainless steel refrigerator.
Interior of ADU with bedroom pocket doors closed next to kitchen area, featuring a bed with potted plants, wooden shelves, and a stainless steel refrigerator.
Modern ADU bathroom with white patterned tiles, a sky skylight, a no-threshold shower with a glass door, a white vanity sink, a mirror, a tall green plant in a pot, and terracotta tile flooring.
A white shelf built into a shower with white hexagon-shaped tiles, holding a potted plant with trailing green vines.
ADU for family to age in ploace with dark gray wooden siding, large windows, and a pink door. There are potted plants and gardening toys in the front yard, with a fence and trees in the background.