Sweet ADU
A shared design journey rooted in trust, restraint, and possibility
The Dream
For more than 25 years, our client dreamed of building an additional dwelling unit in her backyard in Leimert Park, California. Her vision was clear and deeply practical: create long term, multi generation income for her family while allowing for flexible living options that could adapt over time.
She did not have a large budget. What she had was patience, clarity of purpose, and a belief that thoughtful design could make more with less.
The Beginning
When she approached us, ATELIER X did not yet exist.
At the time, we were two designers who had spent three decades shaping celebrated homes, museums, and resorts in California and around the globe. We had reached a point in our careers where there was little room left to grow or build lasting succession within conventional studio structures. Neither of us set out to open a firm. We simply wanted to elevate our craft and do the work with greater care, clarity, and generosity.
Inspired by her trust and the responsibility she placed in us, we took a leap of faith and founded ATELIER X in Los Angeles in 2023.
Sweet ADU
A shared design journey rooted in trust, restraint, and possibility
The Dream
For more than 25 years, our client dreamed of building an additional dwelling unit in her backyard in Leimert Park, California. Her vision was clear and deeply practical: create long term, multi generation income for her family while allowing for flexible living options that could adapt over time.
She did not have a large budget. What she had was patience, clarity of purpose, and a belief that thoughtful design could make more with less.
The Beginning
When she approached us, ATELIER X did not yet exist.
At the time, we were two designers who had spent three decades shaping celebrated homes, museums, and resorts in California and around the globe. We had reached a point in our careers where there was little room left to grow or build lasting succession within conventional studio structures. Neither of us set out to open a firm. We simply wanted to elevate our craft and do the work with greater care, clarity, and generosity.
Inspired by her trust and the responsibility she placed in us, we took a leap of faith and founded ATELIER X in Los Angeles in 2023.
The Constraint
Sweet ADU was shaped by real constraints: a modest budget, a compact site, zoning requirements, and the realities of construction in Los Angeles. Rather than seeing these as limitations, we treated them as design drivers.
Every decision was weighed against long term value, flexibility, and ease of construction. The goal was not excess, but durability. Not spectacle, but quiet usefulness. A home that could evolve with its occupants and support its owner for decades to come.
The Approach
Our process focused on:
Maximizing light and spatial efficiency within a small footprint
Designing for multiple future scenarios, from family use to rental
Simplifying construction to reduce cost and risk
Choosing materials and details that age gracefully
Working closely with the builder to ensure clarity and buildability
The result is a compact dwelling that feels generous, adaptable, and grounded. A space designed to support life rather than dictate it.
The Constraint
Sweet ADU was shaped by real constraints: a modest budget, a compact site, zoning requirements, and the realities of construction in Los Angeles. Rather than seeing these as limitations, we treated them as design drivers.
Every decision was weighed against long term value, flexibility, and ease of construction. The goal was not excess, but durability. Not spectacle, but quiet usefulness. A home that could evolve with its occupants and support its owner for decades to come.
The Approach
Our process focused on:
Maximizing light and spatial efficiency within a small footprint
Designing for multiple future scenarios, from family use to rental
Simplifying construction to reduce cost and risk
Choosing materials and details that age gracefully
Working closely with the builder to ensure clarity and buildability
The result is a compact dwelling that feels generous, adaptable, and grounded. A space designed to support life rather than dictate it.
Designed to maximize space, air, and light. The home is carefully shaped to welcome natural light throughout the day. Behind the kitchen, a gracious bathroom is thoughtfully planned with accessibility in mind, allowing the home to support us as we grow older.
Designed to maximize space, air, and light. The home is carefully shaped to welcome natural light throughout the day. Behind the kitchen, a gracious bathroom is thoughtfully planned with accessibility in mind, allowing the home to support us as we grow older.
Sweet ADU was designed to be cost effective to build by using a balloon framing technique that allowed for fewer and taller pieces of lumber. This helped reduce costs while improving both the quality and appearance of the walls.
By working with trusted builders from our network, the same teams who build high end homes, we were able to achieve a smooth near level 5 wall finish at an affordable cost.
Sweet ADU was designed to be cost effective to build by using a balloon framing technique that allowed for fewer and taller pieces of lumber. This helped reduce costs while improving both the quality and appearance of the walls.
By working with trusted builders from our network, the same teams who build high end homes, we were able to achieve a smooth near level 5 wall finish at an affordable cost.
Leveraging the skills of our builders, a custom kitchen was crafted on site using pre engineered wood and off the shelf appliances and windows, allowing us to reduce cost while maintaining a high level of quality.
Leveraging the skills of our builders, a custom kitchen was crafted on site using pre engineered wood and off the shelf appliances and windows, allowing us to reduce cost while maintaining a high level of quality.
The loft was designed to serve as the primary bedroom, with a generous outdoor terrace. Over time, if needs change, the inhabitant can move to the ground floor while the upstairs becomes a flexible space for a caretaker, visiting family members, or other uses.
This approach allows the owner to fully enjoy the home today while maintaining long term flexibility for the future.
The loft was designed to serve as the primary bedroom, with a generous outdoor terrace. Over time, if needs change, the inhabitant can move to the ground floor while the upstairs becomes a flexible space for a caretaker, visiting family members, or other uses.
This approach allows the owner to fully enjoy the home today while maintaining long term flexibility for the future.
The outdoor terrace becomes an extension of the home, connecting interior life to open air and distant views, and allowing the spaces within to feel larger and more expansive.
The outdoor terrace becomes an extension of the home, connecting interior life to open air and distant views, and allowing the spaces within to feel larger and more expansive.
All larger windows open toward the courtyard to capture views and create a sense of inward focus. Smaller windows line the perimeter, calibrated for light and air while maintaining security and privacy.
The result is a home that remains protected and serene regardless of how neighboring properties evolve.
A central courtyard, currently under construction, creating a private and protected environment for daily living. This approach also future proofs the house should neighboring properties build additional ADUs over time.
Planned as part of second phase, Sweet ADU 2 is an 800 square foot home that will complete the central courtyard and establish it as the heart of the property.
Planned as part of phase 2, Sweet ADU 2 is an 800 square foot home that will complete the central courtyard and establish it as the heart of the property.
A central courtyard, currently under construction, creating a private and protected environment for daily living. This approach also future proofs the house should neighboring properties build additional ADUs over time.
All larger windows open toward the courtyard to capture views and create a sense of inward focus. Smaller windows line the perimeter, calibrated for light and air while maintaining security and privacy.
The result is a home that remains protected and serene regardless of how neighboring properties evolve.
The Outcome
Sweet ADU is more than an additional dwelling unit. It is a long held dream realized through patience, collaboration, and trust. It provides financial resilience for a family, flexibility for changing needs, and a sense of dignity that comes from thoughtful, restrained design.
For us, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. In helping her realize her dream, she helped us realize ours.
A Shared Journey
This project is not just about architecture. It is about go giving, friendship, and beginning again when the moment feels right. Sweet ADU represents what can happen when clients and designers meet each other with openness, humility, and shared belief in what thoughtful design can make possible.
At ATELIER X, we believe architecture is most powerful when it supports real lives over long arcs of time. We work with clients who value restraint, adaptability, and dignity over spectacle, and who see constraints as opportunities to design with care. Our work is rooted in trust, collaboration, and craft, creating homes that can evolve with families, budgets, and changing futures.
The Outcome
Sweet ADU is more than an additional dwelling unit. It is a long held dream realized through patience, collaboration, and trust. It provides financial resilience for a family, flexibility for changing needs, and a sense of dignity that comes from thoughtful, restrained design.
For us, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. In helping her realize her dream, she helped us realize ours.
A Shared Journey
This project is not just about creating a work of architecture. It is about go giving, friendship, and beginning again when the moment feels right. Sweet ADU represents what can happen when clients and designers meet each other with openness, humility, and shared belief in what thoughtful design can make possible.
At ATELIER X, we believe architecture is most powerful when it supports real lives over long arcs of time. We work with clients who value restraint, adaptability, and dignity over spectacle, and who see constraints as opportunities to design with care. Our work is rooted in trust, collaboration, and craft, creating homes that can evolve with families, budgets, and changing futures.
Construction Resource
We set out to document the entire construction process so that people can better understand why having a great set of construction drawings is essential when building a home. Clear drawings solves problems before problems occur. They reduce friction. They create confidence. They allow builders to do their best work efficiently and with joy.
Construction Blog
We set out to document the entire construction process so that people can better understand why having a great set of construction drawings is essential when building a home. Clear drawings solves problems before problems occur. They reduce friction. They create confidence. They allow builders to do their best work efficiently and with joy.
Episode 1
★★★★★
How to Prepare a Site for
Concrete Foundation
Episode 2
How to Form and Protect
Concrete Foundation
Episode 3
How to Prepare a Site for
Concrete Foundation
Episode 4
What goes into
Wood Framing
Episode 5
What goes into
Wood Framing
Episode 6
★★★★★
What goes into
Wood Framing
Episode 7
★★★★★
What goes into
Love at First Sight
Episode 8
What goes into
Wood Framing
Episode 9
★★★★★
We Asked for
Episode 10
★★★★★
We Asked for
Our Client’s Dream
Episode 11
★★★★★
What goes into
Concrete Finishing
Episode 12
What goes into
Stucco Finishing
Inspired by our experience helping a Sweet ADU client realize her dream, we started the 10,000 Doors Project. This initiative focuses on building 10,000 Sweet ADUs and Home Grown homes to help contribute to solving the housing shortage in Los Angeles.
Working alongside builders, developers, and community partners, we hope to make the process easier for families seeking affordable housing that supports flexible living, multigenerational households, and additional income opportunities. More information to follow.
Inspired by our experience helping a Sweet ADU client realize her dream, we started the 10,000 Doors Project. This initiative focuses on building Sweet ADUs and Home Grown homes at scale to help contribute to solving the housing shortage in Los Angeles.
Working alongside builders, developers, and community partners, we hope to make the process easier for families seeking cost effective housing that supports quality, flexible living, multigenerational households, and additional income opportunities.
Sweet ADU Team
Architecture:
Architectural Design // Expedited Building Permit // Construction Documents // Bid and Value Engineering // Construction Observation
Interior:
Interior Design // Lighting Design
Team:
Lukas Peter // Howard Chu
Photographer . Erik Stackpole Underhn
Joseph Liu Consulting Engineering
Archwood Bulders, Inc.
Completed 2025
Client Endorsements
“Thank you for sharing your professional connections, expertise and allowing me to have a seamless experience.” - Sweet ADU Client
“Thank you and Lukas for everything! You’ve been a blessing. You’re amazing. It truly looks fabulous.”
- Sweet ADU Client
”Lukas treats the project as if he’s spending his own money. I am thankful for you both.”
- Sweet ADU Client
“We love working with good architects. They work with good contractors. You guys make our job easier to do, and the client gets better results.”
- Archwood Builders
“I knew you were the one when you told me the first survey cost too much and I should wait.”
- Client
Client Endorsements
“Thank you for sharing your professional connections, expertise and allowing me to have a seamless experience.” - Sweet ADU Client
“Thank you and Lukas for everything! You’ve been a blessing. You’re amazing. It truly looks fabulous.”
- Sweet ADU Client
”Lukas treats the project as if he’s spending his own money. I am thankful for you both.”
- Sweet ADU Client
“We love working with good architects. They work with good contractors. You guys make our job easier to do, and the client gets better results.”
- Archwood Builders
“I knew you were the one when you told me the first survey cost too much and I should wait.”
- Client