Lafayette ADu pool house
Location: Lafayette, California
Completion Date: June 2025
Program: ADU / Pool house / Home office
Gross Area: Approx. 720 sq ft (ADU)
Photography by: R. Brad Knipstein
Architect & Interior: Mahyasalehistudio
Collaborators:
Structural Engineering: Unicorn Structures
Landscape Architect: Strata Inc
Scope of Work
Ground-up design of a new ADU and pool, complete backyard transformation including site planning, spatial layout, interior detailing, and outdoor connectivity. The structure functions as a pool house, home office, and family retreat—all in one.
Architectural Solutions
A backyard reimagined
What began as a blank suburban lawn has been reimagined as a multi-functional retreat, designed for both the rhythms of daily life and the slower pace of weekends. At the center of this transformation is the relationship between the new ADU and the pool: one designed for movement and sun, the other for shade and stillness. A covered trellis draws a soft connection back to the main house, tying new and existing together in a quiet architectural thread. Though modest in footprint, the space is layered with intention and clarity.
More Than A Pool House, This ADU was never meant to be an accessory. It was designed to flex—to support a full-time home office, to host guests, to invite moments of rest, and to expand the way the family lives. At one end, a deep blue room defines the workspace: focused, immersive, and calm. On weekends, the family shifts into the bright gathering zone, wrapped in white oak and soft green cabinetry, where light filters in and everyday life spills in and out of the courtyard. Two spaces, two moods. One cohesive story.
Interior Design
Materials were chosen not just for how they look, but how they live. The palette is soft, but not minimal. The finishes—hand-selected stone, warm oak, brushed nickel—are elevated, yet durable. This is a place meant to be used, not tiptoed through. The entire interior is designed for barefoot ease: clean lines, forgiving surfaces, and a quiet rhythm throughout. It’s pared back without being cold, softened by light, texture, and thoughtful restraint.
A Deep Blue Sanctuary for Work; In the home office, we utilized a rich, deep blue palette to create a calming, immersive environment tailored for focus and productivity. Thoughtfully tucked in the eastern corner of the new ADU, the space is intentionally separated from the main house’s social areas, offering a dedicated retreat for full-time work and creative concentration, drenched in morning light.
An Immersive bathing experience: The ADU’s bathroom was designed to feel flattering, calming, and just a little bit unexpected. Soft daylight pours across the vanity from a perfectly placed window, offering consistent, natural light right where it’s needed most. A few steps away, through a steel-framed door by @pinkysiron, the mood shifts into a meditative outdoor shower, wrapped in olive-tiled curves and shadows. The contrast between the bright, airy interior and the rich, immersive shower beyond heightens the senses in quiet, deliberate ways.
