Wood Valley Road II

Our client, a recent retiree, purchased a rural lot north of Sonoma and requested a new Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) that could be used as a home office or guest house. The beautiful, gently sloping property sat adjacent to an old horse farm and included an existing small house, a pool, mature landscaping and a handful of stunning oak trees.

Given the modest budget and rural setting, we focused on a simple yet practical design. The gabled roof is structured with prefabricated trusses, while the exterior features vertical cedar-clad walls with exposed rafters. The south-facing slope of the metal roof is covered with solar panels, which generate power for electric heat pumps that provide both air conditioning and hot water for the building.

The interior is designed for simplicity and efficiency. A central core contains the kitchen, bathroom and entry, with a living space at one end and a sleeping space at the other. The interior palette is restrained, featuring white walls and naturally finished white oak casework.

The vaulted living room features a skylight over the kitchen and a built-in desk along the north wall. The east facing gable end is almost entirely glass, offering views of the oak trees and direct access to the exterior through large sliding doors.