Modern Meets French Country: Our ADU & Outdoor Patio Design
If there’s one thing the pandemic achieved (other than LOTS of time with my girls), it’s the completion of our long-time dream: renovating our home! Since we bought our 1920s home in 2011, we’ve been renovating it bit by bit. You may have seen my daughter Penny’s Room (completed spring 2019), our new Dining Room (completed fall 2020), and now I’m sharing our finally finished ADU and outdoor living space! AHHHH. I am so happy, I can’t even begin to tell you.
Tied for a close second in the things-to-celebrate category — our home was just featured in Architectural Digest! (I’m dreaming, right?)
Our now-ADU started out as a garage and is actually the same space I shared with you back in February of 2020, when we had just started the renovation. At the time, it was the beginning of a 5-year dream (now 6+). Today, it’s transformed!
It’s a blend of modern style, French country influence, coastal coolness, and various other styles thrown in for eclectic touches. I won’t make you wait any longer. come take a look…
Before & After: Garage Turned Chic ADU
Whoa! Better, right?? It took a full year to get from the photo on the left to the one on the right, and I wouldn’t trade the sweat, tears, time or expense for anything. I love how it turned out, and it has already brought so much joy, laughter, and memories to our lives!
Penny and Reese could care less, but I am personally obsessed with the French Country-inspired doors and the hexagonal tiles from Arto Tile, which add a touch of Old World charm to the ADU entry. Sublime Original chairs and Sien + Co pillows (look how amazingly thick they are!) create immediate warmth and coziness, inviting us (or guests) to take a seat or step on in.
Inside, there’s more magic happening! The girls love to snack and have tea time in the small living room, which just warms my heart. I love to engage the floor as a space to sit and chill, as well as chairs and tables. Any chance I get to do that - a plush rug, a floor cushion, tatami mat? Let’s do it!
I love these cute kids’ floor cushions from Gathre, the cozy/modern rug from TRNK NYC, and this coffee table (with storage) from Super Simple.
Because this space is connected to the outdoors, I also wanted to make sure that it had a really relaxed, coastal feel. I used Limewash wall paint by Sydney Harbour and Benjamin Moore Arborcoat for the stained beam. Love it!
Zooming in, you can see these darling sconces from Lucent Lightshop, open shelving (which speaks to a modern and french country vibe), and these cabients from Ikea and Semihandmade.
On the right, this stunning, light-toned Caesarstone Countertop pairs beautifully with the matte black sink and hardware. No detail left unturned!
Oh, hey there! I’m sitting on this Blu Dot chair in leather, which is super comfy and adds a great pop of color to the room. The earthy green tone also helps to bring the outdoors in even more!
On the right, we have what started as a storage space but became my husband’s office within seconds of the renovation wrapping up. He’s been working from home with the 3 of us girls since spring last year, and I think it’s safe to say he was happy to escape from the house. 😂
To add a touch of masculinity for the Mr., I brought in just a few industrial-Inspired touches in The lamp, these Dumais Made Sconces (the proceeds of which get donated to Black Lives Matter and Color of Change), and this classy cigar box (admittedly for storage, not cigars haha).
Since this is technically a dwelling unit all of its own, it needed a full bathroom. I absolutely love how the mix of design styles in here combine to create something relaxed yet moody, modern yet provincial, and with a touch of coastal charm. (You may remember these fabulous Clé tiles from my inspiration post!)
The Vanity is from RH and has a Custom Caesarstone Countertop. I’m obsessed with the thickness. Thick countertops feel like luxury to me. Rh Sconces and round black mirror help balance the dark tones, while the custom wood shelf and West Elm Basket keep the coastal cool element alive and well.
speaking of, it’s time to head back outside…
Ahhh… now this is where summer dreams are made. As a designer, I find it really difficult to narrow down the styles I love — there are just too many. As you’ve seen, this whole project has been a blend of styles, and the outdoor space is no different.
To me, It feels like we could be sitting in coastal california or the south of france… but definitely in the 21st century! That’s what design does, isn’t it? It transports you wherever you want to go. This space has quickly become my happy place.
In case you’re curious, the pendant is from Serena & Lily, and the armless sofa, coffee table, and chairs are from CB2. We used Arborcoat by Benjamin Moore for the pergola stain and kolonna planters. These photos also show you a great close-up of the great texture on these arto tiles.
Last but not least, our outdoor living area isn’t just for lounging. We love to dine al fresco, entertain, and gather family and friends. This Palecek Dining Table is the perfect size, with more Serena & Lily Dining Chairs and a CB2 dining bench.
And what’s a party without a place to store tapas, drinks (of course), and servingware? A dysfunctional one. I added this rolling island for additional storage and charm. It also has a provincial vibe to it, with the baskets and ceramic dish, that I adore.
Sadly, we’ve reached the end of our tour. I know, It was too short, wasn’t it? Guess you’ll have to come over and see it for yourself! ;)
What you also need to know…
In all seriousness, this project was no joke. It looks easy when you see a before & after photos side by side, but there is so much thoughtful design and heavy project management that goes into it.
If you’re considering a project like this, I can’t urge you enough to hire a professional. designing and managing the project is exactly what I do, and I can tell you, even with years of experience and the best team I could ask for, it’s not easy!
If you’d like some help, or just want to chat and see if you’re ready for a designer, I’d love to speak with you. Reach out here + let’s see what we create!
xoxo,
Susie