Q&A with ATL ADU Clients Denise & Michael

Tell us a little about yourselves and what led to your decision to build an ADU?

Denise: Michael and I are in our 70s and have lived in Kirkwood for 21 years. Our children were living in Baltimore and were very happy there, but as their work situations changed, they decided that moving to Atlanta was the best choice. So, they sold their house in Baltimore, packed up their cat and two kids, and moved in with us for a year while they looked for a new home in Atlanta. This is the house they ended up buying—just a mile from our old one—and it was zoned to allow an ADU in the backyard.

Michael: We had fantasized for a long time about living in a tiny house. This gave us the opportunity to finally make that dream a reality.

Denise: We're both retired, and Michael's health isn’t the best, so we were ready to downsize—but we didn’t want to move into an apartment. I wanted to be able to walk into the garden in my pajamas with a cup of coffee in the morning. And now I do!

The 2bd / 2ba "Expanded Kirkwood" is a modified version of the Kirkwood providing an expanded living area that maxes out the heated and cooled space at 749 SF. The rest of the interior space matches the Kirkwood.

Most of our multigenerational clients are moving from another town or even another state. You were living in the same neighborhood. What motivated you to move even closer—into an ADU in their backyard?

Denise: We wanted to downsize, and as our daughter reminded us, they moved here so we could age in place near them. Living in the backyard is actually much easier than living a mile away. And this house was designed for us, with several ADA features. We had Adam extend the living space, widen the doors, and build a zero-entry shower that’s extraordinary. It’s so easy to walk into. One of the toilets is even raised a couple of inches, which helps.

Other ADA features include blocking for grab bars and handicap access from the driveway. We also moved the stacked washer / dryer from the kitchen to the second bathroom (shower) to increase pantry space.

How was the process of downsizing and moving? That’s a significant life change!

Michael: We had to adjust to a smaller space. Our old house was 2,600 square feet, though I never really went upstairs. The downstairs was about 1,600 square feet, and we cut that in half when we moved here.

Denise: We hired someone to help us downsize and move, and it was worth every penny. She walked me through the house while I told her what was going to the ADU, what was being given to friends, and what was being donated. She labeled everything, then brought in a team to pack it all up. It was amazing—it would have taken me months to do that on my own.

Our daughter pointed out that what we’ve done has actually saved them a lot of work. When Michael and I are gone, most of our belongings will already be taken care of. Our daughters made it clear they didn’t want anything, so we brought just a few key pieces of furniture and donated the rest. It’s really clean living. We gave items to various refugee groups and Catholic Charities, who later sent photos of a new Sudanese family using our old furniture.

The light and bright, vaulted kitchen and living space.

Now that you’ve lived in your ADU for several months, how has it been?

Denise: It’s been great. The living room gets so much natural light, and the space feels open and roomy. That’s the first thing most people say when they walk in. We even hosted a party last Saturday night with 25 people—it was easy.

Michael: I’m disabled—not completely, but moderately. I use a walker, and I have no issues navigating the space. There’s no street noise, and I absolutely love the red door on our ADU—it makes me happy every time I see it.

Denise: But it’s orange. (laughs)

The "red" door. It's the simple things in life that make the difference!

Why did you decide to work with ATL ADU?

Denise: Our daughters said, “Mom, you don’t want to design it yourself.” And they were right. This process was so easy. We only had to make a few decisions, and after reading the website—and with our daughters doing their own research—we felt confident about going with ATL ADU. We’re really happy we did.

Michael: It was a very smooth experience. We could always reach someone when we had questions. We needed a variance, and everyone said it wouldn’t happen—but we got it! The phrasing you suggested for the application—"for her aging parents to live in the backyard"—I think that helped.

A variance to reduce the rear setback from 15' to 4' was granted. That is rarely successful in the City of Atlanta, but in this case it enabled the homeowners to preserve a large tree in the backyard.

What would you say to others who are considering building an ADU or exploring multigenerational living?

Michael: One big benefit is the peace of mind. We don’t have to worry about “what if something happens to us.” Our family is right there and can help or take us to the hospital. It’s reassuring.

Denise: The biggest advantage is having close, fluid relationships across generations. Things move back and forth between the houses—our daughter drops off food, the kids leave clothes here. Just last night, our son-in-law took their older daughter to a concert and our daughter went to silks, so the younger granddaughter and I went to the playground, I fed her dinner, and it was all seamless. They know we’re here if they need us, and we know the same. It’s been a win-win for everyone.

Multigenerational households are on the rise. The number of adults living on the same property with their parents is now 20 percent of the American population, matching its 1950 peak.

If we can help you and your family build an ADU like this, and you're in the Atlanta area, we'd love to connect!

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