How a Family of Four Lives in This 498-Square-Foot ADU

Living in a tiny house requires a lot of creativity when it comes to storage and functionality, but add a family of four into the mix and it takes even more ingenuity. Nicholas Fiore, founder and owner of Flower Architecture in Boulder, Colorado, currently lives in this 498-square-foot ADU, named the Bunkhouse, with his wife (also an architect) and two children. It’s a temporary arrangement while their main house is going through a renovation.

Daniel Jenkins

“The idea was to build a great little space for long-term visits from family, first,” Nicholas says. “Second, we knew we would someday remodel our main house, also on the property, and the idea was that the Bunkhouse would be our home while we destroyed and rebuilt our house. Third, it was an opportunity to test out ideas of efficient spatial living, of less is more, and of the value of small spaces finely detailed (and budget consciousness).”

Daniel Jenkins

The one-bedroom, one-bathroom ADU is situated at the rear of their lot in Boulder, behind a detached garage. “The spot we chose is very private in spite of the close proximity of several neighboring homes,” Nicholas explains. “Window positions in the Bunkhouse are very specifically chosen to avoid the direct gaze of neighbors—especially in winter, when the leaves no longer provide privacy. A deck wraps three sides, extending the interior spaces outside and also providing access from multiple sides.”

For Nicholas and his wife, keeping the design simple was the goal. The location of the ADU on the property didn’t leave much for any crazy experimenting, plus zoning rules meant there were restrictions.

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As you enter the ADU, there’s a small “entry” zone for taking off your shoes. A kitchenette with a stylish terrazzo peninsula opens to the living space, which features a wall of glass—a floor-to-ceiling window and a pocket sliding door that opens to a deck and garden.

Next to the kitchenette is the bathroom and a cozy bedroom. To make the design more efficient, Nicholas and his wife chose pocket doors for the bathroom and bedroom.

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“The pocket doors are an integrated piece of the ‘box in a box’ idea of the birch paneling, wherein the zone of the kitchen/entry/bath spaces are articulated in the warmth of the wood,” he says. “Overall, we sought a richness in the textures and materials that we chose. The exterior standing seam cladding paired with the interior birch plywood panels are the two ‘big’ moves in the tiny project. The steel cladding has a double benefit as it is also non-combustible, and we live in a fire-prone area.”

Daniel Jenkins

It’s not surprise that the biggest challenge for a family of four living in a tiny home is storage. Nicholas says they use every inch of the house and only keep the essentials on hand. Tidying up constantly is also key to making things work in a small space.

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“We have built-in closets that serve as clothes storage, hampers, linen storage, and the laundry room!” he explains. “Here in Colorado we also have seasons that shift, and they require layering, multiple shoe options, etc. We rotate our shoulder season clothes often, to be sure we have the most applicable wardrobes for the time of year. Honestly, it is very challenging. The most clever thing, I believe, is to roll with it.”

Daniel Jenkins

When the main house is finished the home will be used for visits from family and friends, or if someone wants to relax or work quietly away from the rest of the family. Renting it out in the future is also an option. 

“We are very happy! We love it,” Nicholas says of ADU’s finished design. “Our family and friends have made great use of it as well. The privacy and efficiency that we envisioned seemingly have come to pass. We’re grateful.”