He transformed his carport into a stylish ‘granny flat’ for $95,000. Take a look inside
Designer Alexis Navarro is on the cutting edge of a new trend: trying to find ways to build stylish accessory dwelling units without breaking the budget.
John Velasco and Ariel Gomez-Hernandez, with their dog, Lando, outside the East L.A. accessory dwelling unit they rent from Alexis Navarro. We take a look at how this project came to life. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Before the ADU was built, it was a carport. (Alexis Navarro)
![The entrances to a Spanish-style duplex.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b8281c5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x1053+0+0/resize/1167x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F48%2F87%2F0bb1d631445d829ddd6ae8db6ce4%2Fthumbnail-img-2667.jpg)
The carport is at the back of a property that started with a duplex — side-by-side one-bedroom apartments — in front and a traditional, freestanding two-bedroom house in back. (Alexis Navarro)
Navarro designed and built the 536-square-foot structure to prove that ADUs could be stylish and affordable. Color fills the tiny rental, where two skateboards from Ariel Gomez-Hernandez’s collection hang on a wall. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Ariel Gomez-Hernandez sits in the unit’s bedroom, designed to provide a sense of privacy amid the open floor plan. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Glazed windows and a skylight in the galley kitchen help to cool the unit and let in additional light. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
The countertops and sink are from Ikea; the open shelves allow for easy access. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
![A man and woman sit at the kitchen counter.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3e9d226/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4800x3200+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6d%2Fe1%2Fb81ad7bd463b8c8ae4070af9d4fc%2F693382-hm-adu-la-casita-5-ajs.jpg)
Ariel Gomez-Hernandez and John Velasco share a laugh at the kitchen countertop. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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![The ceiling, with two can lights, opens to a skylight.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ac11de5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7200x4800+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2F40%2Fe58c920c419ca9e8544081456f24%2F693382-hm-adu-la-casita-12-ajs.jpg)
Skylights are trimmed in yellow, to add drama. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Velasco, an audio engineer, stands in the doorway of the casita. Both he and Gomez-Hernandez, a speech-language pathologist, are working from home during the pandemic. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
![A small bath with shower, rectangular vanity and mirror . Small tile reaches halfway up the walls.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4ed900f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4800x3200+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F9b%2F4c15f7c944f29853b961673227f4%2F693382-hm-adu-la-casita-4-ajs.jpg)
The bathroom, with fixtures from Home Depot, is the only enclosed space in the ADU. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
![Two men and a woman sit in a small patio.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7cb3f5e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4800x3272+0+0/resize/1408x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fff%2F21%2Fe74852e249ca8622ecfcb5f39768%2F693382-hm-adu-la-casita-8-ajs.jpg)
Landlord and designer Alexis Navarro, right, talks with his “Casita L.A.” tenants Ariel Gomez-Hernandez and John Velasco. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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In retrospect, Navarro said he could have saved even more time and money on the exterior. “I installed a high-quality plaster exterior,” he said. “I could have done a regular plaster job and reduced the time factor by about a month.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
![The tenants and their dog sit at a small table on the patio.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2489846/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4800x3200+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2F5c%2F516a101b4f47b3c9696a84f9b32d%2F693382-hm-adu-la-casita-7-ajs.jpg)
Gomez-Hernandez and Velasco rent the East L.A. ADU for $1,650. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
![The couple relax in their living room, which doubles as an office.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b9f9d4e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4800x3200+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F51%2F07%2Fa3a76cb14870b682a350ea7896df%2F693382-hm-adu-la-casita-2-ajs.jpg)
The couple relax in their living room, which doubles as an office. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
![The narrow bedroom with two dressers.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2b4c09f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4800x3200+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F33%2F8e%2F94d25216404db8dc8244b8a16c76%2F693382-hm-adu-la-casita-13-ajs.jpg)
The ADU includes one small closet in the back of the bedroom. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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![The couple sit in their living room beneath a ceiling fan.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9e55747/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4800x3200+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb6%2F28%2F9e5e3218491b99fd4e1a81d00db9%2F693382-hm-adu-la-casita-3-ajs.jpg)
The open and flexible design allows for two work desks for the couple, despite the snug quarters. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)