A Curvy Backyard ADU Channels Colorful Venice Vibes and Minimalism

ByMyProperty Life 23/06/2025

Tucked behind a classic 1949 bungalow in Venice, California, an unexpected new accessory dwelling unit (ADU) playfully balances minimalism and joy. Conceived by Los Angeles-based ARA-la Studio and Australian architect James Garvan, the 1,020-square-foot build is a personal one for Garvan – the Venice ADU belongs to his childhood friend Will Burroughs and his partner Frith Dabkowski, along with their child.

A modern building with light wood siding features an exterior metal spiral staircase, adjacent to a lawn and another structure, under a clear blue sky.

For Burroughs and Dabkowski, who share the property with their young son, the new structure needed to serve many purposes: a guest suite, a creative workspace, and a gear-packed garage. The result is a two-tone volume that feels simultaneously anchored and dynamic, restrained yet full of personality – perfectly attuned to its Venice setting.

A modern two-story building with a light wood exterior features a black metal spiral staircase leading to a rooftop deck, set in a landscaped yard with grass and gravel.

From the street, the ADU presents a clean, geometric silhouette softened by diagonally striped white-painted siding that continues the line of the existing front fence. Step around the back, and the boxy shape dissolves into fluid curves, softened by rounded skylights and arched detailing.

Modern two-story house with a curved wooden upper facade, large glass lower level, and landscaped garden with green grass and shrubs.

Natural cedar cladding gives warmth to the ADU’s upper volume, contrasting with the cooler tone of the lower garage and studio. Shades of pale green, borrowed from the color palette of the original home, repeat in the landscaping and custom millwork inside, tying old and new together in a subtly cohesive way.

Modern living area with large sliding glass doors overlooking a green backyard, featuring wooden benches, a desk, a small kitchenette, and minimalist decor.

This project is unmistakably grounded in California coastal living – laid back, textured, and connected to nature. But beneath the relaxed veneer is a highly efficient floor plan where every square inch counts. Thoughtful built-ins conceal everything from a Murphy bed to laundry, while the kitchen flows seamlessly into the living space, ending in a media console that feels more custom furniture than cabinetry.

Modern room with blue and wood cabinets, a small sink, coffee machine, mini fridge, bike helmets, and bicycle mounted on ceiling; framed art hangs on the wall.

A modern garage interior with a motorcycle parked on a concrete floor, a bicycle mounted overhead, wooden cabinetry, and a countertop with a sink and coffee machine.

The lower garage and flex space is a purpose-built hub for an active lifestyle, cleverly housing surfboards, bikes, motorcycles, and even a pair of cars – all without feeling cluttered. Ceiling-mounted storage solutions and a clean, gallery-like finish turn the garage into something closer to a showroom than a storage space.

Minimalist kitchen with white built-in cabinets, a table with stools, pendant lights, and a bowl of oranges on the table. A door with a security gate is open on the left.

A modern living room with a tan sofa, patterned rug, and wood accents; the open door reveals an outdoor spiral staircase and greenery.

Inside, the materials palette falls between refined and fun. Cork flooring adds a soft tactile quality underfoot while enhancing acoustics – a smart choice for a small space. The bathroom and bedroom pop with high-impact pinks and reds thanks to bold Clé tiles and Flavor Paper wallpaper, which wrap the walls in immersive pattern for maximum effect.

A modern living room with a round skylight, abstract art on the wall, a beige sofa, a patterned rug, and a TV on a white cabinet.

Modern kitchen and living area with pale green cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a wall-mounted TV, a round ottoman, and a bowl of oranges on a white island.

Skylights and thoughtfully-placed windows bring in natural light while preserving privacy, and window shutters double as sculptural elements. A painted steel spiral staircase connects the ground level to the studio and to the rooftop terrace, offering an elevated view toward nearby Penmar Park.

A modern bedroom with patterned wallpaper, a bed, a vase of flowers, two framed pictures on the wall, and an open doorway showing a wood-paneled room with geometric tile floor.

Modern bathroom with geometric pink tiles, a white freestanding tub, gold fixtures, a wooden stool, and natural wood accents under a round skylight.

Modern bathroom with a round mirror, brass fixtures, light wood vanity, white countertop, and geometric pink tiles reflected from the shower.

Modern two-story house with geometric facade, combining wood and white panels, a central garage, rectangular windows, and minimal landscaping.

A modern building with light wooden siding and two rectangular windows, partially obscured by a tall white fence and tree branches at the top.

Modern building with light wood paneling features two rectangular windows, partially covered by square frames; white fence and tree in foreground.

To learn more, visit ara-la.com and jamesgarvan.com.

Photography by Ye Rin Mok.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.