Jeff Doubét shares an elegant Spanish style ADU design anyone would be proud to live in. This Before and After project was the first phase of a larger estate renovation.

It all started as a design brainstorming session for an old two-story, 3 car garage facade in Montecito, CA. How could it be modified into a romantic Spanish-style accessory dwelling unit…

First, you may recognize this project from my HOME PAGE. It’s a personal favorite, and a wonderful example of how you can transform a Plain Jane Montecito house into a warm and inviting estate.

Follow along with other posts as I share various aspects of the construction, like Plastering the Exterior and Roofing Details.

BEFORE photo: This is the day I met with the soon-to-be owners of the property. While in escrow, they set up an Initial Consult to brainstorm ideas on what they could do with the place. Here she is with her realtor…

AFTER photos: Together, this is how our collaboration of ideas turned out. Scroll to learn more.

The architectural detail and materials of this Juliette balcony add depth, texture and intrigue.

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Spanish Style ADU Design Ideas

If you want to design and build a quality Spanish style ADU, look to successful designs in Spanish homes as a reference. Spanish accessory dwelling units are just smaller, compact versions of homes.

Whether you are designing a high-end Spanish shed or an ADU- I believe you will achieve success by editing down the classic design elements you love… and build them with the best materials you can find.

The first ADU design concept rendering included a subtle, two-story bump-out with gable roof. Other architectural details included a decorative window grille, fluted plaster detailing, window box, shutters, clay vents and copper leaderheads.

BEFORE photo: The original 2 story 3 car garage had a wooden staircase leading up to the existing apartment above. There was also a thin roof skirt above the garage doors. Everything was well-built, it just needed a Santa Barbara Spanish style renovation.

The second Spanish style ADU concept design was simplified. The architectural details include a wrought iron Juliette balcony with awning. A new Moorish arch with tile roof was proposed as a special entrance to a refined and updated Spanish tile staircase.

This photo helps illustrate how nice the facade vastly improved once the thin roof skirt above the garage doors was removed. Cutting back the long overhang on the 2nd story roof eaves was also an important step.

The homeowner further enhanced the facade design by adding full length wood shutters at the French doors.

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Building Spanish Style Accessory Structures in Santa Barbara and Montecito, CA

California state laws for ADU’s continue to be refined. Accessory dwelling units are now a little easier to design, permit and build in our local Santa Barbara area. My focus and expertise is Conceptual Design for exterior elevations and floor plans.

In consults, I share a list of quality independent trades. Architects for working drawings, and general contractors good at building my designs.

BEFORE photo: The original staircase leading up to the existing 2nd floor ADU. You can see the thin roof skirt above the garage doors was something that had to go. I shoot a lot of before photos, as they are a starting point for the imaginative and creative process.

AFTER Photo: The newly built Spanish style ADU receives the a charming Moorish arch with red tile roof. Masterrfully built by the homeowner and general contractor.

During demo, the first level roof skirt was removed, making way for a clean slate to build the garden arch and a beautiful new staircase with Spanish tile on the risers, and handmade clay stair treads.

This photo was near the end of construction. The 3 rustic wood roof rafters were built, and enable a substantial roof overhang above the Moorish arch. The little accent light the owner added was a cool touch. Electrical roughed in, above.

When designing your project, think about how to charm up the overall human experience. Your guests may never want to leave (maybe a bad thing?). The rent you charge will increase… a good return on the investment you are making in your property!

Spanish-style products on Amazon, and my project overviews where they were installed.

Spanish Style ADU Construction Photos

Here are several more construction photos of the local Montecito Spanish-style ADU renovation as it nears completion.

A photo of the custom fabricated iron Juliette balcony, shortly after the Mission finish exterior plaster was completed. The estate quality spear awning poles jutting out. Soon the Sunbrella fabric will be installed.

The awning supports were custom designed and handmade by a well known blacksmith. If I remember correctly, they are 1.25″ solid bar stock. Heated, twisted and the flower finial tips also hand wrought.

Substantial (extra) framing will need to be in place to support wrought iron Spanish-style Juliette balconies (and awning spears). Your architect and structural engineer will help you figure all of that out. Above: the wood shutters for the French doors soon to be installed.

This photo shows how the original garage doors were kept. The doors were temporarily removed so that the openings could be double framed from inside the garage. The doors were then rehung in the newly recessed and arched openings.

Other Helpful Articles for Spanish Style Details

Be sure to check out all of the How-To articles on the site. Learn more about how to design and build Spanish-style details into your own project. Scroll for additional direct links pertaining to this project.

See and Learn more about how to thicken garage door wall openings in this Spanish Garage Door Article.

The Montecito two-story Spanish-style ADU nears completion. See and Learn how the Genoise eave detail was installed at the roof.

Read up on Spanish Window Grilles. And a double French door side entry is a feature to consider in your own garage design.

Want to see other creative Jeff Doubét design projects? For many years, I have been helping clients envision special custom designs and details they can incorporate into their local homes and properties.

These include Spanish-style Accessory Structures, Spanish Sheds and Rustic wood Garden Sheds and Barns, like the one above.

This Spanish Style Chicken Coop Design was the Prototype

Fun fact to share: The client I was working with on this Spanish ADU project had originally moved down from Seattle. One of the earliest consulting meetings was helping them learn more about local Spanish building techniques and materials.

Things like Spanish window grilles, exterior plaster techniques, Santa Barbara Spanish paint colors, roofing techniques and other Spanish resources. They were able to use the info to rebuild an existing chicken coop as their prototype.

In other words, their chicken coop was the first building they renovated on the estate property.

Seeing the materials and colors successfully combined into their Spanish chicken coop renovation confirmed their path for the ADU and main house.

Well friend, this wraps another site visit episode in beautiful Montecito, CA. I hope you enjoyed learning how to infuse more Santa Barbara Style into your own Spanish ADU or home design project. Scroll to explore more helpful links and resources for designing and building your own Spanish-style home and landscape.