Two-Story Garage ADU Vilas Neighborhood

The clients came in with a clear objective: add garage space to a property that had none, and build a rental unit above it to generate long-term income. Straightforward concept. Real site complexity.

They were being thorough. Proposals out to multiple builders, comparing pricing before committing. We understand that — it’s the right move on a project of this scale. Our process delivered concrete, detailed pricing within a day of the initial consultation.

Then they waited on the other builders.

Over the following two months, one builder in particular went quiet. Follow-ups. Delays. No real numbers. When a figure finally came back, it was a wide cost range without guarantees or confidence behind it. High on price. Low on clarity.

The clients recognized what that experience was telling them and moved forward with Boundless Tiny Homes.

The backyard left little room for error:

The clients also had two driveways — one on each side of the house. The goal was to preserve both: one for the homeowners to access the garage below, one for future tenants to access the ADU above. Two households. Two independent entrances. One lot.

We maximized the allowable footprint — fully utilizing the 46×24′ envelope — and designed a two-story structure: attached garage on the ground level, 700 square feet of living space above.

To solve the 5-foot grade change and create a safe, independent tenant entry, we added a second retaining wall along the opposite lot line and integrated a stair system directly into it. The result: a defined, private path from the driveway to the ADU’s front door. No shared entry. No awkward access. No afterthought.

Utility coordination introduced schedule pressure that was entirely outside our control. The local water utility needed to relocate a fire hydrant. The electric company had a service scheduling backlog of over two months before they could establish electrical service to the building.

We didn’t wait.

Every task we could advance — we advanced. Framing, insulation, interior work, systems rough-in — work continued wherever the schedule allowed. When utilities were finally coordinated and connected, we weren’t starting from where we left off. We were finishing.

The ADU level delivers a complete, stand-alone living unit: open-plan kitchen and living area, a bedroom with walk-in closet, full bathroom, and a staircase that opens with natural light. The design makes the most of every square foot without feeling compressed.

Mini-split HVAC handles both heating and cooling efficiently — the right call for Wisconsin winters and a unit that needs to be cost-effective for tenants year-round.

A walkthrough of the completed unit — from the tenant entry at the retaining wall stair through the full interior.