South Bay prefab kitchen.
(Mariah Tauger/Los Angeles Times)
Windows and high ceilings open up the small space.
(Mariah Tauger/Los Angeles Times)
project: South Bay Family Prefab ADU Rentals
ADU size: 850 square feet
Total cost of ADU: $475,000
Kitchen details: Villa Homes' prefab ADUs came with standard full-size appliances, including an electric range/oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, and washer and dryer.
“By default, all of our kitchen appliances are Whirlpool, styled in stainless steel, which is fine for us,” says Melanie Guevara, who lives in her parents' backyard with her husband, Devon Hollowood. says. “For the past 10 years while attending college and graduate school, Devon and I lived in student apartments with shared laundry rooms and no dishwashers. It was important to us that it was felt.”
ADUs are fully electric. “During construction, we had the option of running a gas line and installing a gas stove instead. I prefer to cook using a traditional gas stove, but the extra expense and potential health and safety risks I decided it wasn't worth the risk. I would like to install solar panels one day to make my house as efficient and environmentally friendly as possible,” says Guevara.
Strong Points: The couple loves the refrigerator with convenient access to filtered water and ice, and the huge farmhouse-style apron sink. “We love the kitchen island with the extra counter space, storage, and outlets.”
Cons: “I'm not a fan of glass cooktops in electric ovens; they scratch easily and require a lot of maintenance to keep them clean,” says Guevara. “The stainless steel surfaces of our appliances also require more effort than expected to remove water streaks and small rust spots.”
