---
title: "Inspired ADUs — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/inspired-adus-pfvwus-pf~1670550030
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1670550030.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Inspired ADUs"
category: ["Architects"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/6a639c1004c2bd03_4532-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "Oakland, California 94607, United States"
latitude: 37.8071
longitude: -122.2851
phone: "(510) 725-9788"
website: http://inspiredADUs.com
rating: 5
review_count: 2
best_of_houzz_awards: 1
followers: 32
last_updated: 2026-09-02
---

# Inspired ADUs

Original Houzz profile: [Inspired ADUs](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/inspired-adus-pfvwus-pf~1670550030)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Architects
- **Location:** Oakland, CA
- **Serves:** San Francisco, Oakland, Hayward, Berkeley, Richmond, Daly City, San Leandro, Redwood City, Alameda, Palo Alto, Cupertino, San Pablo, San Lorenzo, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Albany, Orinda, Moraga, Emeryville, Piedmont, Tiburon, Woodside, Belvedere Tiburon
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (2 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2017), for Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- 1,000 Ideabook Saves

At Inspired ADUs, we believe in giving you the freedom to curate your own ADU journey. Our catalog of designs provides a starting point, allowing you to shop for inspiration. You can either customize these designs to your liking or create a completely bespoke design from scratch. The choice is yours, and we are here to support you every step of the way!

Unlike other companies that solely focus on stick-built ADUs or modular options, we offer a wide range of solutions to cater to your unique needs. We are not contractors; we are a comprehensive ADU design firm providing a menu of services, including construction management, interior design or furniture procurement.

### Services Provided

- Architectural Design
- Building Design
- Architectural Drawings
- Custom Homes
- House Plans
- New Home Construction
- Home Additions
- Home Extensions
- Floor Plans
- 3D Rendering
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
- Bathroom Design
- Space Planning
- Guesthouse Design & Construction
- Universal Design
- Multigenerational Homes
- Drafting
- Handicap-Accessible Design
- Attic Conversion
- Tiny House Construction
- Deck Design
- Prefab Houses
- Custom Home

### Areas Served

- San Francisco
- Oakland
- Hayward
- Berkeley
- Richmond
- Daly City
- San Leandro
- Redwood City
- Alameda
- Palo Alto
- Cupertino
- San Pablo
- San Lorenzo
- El Cerrito
- Lafayette
- Albany
- Orinda
- Moraga
- Emeryville
- Piedmont
- Tiburon
- Woodside
- Belvedere Tiburon

### Typical Job Cost

$200,000 - 400,000

We are providing predesigned cottages or custom designs.  One bedroom units start at $250000.

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Inspired ADUs |
| Address | Oakland, California 94607, United States |
| Phone | (510) 725-9788 |
| Website | http://inspiredADUs.com |
| License Number | ARC C29312 |
| Followers on Houzz | 32 |

**Social profiles:**
- Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/inspiredindependence
- Blog — www.inspiredADUs.com

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Inspired ADUs](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/inspired-adus-pfvwus-pf~1670550030)
- **Website:** http://inspiredADUs.com
- **Phone:** (510) 725-9788

## Credentials

- **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2017), for Service.

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 2 reviews**

### All 2 reviews

**★★★★★ — Jane Baldwin, Dec. 2016**

> These folks at Inspired Independence took my quirky needs and turned them into an acceptable plan that the Oakland zoning and now its building department could approve.  Carrie Shores is the best, with her sensible nudging toward workable outcomes.  I can not recommend Inspired Indeendence highly enough.

**★★★★★ — Visioneers Security, Dec. 2016**

> Carrie and Josh are amazing people who just happen to be fantastic at design and project management. I wouldn't use anyone else.

## Selected projects

- [Ward ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ward-adu-pj-vj~7438684)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 10
  - Description: This is a 447 square foot detached ADU.
- [Common Wealth ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/common-wealth-adu-pj-vj~7434548)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 8
  - Description: This is a 583 square foot one bedroom garage conversion ADU.
- [California ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/california-adu-pj-vj~7434575)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 11
  - Description: This is our tiniest ADU yet at 200 square feet. A one car garage conversion.
- [Virmar ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/virmar-adu-pj-vj~7141578)
  - Location: Oakland, CA
  - Photos: 15
  - Description: This is a tiny 221 sq.ft ADU, a garage conversion, for a young family with 2 young children. The cottage will be used as a guest house or a short-term rental. The murphy bed conveniently goes down at night and serves as a sofa/ day bed during the day. The kitchenette has the compact induction cooktop, sink and the undercounter fridge.
- [Jeter  ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/jeter-adu-pj-vj~7142632)
  - Location: Redwood City, CA
  - Photos: 24
- [Fairview ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/fairview-adu-pj-vj~7148809)
  - Location: Piedmont, CA
  - Photos: 17
- [Piedmont Award Winner](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/piedmont-award-winner-pj-vj~7015419)
  - Location: Piedmont, CA
  - Photos: 17
- [Grand ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/grand-adu-pj-vj~6937784)
  - Location: Piedmont, CA
  - Photos: 23
- [Vine ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/vine-adu-pj-vj~6473199)
  - Location: San Carlos, CA
  - Photos: 26
- [Alcatraz ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/alcatraz-adu-pj-vj~5267512)
  - Location: Berkeley, CA
  - Photos: 10
  - Description: 2018 Remmies Award Winner This beautiful "Accessory Dwelling Unit" or ADU was a fantastic collaboration between local Architect, Carrie Shores of Inspired Independence, and HDR Remodeling. The client owned a property in Oakland where her adult son and grandson lived. She lived in Wyoming at the time but was ready to downsize to a smaller footprint, and wanted to be part of the family's day-to-day. The home was designed for aging-in-place, which meant no tiny house ladders or lofts. The ADU was d…
- [Marina ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/marina-adu-pj-vj~881943)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 7
  - Description: This 538-square foot floor plan is our original, efficient design for independent living. Based on a farmhouse, this plan has more articulation and charm. High living room and bedroom ceilings provide more light and space 10’6″ x 17’2″ kitchen/living room 10’6″ x 14’6″ bedroom Available with flat or pitched roof
- [Alcatraz ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/alcatraz-adu-pj-vj~2766853)
  - Location: Oakland, CA
  - Photos: 9
- [Addison ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/addison-adu-pj-vj~5637559)
  - Location: Berkeley, CA
  - Photos: 25
  - Description: Creation of a new ADU for multi-generational living in the Bay Area!
- [Herzog ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/herzog-adu-pj-vj~6186092)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 19
  - Description: The small lot size required us to keep and convert the existing one-car garage into the starting point of the new ADU. In the space that we added, we took advantage of the height limit and created unexpected volumes and openings. As our smallest in-law yet, the biggest design challenge was how to use the space efficiently, while also making it entirely accessible. By using movable and modular furniture systems, we were able to maximize the limited space without compromising both owners' ability…
- [Clifton ADU](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/clifton-adu-pj-vj~6185180)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 13
  - Description: Families who have been in the Bay Area a long time are watching their adult kids spend half their income on housing and find it almost impossible to buy something nearby. With equity in their main house, where they raised their family, the new in-law cottage will be a modern home for their youngest son who owns his own business. In the future, if his family grows, the cottage has been designed for aging-in-place, so his parents can move in and he can move into the big house.
- [Courtyard In-law Cottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/courtyard-in-law-cottage-pj-vj~882022)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 5
  - Description: This 499-square foot floor plan fits neatly in the corner of your yard to keep families connected, but supports privacy and independent living. The ‘L’ shape plan creates an interesting relationship to the main house. Large deck 11′ x 20′ kitchen/living room 10′ x 10’8″ bedroom Available with a flat or pitched roof
- [Retreat Cottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/retreat-cottage-pj-vj~881989)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 6
  - Description: Sometimes, you just need to go somewhere nearby to think or to tinker. When you need just a little more space. With 280 square feet, this is the ideal amount of room to store stuff that won’t fit in the garage or anywhere else in your house or to have a room of your own.

[See all 17 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/inspired-adus-pfvwus-pf~1670550030)

## Ideabooks

- [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/155047803/list/wish-list) — 2 ideas

[See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/inspiredadus)

## Community Q&A

**Q: do you know if cabinet with work area custom or prefab?** *(in Photo Questions)*

Do you know if cabinet with work top is custom or prefab? Thanks

A: Liz,  this is a great cabinet hack - most lines of cabinets offer a pull out breadboard - but when the cabinet is in the laundry room it becomes the folding table!  The breadboard is an extra but not a custom feature!

**Q: Priced** *(in Photo Questions)*

Hi. Where can I find Florida permit info and building prices?   Thank you

A: asabishop - please send me a note at Carrie@inspiredindependence.com and let me know your address in Florida!

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-02.*