In Law Apartment Addition – Hamilton, MA

Accessory Apartment Project Description

The ultimate purpose of the addition to the right side and the rear of the property was to create a luxurious In-Law apartment (accessory apartment) above the existing garage of their classic colonial-style home. The client’s desire was to add a master suite, with a grand walk-in closet, kitchen, dining area, and a living room that overlooks the backyard and connects with the deck for easy yard access. The addition triggered other renovations to the existing home including master bedroom and master bathroom redesign, main entry redesign as well as sunroom and decks reconstruction and redesign. The project includes curb appeal improvements and major residing. The exterior facade carries a cohesive aesthetic look of a classic style. 

Accessory Apartment Project Plan

The plan for the project was to add a 900 sq feet unit over the garage structure. The garage did not have proper footings therefore we needed to create an underpinning detail to make sure the second floor will be able to be built. Throughout the process we met with the clients to discuss layout, exterior materials and interior finishes. We met in stores to select tiles, plumbing fixtures, kitchen cabinets and countertops. The goal was to assist the retired couple and free them up from making many trips and struggling through the decision process. 

Accessory Apartment Project Results

The In-Law addition provides a luxurious master suite, complete with a kitchen, dining area, and a living room, offering the perfect amount of space for either visiting family or tenants. We were able to add natural light to the centrally located bathroom through a sun-tunnel. The apartment is separated from the existing house to maintain privacy. 

Challenges

The challenges of any project that contains accessory apartments are similar in all towns or cities. Most of the jurisdictions allow accessory apartments with special permits. The process of design is prolonged due to the approval process which varies from city to town.

Each jurisdiction has a different requirement on how big the apartment can be. In this case Hamilton Accessory Apartment ( In-Law-Suite) is 900 sq feet which is considered to be generous in comparison to other surrounding towns.