Once a Forgotten Cottage, This Pattern-Packed Mill Valley Extension Is Now the Heart of the Home
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Expert tip: A pocket door reclaims the square footage a swing door would steal.
ByZoë Sessums,Photography byJessica Burke
PublishedMay 23, 2026 7:00 AM EDT
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In Mill Valley, California, where driveways are a luxury and every square foot is precious, a backyard ADU is the ultima2te real-estate prize. So when a family of five enlisted designer Anja Michals to reimagine the dated cottage behind their Craftsman home, she committed fully—gutting the structure, linking it to the main house through a cheerful new mudroom, and reimagining it as a colorful, pattern-rich retreat. Today the space serves as guesthouse, office, bunk room, and kids’ hangout all at once.
