Look Inside Drew and Linda’s Newly Transformed Junior ADU
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Drew and Linda’s Junior ADU guest suite wasn’t exactly their style—they wanted something a little more bold, fun, and unexpected—so they decided to redesign the space.
Drew’s parents, Jim and Joanne, had been staying there often, and Drew and Linda had wanted it to feel like home for them. It had an updated country look, with a large fireplace and all the amenities they needed. However, after Jim and Joanne moved into their Los Angeles home, the opportunity to redesign the guest suite became a reality, and Drew and Linda went for it. “We wanted to create almost a boutique hotel kind of vibe,” Drew says. “We just wanted something with a bit of personality.”
After talking through all of their wants and must-haves together; collaborating on the design, colors, and pattern combinations; and finding new ways to use beautiful pieces they already had, Drew and Linda created a gorgeous guest suite. Now, the “JADU” is a pattern-filled, stylish spot that’s ready to welcome friends and family, and with a few smart tweaks it even became more functional, too. It just goes to show, you don’t always need to do a full gutting to make a space feel brand-new—sometimes, you just need to tap into your creativity! Watch the video above for Drew and Linda’s full tour, and keep reading for exclusive photos and stories of how it came together.
Functional Fixes
“Function is just as important as style,” Drew says. Prior to their renovation, the kitchen was almost completely cut off from the living room, with a large wall and electric fireplace that made the space feel smaller and harder to navigate. So they knocked down the wall and installed an island, which offered plenty more storage space and a usable area for food prep, gathering, and dining.
They also put the washer and dryer behind a large cabinet door, which perfectly blends into the rest of the kitchen cabinetry and keeps the utility out of sight but still conveniently located.
Personality-Packed Wallpaper
The beautiful chinoiserie wallpaper completely changes the look of the bedroom! This small-but-mighty detail adds an element of intrigue to the JADU, and creates a dynamic color story when paired with the mauve velvet bench, warm wood tones, and luxe taupe curtains.
Drew and Linda also brought in a vintage bar cart they had sitting in another room of the house to switch up the style a bit and add a complementary statement piece without having to buy something completely new.
“We found that bar cart at an estate sale,” Drew says. “We actually have pieces throughout the house that we mix and match, so we had that in the theatre room for a little while, and now we have it up here.”
“We’re always moving things around,” Linda says.
“That’s what life is all about—when you have a house, it’s fun to play with it,” Drew says. “Whether you rent or own, mix and match things a little bit, find ways to have some fun and make it your own.”
Deep, Rich Colors
Drew and Linda wanted to step away from blank, bare white walls and add some moodier colors and textures into the guest suite. They opted for burgundy, mustard, navy, mauve, and pops of baby blue—all of which came together to create a rich, interesting design scheme that’s easy to love.
Furniture Both New and Old
When Drew and Linda were dreaming up designs for the space, they knew they wanted to incorporate some new items to better fit their style and the JADU layout. But they also wanted to avoid being wasteful or spending frivolously when they already had some great, quality finds.
“We didn’t want to just throw money out the window, because we already had nice materials,” Drew says. They kept the floors, the cabinets, many furniture pieces, the appliances in the kitchen, and more. “We wanted this to be easy, comfortable, stylish,” he says.
While they held onto some staples, they were also thoughtful with the new pieces they did bring in. Linda came up with the design for the built-in unit under the TV, and found a sofa that perfectly fit the space. Working with their friend Katie Hunt, they also discovered a wallpaper that perfectly fit the JADU.
After meticulously curating their guest suite to fit their style and better make use of the space, Drew and Linda are more than happy with the outcome—and we can see why! The JADU feels like a welcome part of their home now, and proves that reimagining a space doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch.
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Bree Pulver O'Hagan
Bree is the Senior Digital Editor at DrewandJonathan.com. In the past, she’s worked for publications focused on home improvement and sustainable living. Bree’s Pinterest board is filled with cozy textures; vintage patterns; sculptural furniture; and moody, warm-toned colors. She has a degree concentrated in the intersection of writing and architecture, which influences her passion for exploring creative solutions to unusual home layouts and stylish renter-friendly decor. She’s a self-proclaimed pro at finding the best antique furniture in the most unlikely of places (but her cat Blue can certainly back these claims).
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