A Custom Home that Suits Your Style

Small in size. Big in style, material quality, and energy efficiency.

Not every meaningful project needs to be a large custom home. Some of the most interesting design work we do at ADAMS DesignBuild is in small-scale structures — accessory dwelling units (ADU), pool houses, detached offices, modern cabins, and compact primary residences that prove you don't need a lot of square footage to live exceptionally well.

These are not prefab solutions or kit buildings. Every small scale dwelling we design is an original, site-specific structure — built with the same quality of craftsmanship, the same material standards, and the same attention to detail that we bring to our larger homes. The scale changes; the commitment to doing it right doesn't.

What We Design and Build

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
An ADU is one of the most versatile and valuable investments you can make in your property. Tucked into a backyard, situated above a garage, or placed at the edge of a larger rural lot, a well-designed ADU functions as a fully independent living space — complete with kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and all the amenities of a permanent home. We design and build ADUs that feel like real homes, not afterthoughts.

Common uses for our ADU designs include:

• Housing an aging parent or in-law in a private, dignified space close to family

• A self-contained unit for a returning adult child

• Long-term or short-term rental income (Airbnb or traditional lease)

• A guest suite with genuine privacy from the main house

• A live-work space for a creative professional or remote worker

Modern Infill Homes
Winston-Salem has some wonderful infill opportunities — smaller urban and near-urban lots where a compact, well-designed home can be built new in an established neighborhood. Our modern infill designs use heat-treated pine siding, concrete, large windows, and clean contemporary lines to create homes that feel bold and confident on smaller lots without overwhelming their setting. These work particularly well in neighborhoods like Ardmore, West End, and the areas near Wake Forest Innovation Quarter.

Detached Home Offices & Studios
The demand for dedicated home office space has permanently changed the way people think about their property. A detached studio or office structure — separate from the main house, purpose-built for focused work — is one of the most practical additions a homeowner can make. We design structures that are fully insulated, conditioned for year-round use, wired for modern technology, and finished to feel like a real workspace rather than a converted shed.

Cabins & Retreats
Some of our small scale dwelling designs are built for sites in the woods — quiet lots in the foothills and Piedmont where a compact, thoughtfully designed cabin becomes a genuine retreat from daily life. These structures range from simple board-and-batten forms that settle naturally into a wooded landscape to more refined modern cabins with large glazed walls that bring the forest inside. Several of our designs work equally well as full-time primary residences and as part-time retreats or short-term rental properties.

Pool Houses
A pool house is more than a changing room — at least, it should be. We design pool houses that function as genuine outdoor living structures for gathering with family and friends by the pool.

Small Primary Residences
Not everyone wants or needs a large home. For clients who are downsizing, simplifying, or building a primary residence on a smaller budget without compromising on quality, we design compact primary homes that are efficient in layout, high in finish quality, and built to perform well for decades. These homes prioritize natural light, smart storage, and the kind of spatial planning that makes a smaller footprint feel generous.

ADU Regulations in Forsyth County

Accessory dwelling units are permitted in many areas of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, but lot size, zoning district, and setback requirements all affect what's possible on a given property. We're familiar with the local regulations and can help you quickly evaluate whether an ADU makes sense for your specific lot before you invest significant time in design. Call us or reach out here and we'll take a look.

Where We Build Small Scale Dwellings

We design and build small scale dwellings throughout Forsyth County, Davie County, Yadkin County, Stokes County, and parts of Davidson County — including Winston-Salem, Lewisville, Clemmons, Pfafftown, Advance, Mocksville, and surrounding communities.