GetADU

GetADU is an architectural firm run by Jennifer Kretschmer, FAIA, and dedicated entirely to helping homeowners design and permit accessory dwelling units in California. The firm operates out of the South Bay area near Los Gatos and focuses exclusively on ADU architecture, offering both pre-designed plans and custom design services. With nearly 15 years of hands-on experience designing ADUs and related residential projects, Kretschmer brings a deep understanding of how ADU regulations vary across California jurisdictions, how to guide projects through the permit process, and how to create designs that clients can actually build without running into code conflicts or budget surprises. GetADU specializes in translating homeowner goals into building-ready plans, with an emphasis on practical design that meets local requirements and works within typical construction budgets.

Jennifer Kretschmer's background gives her unique standing in the California ADU field. She holds the FAIA credential (Fellow of the American Institute of Architects), the highest honor in the profession, along with NCARB certification and a LEED Green Associate designation. She founded J. Kretschmer Architect in 2003, and that practice has evolved to focus on the ADU market where she now sees both the greatest need and the most interesting design challenges. Her professional involvement extends into the architecture community itself: she serves on the Board of Directors for AIA California and has been part of the AIA California ADU Resource Technical Network since 2019, where she participates in shaping how architects approach ADU design and permitting. This leadership role means GetADU's designs reflect not just individual experience but also current best practices across the profession and emerging changes to California ADU regulations.

GetADU offers three pre-designed ADU floor plans that clients can purchase as finished, permit-ready sets: The 16th, Emma, and Five Gables. Each plan comes in both a standard version and a pre-approved version, the latter of which has already cleared the design review and code compliance checks in specific California jurisdictions. Pre-approved plans remove a major piece of the permitting friction: the standard design-approval back-and-forth with planning departments. A client buying a pre-approved plan in a jurisdiction where that plan has already been vetted can move directly into permitting with confidence that the design will pass review. For clients whose jurisdiction is not among those pre-approved, the standard versions of these plans provide a starting point that can be modified or adapted. The pre-designed approach works well for budget-conscious homeowners who want proven designs and a faster, lower-cost path to permit approval.

The architectural documents included in GetADU plans are comprehensive and designed to satisfy permit agencies and builders alike. Plans include the floor plan showing room layouts and dimensions, a roof plan detailing slope and structure, exterior elevations showing the unit from all sides, window and door schedules with specifications for each opening, construction details for critical connections, cross sections showing the wall and roof assembly, fire rating information for wall and floor assemblies, specific code notes tied to California Building Code requirements, Title 24 energy calculations demonstrating compliance with California's energy efficiency standards, solar panel sizing and placement recommendations, and a complete mechanical system plan showing HVAC, plumbing, and electrical infrastructure. This level of documentation means a builder receives a clear roadmap for construction, and a permitting agency has the detail needed to verify code compliance without asking for revisions.

Beyond pre-designed plans, GetADU offers custom ADU design for homeowners whose sites, budgets, or vision don't fit the standard options. Custom design begins with understanding the specific lot: its orientation, slope, setback requirements, and view opportunities. From there, Kretschmer and her team work with the homeowner to develop a design that reflects both the practical constraints and the lifestyle the ADU is meant to support. Is it a unit for aging parents, a rental to generate income, or a guest house? Will it be a studio or a one-bedroom? Should it include an outdoor living space, and where can that fit given the site layout? These conversations inform the design direction. Once the design concept is established, GetADU produces a full set of construction documents following the same comprehensive standard as the pre-designed plans, so the custom unit is equally permit-ready and builder-friendly.

Pricing for GetADU's pre-designed plans is not listed on the main website; interested clients need to visit the plans section or reach out for a quote. Custom design work through GetADU involves a consultation to scope the project and establish the budget. The firm's model is to keep costs lower than a full bespoke architecture project by using template documentation and standard details where possible, but also offering genuinely tailored designs for those whose projects require it. For homeowners deciding between pre-designed and custom, the math often favors starting with a pre-designed plan if the lot and goals align with one of the standard options. Custom design makes sense when the lot is constrained, when local regulations require significant site-specific modifications, or when the client's vision is sufficiently different from the standard plans that customization is the only path forward.

A significant strength of GetADU is the firm's intimate knowledge of California's ADU regulations and how they vary by county and city. California's ADU laws have been evolving since 2016, with changes in setback requirements, height limits, parking rules, and whether ADUs can be built in residential zones. Jennifer Kretschmer stays current with these changes and understands how to design within whatever framework applies in a client's specific location. This is important because an ADU that complies in one California jurisdiction might run into code conflicts in another, and a builder who encounters unexpected requirements during permitting ends up redrawing plans and delaying the project. GetADU's deep regulatory knowledge means designs are built with current code in mind from the start. Plans also include specific code notes so the builder understands the reasoning behind each decision and can answer questions from inspectors during construction.

GetADU is best suited for California homeowners who want to add an ADU to their property and value clear, straightforward design and permitting support. Clients seeking affordable design with fast turnaround often find the pre-designed plans an excellent fit, especially if one of the three options matches their site and needs. Homeowners with more specific goals or complex lots should discuss custom design options directly with the firm. Because Jennifer Kretschmer brings FAIA-level expertise, extensive regulatory knowledge, and a focused practice devoted entirely to ADUs, working with GetADU offers both a smoother permitting experience and designs that are thoughtfully proportioned and code-compliant from inception. The combination of pre-designed options for straightforward projects and custom design for more nuanced situations makes GetADU a flexible resource for California homeowners stepping into ADU ownership.