Connecticut woman spots a Facebook ad for a “granny pod” and turns the idea into a 725-square-foot backyard cottage for her parents, giving them independence while keeping them just steps away from their grandchildren

A Connecticut family has found a creative way to make multigenerational living work and that too, without everyone having to share the same house.

Caitlin Swann built a 725-square-foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in her backyard for her parents, Patti and Gary Christie. The one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage sits just steps from Swann’s home, allowing the grandparents to stay close to their daughter and grandchildren while maintaining their own space.

For Swann, the arrangement has become much more than a housing solution. “It's the best,” she told Business Insider. “I pinch myself.”


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Her parents were looking for a new home

In 2024, Patti and Gary Christie, then 74 and 75, were ready to leave the Connecticut-area family home where they had spent more than four decades. They wanted to be closer to their children and grandchildren, but finding a home they genuinely liked within their budget wasn't easy.

“We looked at houses, but what they would get for what they would have to pay was a little depressing,” Swann said.

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Then a Facebook advertisement gave Swann an unexpected idea: a “granny pod,” essentially a small prefabricated ADU designed with older parents in mind.

She sent the ad to her mother as a joke. Her mother immediately saw the potential. “She was like, 'That's brilliant,'” Swann said.

The family decided to build an ADU

Swann checked the local zoning rules and discovered that an additional home could be built on their half-acre property. The family decided that a custom backyard cottage would give Patti and Gary the independence of having their own home while keeping them close enough to see their grandchildren every day.

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The project was financed by the Christies, while Swann took charge of the design. As an interior designer, she worked with architect Eileen Duffy and contractor Paul Delco Builders.

Construction began in May 2025, and the cottage was finished in November.

The tiny cottage was designed to feel bigger

Despite measuring just 725 square feet, the home doesn't feel like a cramped studio. Swann used high ceilings, large windows and carefully planned spaces to make the cottage feel open. The kitchen and living room share an open-concept layout, while built-in cabinetry provides storage throughout the home.

The kitchen has a large island instead of a traditional dining table, allowing the space to serve multiple purposes.

The design also includes a 36-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator and a 30-inch Wolf range. Swann said her parents actually have more kitchen storage than they had in their previous house.

A porch became one of their favorite features

The covered porch was especially important because Patti and Gary had loved spending time on the porch of their previous home. The new porch effectively adds another living area during warmer months.

“It's almost like an additional room in the spring, summer, and fall,” Swann said. The cottage also has a mudroom, custom storage, a bedroom with built-in cabinetry and an en suite bathroom with a double vanity and walk-in shower.

Swann wanted the backyard home to look as though it belonged with the main house rather than appearing like a separate structure dropped into the yard. “I wanted it to feel really cohesive with our house, especially from the exterior,” she said.

The two homes share similar siding, roofing and copper gutters. The cottage also has Dutch doors and a brick fireplace. Inside, Swann combined her parents' existing artwork and furnishings with her own design choices.

“It's their style, but my twist on it,” she said.

The setup has brought the family closer

Patti and Gary moved into the cottage in November 2025. Since then, the arrangement has settled into a comfortable routine.

Swann said her mother has joined pickleball groups, while her father walks to the beach every day. The grandparents also help babysit their grandchildren and spend plenty of time with the family.

“My mom and I went for a walk on the beach this morning,” Swann said. “We're constantly seeing each other all day long.”

For Swann, having her parents nearby is the biggest benefit of the project.

“Having that time together with the grandkids and little moments throughout the day are so special,” she said. “I've been two hours away from them for about 15 years. So to have them 20 steps away when you realize how short life is and you don't know how long you have together, it's been such a blessing.”

The 725-square-foot ADU has ultimately given the family something that can be difficult to find: close family connection without giving up personal space and indepen