i.
The Guest House
A beautiful, private retreat for the people you most want to host.
Architect-Designed ADUs for San Diego's Finest Homes.
Rancho Santa Fe · Del Mar · La Jolla · Carlsbad · Coronado
An Addition as Refined
as the Home It Belongs To.
Most builders drop a prefabricated box in your backyard. We design accessory dwellings that look as though they were always meant to be there. Architect-led, impeccably finished, and built to raise the value of everything around them.
Request Your Private Consultation
By appointment only. A limited number of homes each season.
The Difference
No. 01 · Philosophy
The Difference Between an ADU
and an Asset.
An ADU built from a pre-approved, off-the-shelf plan is exactly that: off the shelf. It cannot be reconfigured, refined, or made to belong. It adds square footage. A space designed for your lot, your architecture, and your taste does something else entirely: it elevates the property it sits on. One is a structure in the yard. The other is part of the estate.
How We Work
Designed by an Architect.
Delivered by One Team.
Three disciplines, one continuous hand. From the first measured sketch to the last hinge, nothing about your project is treated as an afterthought.
No. 01
Architectural Design
Every project begins on the drawing table, not in a catalog. Your ADU is designed to complement your home's lines, light, and character, never to compete with them.
No. 02
A Single Point of Contact
No subcontractor roulette, no being handed off. One team carries your project from first sketch to final walkthrough, and treats it as if it were their own.
No. 03
Finishes Worthy of the Address
The same craftsmanship and materials our clients expect inside their homes, extended to every detail of the space we build beside them.
- 15 Years of Design-Build Craftsmanship
- Licensed & Insured · CSLB #1124838
- Top 12% of California Contractors
- San Diego's Coastal & North County Communities
Selected Work
A Quiet Confidence
in Every Detail.
A selection of recent residences and the additions we've drawn alongside them. Every project is photographed in its own light, never staged.
Before · Encinitas
After · Encinitas
In Their Words
No. 01 of 04
“Out with the old, in with the new. Gold quality remodeling by Aura Design and Build, first and second story additions, professionalism by professionals from the architectural beginnings (design) to the end of construction (build). Financially competitive, great communications, fast construction, highly recommended in all the aspects of design and build. You are in good hands from beginning to end if you go with the golden and now platinum quality Aura Design and Build.”
The Possibilities
A Few Ways Our Clients
Use the Space.
ii.
Family, Close By
A graceful, dignified home for parents. Independence and proximity at once.
iii.
The Private Studio
A light-filled office, atelier, or sanctuary a few steps from your door.
iv.
A Considered Investment
Premium space that quietly compounds your property's value for years.
An Honest Word
We're Not the Right Firm
for Everyone.
A fit if you…
- value how it's done over how cheaply it's done
- want a space that's designed, not assembled
- expect to be treated as a partner, not a transaction
Likely not a fit if you…
- are choosing purely on lowest bid
- want an off-the-shelf box as fast as possible
- aren't ready to invest in something built to last
Alignment is more important than a transaction.
The First Step
No. 02 · Invitation
Begin With a Vision,
Not a Sales Pitch.
Your private consultation is exactly that: a conversation, not a closing. We'll assess what your lot allows, show you what's genuinely possible, share a design direction, and give you an honest investment range. No pressure, no obligation, and no prefabricated thinking. If we're the right fit, you'll know. If we're not, we'll tell you.
Questions, Answered
No. 03 · Considerations
Less than you'd expect. From the first sketch to the final walkthrough, one team carries your project, and one person remains your point of contact throughout. We handle the design, the drawings, the permits, and the build — and keep you informed without making the process your second job.
That's the entire reason to work with an architect-led firm. Your space is designed around your home's proportions, materials, and light, so it reads as a natural part of the property rather than something dropped in the yard. Nothing we build comes from a catalog.
All of it, as one team. You won't be managing an architect, a draftsman, a permit expediter, and a separate contractor who've never met. We design it, draw it, permit it, and build it — which is how the details actually survive from the drawing to the finished room.
Pre-approved plans are faster and less expensive — and they can't be changed. They're a fixed box. If lowest cost is your priority and a standard layout suits you, they're a sensible choice, and we'll happily tell you so. If you want a space designed for your home and the way you live, that's what we do.
A custom ADU is a real project, not a weekend install. Design, city permitting, and construction each take time, and permitting in particular varies by jurisdiction. We'll give you a realistic timeline for your specific property at your consultation — never an inflated promise.
Every property and vision is different, so we give you an honest investment range at your consultation rather than a figure that doesn't fit your project. What we'll say upfront: we build for homeowners who value how it's done over how cheaply it's done, and we price accordingly.
By Appointment
Begin Your Private Consultation.
A few quiet questions so our team can prepare for your conversation with care.
Step 1 of 6
Let's start with the vision. What are you thinking of building?
Every beautiful project starts exactly here, with a vision. We'll shape the rest together.