Grandparents Next Door: A 725-Sq-Ft Backyard ADU Keeps Family Close in Connecticut

A Connecticut family builds a 725-square-foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Caitlin Swann’s backyard to house her aging parents, creating a cohesive one-bedroom cottage with a mudroom, built-in storage, high-end appliances, a brick fireplace and a porch. Financed by the grandparents, the project was designed to blend with the main house and comply with zoning and flood-zone constraints. The Christies moved in November 2025, enabling daily interactions, shared babysitting, and a close-knit multigenerational setup that Swann calls a blessing.