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Panama City · 2025 · Design-build

Mediterranean-Inspired Studio ADU

Studio kitchen with a tall wood hutch, dark ceiling beams, a hanging pot rack, a peninsula sink, and an arched window.

A small home with its own character.

Built in Panama City in 2025, this Mediterranean-inspired studio ADU combines a compact footprint with distinctive architectural detail—arched openings, gable returns, and windows set deep into stucco walls.

Location
Panama City, Florida
Year
2025
Our role
Design-build
Area
Just under 500 sq. ft., including the covered entry and back porch.

From an initial sketch to a finished home.

The owner provided the initial hand-drawn design. We developed it into construction drawings and carried the project through construction.

Construction elevation drawings of the studio in front, left side, rear, and right side views, showing the hip roof, the entry gable, and the arched openings.
Construction elevations for the studio ADU.

Designed for its setting.

Window placement—and where windows were intentionally omitted—responded to the proximity of the main house and neighboring homes. Working with the owner, we incorporated those preferences into the construction drawings, shaping the studio around its surroundings and privacy needs.

Side of the stucco studio with a recessed arched window, a small high window, and broad solid wall areas, with the arched entry at right and site work still underway.
Window placement and solid wall areas were planned around the surrounding homes.

The details give it depth.

Arches shape the covered entry and back porch. Gable returns finish the entrance roofline, while windows set into waterproofed wood frames create deep reveals in the stucco walls. Inside, the arched window shapes, rich wood cabinetry, and ceiling beams continue the home’s character.

White stucco studio with an arched covered entry, a dark wood door, a hanging lantern, and gable returns at the entry roofline, with a concrete walk in front.
  1. The entry arch framed and sheathed, with the gable return framing above and the door opening below.
    Framing the arched entry.
  2. Gable returns, soffits, and trim over the sheathed entry arch, before stucco.
    Gable returns and trim before the stucco finish.
  3. Angled view of the arched entry, with stucco columns, a dark door, a stone-look step, and dark fascia at the roofline.
    The finished entry and roofline.

Inside the studio

Cabinetry, ceiling beams, and arched windows bring warmth to the studio, with a kitchen, bathroom, and laundry arranged within the compact plan.

  • Studio kitchen with a tall wood hutch, dark ceiling beams, a hanging pot rack, a peninsula sink, and an arched window.
    Kitchen cabinetry, ceiling beams, and an arched window.
  • Living area with plank flooring, a wall of wood cabinetry, an arched window, a beamed ceiling with a fan, and a dark arched-top door.
    The living area, with built-in cabinetry and an arched window.
  • Shower with square white wall tile, a recessed niche, a small window, and a black-framed glass door, beside the toilet and vanity.
    The tiled shower in the bathroom.
  • Wood hutch with glass-front upper doors and open arched shelves beside a white peninsula counter, a black refrigerator, and a back door with a window.
    The wood hutch, peninsula, and back door.
  • White peninsula countertop with a sink, looking toward the wood kitchen cabinets, a black refrigerator, and the back door, with a pot rack above.
    Across the peninsula to the kitchen.
  • Studio room with the peninsula and kitchen along one side, ceiling beams, an arched window on the far wall, and a dark door to the right.
    The open plan beneath the ceiling beams.
  • Wood kitchen cabinets with crown molding above a black refrigerator, a range, and a microwave.
    Kitchen cabinets, range, and microwave.
  • Wood kitchen cabinets, a black refrigerator, and a range, with a wall-mounted air conditioning unit near the ceiling.
    The compact kitchen wall.
  • Laundry nook with a stacked washer and dryer, a small high window, and an electrical panel on the side wall.
    The laundry area.

Arches, entry, and exterior

The stucco exterior, recessed openings, and covered porches carry the Mediterranean-inspired design around the home.

  • White stucco studio with an arched covered entry, a dark wood door, a hanging lantern, and gable returns at the entry roofline, with a concrete walk in front.
    The arched entry beneath the gable returns.
  • Angled view of the arched entry, with stucco columns, a dark door, a stone-look step, and dark fascia at the roofline.
    The finished entry and roofline.
  • Side of the stucco studio with a recessed arched window, a small high window, and broad solid wall areas, with the arched entry at right and site work still underway.
    Window placement and solid wall areas were planned around the surrounding homes.
  • The studio’s arched entry seen from beneath a covered patio, with a concrete walk leading to the door.
    The entry, seen from the covered patio.
  • Angled view of the arched entry and gable returns, with a recessed window on the side wall, pine straw, and site work still in progress.
    Arched entry, gable returns, and recessed windows during exterior finishing.
  • Side and rear of the white stucco studio, with the arched back porch, an air conditioning condenser, and orange safety fencing beyond the lawn.
    The side wall and arched back porch.
  • Arched back porch with a dark door and a ceiling fan, a globe lamp post in front, and orange safety fencing in the yard.
    The arched back porch.

Foundation and framing

The footprint takes shape through foundation preparation, wall framing, and roof construction.

  • Formed slab area covered in plastic sheeting and reinforcing mesh, with a smaller porch section formed in front.
    Slab preparation, with the porch section in front.
  • Wood-framed walls standing on the slab, with a palm tree behind.
    Wall framing takes shape.
  • Roof trusses set over the sheathed walls, with the front entry opening framed.
    Roof trusses set above the sheathed walls.
  • Wood foundation forms on sand with plumbing pipes rising from the ground, and a fence and pool in the background.
    Foundation forms and plumbing rough-in.
  • Another view of the formed slab with plastic sheeting, reinforcing mesh, and plumbing stubs, with the porch section in the foreground.
    Forms and reinforcement ready for the slab.
  • Freshly poured concrete slab at dusk, with plumbing stubs and a paver walk alongside.
    The poured slab.
  • Concrete slab and adjoining porch pad under work lights in the evening.
    The slab and porch pad after the pour.
  • Sheathed exterior walls at sunset, with a curved paver walk leading to the studio.
    The walls, sheathed.
  • Front view of the sheathed studio with roof trusses in place and wood posts at the entry.
    The entry and roof trusses from the front.
  • Front view of the studio with the roof decked, wood posts at the entry, and a paver walk in front.
    Roof decking in place.
  • Interior wall and ceiling framing over the concrete slab, looking toward a tall window opening in the end wall.
    Interior framing.
  • Interior stud walls and ceiling framing, with wiring run to an electrical panel.
    Interior framing and electrical rough-in.

Building the architectural details

A closer look at the window recesses, framed arches, gable returns, and soffit details before the exterior finish.

  • Framing at a window opening, showing the deep framed sill and angled studs that form the recess.
    Framing at a window recess.
  • Corner of the back porch showing two framed arches, a wood post, the back door, and ladders.
    The corner porch arches.
  • Gable returns, soffits, and trim over the sheathed entry arch, before stucco.
    Gable returns and trim before the stucco finish.
  • Tall framed window opening in a sheathed wall, seen from inside.
    A framed window opening.
  • Framed window opening with a header above and a palm tree silhouetted outside at sunset.
    A window opening at sunset.
  • Sheathed back porch with a framed arch overhead and a wood post at the corner.
    The back porch arch after sheathing.
  • Back porch corner with framed arches, a wood post, and the back door installed in the sheathed wall.
    Porch arches and the back door.
  • The entry arch framed and sheathed, with the gable return framing above and the door opening below.
    Framing the arched entry.
  • Close view of a gable return and soffit where the entry roof meets the main eave, above a framed arch.
    A gable return at the entry.
  • Gable return and vented soffit at the corner of the entry, with the sheathed arch below.
    Gable return and soffit.
  • Framed arch ribs at the top of an opening, beneath the soffit and fascia.
    Arch framing beneath the soffit.
  • Back porch arches framed in the sheathed wall, beneath the soffit at the roof corner.
    The porch arches and soffit.
  • Side wall with an arched-top window set into the sheathing, under the eave and soffit.
    An arched window along the side wall.
  • Looking up at a soffit corner where two eaves meet, above the sheathed wall.
    A soffit corner.
  • Soffit above the entry, looking through the framed arch toward the yard beyond.
    The soffit above the entry arch.

Enclosing the home and applying stucco

The arches and window openings move from sheathing and lath to the stucco exterior.

  • Sheathed studio entry with its arch, gable returns, and a white door, with a new concrete walk in front.
    The entry before lath and stucco.
  • Porch arches and walls covered in dark building paper and metal lath, ready for stucco, around a white door.
    Lath on the walls and porch arches.
  • Front of the studio after stucco, with the arched entry, gable returns, and a white door, while site work continues.
    The stucco entry and gable returns.
  • Corner view of the sheathed studio with its arched porch, a white door, and ladders, before stucco.
    The sheathed studio before stucco.
  • Side of the sheathed studio with windows installed and the roof shingled, seen across the lawn.
    The sheathed side wall and windows.
  • Shingled hip roof seen from above, with the backyard below.
    The shingled roof.
  • Close view of shingled roof planes meeting at a valley on each side of a ridge, with a nail gun resting on the roof.
    Roof valley detail.
  • Back porch with lath on the walls, arches, and columns, and a white door.
    The back porch, lathed for stucco.
  • Entry arch and walls with a rough first coat of stucco, below the gable returns and dark fascia.
    A first coat of stucco at the entry.
  • Looking up through the stuccoed entry arch toward the dark soffit and a light fixture box.
    The underside of the entry arch.
  • Back porch with stucco applied to the walls and arch, with a ladder and planks in front.
    Stucco on the back porch.
  • Close view of stuccoed arches and a column at a porch corner, beside a white door.
    Stucco at the porch arches.
  • Side wall of the studio after stucco, with an arched-top window and a paver walk in front.
    The side wall after stucco.
  • The studio after stucco, with the arched porch, a white door, a globe lamp post, and a paver walk.
    The arched porch after stucco.
  • Porch with stucco walls and arch around a white door, with materials still on the ground.
    Stucco around the porch.

Interior work and finishes

Interior progress from drywall and window reveals to flooring and built-in cabinetry.

  • Main studio room with taped drywall on the walls and ceiling, an arched window at the far end, and supplies on the floor.
    Drywall in the main room.
  • Arched window set deep in a drywall reveal, looking out to the yard.
    The arched window reveal.
  • Built-in wood cabinetry with glass-front upper doors, arched open shelves, and a white countertop.
    Built-in cabinetry.
  • Taped drywall throughout the main room, looking toward an arched window and the back door.
    Drywall, looking toward the back door.
  • Arched window in its drywall reveal, covered with protective film during interior work.
    An arched window, protected during finishing.
  • Shower walls with taped board and a recessed niche before tile, beside a framed doorway.
    The shower area before tile.
  • Primed room with an arched-top window and an interior door, before flooring.
    Primed walls and an arched window.
  • Main room with primed walls and an arched-top window at the far end, before flooring.
    The main room after priming.
  • Corner of a room with wood-look plank flooring and baseboard installed, beside a window.
    Plank flooring installed.
  • Open back door with new trim, looking out to the patio, with paper protecting the floor.
    Trim at the back door.

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