An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is one of the most versatile ways to expand your property’s potential. Whether designed for aging parents, adult children, long-term guests, rental income, or a dedicated home office, an ADU creates independent living space while enhancing the value and functionality of your home. At Forge & Bow, we believe an ADU should feel like a natural extension of your property, not an afterthought. Every detached guest house, carriage house, garage conversion, or attached accessory dwelling is thoughtfully designed to complement the architecture of the primary residence while meeting your family’s unique needs. As a fully integrated design-build firm, we unite architecture, interior design, permitting, and construction under one roof. This collaborative process ensures every decision—from site placement, permitting, and floor plan optimization to material selection and final craftsmanship—is considered together, resulting in an ADU that is both beautiful and highly functional for years to come.
ARTISTRY | QUALITY | TIMELESSNESS
Every Forge & Bow ADU is custom-designed around your property, local zoning requirements, and lifestyle goals. Whether you’re envisioning a detached guest house, garage apartment, backyard cottage, or attached in-law suite, we create spaces that maximize efficiency, storage, and architectural cohesion.
Every ADU is planned to create a natural relationship with the main home, balancing privacy and independence while maintaining a cohesive architectural presence across the property.
As families grow, lifestyles evolve, and priorities shift, an ADU provides flexible living space that can adapt over time—serving different needs through every stage of life without requiring you to leave the home you love.
Beyond adding square footage, a thoughtfully designed ADU enhances the versatility, functionality, and long-term value of your property, creating a lasting asset that serves your family for generations.
Designing and building an accessory dwelling unit requires more than creating additional square footage. Every project must thoughtfully balance site conditions, local zoning requirements, utility connections, permitting, engineering, and architectural continuity to create a structure that feels intentional and functions seamlessly within your property. At Forge & Bow, our architects, interior designers, project managers, and craftsmen work together from the very beginning. By integrating every phase of design and construction under one roof, we streamline communication, minimize unforeseen challenges, and deliver an ADU that is thoughtfully planned, beautifully crafted, and built to endure.
Every successful ADU begins with a comprehensive understanding of the property. We evaluate zoning regulations, setbacks, utility access, grading, site orientation, and existing conditions to identify opportunities and guide smart design decisions before construction begins.
Building an ADU requires careful coordination between architecture, engineering, permitting, and construction. Our team manages every step with clear communication, transparent timelines, and proactive planning, keeping you informed from concept through completion.
Your dedicated project manager oversees every phase of construction, coordinating skilled craftsmen and maintaining the highest standards of quality. From the foundation to the finishing details, every ADU is built with the same level of care and precision as a custom home.
PHASE 01
The first step is to reach out and share your vision with us. From there, we’ll schedule a complimentary discovery consultation tailored to your project. During this on-site meeting, members of our team will walk your property with you, taking the time to understand your goals, aspirations, and the unique character of your project. We’ll discuss your ideas, explore opportunities, answer important questions, and offer thoughtful guidance informed by years of experience. Our discovery consultation is designed to bring clarity to the process, helping transform inspiration into a well-defined plan. By the end of our meeting, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the possibilities and a clear path forward toward creating a home that is both timeless and distinctly your own.
We invite you to begin the conversation by reaching out to us here.
PHASE 02
Following your discovery consultation, our team will establish an initial project budget based on the anticipated scope, your goals, our extensive design-build experience, and historical data from similar projects. This preliminary proposal is intended to provide a strategic framework for your investment rather than serve as a final design and construction budget.
As the design process progresses and additional project details are defined, we refine the budget with greater accuracy and clarity. Our team carefully evaluates design opportunities, material selections, and project priorities while staying aligned with your vision and investment goals. Through ongoing cost analysis and transparent communication, we ensure you have a clear understanding of your project’s financial direction at every stage. Our goal is to create a collaborative process built on trust, providing the insight and information needed to make confident decisions from initial concept through construction.
PHASE 03
Once your proposal and contract are signed, we begin the Owner’s Criteria & Schematic Design phase. During this stage, we work closely with you to define your goals, priorities, budget, and project requirements while evaluating your property’s existing conditions, feasibility, and applicable building codes. Through site measurements and thoughtful planning, we establish a clear understanding of both the opportunities and constraints that will shape the design. With this foundation in place, our design team develops preliminary floor plans, elevations, space planning, and architectural concepts that bring your vision to life while considering functionality, building systems, and long-term livability. At the conclusion of this phase, we prepare a Schematic Estimate, providing a refined understanding of the project’s investment and ensuring alignment between the design and your budget.
PHASE 04
During the Design Development phase, our team refines every aspect of your project. We present curated interior concepts and material selections while finalizing floor plans, elevations, and architectural details. We also coordinate with engineers and other consultants as needed to ensure the design is cohesive, technically sound, and ready for construction.
At the same time, we prepare and submit all required documentation for permitting and jurisdictional approvals. If Historic District or Zoning reviews are required, additional meetings and services may be billed separately. This phase concludes with an updated Developed Estimate that reflects the refined design. Once approved, we move confidently into the final construction documentation phase.
PHASE 05
During the Construction Documents & Bidding phase, we finalize your project scope, obtain competitive pricing from our trusted trade partners, and complete detailed material takeoffs to produce a comprehensive Builder Proposal. At your Summit Meeting, we review the finalized design, project investment, and, if necessary, identify value engineering opportunities to align the project with your budget. Once approved, we execute a contract amendment reflecting the finalized scope and investment. We then complete the Construction Documents, ensuring every detail accurately represents the approved design. Your project is formally transitioned to our construction team, and you’ll be introduced to your dedicated Project Manager, who will oversee the build and serve as your primary point of contact throughout construction.
PHASE 06
Construction is where your vision becomes reality. Your dedicated Project Manager oversees the budget, schedule, and quality of the build, managing only a limited number of projects to ensure exceptional attention and service. Our design team provides ongoing construction administration to ensure every detail is executed as intended, while our coordinators, accounting team, and leadership provide behind-the-scenes support throughout the process. As construction nears completion, we conduct a Substantial Completion walkthrough to identify any remaining punch list items. Once those final details are addressed, we proudly deliver a finished home crafted for lasting enjoyment and years of memorable living.
Forge & Bow was founded by licensed architect Jordan Obermann and interior designer Annie Obermann and has been recognized by Forbes for our distinctive approach to architect-led design-build across Northern Colorado. press.
Forge & Bow is headquartered in Fort Collins at 120 W. Olive Street. Our luxury design-build projects span Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, and the greater Front Range. If you are seeking a team that manages every architectural and interior detail with intention and precision, we welcome the invitation to discuss your vision.
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a secondary residential living space located on the same property as a primary home. ADUs may be detached backyard cottages, attached additions, garage conversions, or carriage houses. They typically include a kitchen, bathroom, living area, and sleeping space, creating a fully independent residence.
An ADU adds flexible living space that can adapt to changing needs over time. Homeowners often use ADUs as guest houses, accommodations for aging parents or adult children, home offices, creative studios, or private retreats. A thoughtfully designed ADU can also increase the long-term value and versatility of your property.
Yes. Many homeowners build ADUs to provide comfortable, independent living for aging parents, adult children, caregivers, or extended family members. An ADU allows loved ones to remain close while offering the privacy and autonomy of a separate residence.
We design custom accessory dwelling units tailored to each property and homeowner’s goals. Projects may include detached guest houses, backyard cottages, garage conversions, carriage houses, barn remodels, attached ADUs, or in-law suites. Every design is customized to complement the architecture of the primary residence and the character of the site.
Yes. Most ADUs require local zoning approval, building permits, engineering, and utility coordination. Requirements vary by municipality and neighborhood. Our team manages the permitting process, working closely with local jurisdictions to help ensure your project meets all applicable regulations.
The investment depends on the size, complexity, site conditions, utility connections, and level of customization. During the design phase, we develop a detailed budget based on your goals, allowing you to make informed decisions before construction begins.
Every project is unique, but most ADUs include a design phase, permitting, and construction. Factors such as municipal approvals, engineering requirements, and project complexity influence the overall timeline. We’ll provide a realistic schedule and keep you informed throughout the entire process.
In many cases, yes. Garage or barn conversions can be an excellent way to create additional living space while making use of an existing structure. We’ll evaluate the building’s condition, zoning regulations, and utility requirements to determine whether a garage conversion is the right solution for your property.
The answer depends on several factors, including zoning regulations, lot size, setbacks, utility access, and existing site conditions. Our team begins every project with a comprehensive feasibility analysis to determine what is possible and identify the best opportunities for your property.
Designing and building an ADU requires close coordination between architecture, engineering, permitting, and construction. As a fully integrated design-build firm, Forge & Bow manages every phase under one roof, providing a streamlined experience, clear communication, and a cohesive vision from concept through completion.
Yes. We design and build custom accessory dwelling units throughout Northern Colorado, creating bespoke living spaces that are thoughtfully designed, expertly crafted, and tailored to each client’s property and lifestyle.
We are a boutique Architectural Design-Build firm that understands that custom work requires custom project processes and schedules. In our discovery together, we will discuss your project and needs in detail so that we can establish a project timeline and process that works for you.
Following our consultation, we will prepare a proposal outlining our scope of work and design fees. If the proposal looks good to you, we will review our team’s schedules and share our next available start date for the Criteria Study. Within the Criteria Study, we will be exploring scope, reviewing your inspiration and programming requirements, conducting an as-built survey, investigating jurisdictional requirements, considering construction practicality, and gathering budget awareness of your project.
From there, we continue into a progressive AIA design approach, working from Schematic Design to Design Development, resulting in a developed and engineer-coordinated plan set ready for bidding with our subcontractors, trade partners, and vendors. Once we have received our bids back, we will make interior selections, perfecting the design, and present our Builder Proposal with a proposed construction start date.
Reach out through our contact form or give us a call to schedule a complimentary consultation. We’d love to hear about your vision and explore how we can bring it to life.
Our work adheres to the NAHB Residential Construction Guidelines, ensuring that every project meets recognized industry standards for quality and durability. For renovated homes or additions, our warranty applies only to defects directly resulting from the work we perform. It does not cover pre-existing conditions, issues influenced by prior work, or elements outside the defined scope of our contract.
Warranty Coverage:
1 year: Coverage for work outside of walls, including finishes and exterior elements.
2 years: Coverage for work inside walls, such as plumbing, electrical, and interior systems.
8 years: Coverage for structural components, including the foundation, framing, and load-bearing elements.
