Caitlin Swann had the perfect idea when her parents decided it was time to sell her childhood home
Credit: The Picket Fence Projects
NEED TO KNOW
- Caitlin Swann built a 725-square-foot accessory dwelling unit for her parents in her Connecticut backyard
- Swann, an interior designer, led the design process while her parents financed the project that was completed in late 2025
- Swann says having her parents nearby has strengthened family bonds and created special moments with her children
When Caitlin Swann’s parents were thinking about selling their house and moving somewhere new, she came across the perfect idea — what if they moved into her backyard?
After moving into her Fairfield, Conn. home with her husband and three kids in 2023, Swann — an interior designer —carefully worked to make her home feel like their own through a major renovation. She tells Business Insider that when she was talking with her parents about what they were going to do with their house, an ad for a “granny pod” came up on her Facebook.
According to Swann, a “granny pod” is another name for a pre-fab ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, that families can add to their properties.
“I had thought, ‘Oh, we could probably add that on to the house,’ ” recalled Swann to the outlet. “But I didn’t really think about a separate structure.”
Credit: The Picket Fence Projects
Swann initially sent the ad to her mom as a joke, but was surprised when her mom was on board. “She was like, ‘That’s brilliant,’ ” she explained.
After checking that zoning laws would allow Swann to build an ADU on her land, she and her husband mulled the decision over with her parents. Swann and her husband, who have close relationships with her parents, decided that it was the right move to build the ADU.
“My parents are really respectful,” she said. “They’re not overbearing. They’re extremely helpful. They go to bed really early.”
“I guess you don’t really know until it happens, but I know I had no concerns about living on the same property,” added Swann.
Credit: The Picket Fence Projects
Since Swann’s parents would be living in the ADU, they financed the project. But Swann led the design of the 725-square-foot space, collaborating with Eileen Duffy and Paul Delco Builders.
“My mom was like, ‘I don’t want to make any decisions,’ ” she remembered. “But of course, I ran a lot of ideas past her to make sure that she liked what I was doing.”
Credit: The Picket Fence Projects
The project began in May 2025 and finished in November of that year. Swann’s parents moved into the one-bedroom unit a few weeks ahead of Thanksgiving.
“They’ve just been so happy,” Swann said. “I feel like we’ve fallen into a really nice routine. My mom’s joined pickleball groups. My dad walks to the beach every day.”
Credit: The Picket Fence Projects
Her parents spend their winters in Florida and take short trips to visit Swann’s siblings. But for most of the year, they love living in their Connecticut cottage. Swann says seeing her parents every day is a “blessing,” and noted that they can walk over to the main house to babysit their grandkids or eat dinner together.
“Having that time together with the grandkids and little moments throughout the day are so special,” said Swann. “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.”
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