Thank you so much for your suggestion! I have added photos. Any ideas on type of window?

Is the garage actually used to park cars? It doesn’t look big enough, in which case, can the doors be removed and the space be converted into all living area ? Or is there a reason your LL wants to keep it looking like a garage?

Thank you for the suggestion! The front portion of the garage is 7' deep (so, no cars). Owner *would* like to weather-proof entire area because of washer/dryer. If the entire storage area were converted into living, what would that look like? I.e., where would you put the washer/dryer, and stairs?

What would you replace the garage doors with? I would like to maximize light.

How much change is the LL willing to do? Are you looking at a plan to finish out the "garage" space or revamp the whole thing?

Is this a "legal" apartment?

You could install french doors where the garage doors are to bring more light in.

Love that idea!

The county has recently legalized ADUs. So I am now legal! :-)

Since french doors are typically 6' wide, and garage doors 8' wide, is there an option to take advantage of that entire space to maximize the light (and doorframe) available?

Owner is willing to make improvements, but with as little cost as possible, since any improvements to the space would not be realized upon sale of the property.

It seems that the location of the kitchen and bathroom would make any extensive revamp quite difficult, without tearing everything out and starting again from scratch. But if you can see a possibility that I can't, I would love to hear it! :-)

Yhere is no garage so no fear of monoxide poising or fire any more that any other apt.I think a good designer could come up with a way to finish that space and maybe the attic too . You could look into glass panelled garge door that actually rolls into the space and would provide a huge amount of light if tha wall was opened between the finished and unfinished space.

Re 8’ opening, 6’ doors. A solid or clear 2’ wall can be added.

Have you considered solar tubes, easy to install skylights.

Apartment was originally completed by owner's husband at the time (a builder himself), for his daughter and grandchildren to stay in. So thank you Couture for the reminder that significant modifications could possibly require inspection, along with possible additional cost.

I love love love the light and airflow provided by what Patricia is describing! :-)

If current garage doors were replaced with a glass garage door (would this be the easiest retrofit...and most cost effective, given that rails are already in place?), any thoughts on how to provide privacy for the main living space when needed? The living space would be open to the road in front of the house.

Jim, I have wondered about skylights or solar tubes, but the attic is standing height in the center, so I assumed they wouldn't work. Did I assume wrong?

Solar tubes are designed for that installation. A skylight would require a shaft.

You are renting. Are you saying you are looking for ideas for the landlord? That's weird, never heard of such a thing.

Here's a stab at a floorplan. It keeps the same attic opening, but rotates the stairs, and makes them "proper" stairs instead of a ladder. Rough rule of thumb: for every 7.5" of rise (ceiling) you need 10" of run to meet code. So if you have 8' ceilings, you need ~11' of length/footprint for the stairs. You could have some storage under the stairs.

This keeps the bathroom and kitchen, which would be the most expensive to move. You'd need to figure out how your furniture would fit, and whether these dimensions work for you. It sounds like you're used to living in a small space, so you're likely pretty minimalist.

Keep in mind that south-facing windows bring in the most light, and windows on 2 walls of a room make it much brighter.

I don't know that I'd want a roll-up glass door that faces the street, because of privacy, though curtains can solve that easily. Is your climate mild enough and bug-free such that you'd often want to open an unscreened wall to the outdoors?

I'd probably opt for large windows that open, maybe sliders. You've got the framed opening, with a header, because of the garage door. At most they'd need to put a few more studs in to bring it down to the right rough opening, some framing below, and then patch in some siding on the outside. Making an opening smaller is simple. Making it bigger is more complicated.

Jim, thanks for the info about solar tubes! Those could be lovely to bring more light into the kitchen in particular!

Oooh...I hadn't thought about creating a bedroom in the front of the building...that would be absolutely lovely for sunlight! Thanks for the idea, Weedyacres! Thanks also for the tips about light (compass direction and two walls). I like the idea of sliders, since those could be left open for ventilation without take up space inside or outside.

Re installing French/patio doors. The opening would have to framed per the door manufacturers instructions. Usually, a garage door will have different framing than a patio/French door.

Thanks for pointing that out, Jim. So, that adds a layer of complication with cinderblock walls and exterior aluminum siding....

You could still add wood framing inside cinderblock walls to shrink the opening for a window. And that looks to me like steel siding, which comes in 3' wide x whatever long sheets (looks like yours are ~9-10'?) and is pretty simple to piece in to fill the new walls. I did that recently on a pole barn. Will try to get photos to post.

Of course, what's "simple" in Weedy's book may not be "simple" for your LL. But remember that making holes smaller is easier than making holes bigger. And building walls is easier than tearing down walls, just because there may be electrical or plumbing or HVAC inside the existing walls, and flooring to patch once they're gone.

Here's a 5-minute video that shows you how to shrink a door to a window opening.

UPDATE:

Thank you so much for all of your comments and suggestions!

My landlord has consulted with contractors, and is not willing to change any exterior appearance. ADUs are legal in our county, but but the county is not aware of this ADU. My landlord is concerned about potential increase in property tax and potential cost of county-required upgrades were the county to become aware.

So, she is willing to give me the space in the front of the building, to knock down the wall between main room and current unfinished front of the building, move the stairs to the rear of the unfinished area (above washer and dryer). Also, willing to replace green door with a half French door (full glass). She is also willing to replace the existing a/c with another window, since the space exists in the cinder block. This is all assuming that the cost is reasonable. I am going to ask if recessed lights can also be added.

Finishing the unfinished attic would be fantastic, because there is the potential for windows on all four sides. Of course, I would love French doors on the front of the building. Neither of these are options due to concerns regarding county regulations.

Any suggestions regarding stair placement? (Water heater sits to the left of the washer and dryer). Weedyacres recommended rotating into the current living space. What would you think of rotating them over the washer and dryer? Where the bikes (in the photo) currently sit?

If the attic were finished, and converted into a bedroom, the walk in closet could be opened up (per weedy acres' recommendation), which could really open up that space...light from two sides, not including fenced-over windows. Gee...that could really change the feel of the space!