This courtyard design was part of a complete renovation of the existing house and outside spaces.  The area is below ground level at the back and originally had a garage at the top - coming in from the road above - with a corridor leading from the house up some steps and a shed below.  Very damp and ugly (see before picture), the garage, shed and steps were completely demolished just leaving a raised platform at the back for access onto the road.  The old corridor and steps were on the side most open to the sun, so the steps were relocated to the other side to make maximum use of the light.

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The extra space allowed for a modern, slick extension to the back of the house, which called for a slick contemporary design for the courtyard.  Drawing on the styling of this extension and also the interior the house, dark grey tiled raised beds, a cedar slatted panel softening the high sided wall and under balcony partitions (creating useful service area and log pile) were designed around an attractive seating area.  As planting space was limited, a living wall was placed to further soften the hard landscaping.

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This has definitely been my biggest transformation to date!

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