Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Courtyard Love

There is a courtyard in my future, so now I'm obsessed with creating a lovely, intimate and private space for us as well as the dogs.  Of course the first place I go to for ideas is Pinterest!
Starting with the walls.
I love the idea of brick.

 
A wooden fence would be less expensive though and plants can be added to gussy up the space.
The pergola over this courtyard is another idea, especially for more privacy.

 I envision a gravel courtyard with a fountain.
Having a door to the outside is also a priority.

 This courtyard has it all.
Gravel.  Outside door.  Vines.

This is more realistic though because the stuccoed walls are a lot easier and less expensive to build than stone.  I like the arched door.
I would grow creeping fig on the walls or espalier ivy.

Here is my courtyard project.
The fences are mis-matched and falling down and I'm not a fan of the undulating flagstone.
However, lining the flower beds with boxwood would go a long way, especially if the fence was replaced with new fencing with espaliered ivy or a stucco wall.  The light fixture is being replaced and the French doors will be painted black.
I'm open to ideas!
Gravel?  Crushed granite?  Stucco walls?  Vines?  Pergola over the entire space?
Talk to me.... 
Pin It!

28 comments:

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Have y'all already bought a new home? Any of those ideas sound good to me.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Have y'all already bought a new home? Any of those ideas sound good to me.

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Stucco walls with manufactured stone accents might be a nice compromise. I am toying with the idea of putting in a pea gravel patio, but I am concerned it will be too messy. Will the gravel end up all over the place and mixing into the lawn etc.?

Marsha said...

I see it covered with a wonderful pergola and gravel the entire floor. Add plants in containers or in narrow beds along the wall. Wall could be stucco or brick or stone. You will embellish it and cover most of it up anyway. It looks like it can use the privacy from the neighboring home so a pergola is needed to create that enclosed, private courtyard.

Lesa said...

Have you announced your move and I missed it or what????? Can your California house be moved with everything in it to Tennessee??

Sarah said...

Looks like you've found a new abode. Exciting! I like the idea of a stucco fence or a combination of stucco with stone or brick. Love the inspiration wall in the first photo. Espaliers are wonderful. Have you thought about an apple espalier? Crushed granite would look great, and love the idea of an arched door. We have an arched gateway into our back courtyard space, and it's one of my favorite details. A pergola over the entire space is going to limit the light into the rooms. What about just cover an area? Also like the idea of container gardening for a small space. Lots of wonderful possibilities here. You will work your magic, and this space will be incredible. Have fun!

Judy said...

is this your new home? i know you're planning on a move in the future but i didn't realize it was so soon!

the area has a lot of potential and i'm sure you can give it the love it needs!

AntiqueChase said...

did I miss a post?? Did you buy a new place??

Curtains in My Tree said...


Those are all great ideas
I hope my next home will have a court yard patio something like a mix of all those.I always did like a pergola with a vine over it

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Delores is this your home? I love the idea of lining the patio with boxwood and painting the doors black! Whatever you decide it's going to look amazing!!

Mary Ann Pickett said...

You are so lucky to have an outside space in SF. We had small patios on Lido...I used an antique French stone animal trough for a fountain and look what my friend Debbie did here...
http://www.classiccasualhome.com/2012/04/beach-home-and-garden-tour.html

Sonia said...

I would definitely add a pergola with the boxwoods!

laney said...

...i cannot wait to watch you do your magic...blessings laney

Glenda/MidSouth said...

With your talent what ever you decide it will be beautiful.
I personally would not want the pea gravel or crushed stone. leaves and tree debris is harder to keep cleaned up, and your furbabies will get the tiny rocks between their toes and bring them in your home. Then the hardwood floors get damaged, and they put a lot of wear and tear on rugs/carpet, and on a vacuum clean keeping them cleaned up on carpet. I know someone that went thru that. Looking forward to seeing your new home.

Unknown said...

No need to ask...you're moving. Good for you! I think, Delores, whatever you choose will be absolutely beautiful...no doubt in my mind. I'm excited for you. :)

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

I can't wait to see what you do. seems that the fencing is a small enough area that cost won't be too high. I'm hoping you do go with stone or stucco. I think it will look wonderful with some vivid flowers. Again, looking forward to seeing what you do.

Katherine said...

Painting all the fences one common colour will unit them. Black fences look great with greenery growing over them - or maybe a putty colour if you want something lighter.
What about bougainvillea growing up the stucco walls.
All of the images you picked have a common element that reads Europe. Your patio already has the bones to be dressed as an Italian villa courtyard.

Betty said...

I want a court yard too one year, hopefully at our next house. I saw one in a movie years ago and told Hubby I want one just like it.

liparifam said...

I like the gravel with pots idea. My friend moved into a city home with a tiny back yard, and he had a little lions-head fountain and lots of flowers and herbs - it was charming. But the main thing, for me, would be working on establishing as much privacy as possible, which means as high a wall as you can build, then depending on what material is used, perhaps even extending it with a see through lattice or a framework that vines can grow on, or by using pots with tall trees. Maybe gravel, some small beds, pots with trees? And then maybe a pergola to provide even more privacy... The huge 4-story Restoration Hardware store in Houston has some delightful small courtyards around it with this gravel/trees in pots/fountain look.

Melissa said...

We just had a crushed/decomposed granite patio installed on the upper section of a terraced lawn. Our landscaper highly recommend it over gravel because the granite will eventually harden and become more solid, where gravel does not. This is important if you have kids or pets, since you want your medium to stay put and not end up all over the yard or tracked into your home.
Good luck with your project, I know it will be fabulous

liparifam said...

Yes, the crushed granite is what I was thinking of! However, this is pretty too, and has a lot of the same features as what you are starting with: http://www.houzz.com/photos/2322820/Pebble-Beach-Landscapes-mediterranean-patio-other-metro

Marlis said...

Crushed granite isn't all it's put up to be.. I would stick with the pea gravel any day. Is this the new house? I can't wait to see what you do. Pea gravel and ivy and stucco'd wall. I have died and made it to heaven!! xo marlis

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Hi Delores, I have been busy decorating our courtyard so I am excited to see your plans. I know it will be beautiful.

carolyn bradford said...

When we visit our daughter in New Orleans we always seek out the restaurants with courtyards! They are the places with history in that city! So intimate and quaint! Love having a space like that! You will enjoy it so much!

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

Delores, Your ideas are so interesting. I agree that the stucco walls will be a wonderful extension of the house and a pergola will add such a cozy and romantic touch! I do not recommend loose stone of any sort though--we once had a drive in crushed granite and walkway in pea and it was always a mess. And if you are "barefoot" people or even wear sandals often, you will have trouble walking on it, and little pieces do come in the house. I know it is so attractive, though. Maybe you can get rid of the tree (or pole?) and put in something large and airy. Oooh I'm so excited to see what you do! I'm sure it will be wonderful. Linda

Unknown said...

That is ah so gorgeous place, I closed my eyes & imagined myself sitting in the second plants and sofa sets amazing. It felt wonderful!
Dining Room

cindy hattersley design said...

Dolores you are going to have such fun with that space. I love the idea of a small walled garden!

Anonymous said...

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Sri Gita Govinda
-A book written in the 12th century, this is a description of the intimate loving affairs of Radha and Krishna
http://www.mediafire.com/view/keqr4lqp7wr1rru/Sri_Gita_Govinda.pdf

Govinda Lilamrta
-An 400 year old book which poetically describes the eternal daily pastimes of Radha and Krishna
http://www.mediafire.com/view/uhcuigauc6uqiei/Govinda_Lilamrita.pdf

Ananda Vrindavan Campu
-This is probably the most poetic and intimate portrayal of Sri Krsna’s life in Vrndavana that has ever been written.
http://www.mediafire.com/view/k9j3ldwbt17be3b/Ananda_Vmdavana_Campu.pdf

Prayers of Service to Radha and Krishna (Sankalpa Kalpadruma)
http://www.mediafire.com/view/lvkqsro3sbzm249/Visvanath_Cakravarti_Thakur_Sankalpa_Kalpadruma.pdf

Prema Samputa The Treasure Chest of Love
http://www.mediafire.com/view/mpbncdyt97nw0x7/Prema_Samputa_The_Treasure_Chest_of_Love.pdf


And the following four are taken from Visvanath Cakravarti's Camatkara Candrika, a 300 year old scripture that talks about the love meeting of Radha and Krishna:

The Meeting in the Box
http://www.mediafire.com/view/c81a7cp43n5v6aj/The_Meeting_in_the_Box.pdf

The Meeting of Sri Krishna Disguised as a Female Doctor
http://www.mediafire.com/view/hgomrnem7829pda/The_Meeting_of_Sri_Krsna_Disguised_as_a_Female_Doctor.pdf

The Meeting of Sri Krishna Disguised as a Female Singer
http://www.mediafire.com/view/gyuboduhn8dvdml/The_Meeting_of_Sri_Krsna_Disguised_as_a_Female_Singer.pdf

The Meeting of Sri Krishna Disguised as Abhimanyu
http://www.mediafire.com/view/911h9qoxn4ca027/The_Meeting_of_Sri_Krsna_Disguised_As_Abhimanyu.pdf


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