courtyard

A breezeway complete with swings connects the front and back decks. “We knew we wanted a covered entry, but we left it open to create a larger outdoor space,” says Scott, who admits to occasionally using the swings himself. Mud guards are built into the Kebony decking to keep dirt from being tracked inside. The teak chairs are by Skagerak.

Tucked into one end of the garage, a potting area is a favorite of Joan, who is an avid gardener and plant lover. The design team used leftover cedar from the ceilings to create the work surface.

At the back of the house, an extended steel downspout is positioned over a boulder to create a waterfall every time it rains. Over the years, moss will grow on the stone, further propagating the local plant life.

The recycled bricks were also used to create an outdoor shower.

In Fingal Head, New South Wales, Australia, Blankslate founders Nigel Chouri and Crick King completely reenvisioned a ’50s beach shack and its garage. They spent $911K for the property, and $322K on the renovation. The two structures are connected by a plaza defined by recycled bricks.

Of the “stramp,” a combination stair and ramp Mikiten designed, he says, “I can roll up and down a four-inch step, and my wife can walk naturally, even when carrying heavy things.” The stramp follows and accentuates the home’s curved walls.

The large overhangs provide year-round comfort while adding a strong architectural element to the simple massing.

A simple and restrained material palette kept construction costs low.

The couple spent $27, 250 on the interior windows, including the floor-to-ceiling glass panels that frame the courtyard.

"It was really a breezy project,

"Our many ideas were floating around the mountain, and we needed someone to bring them down and turn them into reality,

The courtyard is enjoyed from multiple vantage points, including the main living spaces and an office on the main floor, as well as a second-floor hallway and bedrooms.

The house opens to the central courtyard, where the swimming pool is a hit in the summer. The space is lined with Leuder’s limestone. “This was a place where we inverted the suburban house model, where there only put stone or brick on the front,” says Legge. “Here, we put it on the inside. It’s a perfect square, and it acts as an anchor, but you can see it from all sides.”

“We’re always throwing events,” says Paul, so the indoor/outdoor style was a great fit for them.

Levenbetts designed the guesthouse as a porous block. Every side opens to the outdoors, allowing the landscape to continue through the building. “The idea was to create this total openness and informality and almost undomesticated domestic space,” says architect David Leven. The concrete is textured by its forms on the outside but smooth where it cuts into the building—“almost as though you sliced into it with a knife,” Leven adds.

“We restored the fact that it was a courtyard open to the air,” says Slocum. “So when you walk out into the courtyard, if you look up, you're seeing sky.” Textured matte porcelain outdoor pavers from Tilebar surround a tree growing at the center.

At Casa Cantellano, courtyards double as hallway access, with seamless indoor-outdoor access.

"The effect of the plantings on the terrace is enormous,” reflects the couple. “Not only do the branches and formations give a sense of the four seasons, but the way it looks from the living room contributes to a sense of calmness. It gives the illusion that we are viewing art."

The architects design for the backyard showcases an outdoor deck, bleacher seating, a lush grass area, and a deck with seating and a fire pit.