April 2005

With Creative Landscaping, Anyone can Have an Intimate Courtyard

By Rachel Ezekiel-Fishbein

I dislike the view from my living room window. There is no tantalizing focal point to lure me outside, only the barrenness of the deck that dwarfs my backyard, the children’s play set, and a wood fence that partially blocks an unsightly commercial property. When my husband and I bought this house, I had fantasies of carefree afternoons sipping lemonade on the deck, breathing in the fragrance of flowers and enjoying the children at play, sitting outside with a good book, or spending relaxing evenings al fresco with my husband and a bottle of wine. Instead, I seldom set foot on the deck, ignoring it as I might a friend who has disappointed me one too many times. However, if landscape designer Brad Baker has anything to say about it, this summer I may forge a new relationship with my deck.

Baker listened as I described my feelings about the deck, and he created a plan to transform the space into a cozy and intimate courtyard, a space I can enjoy viewing from my living room window and to which I can retreat when I need to recharge. According to Baker, anyone can have a courtyard such as this, even if they don’t have a classic courtyard space on their property.

“A courtyard can be any kind of outside room,” says Baker. “A courtyard is simply a place where you can feel insulated and relax, with access to both the out of doors and the indoors. It’s really a transition space. Decks and patios – even the area from where you park your car to where you enter your home – can easily be transformed to give you a comforting sense of intimacy with a view of the wider world around.”

The key is determining which space to transform by thinking about how you use your home and your outdoor space, and where you’d like to build your own private retreat. Baker regularly morphs entryways into courtyards by adding an arbor and fragrant plants that soften the transition from work to home at the end of the day. He suggests transforming my deck by installing a vertical garden – with plants growing from hidden sections of pipe – to block the view of other homes and that unsightly business. In effect he will build a natural barrier from the outside world that fits the scale of my limited space. Hanging baskets on poles will create a colorful ceiling and screen which will at once enclose the courtyard and let in plenty of sunshine and moonlight, plus allow a view of the children at play. That same ceiling effect can be gained through other means, such as installing a pergola or arbor. Trellises or large pots filled with flowers are other means to create screens or borders. The simple addition of a bamboo mat can warm a concrete patio floor, inspiring you to toss off your shoes and walk barefoot. Even an already appealing flagstone patio can be made more intimate when a different type of stone, such as marble, is installed in a small area and highlighted with a café table.

The options abound, so you must be clear when talking to your designer about what you want to block out and what you want to emphasize, ensureing that each element is placed with purpose. A telephone pole might be screened from view with hanging baskets, while an arbor can be situated to provide shade in a formerly unusable space that draws the full heat of the sun.

Like most Americans, most of my time out of doors takes place after work. Therefore, lighting is a key component in my courtyard design. Just think how unpleasant it would be to sit down to drink that glass of wine or read that book under a traditional 150 watt outdoor security light.

“Interesting lighting is essential to evoking the different moods and emotions people seek in a courtyard,” says Baker emphatically. “If you don’t plan for the right lighting, you’re going to miss out, because by the time most people set foot outside, the sun is going down. Through low voltage lighting, you can mimic romantic moonlight or spotlight a favorite reading chair. Adding sound finishes your multi-sensory experience, whether it’s hooking up a pair of outdoor stereo speakers or buying a small fountain to fill your space with the patter of falling water. These elements muffle outside noise and help keep your focus on your immediate surroundings.”

Creating a courtyard out of existing space can be as simple or elaborate a project as suits you and your lifestyle. It can renew the enjoyment you get from your home, with a tempting view and your own slice of heaven to make your home a haven.

Brad Baker is a Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist. You can reach him at Baker Creative, 215-884-4978 or Brad@BakerCreative.com. To see his work, visit www.BakerCreative.com.

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