Karen Moore’s designer tips for creating a European-style courtyard:
Plan for privacy issues early on. “Neighbors are right on top of us,” Moore said. “Plant larger trees so you don’t have to wait for them to grow.”
Start with table and chairs. “The most important thing for somebody who cooks and entertains is outdoor eating space. You can entertain around a table without dinner. But if it’s dinner, you need a table.”
Use umbrellas. “They’re as much for privacy as shade,” Moore said. “With umbrellas, you get the sense that your conversation is not traveling to three or four different neighbors.”
Small pavers add character to a concrete slab. Moore warns against flagstones in small spaces: “We tried that first, but they were irregular. Everything wobbled, and it drove me nuts.”
Dress up steps. “We used tumbled marble tiles: It looks beautiful and has lasted.”
Camouflage the air-conditioner. The Moores added a wood fence around their A/C unit. “You can still hear it, but you can’t see it. Nobody wants to look at a compressor.”
Decorate fences as you would walls.
Soften hard lines with plantings. “We let vines grow over everything.”
Consider leaving wood unpainted. “Natural, weathered wood, as opposed to painted, creates an older feeling.”
Add a brick or stone surface behind the grill. “We almost set the fence on fire one time, so we added bricks, almost like a backsplash. It looks better and is safer.”
Banish plastic. “I cannot stand plastic. In small spaces, pieces are super important. We use iron, stone, wood. Even our lanterns have an aged look.”
Stay true to style. “Those big, hanging sling chairs are inexpensive and comfortable, but they’d look out of place here. So would those woven chairs that immediately create a swimming-pool feel.”
Vary heights for interesting sight lines. “Hanging things and placing some pots up, some down takes away from rigid rectangular lines of the patio space.”
Don’t line up furniture around edges. “Move into the middle of the space.”
Paint your door. “We used a brick red for contrast.”
Add potted plants to sides of stairways. “I’ve always loved the look of terracing up to the door with potted plants,” Moore said. “It’s so inviting.”
Colleen Smith
