Last week when we profiled a tech exec couple’s Modern Farmhouse in San Francisco on Remodelista, our favorite part of the design was the clever way architect Malcolm Davis and garden designer Daniel Nolan of Flora Grubb Gardens integrated a small walled courtyard garden into the home’s living space.
By excavating an inaccessible slope on the property, Davis found extra square footage, adding a pantry and powder room to the house’s interior—and doubling the size of the outdoor living space. Heated outdoor furniture lures the homeowners outdoors in all seasons.
We’ve sourced everything you need—from hardscape materials to plants to furnishing—to steal the look:
The idea behind the indoor-outdoor kitchen remodel was to “allow the surrounding greenery and the food to provide the color and life,” says Davis.
Furnishings
Against a green backdrop, a neutral palette of gray and white furnishings has a dash of color. In the absence of flowering plants, blue and orange stripes create a visual focus.
Not only is heated furniture more attractive than having heat lamps standing awkwardly at the edge of a space,”it’s so much more effective and energy efficient,” says Davis. The Helios Lounge uses about $1 of electricity every 8 hours on the highest setting, says Galanter & Jones.
In the furniture’s standard configuration, am 8-foot power cord exits the back of the right leg. “If you require something different, please let us know within five days of your order,” says Galanter & Jones.
Hardscape
Pavers
The cost to build with poured-in-place concrete can range from about $65 to $110 per square face foot, depending on the site conditions and design specifications.
Gravel
As a rule of thumb, a pea gravel walkway or patio costs about $5 per square foot, installed, including a layer of base rock. If you’d like to install it yourself, it will cost half as much.
Steel Cable Railing
Get more ideas at Hardscaping 101: Railings.
Plant Palette
Vines & Climbers
Creeping fig keeps a slim profile as it climbs a retaining wall and covers it with a dense, tight mat of green leaves. One of our favorite vines, a fast-growing Ficus Pumila “Creeping Fig” in a 4-inch pot is $7.95 from Annie’s Annuals.Evergreen Shrubs
Tropical Plants
The shelter of a high-walled courtyard can create a warmer, wind-free climate where tropical plants can thrive.
See more of our favorite furnishings for small outdoor spaces:
- On the Hot Seat: Heated Furniture from Galanter & Jones.
- Outdoor Furniture Roundup: Architects’ 10 Favorite Collections.
- 10 Easy Pieces: Garden Benches.
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