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Porches & Decks Design Dilemma Home Decorating

Finishing touches

6 years ago

Hi community, we have just had the back of our 1970s villa courtyard floor tiled, and we need to work out how to best finish the space off. We have lots of unattractive buildings poking up over our equally unattractive fence. So we will get the fence painted but would be interested in colour advice given the colour of bricks and tiles..also would love styling advice on the featured area that can be seen from living room for furniture and perspective. We don’t have lots of dinner parties so don’t need a big dining table, but hubby wants to sit outside and read the newspaper, so some sort of table and chair combo would work. Thank you in advance for ideas and advice!

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PRO

Dr Retro House Calls

6 years ago

I think that your main issue is the fence, and the neighbouring buildings behind the fence. I would be looking to some Japanese style gardens for inspiration (you already have the bonsai), as they work well for smaller spaces. The new paint colour for your fence should be a charcoal, as dark or darker than your floor tiles.

I would invest in some long, deep, but narrow, grey concrete planters that would run along the fenceline, and plant them out with bamboo that will overtake the lowish fence. There are hundreds of different bamboos so do your research into species that are suitable for containers.

The bamboo with its fresh green leaves, against the new charcoal fence will enliven the space, and provide more privacy.

A second issue is the potential trip hazard for visitors, between the different floor levels which have the same dark finish. I would run some large white pebbles in a bed sitting on the tiles, about 30cm wide on the lower level around the periemter of the upper level, except for the step loccation. The visual contrast between the dark tiles and the white pebbles would fit in with a Japanese theme, and highlight the change in level.

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

http://mrbamboo.com.au/in-pots/

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Comments (14)

julie herbert
6 years ago
While I love bamboo the clean up is daily as they shed old leaves constantly , long concrete look tubs with an evergreen magnolia little gem or Lilly pilly would give a beautiful look, paint fence charcoal, add a few designer chairs and a small table , some lovely pots and you will have a gorgeous stylish area, your cushions are great, even a water feature bowl would look lovely
torneyteam thanked julie herbert
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siriuskey
6 years ago
Looking really great so far, the step in the same tile is a trip hazzard I would frame it in stained timber, and agree while I love bamboo they can be very messy.
oklouise
6 years ago
consider a pergola and height extensions to the fence to create taller walls and roof to enclose the courtyard and provide a frame to grow climbing plants for privacy screens without reducing the available floor space...ask your nursery for the best climber to suit your area (eg potato vine will grow very quickly and is very easy to manage supported by a simple open wire mesh over pergola roof and walls)
torneyteam thanked oklouise
torneyteam
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you all for your lovely ideas! I had thought about another rectangular planter box with some tall plants but it is pretty hard to grow things in that spot - everything I've tried so far except the indestructible Frangipani has died. But definitely need to change out the big round pots. Love the idea of the pebbles too - I do like a serene Japanese type theme, so that would work. We have pebbles in a bed out in the other courtyard around the back and they are great, no fuss, and look good after years of just sitting there. And thanks for the feedback on the fence colour - I wondered whether dark would be right of if it would be too dark given the drab buildings behind... but I guess they will all blend in a bit more then, and if we get a white table and chairs then it will be a bit of a pop. I certainly love the colour of green leaves against black or dark charcoal. Thanks so much to you all!
annb1997
6 years ago
Just wanted to say you have done a beautiful job with your back patio, and love your decor. Best wishes implementing some of the above ideas, and please post an After photo!
torneyteam thanked annb1997
PRO
Vuetrade
6 years ago
Here is our Pergola Idea Book. https://www.houzz.com.au/ideabooks/69917791/thumbs/pergolas

Maybe an open timber pergola with a creeper or vine may suit this area?
torneyteam thanked Vuetrade
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 years ago
Good job! Fence looks good for me. You can add some hanging basckets with plants/flowers.
torneyteam thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
Kim
6 years ago
The space looks lovely. I would paint the fence a dark grey/charcoal. Basically more greenery is needed to soften the space and make it a nice sanctuary.

You could use the fence and make a wall garden the same length of the higher platform step. Further along you could get long rectangular planters and plant something that has height to help screen neighbours.

Alternatively you could put the long rectangular planters along the fence in front of the platform step (the same length) and put white pebble in between the fence and platform step encompassing the whole area so you are making zones. A few pavers, if you like, sitting through the pebbles connecting the zones.

Further along make that the relaxing zone with a wall garden, corner suite (against the house) and single chair.
torneyteam thanked Kim
voutred
6 years ago
Another consideration would be to install a vertical garden to a) soften the space b) create something interesting/pleasing for the eye to look at and c) will reduce some of the heat that’ll be absorbed by the dark colours/lack of shade

Plenty of plants can grow in there - strawberries, blueberries, pineapple sage, grasses, ground covering succulents, spring onions, tomatoes ... only limit is aspect and imagination.

Upside too is doesn’t take up a lot of space/depth. Although would break up into sections rather than have whole fence like that. Mix in/alternate with a water feature; large potted plants such as viburnum, snowball viburnum, port wine magnolia (?), pittosporum etc or an old metal frame/gate over the front of a mirror.
torneyteam thanked voutred
torneyteam
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you all for your wonderful feedback! Annb, thank you for your lovely compliment. And Vuetrade and oklouise, we are having an open pergola installed (there is an old rotting one there already) at the end of the courtyard where the garage leads into the house. But it's more for function than relaxing as there is so much room along the back. Voutred, thanks for the plant ideas - very helpful as I have no idea about these things, I'm going to google them all! Even though I only have 2 frangipani's in pots there at the moment, they are driving me mad with all the flower drops, as it's so noticeable on the tiles! So I guess they must go!

Thanks to everyone, this is such a great way to ponder our next steps!
voutred
6 years ago
Just a build the viburnum or pittosporum will give you height/hedging and love a good prune to keep them dense/thick whilst growing. Reasonably fast growing too - just don’t forget to water them.
If the budget and home handiness stretches to it worthwhile putting in irrigation to the pots so you can just turn it on (or put on timer).

Lavender loves a sunny spot as does a mount tambourine grevilla or most gardenias, for lower pots to group around corners/posts. Also bring in some light scent for the evening. Could also pot a lemongrass .. look amazing swaying in a light breeze but also can cook with or have just to keep the mozzies away!
voutred
6 years ago
To save you the leg work
voutred
6 years ago
Here are the others..

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