5 of the Best Terrace and Courtyard Transformations
Before and after photos show how, with clever design, even the most unpromising space can be improved beyond recognition
Sarah Alcroft
9 May 2023
Houzz UK Editorial Team
From shady storage dump to cosy courtyard; concrete bunker to leafy retreat… It’s amazing how, with the right materials, plants and colour, unwelcoming spaces can be turned into cosy outdoor rooms, as these projects by designers on Houzz show. Would any of these ideas work for you?
A cosy living room extension
The terrace of this one-bed flat in Madrid was not only unloved and largely unused, it was disconnected from the interior, which was such a waste.
The terrace of this one-bed flat in Madrid was not only unloved and largely unused, it was disconnected from the interior, which was such a waste.
The before and after plans reveal how the designer, Nora Zubia of Slow & Chic – Interiorismo, reworked the interior layout so the terrace could be connected to the home from two key rooms – the kitchen/living room via sliding doors and the bedroom via a window.
Find a local garden designer and explore ways you could make more of your outside space.
Find a local garden designer and explore ways you could make more of your outside space.
Here’s the bedroom window, with the sliding doors just out of shot on the left.
The terrace itself has been refreshed with new flooring and crisp white paint. Nora divided it into two zones – a relaxation area with an L-shaped sofa, seen here, and a dining area (behind the camera). The outdoor rug and plants soften the space, and Nora also installed an awning to provide shade, turning the terrace into a well-used extra room for the owners.
More: A Brilliant Layout Rejig Transforms a City Flat
The terrace itself has been refreshed with new flooring and crisp white paint. Nora divided it into two zones – a relaxation area with an L-shaped sofa, seen here, and a dining area (behind the camera). The outdoor rug and plants soften the space, and Nora also installed an awning to provide shade, turning the terrace into a well-used extra room for the owners.
More: A Brilliant Layout Rejig Transforms a City Flat
An integrated space for work, rest and play
At 70 sq m, this terrace is almost twice the size of the Barcelona flat to which it’s attached, and its new owner, Matthew Coe, immediately realised that was a wasted opportunity.
Together with architect Luis Turrens of Arcworld, he set about turning it into an outside room, but to do that he first had to lower the floor to align it with the interior, which cost just shy of £9,000. For Matthew, though, it was well worth it for the lifestyle he can now enjoy.
At 70 sq m, this terrace is almost twice the size of the Barcelona flat to which it’s attached, and its new owner, Matthew Coe, immediately realised that was a wasted opportunity.
Together with architect Luis Turrens of Arcworld, he set about turning it into an outside room, but to do that he first had to lower the floor to align it with the interior, which cost just shy of £9,000. For Matthew, though, it was well worth it for the lifestyle he can now enjoy.
Two openings – one into the living room, seen here, and one into the bedroom, to the left of this shot, were changed from small windows with grilles to sliding patio doors for a generous and seamless connection.
Key to the success of the terrace is a slatted canopy, over which Matthew can drape fabric on very sunny days. The canopy also helps to zone the dining area. Smart grey decking and plenty of plants, including bright bougainvillea, a lemon tree, strawberries and aromatic herbs, add the finishing touches.
Now, Matthew not only eats almost all of his meals on the terrace, he often works out here, too. Not bad, as offices go…
More: A Beautiful Terrace is the Heart of This Small Flat
Key to the success of the terrace is a slatted canopy, over which Matthew can drape fabric on very sunny days. The canopy also helps to zone the dining area. Smart grey decking and plenty of plants, including bright bougainvillea, a lemon tree, strawberries and aromatic herbs, add the finishing touches.
Now, Matthew not only eats almost all of his meals on the terrace, he often works out here, too. Not bad, as offices go…
More: A Beautiful Terrace is the Heart of This Small Flat
A peaceful courtyard
If you have a courtyard that’s needed for storage, it’s easy to overlook it as a potential extra living area, especially if it’s shady.
This north London space, which is the passageway from a car parking spot to a first floor flat up a metal staircase, was needed for storing bikes and bins, and had largely been ignored. The owners decided to ask garden designer Georgia Lindsay to explore whether it could become a secluded seating spot.
If you have a courtyard that’s needed for storage, it’s easy to overlook it as a potential extra living area, especially if it’s shady.
This north London space, which is the passageway from a car parking spot to a first floor flat up a metal staircase, was needed for storing bikes and bins, and had largely been ignored. The owners decided to ask garden designer Georgia Lindsay to explore whether it could become a secluded seating spot.
As you can see, Georgia’s design has transformed the courtyard beyond recognition. To fit in both seating and greenery, she bolted floating benches to raised planters, leaving the floor open to maximise the sense of space.
The bins now sit in the car parking area behind the screen, while a tall, custom-designed bike shed (behind the planter on the far left in this photo) accommodates the whole family’s bikes and equipment.
A porcelain floor featuring a decorative ‘rug’ further emphasises the ‘living room’ nature of the space, while plants such as Euphorbia, heucheras and Lysimachia add a range of gorgeous greens.
More: A Tiny, L-shaped Space Becomes Practical and Chic
The bins now sit in the car parking area behind the screen, while a tall, custom-designed bike shed (behind the planter on the far left in this photo) accommodates the whole family’s bikes and equipment.
A porcelain floor featuring a decorative ‘rug’ further emphasises the ‘living room’ nature of the space, while plants such as Euphorbia, heucheras and Lysimachia add a range of gorgeous greens.
More: A Tiny, L-shaped Space Becomes Practical and Chic
A leafy retreat from the city streets
It’s hard to think of a better example of the power of greenery than this urban transformation.
The designers – Edward Jones and Irene Kalina-Jones of Outside Space NYC – were given the challenge of turning this 86 sq m ‘bunker’ into a haven from the New York City streets.
It’s hard to think of a better example of the power of greenery than this urban transformation.
The designers – Edward Jones and Irene Kalina-Jones of Outside Space NYC – were given the challenge of turning this 86 sq m ‘bunker’ into a haven from the New York City streets.
The key to this stunning reinvention was capitalising on those almost 7m-high, featureless concrete walls using trellis and a waterfall, seen here, which makes a gentle, soothing sound. Wisteria plants that flower at different times are among the climbers on the trellises.
Under the metal staircase seen in the previous photo, the designers custom-made an ipe wood storage shed. In the centre, a curvy outdoor sofa softens the harsh lines and is surrounded by plants chosen to provide year-round interest, including variegated Miscanthus grass, Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ and a Kwanzan cherry tree for height.
Not only is this now a gorgeous place in which to sit and relax, it also offers leafy views for anyone inside the two-storey apartment.
More: From Concrete Jungle to Lush Escape in New York
Under the metal staircase seen in the previous photo, the designers custom-made an ipe wood storage shed. In the centre, a curvy outdoor sofa softens the harsh lines and is surrounded by plants chosen to provide year-round interest, including variegated Miscanthus grass, Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ and a Kwanzan cherry tree for height.
Not only is this now a gorgeous place in which to sit and relax, it also offers leafy views for anyone inside the two-storey apartment.
More: From Concrete Jungle to Lush Escape in New York
A reworked dead space
The small terrace at the top of these stairs outside a house in Marseilles, France, was a wasted opportunity. It was disconnected from the interior and essentially functioning as a passageway.
Chrystel Laporte of Un jour d’avril was brought in to renovate the whole house, and felt the outside was just as important, saying the running theme of her work was “opening this home to the outside”.
The small terrace at the top of these stairs outside a house in Marseilles, France, was a wasted opportunity. It was disconnected from the interior and essentially functioning as a passageway.
Chrystel Laporte of Un jour d’avril was brought in to renovate the whole house, and felt the outside was just as important, saying the running theme of her work was “opening this home to the outside”.
Since the terrace was the only place where the family could easily eat outdoors, Chrystel reimagined it to make it more than just a dreary passageway. She put in a shady pergola, which echoes the graphic lines of the staircase. The stairs have been made narrower – and safer! – with the addition of stepped planters running up to the terrace.
Chrystel created a slim, built-in ‘sideboard’ against the house on the right-hand side to provide an extra surface for dining paraphernalia and display. And in place of the small, high window, she fitted a large pane with a low ledge looking out from the office to connect the home to the refreshed outdoor space.
More: A New Layout Maximises a Home’s Stunning Views
Tell us…
Which of these transformations do you like best? Have any tempted you to revamp your outside space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Chrystel created a slim, built-in ‘sideboard’ against the house on the right-hand side to provide an extra surface for dining paraphernalia and display. And in place of the small, high window, she fitted a large pane with a low ledge looking out from the office to connect the home to the refreshed outdoor space.
More: A New Layout Maximises a Home’s Stunning Views
Tell us…
Which of these transformations do you like best? Have any tempted you to revamp your outside space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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The second one was stunning and such a big space.
Love all the transformations but not sure about the thick black grid on new window thought a thinner grid to match the railings would look better.
I love to see these before and after pictures. Sometimes I see the before and cannot imagine what anyone can do with it, especially the bunker into a haven. What a transformation.....It's truly stunning what can be achieved. I also like the lowering of the floor to make access into an outdoor space. Beautiful and so functional. So........I'm now thinking differently too. Grow upwards.....and outwards.......