Courtyard entrance ideas

Below you will find several front entry courtyard designs with detailed descriptions on how they were designed. These examples are a great way to add outdoor living space to your home,increase your enjoyment of your home, and increase the value.

Often  we see the entry to a home left unfinished or neglected. This is unfortunate, as the entrance to a home provides the first impression. Improving the front entry adds much desired curb appeal. In addition, it can create wonderful opportunities to extend the function of a home. This is especially true when the front entry spaces serves as an enclosed courtyard. 

Here are three design and construction challenges that Accent Landscapes faced.

Front Entry Courtyard Design for a Residence in Manitou Springs, CO

 In the first one below, our client had purchased a home on a beautiful lot with wonderful views from her home. She could appreciate views of both the city lights and foothills of Colorado Springs.

The problem was that the front of her home did not reflect the surrounding beauty. The front drive and walk were unattractive, and the sidewalk was on the edge of a steep grade. Our homeowner is also an avid gardener, and had no protected space for her pots and special plantings. 

Here is a photo of the front of the property prior to design and construction:

Here is a look at the front of the home after we designed and created an enclosed courtyard entry:

The overall design was challenging. In order to create level space, we needed a solid retaining wall design to level the earth, as well as a deck to span to the front door. Both needed to be strong enough to support the stamped colored concrete paving and the planter areas we created. The front door was also close to a no-build area, and demanded a creative layout. 

The end result was a transformation that has our client enjoying her outdoor living space thoroughly. Not only is it a pleasant area to sit and dine, but it provides an enclosed area that keeps her dog in, and the deer out. Our client works from home regularly, and the office space looks out on the new courtyard and the magnificent views beyond. The plantings are protected, and the unusual water feature provides pleasant ambient sound both at work and at play. 

The low stucco wall compliments the architecture of the home, and we worked with a local custom metal fabricator to design and install an open rail design. This helps to keep the surrounding views in play. 

Here is another look approaching the front gate:

And another from the office window of the home:

Front Entryway Design in Peregrine Neighborhood of Colorado Springs, CO

In the following project, we were able to work again with a wonderful couple. They loved their home and landscape but wanted to gain more curb appeal and function from their entry area. Their home overlooks the Air Force Academy, as well as the city of Colorado Springs and the mountains. 

The family was active with young children and entertaining. With so much wildlife in the area, the deer were always enjoying the landscape along with the family. But they wanted to create an enclosed courtyard where they could sit by the fire, entertain, and grow herbs and vegetables for cooking. 

A look at what the front entry looked like prior to the landscape construction design phase:

The largest challenge that this site created is that it quickly sloped off into the native area off of the edge of the lawn. In order to create level space, we needed to have an engineer design a retaining wall that was tall enough and strong enough to support the new patio, fireplace, fire pit, and water feature. Since we were creating a space fully enclosed by a six-foot stucco wall and planters, drainage was also a consideration. The engineer recommended a reinforced concrete retaining wall, which we later covered with stucco. This gave the neighbor’s and our homeowners an attractive finish. 

Here is the project during retaining wall construction:

And after a beautiful, functional transformation.

The space provides enclosure, but still allows for the beautiful views:

There is space to gather, garden, and store garden tools and furniture accessories.

Front Entry Design with Seating Area and Abundant Landscaping

This last space was created for another wonderful client. She is an avid gardener, and wanted to take advantage of the eastern exposure of the front of their home. A courtyard provided the opportunity to protect plantings, as well as create an intimate patio off of the main dining area. It is a wonderful place to sit at any time, as it gives morning warmth and shade from the hot afternoon sun.

Accent landscapes planted the larger trees and shrubs. You can see what a beautiful garden our homeowner created. It is truly a labor of love.

The process of designing and building an attractive front entry courtyard

The process of designing and building an attractive front entry courtyard design are similar in all three of these examples. To define the space, we must begin with the end in mind. If you are interested in creating an outdoor living space at the front of your home, consider these questions:

• How would you ultimately like to use the space?
• For dining, a morning cup of coffee, to appreciate the views, or gardening?
• Would it be for gathering, sitting by the fire, cooking, or enjoying the water feature?
• Would you like a portion of the area covered?

Once you define the desired function, then consider the form. Ask yourself these questions:

• What size areas are ideal for your activities?
• What would be the ideal wall height?
• What material would match or complement your home or design style?
• What is my preferred type of paving?
• Would you like your planter areas to be at grade, or raised for easier access?
• What type of plantings do you gravitate towards?

Get Inspired

When it is time to get some design inspiration you can consult with our team. The internet also provides great resources, for example Pinterest offers some great landscape design ideas.

After considering these questions, the overall design and layout will begin to develop. A beautiful landscape with outdoor living space begins in the design phase, well before a shovel touches the ground. 

Please let Accent Landscapes know if you have any questions regarding your landscape, or if we can be of service in any way. 

Cheers!
The Accent Landscape Team

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A captivating courtyard design provides a modern home with a special sense of serenity, and allows nature to become a major part of a home’s makeup. Enclosed garden spaces act as personalised nature retreats that feed into adjacent interior spaces via the blurred boundaries of glass walls, retractable doors and atrium ceilings. To explore these glorious spaces a little more and look at the different ways in which they can be implemented, we have put together a vast collection of inspirational designs taken from all over the world. From South America to Spain to Sri Lanka, from Africa to Japan to India, we cover them all.

Twinning is winning: Why settle for one courtyard if you can have two? It’s hard to distinguish the boundaries in this amazing modern home – and that’s kind of the point. Courtyards on each side of a walkway bring nature smack into the centre of this living space.

Extend the same interior ceiling finish out over an exterior courtyard design, like this continuous wood slat ceiling that completely disregards the border.

Make a courtyard part of the decor. This highly tailored courtyard design looks as though in disguise as a botanically patterned area rug – though the tree growing out of it is a bit of a giveaway.

You will be surprised to know that this is in fact a cancer care building in Scotland. The Royal Incorporation of Architects, in Scotland, named it as the best building in the country back in 2012 for its bold and welcoming design that is so unusual for the healthcare industry.

Light it up with lanterns. This Japanese home has lanterns dotted around its courtyard patio to provide a magical glow at twilight.

Make the most of an exterior courtyard by including some modern outdoor chairs into the layout, or add a full dining suite for al fresco dining opportunities.

Everybody loves a bit of rock ‘n’ roll – incorporate some big rocks into the courtyard landscaping for a strong architectural effect.

Create different levels. By adding decks and platforms to your layout you can define eating areas or an outdoor kitchen. Decorate courtyard decks and patios with potted plants or raised plant beds.

Make a frame with plants. A low maintenance patio can be framed by dense borders of greenery.

If green borders still sound like too much maintenance for you, then how about a softly bubbling water feature to create an atmosphere of zen instead?

A contemporary outdoor fireplace is sure to give the wow factor. This hearth extends almost the full length of the courtyard between two pebbled plant beds. The plant in the left corner is the European fan palm.

Romance a special Señorita or Señor in a Spanish courtyard. You can flamenco dance the night away around the columns of romantic arches – try not to fall in the water feature though.

Take the plunge. You can take a quick cooling dip in a plunge pool at the centre of this moroccan design covered with green and white tile. Comfy sun loungers invite you to stay all day.

Even a narrow space can be transformed into a magical spot. Incorporate plenty of colour in your planting to curate an uplifting view.

Courtyards don’t have to be flat. A few little hills bring in a touch of the wild.

This is based on the famous Hooper House II by Marcel Breuer, which is a mid century classic.

Cultivate some curtains, like these amazing hanging plants over a reflecting pool.

Build bridges – from one side of a home to the other.

Plumerias are a great plant for courtyards, with their whimsical form.

This one has a 100 year old Plumeria tree, living right at the centre of a modern pool.

Erase walls with a retractable door solution.

Maintain all of your ground space by fashioning a vertical garden, like the multi-tonal walls in this front courtyard design. A cool interlocking design is created at ground level with irregular paving planks and lawn. A fire pit keeps the seating area comfortable in chillier times of day or season.

Form a shaded area over the dining chairs and table for a cooler more comfortable outdoor dining experience in the height of summer, or to provide shelter from unexpected showers.

Welcome to the courtyard bar. This outdoor bar is linked directly to the interior kitchen, to receive drinks and snacks, or simply chat to the chef.

Built-in benches at the borders can double as outdoor dining banquettes.

This concrete bench wraps right around an outdoor kitchen, marking out its perimeter.

Mimic a pergola with wood framing across the ceiling.

Make a modern path of slab paving stones across wild brush…

Live amongst the lily pads with a miniature lily pond. This one butts up so close against a sofa that you could even sit and dip your feet! Latticework overhead creates a cosy covered feel but still lets sunlight filter through.

Even if a courtyard is just a pathway from place to place it can still provide soothing garden views to interior spaces.

Invest in exterior lighting to add drama to the smallest of details.

In a sunken courtyard, flow planting down from upper garden levels. Both this and the previous courtyard are from this beautiful bali retreat.

A courtyard can form the core of the home. Situate an eye-catching nature design at the base of a stairwell to link your levels via a place of natural serenity. Incorporate built-in planters on the landings to tie the levels together.

Sometimes, a pathway and a pool are all you need. Looking at a still pool of water can help quiet the mind, feed the soul, and cool the body. The base of a shallow pool can be lined with stones and pebbles to enrich the feature with a natural look. Create a floating pathway effect by leaving small gaps between large stepping stones, and hiding the fixings.

• 41 |
• Architect: Geoffrey Bawa

The architect of the above spaces, Sri Lankan maestro Geoffrey Bawa, is often considered as the father of the “tropical modernism” movement. If you love this style, we encourage you to check out Geoffrey Bawa: The Complete Works.

This is from a house in south India that is based around a 5000-year-old Indian design practice called Vastu, which can be likened to the practice of Feng Shui.

Simple brickwork planters and grass growing between paving stones give a quaint laid-back vibe.

Create a natural looking ravine by lining a stream with craggy rocks.

Make hills come alive with trees and moss.

Make a display case for your courtyard. This one has its floor patterned by the Japanese zen garden raking technique.

A glass case can incorporate retractable glass doors to allow access, and to allow the garden space to be incorporated more fully with the interior when desired.

Pulling up a single patio paving slab can be all the opportunity needed to incorporate a little greenery into your life and living space. Put out a rocking chaise lounge chair and enjoy.

Small potted plants line a bank of shelving in this apartment courtyard area, which allows the greenery to be moved and enjoyed in other areas of the home too. A bright red seat has been fashioned around the base of a courtyard tree, which contrasts with the cool blue of a neighbouring kitchen diner. A glass ceiling blurs the boundaries between inside and out.

Love to see more courtyards? Check out this courtyard design video we put together.

Find more inspiration and tips for beautiful outdoor living spaces here:

50 Gorgeous Outdoor Patio Design Ideas
50 Modern Outdoor Chairs To Elevate Views of Your Courtyard & Garden

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