An arbor gateway leads to an intimate courtyard. The courtyard features casual seating and a dining space, an English container garden, and a stone fountain doubling as a bird bath.  A terraced barbeque patio adjoins a natural stone slab staircase leading to the lower open yard.

Additional living space was created when an unused square plot adjoining the home was turned into a patio and container garden. The casual seating and dining areas are near a BBQ patio where the smoke is kept away from guests but the host may still partake in nearby conversation. Natural slab stone steps replaced the rotted wooden railroad ties and are inter-planted with erosion control ground-covers to stabilize the slope. A tiny rotted wooden access deck was also replaced with low maintenance composite materials and widened to accommodate two bistro chairs. The English containers are equipped with a drip system to provide low-maintenance irrigation.

The metamorphosis of this space from a meager looking dirt and gravel patch to a splendid courtyard with custom deck, casual seating, pots, plants, fountain, and garden art have made this a central eye catcher and one of the most pleasant living spaces of this residence.