So, after seven years of creating beautiful houses for other families, Christal and Chris finally decided to build a dream home for their own family of four.
The renovation began at the heart of the home – a rare internal courtyard – that had been a major motivation for the family’s purchasing decision.
Inspired by this unusual feature and its potential for fusing indoor and outdoor living, Christal aimed to bring the airiness and brightness of nature into the house.
Originally described as “utterly unusable”, restrictive, difficult to access and lacking lifestyle amenities, the courtyard was unattractive, with a bright red pathway surrounded by bleached rocks, thick brick columns, and overgrown trees.
Here, we take a look at how Christal transformed this space.
1. Statement tree
Christal installed a statement olive tree with a custom bar top concrete planter in the centre of the courtyard. Accompanying stools made it ideal for early morning coffee and evening cocktails.
2. Spiral staircase
A minimalistic iron spiral staircase leading to the second-floor terrace was added to the space, creating a graphic statement.
3. Doors
Two sets of Stegbar aluminium double doors were added, opening from the main living area and kitchen onto the courtyard. Introducing more light into the home, they also created a seamless transition between indoors and out.
4. Tiles
Red bricks and white rocks were removed and replaced with charcoal terrazzo-look tiles from Edge Tiles and Stone for a contemporary look.
5. Render
The unattractive red bricks were rendered in a dove grey by Unitex Coatings.
Love Christal and Chris’s new courtyard? Take a look at their bathroom renovation here.
