Remodeling
Perfectly Private
A Magnolia remodel included creating a usable—and stylish—courtyard space


before
THE CHALLENGE: Ben Abrams’ Magnolia home was dated and stale, and its front courtyard was unusable. Overgrown shrubbery and a steep slope didn’t provide an inviting space. Ben wanted something that better suited his 21st century tastes—plus privacy, lots of sky, a contained garden and a water feature. “I wanted a place for the dog, a place for guest gatherings in nice weather, a place to lie down and read a book or have a drink,” Ben says.

THE SOLUTION: Ben tore up the concrete, removed trees and a lattice by the door, but needed help making the courtyard functional. So he hired landscape architect Bruce Hinckley of Alchemie, who went to work realizing Ben’s vision. The awkwardly sloped lot was first leveled to create a flat, grassy area. “There was no sense of arrival between the street and the yard,” Hinckley says of the old yard. To fashion a more formal, private entrance, Hinckley designed concrete retaining walls.  These will double as exhibit space for Ben, who plans to use them to display large-scale photographs. Because the backyard sits on Salmon Bay, a koi pond was added in front to create a continuum of water. A simple, cantilevered deck appears to float over the pond. The remodel “created a focus for the south part of the house and a view from the kitchen,” Hinckley says. It also achieved Ben’s goal for a usable space.
  • Sliding glass doors by NanaWall open to the deck from the kitchen and allow for a view of the renovated yard.
  • The private courtyard can now be used for entertaining; outdoor wall scones provide lighting for nighttime gatherings.
  • The grassy yard—made as large as possible—is now an active recreation space for the homeowners and their dog.

Design Details
ARCHITECT
Velocipede Architecture, (206) 529-9356

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Bruce Hinckley, Alchemie, (206) 521-0358

LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR
D.M. Ohashi, (206) 725-3045