Creating a buffer from the too-close street, a brick-walled entry court provides breathing space for both owners and guests.
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A Court With Appeal
The awkward and uninteresting entrance to the house (above right) was dominated by an overgrown Japanese maple, and an unusually small setback from the street made the front door feel exposed.
To ease this problem a simple but elegant brick wall was built to create a welcoming courtyard that gives a feeling of separation from the activity of the street. A seamless connection between house and courtyard was made by carefully matching the brick of the new wall with the existing brick of the house. The Japanese Maple has been removed and replaced with new plantings with a lighter feel.
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An Inviting Entrance
The existing concrete walk and plantings (above right) were a poor fit for the elegance of the house.
In the new plan, a definite sense of arrival is achieved by incorporating an existing light fixture into a handsome new brick pier, and by using different paving materials for the driveway and walkways. The new masonry walls are softened with plantings of small shrubs and perennials to create a mini-oasis.
