Here is a photo of the courtyard.

Is there room to to a dwarf espalier citrus. It looks as though you have made an excellent start. Some softer coloured cushions, you can get out door ones that are fade resistant, but still put them away in winter as you have no rain cover. Some wire accessories, plant stand or bird feeder or similar. Water feature a good idea but they do require maintenance. Google French courtyards, you will get lots of good ideas, we are trying to do our front on French Mediterranean fusion type courtyard. It is hard to get it right...good luck. This is our attempt so far no where finished and only just planted over winter. You area looks more polished and finished, will be beautiful

A vertical garden would look great on this wall as you would be viewing it from inside also. Depends on how much sun actually hits the wall though. This would give you a nice balance between your hard and soft landscaping finishes and you would still retain all the space of your courtyard.

Yes I was going to suggest a vertical garden too! If a 'garden' is too much effort/maintenance, you could grow a climbing vine or plant - I've got jasmine in my backyard along the fence and it smells amazing and looks so pretty when it flowers.

I like the vertical garden and espalier tree suggestions. I have an espalier fig and some friends have olives.

Thanks all for your wonderful suggestions. I prefer low maintenance and I didn't realise fountains require maintenance. Is it possible to install a fountain that doesn't need maintenance?

Likewise I love espalier but am also worried about maintenance, also it can take ages to look good.

Most of the pictures I like from Houzz have gorgeous box hedges but I don't know if it is feasible to add garden beds - I'd guess they'd need to be raised on top of the tiles, but then drainage could be an issue.

I think a collection of rustic mismatched pots in different sizes could work, but I don't know what sizes would work best without crowding the space. See the attached photo of pots that I like.

I'd love some help in the design from someone experienced in designing French style gardens - based in North Shore of Sydney. I haven't found anyone suitable yet. Any recommendations?

I'm anti box hedge, but that's me. How about, a bay tree, a lime tree, some lavender, rosemary, and some nice herbs, even a standard rose, all very French provincial and easy to look after. As for pot selection, a mix of terracotta, wine barrel and glazed would be great, put the trees in the big pots ( some nice Flores under planted), lavender and rosemary in the mid size and herbs in the smaller pots. Any good nursery or pot place will be happy for you to have a play with pot groupings and even help.

That should be flowers under planted.

Hello everyone and thank you for your suggestions and help. I've completed my courtyard and wanted to share some after photos!! You can see how different they are from my before photo!

Hey lisacee111 - did you forget to attach them to your comment? So eager to see!

Another photo..

And here is other photo...

I recommend Rivas Design for outdoor mirrors

I recommend Adam Robinson Design - for garden design

I recommend Lyndall from Garden Society - for landscaping and installation

I recommend Yardware for furniture

I recommend for fountains, plants and pots you can buy on e-bay or directly freighted to Sydney from Leisure Coast Garden Centre.

Yes looking at your pics I need some huge pots

wuff, that looks great. what are the purple plants they look great?

Mass pansies planting, now I have mass purple salvia coming into flower, I like to change colour schemes with annuals but have good bones to give depth while they are between seasons, but your beautiful area has enlightened me to the fact I need some more height along the longer wall.

Great job, what a lovely place to hang out. I second wuff, you deserve a glass of bubbles.

Romance is alive.