What should we do with our L-shaped courtyard?
hi guys,
We're after some ideas to freshen up this section of my small unit. It's an L-shaped courtyard with no garden and all paved. I have a dog and wouldn't mind having some astro turf for him to do his deed. I'm thinking of redering the wall at the back and some sort of hanging or vertical garden or herb garden. there are electrical points at the corner as well as water pipes from the previous owners small fountain feature but I haven't utilised this yet.
pictures or examples of what I can do would be appreciated!
Comments (79)
8 years agoIts a rear unit. Faces the road bit far enough not to worry. It was pretty much see through previously.
The only issue is I have some bowing in the wood..
Progress report.. Gate has been changed
8 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (25)So many good ideas on lights. I have someone on the hunt for nice fittings here. Locals love chandeliers (cheap ones, not necessarily nice) and over-wrought creations that just aren't me nor would they suit the house. I love some of the suggestions here. In a win I actually found someone who has some imported carpets. A very small range of mostly plain colours but hopefully I can find something big enough to fit under the couches and keep our feet warm. We were also thrilled to find a single furniture shop with some reasonably modern furniture. They have this round table and chairs in a 6-seater combo, in stock. With the chairs pulled out, like in the picture we would have clearance of about 50cm behind each chair. Our dining room is 3.75m x 3.9m an there's a photo of the dining space in the very first post. Thoughts on this shape versus the traditional shape we currently have? Alternatively they also have this lovely traditional long table which we also liked, which made me think we could just get the existing picnic table re-finished and then perhaps buy these chairs to go with it. So that's our Christmas break blown, as we will be driving all over town (nothing closes here) looking for house stuff!...See MoreHow should we design our new kitchen?
Comments (64)Hi BC, I thought to throw a few more ideas at you before getting trades in as OK suggested, you might find something in all suggestions that appeal to. I personally don't think it a good idea to have a combined laundry kitchen in a house, it's something that you relate to apartment living, that's why I have previously suggested that you might consider opening the laundry from the bathroom, which then gives you another wall in the kitchen space. The kitchen is small and I was going to suggest the you have a 900 glass cook top that can be used for extra bench top. This new floor plan keeps the laundry where it is with staked washer and dryer and sink which can be used for cleaning large pots. I have drawn a galley kitchen with the cook top/oven on one side with the fridge sink and DW on the other, for prep and cleaning up. I have also added a sideboard.bar/desk facing into the living room, these cupboards backing up to the kitchen cook top on the other side could be used for the load bearing wall. Where I have marked the wall oven would be bench top as you have now mentioned not wanting that, the microwave can be mounted in the wall cupboard next to the cooktop where the wall oven was marked. The wall units could go to the ceiling or have a bulk head above them I have drawn the kitchen as a galley as the distance between bench's is too wide, 1200 is as wide as you need...See MoreWhat do we do with our nightmare living room?
Comments (69)We had a pole house with timber floors around the pole. The builder did a fantastic job and recessed the floor timbers slightly into the pole, so there was never gap. Furnishing around the poles can be interesting - indoor plants are great - but realistically, your focus will be on the outside views during the day, and it will only be nights that you will think about the poles/inside :) I would probably put a couch on the view side of the pole facing the views, with plants this side - and no-one will really notice the carpet....See MoreWhat should we do with an awkward blank space in the living room?
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- 8 years ago
- 8 years agothe short answer is... it's going good.. the long answer is..it's taking me pretty long as I've done this all myself and learning along the way. I had to buy some tools but I'm having fun while doing it.
so I've changed to gate and fence (from the original pool gate looking fence) and also added a screen at the back. plan is to have astro turf in the section in front of the screen and maybe three clumped bamboo plants. I've also bought some used decking tiles (freedom) which I'm still currently oiling and staining which will connect from the astro turf onwards for a section. I will then out white river rocks on either side of the decking tiles and also some plants on the rocks (mother in laws tongue).
I have it all in my head, but execution is taking a lot longer than anticipated as I've been working on it just weekends and an hour or two after work on weekdays...
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- 8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
While I got you guys here .. Im going into uncharted territory again..."Gardening!".....any tips on:
1) some hardy plants for someone that doesnt do any gardening ...I got my eyes on succulents such as the mother in law's tongue which I've already bought.. But wanted some ideas to suit the area above...thinking wood/concrete and some hardy plants suitable for someone who may forget watering a few days at a time...and survive full West Aussie sun...
2) places to buy planters for bamboo (either terrazzo or concrete.../concrete look..
3) modern concrete pots for the mother in law's tongue...? Had a look at bunnings and also target.. saw these at Target.
- 8 years ago
Hi all..thanks for the positive feedback.
So many hours learning and youtubing and I think bunnings is all over my credit card right now hah! From someone who didn't know how to drill into wood or a brick wall ...I had to look up everything haha...
I'm thinking twice about bamboo in the rear screen as it might grow too high so any suggestions would be appreciated. The initial plan was to have long planters and there bamboo plants at the rear screen.
The MIL tongue was to be in concrete pots similar to target pots next to the decking tiles along the way. Similar to the picture below but without the height of the pots.. Lol
I've also attached a photo of the deck with 2x coats of oil. I've decided to crisscross as it was old wood and didn't look very even..my pug doesn't look impressed though haha
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8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
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Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I'm trying to avoid flowers, but I might change my mind if someone can convince me..I understand that it will add colour to the area but I do like the modern/clean/minimalistic look. Thinking of green on wood/concrete. Agave, MIL and Moses looks the best fit.
I've been recommended multiplex bamboo in long planters. Any thoughts on the below style? I would like it to sit in front of the wood screen at the back.
My other choice would be yucca/yukka inatead of bamboo..Any thoughts?
- 8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
- 8 years agoI've got MILT's down the side of house, they started short & have grown quite tall. Tallest would be approx. 1 metre. Maybe you could add a vertical garden higher up on the wood screen. Here's one that I've got on a sunny wall. Image 1: newly planted Image 2: 2 months later.
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- 8 years agoIf you want an alternative (?) have a look at Soils Ain't Soils site. They have a selection, some darker coloured & one called South West Riverstone.
- 8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
- 8 years agojust a quick progress update. decks all oiled and put the plants there just to see how it looks..
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