Ther finished product. Artificial turf is the best option in a small courtyard because access is often difficult and a premium price would be paid for such a small area of lawn.

Historic Boston rises above a contemporary private courtyard in the city’s South End. Steel-framed, whitewashed fir walls enclose a vibrant, durable garden. Innovative storage solutions make efficient use of limited space. Soothing geometric patterns visually extend the volume of the courtyard, and bright plantings punctuate the landscape. Native moss joints create a soft, porous carpet between antique cobblestones. A salvaged Maine granite pier rises from the earth to form the pedestal of a table—the centerpiece of the garden. Interior and exterior spaces blend to expand urban living.

Nestled into the quiet middle of a block in the historic center of the beautiful colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, this 4,500 square foot courtyard home is accessed through lush gardens with trickling fountains and a luminous lap-pool. The living, dining, kitchen, library and master suite on the ground floor open onto a series of plant filled patios that flood each space with light that changes throughout the day. Elliptical domes and hewn wooden beams sculpt the ceilings, reflecting soft colors onto curving walls. A long, narrow stairway wrapped with windows and skylights is a serene connection to the second floor ''Moroccan' inspired suite with domed fireplace and hand-sculpted tub, and "French Country" inspired suite with a sunny balcony and oval shower. A curving bridge flies through the high living room with sparkling glass railings and overlooks onto sensuously shaped built in sofas. At the third floor windows wrap every space with balconies, light and views, linking indoors to the distant mountains, the morning sun and the bubbling jacuzzi. At the rooftop terrace domes and chimneys join the cozy seating for intimate gatherings.

Nigel Gomme

Addison Gardens, Kensington

A tiny 65m site with only 3m of internal width posed some interesting design challenges. The Victorian terrace façade will have a loving touch up, however entering through the front door; a new kitchen has been inserted into the middle of the plan, before stepping up into a light filled new living room. Large timber bifold doors open out onto a timber deck and extend the living area into the compact courtyard. A simple green wall adds a punctuation mark of colour to the space. A two-storey light well, pulls natural light into the heart of the ground and first floor plan, with an operable skylight allowing stack ventilation to keep the interiors cool through the Summer months. The open plan design and simple detailing give the impression of a much larger space on a very tight urban site. Photography by Huw Lambert

Jenny Bloom

Addison Gardens, Kensington

Paul Dyer

Ryann Ford

This Brooklynn courtyard has a wonderful patio space with rectalinear stones placed in a scattered pattern. Old brick walls add a contrast for the patio with white flowering crape myrtles providing some light shade.