Courtyard With Flair

Outdoor living is easy and elegant in this charming space with old-world appeal.

Don't bother trying to fit this Pensacola, Florida, home into any category; it's a house of many elements. "It incorporates ideas from the two houses we lived in before, our European travels, our Louisiana heritage, and a little bit of Charleston," explains Lola Hogeman.

Outdoor Opulence

After living in Ohio, Lola and her husband, Wylie, wanted to take full advantage of the Gulf Coast climate and indulge Lola's passion for gardening. With its spacious European-style courtyard, the house does both. "The goal was to re-create some of the outdoor spaces they had visited in the south of France," says architect Brian Spencer. "We wanted the courtyard to be the central room and primary focus for the entire house."

The stucco exterior features a substantial masonry wall that helps define the space as a true outdoor room. Two oval windows (one in the living room, the other in the courtyard) flank the cypress front door. "The window that looks into the courtyard reinforces the idea of a room, instead of just an enclosed yard," Brian adds.

Courtyard Charm

Beyond the cypress door, the European style prevails with a loggia along one side of the courtyard. The space contains three pairs of French doors that lead into the living and dining rooms. "The loggia defines circulation in the courtyard and provides cover," Brian says. The courtyard features another covered area with space for grilling, dining, and simply relaxing in the shade.

Beautiful architecture is enhanced by thoughtful landscape design. Lola worked with Jim Rigsbee to create a little slice of paradise. "Lola and I talked about her garden for two months before we ever started anything," Jim says. "What she told me led us to create a more formal, structured garden. We wanted it to have substance and a manicured look."

Jim introduced plants such as 'Wintergreen' boxwood, 'Radicans' common gardenia, 'Variegata' holly fern, and germander that give the garden a strong year-round base. Jim and Lola enjoy experimenting with foliage and flowers layered on top to enhance the foundation. A charming finishing touch is a water fountain of a little boy holding a birdbath on his head that Lola found in New Orleans. The fountain sits in a brick enclosure filled with water lilies. It's just one more element in the mix that gives this house its one-of-a-kind, blended flavor. ALICE WELSH DOYLE

PERK UP YOUR PATIO

Keep these tips in mind for a more enjoyable outside space.

* Add clay pots or stone containers filled with seasonal flowers, or consider creating a mini herb garden in a planter.

* Don't think everything has to match. Consider mixing furnishings for a unique look.

* Introduce the soothing sound of water with a small fountain or a more elaborate water feature.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved