When a natural courtyard emerged from a home renovation project, a Little Rock couple took the hint and created a private backyard escape.
There is nothing more tempting than the thought of relaxing outside on a beautiful day, sipping a cocktail and nibbling on a few tasty appetizers, all the while chatting with good friends. For Sheb and Danny Fisher this was not the initial vision they had when they began a home renovation project to better accommodate their family. However, as the footprint of the home fell into place, they realized they had created the ideal backyard patio for casual gatherings and quiet nights alone.
Before the renovation, a narrow driveway, an old deck and a small grassy area were all that comprised their backyard. As the remodel progressed, a courtyard area emerged as a natural extension of the house. There were essentially three wings of the house—the kitchen, the master bedroom and a newly constructed guesthouse—that had come together, each with French doors all opening to the one very private, yet shared space. It seemed like a natural fit for a courtyard to the Fishers. However, there was one concern that remained a mystery. “I couldn’t figure out how to get it all on the same level to tie everything together. I knew I didn’t want to walk down four steps any time I went out one of the doors,” says Sheb.
Chris Milligan, who at the time worked with Creative Heights Partners, was working on a renovation of the couple’s kitchen and it only seemed natural for him to lend his expertise to the patio’s design as well. Milligan elevated the entire area to create a natural flow of living space between the three areas. “To make the transition between the new kitchen I designed, the master suite that they currently had and the guesthouse, we had to raise the level of the ground up so you could walk out of each one of those spaces onto a nice flagstone patio area,” explains Milligan.
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