Originally designed for an avid gardener, the Courtyard House was inspired by the small barns and barnyards that help to define the character of its original country setting. The home was built on a wooded ridge, but took advantage of broad views of a nearby river and mountain range.

The design centers on a central garden courtyard surrounded by an arbor and the simple shed-roofed forms of the L-shaped house. The garden is conceived as the primary space with all rooms located around it. The volumes and proportions of the home form one side of this sanctuary like enclosure, with the other side defined by the pure geometry of the arbor and curvilinear planting beds of the garden. The arbor merges with the lines of both ends of the house, bringing the garden inside, forming the entry/painting gallery and creating circulation.

Formal entry into the home could be either via a modest foyer adjacent to the sunroom and kitchen, or could just as easily be via the covered porch between the living and dining room. This versatile design allows for many more options when sitting the home on difficult lots. Numerous windows overlooking the garden bring in healthy natural light, and by properly orientating the home they allow for the possibility of passive solar heating. The exposed wood beams, and the use of skylights and clerestory windows give the home an open natural feel. The simple shed-style roofs are easy to construct, give the home a contemporary look and allow for high ceilings throughout most rooms of the home.

The Master Suite fills the entire upper level of the home, separating it from the main living area for privacy. Clerestory windows on both sides for the master bedroom bring in light from above. The master bath is spacious, and is accessed via a walk-through closet and dressing area. A large balcony overlooks the garden below, and the views beyond.

The plans for this home as drawn, call for an unfinished half basement below the kitchen/livingroom side of the house. The basement is designed to potentially be built as a walk-out if desired. The rest of the home is on a crawlspace foundation. As with all plans, crawlspace and basement foundations are easily modified, allowing the home to be built with either a full basement, or all crawlspace.