"It's the perfect place for chemicals, garden tools, and other unsightly things that need to be covered but that you wouldn't want indoors," says Robert. "It's a great way to have storage that looks good from the garden."

And with an appealing courtyard, the Bryces wouldn't want anything to hamper their enjoyment of the space. Stucco walls create privacy and are softened with fig vine and a colorful border of annuals and perennials. Robert used bluestone, a native material, for the floors but framed the fountain with old brick to match the house. "The bluestone is an elegant partner for the brick," he says.

Even with the courtyard's quaint scale, Robert was able to incorporate all of the Bryces' requirements. From living area to plant materials to functional necessities, this space is a package of total design. Robert adds, "To fully enjoy an enclosed courtyard or a garden, every part of it needs to be beautiful--including where you hide the tools."