Behind this delightful weatherboard cottage lurked a courtyard garden that would make horticulturists wilfully embrace death: eye-level yuccas aggressively greeting visitors, a mossy plastic lawn completing the suburban dystopia. The space held potential beneath its problematic veneer.

This redesign establishes a clear entertaining hierarchy with a focus on structured planting beds. A mixed palette of exotic and native species creates seasonal interest while establishing privacy from adjacent residential units. A commanding basalt revet elevates a specimen Japanese Maple, while foliage-forward species including Fatsia japonica, Tetrapanax papyrifer, and white-flowering Dahlia imperialis maintain winter vibrancy.

Whimsical grasses add kinetic elements and textural complexity, and local material selection reinforces the design intent – culminating in timeless yet authentically Australian outdoor living that transforms a neglected courtyard into the home's entertaining centrepiece.