Family Courtyard: Enclosing a Front Yard for Outdoor Living in Palo Alto

Expanding Living Space Without Remodeling

Dana and Nick Granoski enclosed their front yard behind a fence to create a private courtyard, extending their 1,454-square-foot Eichler home outdoors. The space functions as a family room and playroom, blending with the mid-century modern aesthetic. They reused existing pavers and wood, pressure-washed and rearranged flagstone for a new patio, and built a contemporary entry walk with river rocks between concrete pads. Eichler siding was reused for the fence; heavy cobbles around a Chinese elm were replaced with soil and decomposed granite.

Shade and Play Features

A tall wooden arbor with wide slats supports sailcloth for summer shade, removed in fall. A chalkboard fence—plywood sheets sealed and painted with five coats of Krylon Chalkboard Paint—lets kids draw. A rope swing hangs from the arbor. A sunny corner is reserved for a butterfly/vegetable garden.

Simple Plant Palette

Large sweeps of yellow ‘Moonshine’ yarrow, Mexican feather grass, and sedge. Sculptural plants at the entry: potted Harry Lauder’s walking stick and dark green horsetail against a gray wall. The garden won second place in Sunset's Dream Garden Awards home-gardener division.