Take it outside: Quiet comfort in a big space

The best of both worlds – Built for entertaining yet ingeniously set apart for privacy, this Palmetto Bluff courtyard delivers quiet comfort in a big space.

Story by Barry Kaufman + Photography by Kelli Boyd

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. In creating a home on a corner lot in Palmetto Bluff’s Moreland Village,
Court Atkins Group wanted to provide a place large enough for entertaining, private enough to serve as a tranquil outdoor space and built to bask in marsh scenery. “The rear opens up to marsh and wetlands, but it’s very visible on the corner, so we had to create an exterior rear courtyard wrapped with the master and carriage house around,” said William Court. If the entire home is a showcase for traditional Lowcountry outdoor living tempered with a modern flair, the courtyard is where those elements come together in perfect harmony.

Innovation within limits

Moreland Village is famously receptive to architectural forms that break from tradition. But that’s not to say they’ll let you break any rule. 

“Those single roof forms you see in the courtyard are not normally something you’d see in Palmetto Bluff, but we were able to disguise them somewhat on the courtyard side, creating taller, more open porch spaces,” said Court.

Dual-purpose design

The oversized furniture shows how adaptable the space can be for throwing a lavish party or simply relaxing poolside.

“The sense of this courtyard is that it feels very active when you’re entertaining, but then very private when you look out at the marsh,” said Court. “When you’re sitting in these chairs, you’re completely cocooned by the house, but you have this wide open view in front of you.”

Transparent yet private

Walls of sliding glass and direct-set windows that carry the darker elements of the exterior create a backdrop that connects the home’s courtyard with its indoor spaces, but interior architecture ensures that this space’s blissful privacy is never infringed upon.

“You can catch some elements from the front that show activity, but you don’t see where all of the entertaining is going on,” said Court.