Bold Color and Playful Pattern Define This Outdoor Masterpiece

Liveable and cozy, furnishings from Century Furniture surround a central fireplace on the covered porch

Anna French Willow Tree wallpaper from Thibaut served as the jumping-off point for designer Courtney Decker, who was guided by the rich orange, turquoise, and lime green colorway.

Fully updated, the pool and covered porch are easily accessible from the primary bedroom and kitchen.

In the dining area, Century Furniture chairs upholstered in Schumacher fabric surround a Serena & Lily table for comfortable conversation.

On the lower-level terrace, Kingsley Bate chairs are adorned with pillows covered in Romo fabric, reminiscent of a watercolor painting.

Few things in the design world are as thrilling as a trusting client who loves bold color, pattern, and pushing the proverbial style envelope. Such was the case for interior designer Courtney Decker of Courtney Giles Interiors when she met Emily West, owner of Atlanta gallery Anne Irwin Fine Art. After previously designing the interiors of her home, Decker jumped at the opportunity to help create a one-of-a-kind outdoor oasis for her longtime client. “Emily and her husband, Alex, are very bright, colorful, happy people that like to go a little outside the box with fabrics and colors, so I knew this would be a particularly fun one,” says Decker.

Joining her, architect Amanda Orr and landscape architect Sarah Barnes were recruited for the whimsical outdoor remodel. The backyard brimmed with potential, but much of the space was unusable due to a cracked concrete terrace, poor flow, and outdated elements. The team got to work on a master plan to create a series of different spaces connected by steps and pathways.

For Decker, the jumping-off point was a lively wallpaper hung in the newly constructed pool bath, allowing the vibrant colorway to set the tone for what was to come. “Emily likes original things, and she doesn’t want her stuff to look like anyone else’s,” says Decker, guided by her client’s tastes. A console table alongside the resurfaced pool sometimes serves as a landing place for baskets of sunscreen and cold drinks or can double as an outdoor bar and cocktail resting place when entertaining.

Nearby, the covered porch is used year-round thanks to the addition of a cozy fireplace. Designed by Orr, the sculptural X-shaped columns call to the homeowner’s love of form and beauty. A mix of cheery prints on throw pillows brings a dash of fun to all areas of the room. “I love that Emily likes to go a little funkier with the furniture,” says Decker. The adjacent dining terrace is located right off of the kitchen for ease when entertaining guests alfresco.

A walk down the side of the home reveals the lower-level lawn, an additional dining space, and a plethora of outdoor fun. The husband’s home office opens up to all the action, offering the perfect midday respite complete with a firepit, Ping-Pong table, and bocce ball court bordered by cherry laurels.

Barnes was careful to select plantings that would evolve with the season such as the camellias’ winter blooms and the espalier pear that looks beautiful even when bare. Off of the primary bedroom by the pool, the garden is a favorite spot of the homeowners. “There’s something that’s in bloom year-round and it’s just a nice space to walk through and sip your coffee,” says Barnes. It doesn’t take a professional gallerist to spot the beauty in these spaces, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.