I would do a bench seat along the walls with a table.

The vertical garden is a great idea if you plan on using and maintaining it.

Instead of a wall of plants, I would put a beautiful colorful ceramic pot that is about 3 feet tall and put a tall palm frond type plant inside the pot. You will need to find a plant that can handle the cold weather (or on cold days you can wrap it in a blanket or drag it inside)

I would put two wooden or wrought iron chairs and a small table in a bright color in front of the palm.

Change the wall light to an attractive dark metal traditional light fixture.

You could also purchase some metal wall art to hang on one of the walls.

Instead of mounting a vertical wall, you could do a long planter box with a trellis and plant a climbing vine along with some filler plants and something to cascade over the side. Across from it you could add a small bistro set as you were thinking. It would be a lovely spot for a glass of wine before dinner or coffee and dessert under your lights!

Thank you for these great ideas so far! The water wall is interesting, very high impact. Higher price too though. I also like the idea of the big palm or planter box with a trellis - both would be less maintenance than a full vertical garden. Ikea has this, but I'd want to make it more modern & fun somehow.

I would do a combination of vertical garden, pots and a small table with chairs..nothing large since there doesn't seem to be much space

You could also do a lounge area

I think the piece from IKEA is nice! I would paint it the same color as your dining room chairs. Paint your chair too and add a cushion. Get a small grey square table (I think IKEA as them) Add a taller pot with plant and then add a modern water piece. Sit and enjoy the peace with a book (ipad) and a glass of wine!!

I think that the bistro set has several advantages -- it's small enough to make the place look like a magical hideaway, not a small crowded space (like your wooden chair does now); it fits with the lights in the sense of a romantic hideout for a glass of wine or a cup of coffee; it leaves space for either a couple of large pots (one at each end, so you can see a view from each vantage) or a trellis planter like was suggested above. (Again, I think a real trellis is way better than a bench like the Ikea one, because all those plants are what makes it feel like a hidden garden rather than a bunch of hard surfaces.)

Here are a handful of possible inspiration photos that might help:

a little chateau vineyard restuarant...

Perhaps a mirror could help make it feel less confined?

It looks like your courtyard is about 8 ft. wide and 10 ft. long and on each short end you have either a French door or a window; the dining room looks at the window and the Den looks at the French door.

Using the string lights might be good for entertaining, but for nighttime you might want to get rid of the other brighter lights like the motion detector and wall light by the French doors in favor of Dark Sky Compliant lighting that helps reduce light
pollution. These are typically lights that either shine down or Up & Down. Better ambient lighting for just relaxing or admiring the courtyard.

Like these.

Decorating the end walls would give each of the rooms something to look at. Could be done to be as a French Courtyard. A Spear Awning or Iron Awning above the window with tall spiral trees on either side with a flower planter below the window with a small pedestal fountain (nice for sound). On the French Doors an arbor Trellis with a large potted vine to the left that will grow onto the arbor trellis.

This would be a perfect place for a Night or Moon Garden of all white flowers. They reflect the light at night and glow.

For furniture a long sofa along one wall and a couple of side chairs across from it or two love seats. The opposite wall could have a couple of garden mirrors, like in this photo.

MIRRORS ON EITHER SIDE OF FIREPLACE

You could even hang outdoor artwork on the walls or statue planters, modern mirror wall garden, even some fun unusual grass furniture or pillows.

WALL PLANTER

THIS CHAIR IS SHAG CARPET

GRASS FABRIC UPHOLSTERY

Grass pattern fabric

Your courtyard reminds me of the tucked away courtyard in French Quarter. I would center a wall fountain. A small bistro table with 2 chairs would work.

I see the area as a place for coffee and reading the newspaper in the morning or relaxing with cocktails after work. I like Tiffany66's barn light suggestion.

This could be made in black metal pipe to be an outdoor hanging garden

Keep it uncluttered and yet usable. Limit wall décor (no clocks -- this space should be for relaxing). If you don't want blank walls, then consider pressed metal wire wall art for interest and/or color:

https://img0.etsystatic.com/062/1/8001968/il_fullxfull.776191010_objw.jpg

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=159229328

Add several outdoor solar lights -- something with a classic look, preferably stainless steel, and with an on/off switch.

http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mbRLzXo_SuvetEUAKu8pJTw.jpg

Add a truly great planter (w/dolly w/wheels) and sit it in front of the side of the patio doors that you'd not need to open in order to use the other door.

In the end opposite the patio doors with the long the window, IF there is room, set a pair of these (with small outdoor ottoman)

http://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/8784511/P16023240.jpg

https://teakwarehouse.com/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/e55d683d03fd7b38f702ccdc8c04402f/p/a/pacific-ottoman.jpg

and add a small table (same wood as ottoman) in between. Then add a couple of glasses and a really good bottle of your favorite ...

Alternately, you could build a deep bench in front of that long window -- wall to wall -- (perhaps add a gel mat for comfort) -- and top with attractive cushions.

You could also add the small metal patio chairs and matching table (such as ocotillaks 1st pic) when the space would be used by more than one couple and they could be set against the wall when not in use.

I wonder about the temperature in this space. You're in Texas, is this a comfortable temp during the summer and how about winter without heating?

Has it rained yet -- was drainage a problem? If so, top it with a sloped frame and a glass roof beginning well above the shorter wall so as to let in air.

I would put trees that don't require sunshine. I would definitely use tall ivy on one wall to cover the wall and put lots of bigger and smaller plants in beautiful pots. One or two small chairs and a round small table . It would be beautiful to look at the greenery from the inside of the house. You can make it look like a little forest. Don't need much money to bring beauty into your home.

Grow a lemon tree in this space.

Open it up with a garden mirror and add a bistro set with a few plantings, to enjoy a glass of wine after dinner. You can put wall candle sconces on the other side of the brick.

Whitewash the brick. Experiment with plants. It's not the best growing environment. Since it's "in the house" you don't want it too wet of messy. Most of those modern portable-looking water features are just bad. You could build in a raised koi pond under the window, and have some water vegetation, and a simple "fountain" to aerate the water and make water sounds. You won't have to worry about raccoons feasting on your fish!

A small dining table for al fresco summer dinners could be very romantic, but whatever you do, start simple. Don't junk up the walls with clocks and thermometers. Australian tree ferns would be beautiful there, but nights below the high 30's will do them in. Some succulents don't mind co,d weather, but some do. Your local nursery will advise.

A big framed mirror could visually expand the space.

I love the string lights, but I would make it a viewing space only. I'm guessing in summers, the space is hot and airless. I'll bet you don't have to worry about freezing in there, though. It's probably got its own little microclimate, so I would put several low maintenance plants in pots, maybe a sculpture, and would hide as little of the brick as possible.

Here is a courtyard from one of our projects. Although your courtyard is smaller, you might be able to use some of the ideas. Good luck!

More vertical gardening ideas:

Wow, so many GREAT ideas and feedback! To answer some of your questions, it does get hot & stuffy in the summer but drainage is not a problem, there are two holes at the bottom of the brick wall. I like the idea of making it a "viewing space only" in some sense because, as implied by the Texas weather questions, people may not want to go outside in the summer heat, no matter how many chairs or benches are out there. I like still including a bench and maybe a small table just to look inviting and be available for the few nice days of spring & fall, but focus more on making it a pretty place to look at with low-maintenance, high-impact plants and beauty. I've been inspired for sure, thank you all for your comments!

A vertical garden is certainly the best idea so far ! With a hammock... You may like to add a wall fountain in the middle of the vertical garden if you have an elastic budget. While visiting a ground-floor apartment for sale in NYC, I was happily surprised to see a wide arched treillis on the outside wall lighted by several spots and it looked like an extension of the living-room. Months before, that apartment looked so gloomy viewed from my upper floor place that I did not bother to visit it.

If the area is for viewing only, consider a numerous planters w/wheels. ( Maybe even a straw bale garden for strawberries as a conversation starter and great harvest.)

https://bonnieplants.com/wp-content/uploads/straw-bale-planter-web.jpg

Snake plants (a/k/a mother in law's tongue) in large pots seem to thrive anywhere I put them. (Georgia). Likely would in Texas, too.

A water feature would be perfect in that area....

Do you have pets? I would totally make this an outdoor safe haven for my two cats and small dog. (In a chic, tasteful, non-dog pound kind of way, of course.)

I vote for water feature and bistro set.

If you want to be comfortable in the courtyard for three seasons, a misting system would be good to add.

In TX, that may be too hot an area to enjoy for the majority of the year. You'd probably prefer the pool most of the time. Make this a visual experience to be appreciated from the dining room. A water feature and lots of plants and a small bench for the rare times when you'll actually sit there.

A spot for drinks or coffee before/after dinner. Add lots of lanterns and if enough room, a small portable fire feature.

WOW all of you and your ideas....simply remarkable!

There are some great ideas here! Of course, we're partial to the water feature ideas. I'd love to see a beautiful water feature against a wall with some greenery surrounding it...maybe some climbing plants? Then you could still have your bistro set or some other seating, which would make a dreamy setting for morning coffee, a nice place to read, or to have lunch with a friend.

Some random findings and visual inspiration we found...

Have you seen Lauren Liess's outdoor shower off her master bedroom? Amazing.

What did you end up doing? Would love to see it. Also, found this today. Super simple except adding the beams.

Is it possible to install French doors where the office window is? I love the idea of ivy growing up the walls and a small bistro table and chairs with your patio light string. Would look to be a fun overflow party spot and a quiet espresso enjoying spot in the morning.