Our clients added a modern kitchen wing to their small 100+ yr old farmhouse, creating two beautifully balanced structures identical in outer form, but opposite in inner function and layout. To graciously link the old and the new, we designed a courtyard that occupies the space between the two buildings and the garage. A dry stacked stone wall and a stair of native rocks were already in place. The rugged stone meets clean lined concrete paving planted with narrow strips of thyme. A wood deck outside the large sliding doors was added to handle the grade change. We also added a corrugated metal fence for privacy. Old fashioned plants like hops and Aruncus were selected to enhance the site’s connection to its agrarian roots.