Surry hills courtyard, NSW

A Private Urban Sanctuary in the Heart of the City

Tucked within the heritage streets of Surry Hills, this late-Victorian terrace was reimagined into a modern haven of indoor and outdoor living. IntegrityB was engaged to design and construct the rear courtyard, creating a tranquil retreat that connects seamlessly with the home’s new open-plan kitchen and living spaces.

Indoor-outdoor kitchen with black-framed glass door, white cabinetry, wood and stone flooring, outdoor grill area with plants, and a chair with a cushion.

Execution and Detailing

Steel-framed glass doors open directly from the kitchen onto the courtyard, revealing a dining terrace framed by mature frangipani and Japanese maple trees. The natural stone crazy paving adds warmth, pattern and texture, while a vertical garden softens the boundary walls with cascading greenery.

A custom timber and stainless steel outdoor kitchen with built-in barbecue anchors one end of the space, balancing function and form. The compact layout is carefully planned for flow and proportion, creating a sense of calm and connection.

At night, subtle garden lighting enhances the layered foliage and highlights the texture of the stone, transforming the courtyard into an intimate entertaining space that feels worlds away from the city just beyond its walls.

Outdoor patio with wooden table and chairs, surrounded by lush green plants and trees, with a view into the indoor kitchen area.

Design Intent

The brief called for an elegant and low-maintenance courtyard that felt natural, light-filled and generous despite the compact footprint. The design needed to extend the home’s interior aesthetic while softening the urban surroundings with greenery and texture.

IntegrityB achieved this by blending warm crazy paving with dense, layered planting and a refined outdoor kitchen area. The result is a space that feels private yet open, sophisticated yet relaxed.

A backyard patio with outdoor chairs, a table, and lush greenery, including trees and potted plants, with a stone floor and a gray wall in the background.

A Seamless Connection

Every detail is designed to merge lifestyle and architecture. The transition from polished interior flooring to natural stone is seamless. The palette of greens, creams and charcoals echoes the home’s refined colour scheme, while the soft rustle of leaves adds a sense of privacy and stillness rarely found in an inner-city home.

Outdoor patio area with a round wooden dining table and eight matching chairs, decorated with a white flower centerpiece in a blue pot, surrounded by lush green trees and potted plants, with an open sliding door leading to a cozy indoor space.
Small backyard patio with potted plants, trees, outdoor table, and chair, surrounded by fence, with a blue window on a building wall.

Before

Outdoor patio with a wooden dining table surrounded by six chairs, two black wicker chairs with patterned pillows, lush green trees and plants, and potted flowers, enclosed by high walls, on a stone-paved floor.

After

Location: Surry Hills, Sydney
Scope: Landscape design and construction
Duration: 6 weeks
Key Features: Natural stone crazy paving, outdoor kitchen, vertical garden, mature planting, integrated lighting, seamless indoor-outdoor connection
Design Style: Contemporary urban oasis with natural warmth and refined simplicity

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