When I've imaged my ideal outdoor space, it's always looked like the garden of eden: wild, untamed vines, verdant evergreens, and bursting with succulent fruit and flowers. However, without significant time to dedicate to gardening or the budget for a professional landscaper, this idea is a much better fantasy than reality. Diane Keaton's courtyard provides the perfect solution. It's completely remade my dream garden.
The actress's interior designer, Stephen Shadley, shared images of her gorgeous former home, now owned by Ryan Murphy and his husband, and it's hard not to be instantly enchanted by her stunning courtyard garden idea. Her space features an arched white plaster balcony that gazes out on the courtyard, giving residents constant access to the outdoor space. Brick floors bring a tailored, angularity to the space while a vaulted willow counteracts it with organic energy. A mosaic and wood table covered in pots of perennial flowers and herbs offers a warming pop of color.
As opposed to the wildlife garden of my dreams, Keaton's look is much more manicured, but that's where the appeal comes in. First, I love that the brick flooring allows this garden to toe the line between indoor and outdoor space. It transforms the courtyard to an extension of the home, where dining and lounging can take place. Especially in a warmer climate like California, this liveability is a huge boon to a brick-bottomed garden.
Furthermore, the combination of brick and mosaics evokes the style of a Mediterranean garden without all of the maintenance required. If you live outside the reaches of Spain, Malta, Italy, and Greece, it can be difficult to keep the plants of this region alive. However, integrating the cool plaster and warming brick harkens to the history of the area using just materials. A few well-placed trees and potted plants can bring in greenery in a simpler and easier-to-maintain way.
I was also inspired by Keaton's courtyard because it strikes me as the perfect small garden idea. As a committed city-dweller, it's hard to imagine pulling out a lawn mower, pruners, and shovels to care for the 5 foot by 5 foot plots that constitute gardens in central London. However, a tiled-over space with potted plants on top feels the perfect solution. For a more colorful look, I saw a similar outdoor space in an Instagram reel of the Dusen Dusen founder's New York City apartment patio, where the whole space is tiled over in mosaics. She has also left space around the edges for potted plants. It's full of personality, but easy to care for and convenient in a city space.
Shop the Courtyard Garden Edit
Recreate the Mediterranean influence of Keaton's courtyard with the timeless allure of mosaics. Not only is this table from Wayfair accessibly priced, but it's also easier to clean and durable, so it will last forever.
This clay pot is the perfect way to add a sense of history and warmth to your Spanish-style patio. It's ideal for planting herbs, cacti, or perennial flowers to bring in that pop of green.
Olive trees are a wonderful evergreen that offers the regional warmth you're looking for. I love the gray-green color and slightly tapered leaves for an unexpected edge of style.
Diane Keaton's courtyard has forever changed my vision of my future patio. Rather than a wild green space, I imagine nights around the table, sunbathing and tending to potted plants. Mosaics will be optional, but highly encouraged.
