A showstopping outdoor space at the heart of a mid-century stunner is more than just an entrance into this unique home
A home’s grand entrance might include huge doors that swing open with a bit of flair to welcome guests. Maybe the entrance features two stories and a curved staircase that any teenage girl would love to descend in her prom dress.
Zach Marshall and Chad Gilliam’s mid-century ranch has none of those things, yet its entrance has guests stopping to take it all in before they even make it through the front door.
“When someone first comes through the house, I hope they come through the courtyard,” says Marshall. “I think that is how the house was designed to be entered in its most grand form.”
The entrance begins with a long walk to a pair of large white gates. At first, a visitor might be a little confused: do I stop at the front gate? Opening them feels like you have discovered a secret garden.
Lush Outdoor Space
Once through the gate, lush landscaping frames a stone bridge with bright red rails that lead you to black pecky cypress double doors with ornate gold handles.
The courtyard is surrounded by windows, so Marshall and Gilliam’s sweet Norwich terriers, Levi and Lily, have probably already seen you and will make your arrival known.
Most rooms in the sprawling ranch offer stunning views through the expansive picture windows into the courtyard. In some rooms, you can even hear the small waterfall bubbling down into a petite pond.
This water feature wasn’t always so petite. As legend goes, when the courtyard was being built, the previous owners, Bill and Anne Jones, came to check on the progress and were surprised to find a six-foot-deep pool dug out where a six-inch-deep reflection pond was supposed to go.
The pool was filled in in 1987, so Marshall and Gilliam instead use the courtyard as a peaceful setting for yoga and sunbathing. “How cool is it to have a courtyard in the middle of your house?” Marshall asks, still in awe of his house’s “coolest” characteristic.
Aside from being a relaxing oasis and the perfect way to greet guests, the courtyard has even served as the backdrop for a fashion show, complete with the bridge as its unique runway.
This versatile spot is a grand entrance reimagined: a literal breath of fresh air offering a treat for your eyes, a tranquil melody for your ears, and a little doggie welcoming committee.
Mad for Mod?
Don’t miss the gvlMOD 2023 Collection, a self-guided tour on Sunday, April 23, featuring six stylish homes like this one, which was featured in 2022. Tickets go on sale March 31; visit gvlmod.com for more information.
Photography by Jess Yun.
