A Garden for Staying In

Behind the townhouse, we found a garden with enormous potential. The setting was exceptional: beautiful natural light, neighboring townhouses with thoughtfully landscaped gardens, and the greenery of the street beyond. But the space itself had been neglected. Overgrown planting obscured the original brickwork, and much of the garden wasn't being put to use.

We saw an opportunity to give the garden a second life, creating places to dine and linger just beyond the garden-floor kitchen's sliding glass door. As with the rooms inside, we began by deciding what should stay.

Working with what was there

We removed dead and overgrown plants but preserved the existing raised garden platform and brickwork. Rather than flattening the space and starting over, we worked with the original architecture. Brick laid in a circular pattern at the center of the garden remains a distinctive feature, now anchoring a travertine dining table.

On the raised platform, white marble gravel brings brightness and contrast to the weathered brick. New terracotta Saya planters by Vincent Sheppard, sourced through Lumens, add warmth and structure without competing with the original materials.

Planting with a lighter touch

We brought greenery back into the garden with plants from PlantShed and The Sill, layering foliage around the brickwork and new planters. The aim wasn't to create an entirely new landscape, but to restore the pleasure of being outdoors here.

That pleasure extends beyond the property. The neighboring townhouses have beautiful gardens of their own, and the greenery along the street behind adds depth to the view. Abundant natural light plays across the brick, gravel and planting, making the space feel surprisingly open for the middle of Manhattan.

Furnished for staying

Rather than treating the outdoors as an afterthought, we furnished it as another part of the home. The travertine dining table makes a natural gathering point, its soft stone tones sitting comfortably alongside the original brick. RH outdoor sofas in Mocha create a more relaxed place to sit; their rich color feels grounded against the white marble gravel and terracotta.

For the table, a ribbed glass pitcher and stemmed glasses from Nickey Kehoe bring the same attention to useful, beautiful objects that we give the rooms inside.

Old light, new life

We kept the original exterior light fixtures at the back of the townhouse. They belong to the brick architecture and didn't need replacing. Additional Nerissa Swan Neck wall lights by Mullan Lighting, sourced through The Expert in antique brass and opal glass, complement the existing fixtures rather than competing with them.

The sliding glass door connects the kitchen to the garden, allowing dining and conversation to move naturally between the two. In a city where private outdoor space is precious, we wanted to make the most of what was already here: the brick, the light, the neighboring greenery and the feeling of a retreat tucked behind the house.

What was once neglected is now a garden for living in, rather than simply looking at.