A Town & Country courtyard is an architectural beauty.

With the design expertise of architect Dick Busch of Dick Busch Architects, a simple open space on the front of a beautiful Town & Country home was transformed into the magnificent European-style front courtyard that it is today, and it was a creation that evolved naturally. According to Dick, the front courtyard space “created itself” with its uniquely ideal location for a one-of-a-kind addition to the home for entertaining and enjoying evenings outdoors.

Distinguished by a free-form, W-shaped row of stone caps, the courtyard entrance is set adjacent to the home’s main entry. Featured within the 14- by 20-foot enclosure, a brick wall with an iron gated stone arch gives an instant element of interest and appeal to the Old World-inspired architectural design.

A stone fireplace provides a warm highlight and was added without a raised hearth, allowing more floor space to be utilized for a dining table and fountains-including a pre-cast lion head fountain-giving the “room” just the right ambience for leisure or dining al fresco.

Highly durable masonry-oversized tumbled Tulsa brick and a tumbled Harvest Mix stone combination-contributes to the feeling of an Old World setting. The courtyard’s most prominent and artistically unique feature is the curvilinear top of the brick entryway wall. A charming wood burning fireplace, Eden flagstone pavement and lush plantings add to the coziness and allure of the architecturally rich space.

Frequently enjoyed by the homeowners, the open-air courtyard is described as an architecturally and aesthetically pleasing space and further enhanced by the peaceful sound of cascading water and wonderful nighttime views. The timeless architecture wraps the space in character and warmth, offering limitless opportunities for gathering and relaxation.

For picture,resources and credits, check out the link below:

http://www.stlouishomesmag.com/St-Louis-Homes-and-Lifestyles/April-2010/Old-World-Charm/

Low interest rates, a federal tax credit and nice weather led to a surge in new house construction in the St. Louis region in March.

Permits to build single-family houses hit their highest one-month total in more than two years, according to the Home Builders Association of St. Louis.

There were 465 permits issued in seven Missouri counties, the most since Feb. 2008 and a 142 percent increase from the same month last year. Through the first three months of 2010, permits are up 58 percent from last year.

Much of the growth in single-family construction came in St. Charles, Warren and Franklin counties. Permits for multifamily rehabs in the city of St. Louis, which are counted separately, have more than tripled from last year’s pace.

It is unclear how long this building boomlet will last, however. The government’s $8,000 tax credit is set to expire at the end of April and many economists think interest rates will rise, prompting some concern about a second dip in the housing market.

Source: Tim Logan: tlogan@post-dispatch.com - April 21, 2010 Post Dispatch