Your Secret Garden: The Balcony & Small Spaces Edition Part 2

Clockwise from top left: outdoor table; planters designed to hang off balcony railings; outdoor rugs; birdy outdoor lights, outdoor solar lamps; love this balcony railing canvas designed to give low balconies some much needed privacy!            All above items available at Ikea

In part one of this two part series, I explained my idea of a nice, small outdoor space or balcony along with examples to stir your creative juices. Here in this second part I'm going to share some of my latest and greatest finds for your tiny part of the great outdoors. Hopefully it will help take your creative juices from stirrings to reality.

Clockwise from top left: Brommo Chaise Lounge; Double Lounger (ideal for snuggles); acapulco chair; PS VÅGÖ Chair; Umbra Loft Outdoor Couch Set; Tierra Outdoor Pouf; Globe Outdoor Sconce; Figueira Swing Chair

I've chosen all these awesomely fun pieces of furniture specifically with small spaces in mind. Even the couch option comes in individual pieces in order to be customized for your space. Some of this furniture may seem large, but trust me, you'd rather have a few larger comfy pieces than a collection of small rickety chairs.

An extra tip: keep your larger furniture pieces (like an outdoor couch) relatively neutral and add colour with showcase pieces like the swing chair and in your pillows, pots, rugs, etc. This way it stays fun and colourful, but easy to change if you get bored with it. But most of all follow your gut and have fun with it! No need for an outdoor space to feel serious.

Clockwise from top left: Angled Plant Stand; Keep the birdies close; Oscar Rail Planter; ÄPPLARÖ Bench with Storage; Super Fun B&W Outdoor Rug; Woolly Pocket Wall Planters

Aaaaand a few more accessory ideas to keep your secret balcony garden a fun and playful escape! Hope you enjoyed this curated shopping experience!

Your Secret Garden: The Balcony & Small Spaces Edition Part 1

Why not use your balcony walls to hang plants?

So it's finally spring and your bummed out because you don't have a yard. Do not fear my dear, because creativity flourishes within boundaries. If you have a small deck or patio, but no yard, then this post is for you. I'm going to share some inspirational pics in this post and some of my favorite products for amazing tiny outdoor spaces in the next one. I've divided this topic into two posts because it was getting to be too big! But awesome for you, because there will be lots of great info and inspiration to make your small outdoor space your very own secret garden!

Have a Moroccan Themed Patio Party

First things first: It doesn't matter if you have a huge yard or a tiny balcony, the number one ingredient is plants, plants, plants! Hanging baskets, potted plants, plants on the walls, etc, etc, etc. No outdoor space is complete without greenery.

So Chill

Good lighting is also a must. In fact, your lighting requirements will not be that much different from any indoor space. You'll want a combination of general spacial lighting, mood lighting and task lighting. Mood lighting can be things like candles, little white Christmas lights strung across the ceiling of your balcony or floodlights that are dramatically up-lighting your plants. You know, the fun stuff. While task lighting is for, of course, specific tasks. For proper task lighting, think of how you imagine utilizing your space. Do you like reading? Then you will need and outdoor table lamp or well placed sconce so you can sit out there on beautiful warm summer evenings soaking up the latest novel. General spacial lighting indoors often functions as a ceiling fixture, but in an outdoor space it is generally a wall or ceiling mounted porch light. 

Comfy Outdoor Nest

A lounge chair, table and plants are all you need on this lovely little balcony

Now this is outdoor living!

Colourfully decorated little nook

Lastly, you'll want to add furniture and accessories. Accessories such as outdoor rugs, pillows and lanterns complete a space and add the drama and personality. As far as furniture goes, choose wisely! If you only have a small patio or balcony I hate to say it, but don't bother with a bistro set. I know, I know, everyone with a small outdoor space automatically thinks "bistro table and chairs". My problem with bistro sets (although very adorable and admittedly hard to resist) is that they are rickety and uncomfortable. Seriously, have you ever sat at an outdoor bistro table and thought "well, this is certainly a comfy experience"? If you have I would love to know where you got your set from. An outdoor space is meant for enjoyment and lingering for long luxurious periods of time, therefore it needs to be comfortable for more then five minutes. I would suggest a larger dining set, couple of lounge chairs, outdoor floor pillows, a hanging chair, a hammock, or even an outdoor couch (if you can squeeze it in) as viable alternatives. Add a coffee table or a couple of end tables and viola! You have yourself an outdoor space that you will actually use. I sure hope you find this info will help you fully enjoy your outdoor space, no matter what the size. And please, if you have any tips or tricks, I would love to here about them!

Modern Lush Balcony

Your Secret Garden...Again

 

So guess what??? Its finally March!!! Here in Saskatchewan its still winter for like another month, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! The weather is a bit nicer, there are more sunny days and more birds chirping. Despite all this, we are desperate for some vitamin D and some serious plant therapy. So I decided it was time for another post about beautiful, inspiring outdoor spaces...just to get us through this last bit of winter....

Private Pea Gravel Patio

Love this fence & floor idea

For Beach Lounging

If you have a cabin on a lake, I highly recommend a party like this

Love this succulent planter/arrangement

Woowza!

Great use of patio space & gorgeous fireplace

Vertical Herb Garden

Loving this amazing patio space. We built a similar fence which I will share with you later.

A patio with flow

Most people's yards are just giant boring swaths of lawn, ummm...I must confess that this includes me. Its funny because grass is so impractical. Think of the mowing and watering and then more mowing and watering...both of which are very un-environmentally friendly, not to mention high maintenance and impractical. I mean seriously, how many people do you  actually see hanging out on their lawn on a regular basis? More then likely they're hanging out on the tiny cement square that they've delegated to outdoor living space. Does this make any sense? Why do we do this? Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-lawn, I would like to keep a decent slice of grass for good drinking games of croquet (which I highly recommend) and the like. But to resign ones self to a tiny piece of concrete amongst vast swathes of grass makes no sense. I am talking about myself here too. I've been trying to add more living spaces such as my three season room which acts as my outdoor living room, and my patio which currently houses my fire pit and dining area. Slowly I am lessening the lawn area and creating more spaces that are actually utilized. And guess what? It's actually less maintenance! I'd like to challenge all of you to take a look at these pictures and think about how you really use your yard and how you would like to use it and maybe, just maybe the idea might include a little less lawn and a little more fun.

Your Secret Garden

Love this idea for an amazing outdoor dining experience

Well, its mid-February and I know its not just me, we're all feeling the winter blues and dreaming of sunshine on your skin, the great outdoors & gardening. The good news is that just a month and a half and it will be SPRING!!! So to help banish your winter blues I've complied a list of some of my favorite outdoor gardening/yard ideas. You know, its never to early to begin planning your outdoor projects, so let me help you get started:

For lounging under your favorite trees

There are yards and then there are yards. I like a yard to feel private and lush, like in one of my favorite childhood books: The Secret Garden....

Private modern paradise & great idea for rectangular back yards

Vertical succulent garden; could also do this with herbs.

Lounge about all day

Add a little deck & garden out your patio doors

How about a sod couch?

Or a garden on your table?

Even small outdoor rooms can be colourful, dramatic & inviting

 Even small changes can make a big impact. It doesn't have to be expensive or over the top. Let's not overlook the drama and visual impact a few large potted plants can make. A good tip is to try to create smaller, designated, intimate spaces within the larger yard space, like you would in a house. And most of all have fun with it, play around, experiment, after all it's your secret garden!

Places & Spaces: Three Season Room

I've been meaning to start a design blog for some time now. So I decided to kick this off with a personal project that my husband Ryley and I designed and built in our back yard. It's our three season room, also known as my smoking room (my vice is the occasional cigar). Essentially it is an enclosed/roofed deck that extends off the patio doors to our kitchen. I wanted something that was comfy and cozy that would extend our outdoor season and give us privacy (it's elevated 4' off the ground and if it weren't for the walls, we'd be able to see directly into the neighbors yards and they'd see us way up high - hello neighbors!) This is my favorite space in my house because it is prefect for both parties and for relaxing. 

Fabric Detail: Ikat & Burlap

The seat cushions are made from mattress foam and are almost as deep as a twin mattress. Yes, I have slept out here.

All of the white & cedar panels can open or remain closed.

 Horizontal cedar boards is a common theme in many of our outdoor projects. This room matches our front step which Ryley built a couple of years ago, and the backyard fence we are just putting the finishing touches on now. I will post pictures of these projects sometime soon!

Lindsey