10 Design tricks for your city terrace!

If you’re an urban city lover, then like me you have a very limited space to enjoy on your city

 terrace or balcony.  Yet, small doesn't necessarily have to mean drab.  With a larger space the challenge

  is creating the intimacy.  The small space already has this to its’ advantage.  

Creating a cozy , warm intimate ambiance is a cinch in a tight space.  

This is exactly what you should

 be shooting for, irregardless of the limitations of the space.  

When my clients say I don’t have 

enough space, my first challenge is to help them to use their space to their advantage!

Think vertical!  Here we have an ingenious inexpensive way of creating a trellis

 overhead, a way to create shade, and green space!  Easily achieved by stringing together some

 bamboo rods and flexible slats of wood or plastic that you can easily buy at a 

renovation store.  Thinking outside the box can generate terrific results!

Container gardening is another way to put your limited space to good use.  

Not enough space means using every inch as shown here, where the owner used the walls to house pretty pots.

Love the scent of herbs, well you’re in luck cause they can do very well in a sunny 

environment as long as they have enough water.    I love this idea of the ‘pockets’ housing herbs

.  Snip with a pair of scissors and you have a great pitcher of lemonade with mint leaves,

 or a salad with cilantro.  Ingenious don’t you think? Yum. 

Don’t let the concrete jungle intimidate you either, you can easily camouflage a concrete 

balcony with ceramic tile (glued to sheets of wood so that you can easily bring it with you 

if you’re renting!), or slats of wood that interlock as shown here!  Again the slats weren't

 limited to the floor, but were used vertically to house plants.  

 Don’t let everybody else dictate what you want your space to be!  Below, the entire space

is taken up by this round lounger!  And why not? It should be what suits your comfort level, 

budget and lounging style!

Below also the interlocking wood slats were used, creating a clean surface for the throw

 pillows.  Why not create an additional ‘living area’. Have an old piece of furniture? Bring

 it outside and with a bright hue it will set the mood for summer living.  

Seating that is easily hidden away means hammock!  Hanging to the right is a bright

 fuchsia hammock. Now there’s a way to take advantage of a tight space.  Put it away

 once you’re done with it, otherwise swing and sway in it any time of the day or night!  

Notice how the plants are kept off the floor and draw the eye upward so that there is 

still a feeling of lush greenery in a city setting?

Get down!  This is the idea behind having low slung furniture and pillows.  

Everybody enjoys getting down to basics in tight spaces after a few drinks, when the

 stars are out, whether over mint tea or mint juleps – this setting is ideal for cozy evenings.

Take advantage of your ‘walls’ even if they’re shared with a a nosy neighbor.  

Here every inch was put to good use by putting a ‘backless’ sofa up against the

 wooden separator as shown above and below.

There is nothing like a little surprise when entering an enchanted garden setting.  

Think unusual finds, or even junk.  Here we have an unusual piece of furniture

 probably a discarded medicine cabinet which works like a terrific terrarium!  These 

types of pieces are easily found at flea market, thrift stores, or even on the curb. 

 Think outside the box and take a leap of faith.   Every time  I have done this it has turned 

out to be a conversation piece, with people always amazed at what I find in the trash!   

Play a game of high low, one inexpensive piece of ‘trash’, next to terrific lush fabrics

on your pillows or throw cushions, or even a rich rug underfoot.  

One works off the other, to create an interesting non cookie cutter look.  Be unique, 

take hints from magazines that make you see things through an unusual lens.

The ingredients of these simple balcony recipes, can make every space come alive,

 potted plants, a colorful rug underfoot, some mix and match cushions, chairs, coffee

 table or pedestal table, an umbrella for shade.  In each of these settings you can see

 how the simplest space comes alive by mixing with the appropriate items.

Always dreamt of having a picket fence?  The city life can't stop you from having that - 

as shown here!Don’t let color intimidate you, a sweetly patterned rug,  a turquoise set of

 pillows stand out, summer is short, take advantage of it!  Here   a few colorful  rugs are 

thrown atop each other to create a sense of ‘kasbah’ in the city.

Take cover!  Don't have the luxury of the upper floor creating enough shade from 

the harmful and scorching rays of summer?  Here we have a twist on the run of the mill 

awning with it's billowing lats it allows for more of a relaxed feel and allows for air as well to circulate.

  Take a cue from above also for the use of trellis boards to create not only privacy, but

 some shade if paired with eager growing plants that like to ramble.

This vibrant colored water feature is a fabulous way to create yet another layer and

 also to tune out the traffic from nearby boulevards or neighbors as well.  It is as easy 

as purchasing a small pump and a pot that will hold water.  Any home renovation shop

 can tell you how to  achieve this.

Don't let summer run away from you - keep it in your tiny terrasse for as long as possible!

Enjoy!

10 Pretty Patio Looks | Idea Interiors

Today's entry is an ode to summer living in the city.  

 Whether you own a patio, porch, sun deck, rooftop, backyard or

country garden, all  you need is a little imagination and some ingenuity to create a unique look 

The most interesting patios, have furniture that doesn't match!

 I must admit there is a fine art to picking and choosing what looks good together,

so as not to create a junk pile.   Practice makes perfect!

In this entry  you'll find inspirational setting and tips on how re-create these looks

Above, matching  wicker chairs and wicker throw pillow create
symmetry, the colours are what brings everything else together.

Above,  my own Montreal terrace houses a  113 year old day bed, purchased for $100 at a local

 flea market called Finnegan's in Hudson, Quebec. This year I used a painter's drop cloth, purchased for under

35$, washed it and cut it to sew new covers for all the pillows. 

An inexpensive fix for easy wash and wear. 

The large pillow with French writing is actual a doggy bed that I bought at Winners. 

The cotton blanket is from IKEA , and the trunk was found in the trash. 

With a small can of flat black paint, and some plants, inexpensive and instant garden style!

Again the trick is not to 'match' everything so that it doesn't look like a cookie
cutter garden set from a  store magazine, but that it has a unique feel. 

Cascading plants and wooden floor planks create urban jungle above.
The Chinoiserie styled credenza brings the inside out!

Use your imagination!  Go BOHO!

 The setting above and below were done as part of a design challenge for Home Depot.  

The painted deck is such a terrific idea.  Easy to get rid of when you're tired of it too! 

 Here a stencil was used for extra drama.  

Notice, that you can create privacy with a curtain rod and fabric. 

 And of course colour is king here, with the multiple pillows in vibrant hues.

Punches of colour above also add drama, from the fuchsia pink outdoor rug,  the letter F, 

to the bright coloured  pots and pillows.  The furniture is the staple brown and beige, but it doesn't 

have to remain dull.  Drab goes by the wayside with these punches of pink and orange.  

A uniquely do it yourself mirror is added to the boarded backdrop to create a feeling 

of the indoors outside!

A sleek hotel style deck featured above,  is serene with its' crisp lines.
Black and white theme make for a classic look.
   The piece de la resistence here has got to be the canopy, created by
 using parachute fabric.  All the rage in the Mediterranean these days!

The pretty in pink setting above is just that!  Pretty! Don't let the colour intimidate you.
 If and when you tire of it,  just sew up a new batch of pillows or even dye them!
 Turquoise, bottle neck green,or blue and white stripes would work equally well.
The built in sofa might take some manoeuvring but can be copied using wooden planks!

The advantage to having a patio  or deck is that you get a 'bonus room' in summer time.
 Here,  it seems like an additional living room, with it's crisp couch, outdoor rug and shock
 of turquoise on the garden stool.  Note there are 3 on this deck!
    Who wouldn't want to while away the hours here?

 Easy and inexpensive!  Create a sail using anything at all, from a drop cloth to a bed sheet, or
 a large inexpensive swatch of fabric. Even potato sacks sewn together would work!  Note how
the chairs and little tables don't match at all except for the white tones.
 It appears to be almost the deck of a small sailing vessel, doesn't it?
Anchors Away!


Enjoy summer wherever you are this month!