Making the Most of a Small Balcony

Just like hipsters and PBR, small living spaces and small outdoor spaces go hand in hand. Dumping the house in the suburbs with a generous back yard for an urban apartment has turned out to be the best move I could have made, but I canʼt lie: I miss the back yard more than a little bit.

But having a balcony thatʼs short on space doesnʼt mean it has to be short on style. It just might take a little bit of creativity. I already have a pair of Adirondack chairs that fit nicely, so now I just need to accessorize.

Starting at the top, some solar-powered hanging lanterns that collect light all day and shine all night will provide some much-needed ambiance and visual interest. Since there's no room for planters, I'm going to try one that attaches to the balcony rail. Including a smaller barbecue, in light green, and one or two or three colorful modern birdhouses will tie it all together.

The chairs I have are pretty weathered but they look rustic, which is a nice juxtaposition against some of the more aggressively modern elements. The ratty cushions will have to go, though, and be replaced with this nice green and yellow set with flowers on one side and stripes on the other. Built-in versatility is great in my book, because I tend to get tired of patterns.

Voila! A comfortable but compelling space to spend our summer evenings and lazy Sunday afternoons is an urban oasis anyone would love to come home to.

Solar Lanterns
Egg Bird Houses
Rail Planters
Chair Cushions *

*I don't generally endorse shopping at Wal-Mart but I looked high and low before finding this pattern that I liked, as opposed to others that I could just tolerate. Apparently my values have gone on summer vacation!

Someday We'll Find It: The IKEA Connection

As a card-carrying hugger of trees and lover of the planet, I am loath to admit it, but I love to shop. And when I get together with Beth, we give new meaning to the phrase “shop til you drop.” This past weekend at IKEA was no exception.

A marathon shopping day this past weekend included, but was not limited to, four hours at the modern design mecca. Beth needed some new throws and was in search of the perfect curtains for her dining room, while I was looking for entryway storage and planter pots for the balcony.

Did either of us need a frog prince pillow? No, but how adorable is this one? Neither of us was in the market for a room divider but we each found one we loved, albeit in completely different styles. A discussion about eco frying pans led us to the kitchenwares department, where I discovered the cutest design ever seen on such a practical item.