Words & Photos Cynthia philp
I’ve never understood why so many balconies are left barren and ignored. To me, they are the perfect way to soften the harsh lines of tall buildings and bring gardens right to our doorstep. Recently, I had the pleasure of touring a friend’s amazing balcony. Laila has embraced her outdoor space, creating a functional yet utterly lovely spot to enjoy with friends and family. In a space that measures about 11 by seven feet, she has plenty of room for cooking, entertaining and gardening.
A previous owner had overlaid the surface of the balcony with teak tiles, and Laila added an outdoor carpet to make the space an extension of her stylish kitchen. An amazing hostess, she loves to cook and searched out a balcony-sized barbecue with folding side shelves for food prep. She added a heatproof drip mat, to keep the surface of her balcony space clean and safe.
The area also offers ample gardening space; Laila cannot be without her fresh herbs. After diligently checking the weight restrictions for her balcony (always check condo rules), she found Canadian-made pots (Algreen) that are environmentally conscious, lightweight, and self-watering, with an elevated internal plant liner to minimize weight. Even better, the pots are on wheels, allowing them to easily be moved out of the way if the need arises.
She grows chives (to add to egg dishes), rosemary, cilantro (for salsas) and thyme. A separate container is reserved for mint, from which she can prepare her special mint sauce. Cherry tomato plants (Super Sweet 100) complete her vegetable garden. “We love them – they don’t last long when they start to ripen,” says Laila.
Of course, adding flowers punches up the already magnificent view. All the plants in her garden are annuals; easy to put in each spring, they provide a show all summer. Tidied up for winter, the garden stays neat with no maintenance requirements.
In addition to having space for cooking and gardening, her balcony offers seating versatile enough to enjoy either a solitary cup of coffee in the morning, or a shared meal with friends in the evening. After doing her research, Laila settled on a eucalyptus folding table that can withstand our sunny summers and rainy winters. The is one of the most amazing pieces of balcony furniture I’ve ever seen: four can sit comfortably when the table is fully extended to a 42-inch diameter, but with both leaves dropped, the profile of the table only takes up a mere eight inches(!) of deck space.
With the barbecue side shelves folded down, the table tucked in and garden pots rolled out of the way, Laila’s balcony transforms into a dance space for music-loving friends.
A beautiful outdoor space doesn’t depend on size – Laila’s balcony reflects her welcoming personality and attention to detail, and provides a lush garden to enjoy at her doorstep.
