March 10, 2010

I am mildly obsessed with my new balcony.

Little help here:

porch

As a solar-powered life form, I've been all antsy about getting my balcony fixed up since I moved in, and now that it's not fifteen damn degrees outside (though 45 and raining is not much of an improvement), it's past time to get cracking. And I'm stuck. I have this completely empty space that I can do pretty much anything with, and after years of living without so much as a tomato plant I'm overwhelmed by choices and have no idea where to begin making it glorious and livable.

What I have to work with is very nice. It's a 9 X 12.5 rectangle tacked onto the front of my living room with thigh-high rails all the way around. As you can't really see in the pictures, I already put in a white beadboard ceiling and replaced some rotting floorboards with plywood. The only absolutely necessary task remaining is the rest of floor itself, which needs to be stripped and painted to match all over, preferably not the nasty brick red it is now.

Which leaves ... everything else, pretty much. Here's what I'm looking to fill the space with, eventually:

  • A big-ass Pawleys Island hammock, once it warms up and I never want to leave the porch. Until then, some sort of sturdy double chaise-type thing that can lay flat, has cushions, and can support a lazy writer or two and the occasional overenthusiastic puppy.
  • A puppy crashpad, for when they get thrown off the chair. This, along with everything else outside needs to be heat- and rain-resistant to survive the long summers of 100 degrees and 100% humidity.
  • More light. There's one overhead and it's pretty but it's also going to attract bugs, so some twinkle lights that don't look like I mugged a Christmas tree would be good.
  • Speaking of which, bug protection. No screens, and no fan, and the rails are curved just enough to make them impractical for supporting citronella buckets. Anyone seen any that come on stands or in hanging pots?
  • As much squashy lounging space as will fit. I'm big on floor cushions but I'm not sure how practical those would be in an outdoor setting. I'll make my own out of Sunbrella fabric or something if I have to, but I'd rather not. Another concern: levels. The rails are very thick, so seating higher up might be a better idea, but it's not like I have a gorgeous view.
  • Gardening space. For my first year I want to try basil, rosemary, lavender, and arugula, and maybe butter lettuce because the texture kind of freaks me out in the mouth but it's really pretty. I'm thinking about just lining that entire front wall with planters.
  • Flowering spots. Nothing too big; I'm researching trees I can grow inside but everything out here will need to be in a hanging pot or something I can hang off a rail. I like celosias, ivy, succulents and pretty much any bulb flower that's totally impractical to try and grow in a pot. Ideally I'd like to hang window boxes off the rails all the way around, if I can find ones that are attractive enough and have very wide fasteners, and hang pots in all the corners.

    • So clearly I haven't given this a lot of thought or anything, but where to start? Oh, and how to get all this done on an out-of-season blogger budget? Anybody know where the really good garden stores are around here? Help me, internet. You're my only hope.

    Posted by Nastinchka at March 10, 2010 02:44 PM

    Comments

    You could always use candles for the skeeters. Personally, I think that's prime beer pong table real estate, but as you are a functioning adult unlike me, I would buy a couple of these: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S79825193 Super comfy and cheap. A chiminea would be nice, but probably violates the fire code.

    Posted by: BurritoBrosShits at March 10, 2010 06:41 PM

    Oh, and I'd have to say your Home Depot/Lowes is your best bet for garden stuff. I though Pike was a bit too expensive while I was up there.

    Posted by: BurritoBrosShits at March 10, 2010 06:43 PM

    Target has some reeeelly cute garden string lights right now, some of them are even solar powered. They're in the seasonal/garden section. Actually Target is on a bold, primary color kick across the board of which I totally approve. Their whole outdoor section has some good things at the moment.
    I'm currently dreaming about outfitting my patio too so I'll keep you posted about anything I find.

    Posted by: Allais at March 10, 2010 10:15 PM

    Three words: Outdoor ball pit.

    Posted by: rhys at March 11, 2010 11:55 AM

    OH MY GOD I'M DOING THAT

    Posted by: Holly at March 11, 2010 12:26 PM
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