MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU’VE GOT

You should treat your balcony as an “outdoor room” and an extension of your home. To get the most from your balcony design, ask yourself how you would like to use your space?  Will it be used for outdoor entertaining, a relaxing space to read, a spot to grow veggies and herbs or simply an urban sanctuary to escape a busy city life? Deciding on the end use will help determine the entire look and feel or your balcony design, including planting selection and outdoor furniture and accessory choice.

SLEEK AND STYLISH

For a sleek, modern look why not construct a built-in seat at one end of your balcony.   This balcony still has an open plan, non- cluttered feel but the new addition seating creates a relaxing spot to sit.

Image credit: rachelthurston.com

TURNING DRAB INTO FAB

Splashes of colour always work well in drab urban surroundings. Brighten up your balcony with funky coloured outdoor furniture and accessories.

Image credit: casadevalentina.com.br

BALCONY MAKEOVER ON A BUDGET

Here is a great example of a budget friendly balcony makeover, perfect for renters looking for inexpensive ideas to bring their balcony to life.

Image credit: designsponge.com

1.Hide unwanted surfaces (such as old tiles) by using a decorative outdoor rug.

2. Give your balcony space a lift by introducing a selection of pots and plants. Grow hardy plants such as conifer varieties and drought tolerant favourites like yuccas, agave and succulent varieties.

3. Respray old chairs and inject colour by adding bright cushions and outdoor accessories to decorate your space.

4. Create privacy from your neighbours by constructing a cheap trellis screen. Plant a drought tolerant creeper (like a bougainvillea or mandevilla) and you will have a natural green screen in no time.

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THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

Fabric planter covers! These make a great alternative to plain coloured pots….we’ll show you how.

Image credit: ashleyannphotography.com

All you need is:
Terracotta pot
Fabric
PVA glue
Brush
Scissors

Start by cutting a length of fabric that will wrap once around your pot. Leave extra room for folding it over on the top and bottom. Cut slits in the fabric around the top, to avoid puckering as you make your way around.

Begin by coating a small section of the pot with PVA glue. Stick the beginning of your fabric length to the pot and once it is in place, coat the fabric with PVA. Continue doing this all the way around, without worrying about the top or bottom of the pot. When the outside of the pot is finished, trim your fabric so that less than an inch hangs over the top and bottom.

Next, begin at the top, folding the fabric into the pot in pleats so that it lays nice and flat around the rim. Coat in PVA. Do the same for the bottom, folding the fabric in pleats so that the bottom edge of the pot remains smooth. Coat any loose flaps of fabric with PVA.

Now let your pot dry.

VERTICAL GARDENS

A common theme in our travels, vertical gardens are becoming more and more popular in Australia too due to space restrictions and smaller living spaces.

Here is a great inexpensive vertical garden design, you could make yourself that looks effective too. Great for a balcony wall.

Image credit: designrevolver.org

VINTAGE INSPIRED OUTDOOR FURNITURE

This is all the rage right now! Look at these intricate designed metal chairs, powdercoated in funky colours. I want one of each!

Image credit: anthropologie.com

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Kids still can have fun in small space gardens with this clever portable sandbox.

Parents will also love it because it is easy to move out of the way when entertaining.

Win-win!

Image credit: remodelista.com

PALM SPRINGS IN YOUR BACKYARD

Look how comfortable these flamingos look in their new surrounds. Your friends will look twice!

Image credit: felderrushing.net

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Introducing the very first of our regular posts on small space gardens we love.

Each week we will share with you a selection of urban gardens, courtyards, balconies, rooftops and patios that we find inspiring and hope it in turn provides you with some inspiration in transforming your small urban space into a garden you love.

Just because it’s the end of the summer holidays it doesn’t mean you can’t bring the holidays home with you. Vibrant garden accessories and furniture can brighten up your urban outdoor space, so it feels like summer holidays all year round.

Image credit: superkitina.wordpress.com

THE URBAN RETREAT

You can create your own lush sanctuary to escape the city grind in any small space. Choosing interesting plants based on form and texture, not only looks great but can provide privacy and shading solutions. Add some colourful cushions and a matching rug for comfort and you’ll have no excuse for not relaxing at home.

Image credit: style-file.com

BUT I HAVE A SMALL UNUSUALLY SHAPED COURTYARD…

Here’s proof that clever garden design and the right choice of colour palette can transform even the most awkward shaped area into an inviting outdoor space.

Image credit: desiretoinspire.net

BUDGET SAVVY

There is no need to spend a fortune in creating your urban retreat.

Some simple tips include taking the time to tidy up can make all the difference. Cut back overgrown shrubs and sweep up leaf debris.

Up-cycle your old outdoor setting with a lick of paint or pick up a brightly coloured hammock, which is not only a cheap addition to your outdoor area, but gives you a great spot to sit back and relax with a cup of tea and a good book.

Image credit: silive.com

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Tom and I were lucky enough to spend the Christmas holidays in one of our favourite spots, Bali. Bali is renowned for its beautiful gardens, so we thought we’d share some photos of gardens that caught our eye. Each have elements that can be easily adapted into small space gardens at home.

CONTEMPORARY GARDEN DESIGN

A beautifully crafted and composed garden. The built-in recessed table and seating area would be a great idea to incorporate into a small space courtyard design.

CLEVER PLANT SELECTION

The use of form, colour and texture of plants to create a naturally appealing landscape. Great inspiration for tropical planting schemes and selection here.

THE PERFECT PLUNGE POOL

The simplicity of this pool design with its wide dark lip and aqua colour interior framed by a natural tropical landscape just looks so inviting, don’t you just want to dive in?

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF GARDEN DESIGN

Here is an inventive approach to small space gardening. When there is little space – why not go vertical and create a plant monument. The rustic timber columns make an impressive statement.

A CLEVER USE OF A SMALL SPACE

Small terracotta planters hung on a steel mesh screen create a decorative feature to this shopfront. This idea would work well on a small space balcony or courtyard wall.

THE ULTIMATE DECK!

We want this at our place – bar, view and music included of course!

EFFORTLESS DESIGN

You can always tell a great garden design, it looks comfortable in it’s surrounds, like it was meant to be there. Absolutely beautiful!

Happy New Year everyone!

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Summer holidays spent at the beach is the Aussie way of life.  Whether it be day-trips to the coast, camping with family and friends or staying at a holiday house for the summer, we all love the beach.

BEACH BALCONY

If you’re going away for a beach holiday this Christmas, here is an amazing beach balcony to get you excited. It even comes with a sandy floor….no need to take your shoes off here!

Image credit: photobucket.com

SUMMER RETREAT

For those who are holidaying at home this season, why not create a summer retreat in your own backyard.

Bright pops of colour using funky outdoor fabrics and flowering plants can help with creating the summer vibe.  Creating a comfortable spot to laze in the sun, sip a cold drink and relax is also a must, whether it be a daybed with lots of comfy pillows or a seating area to chill out in.

Here are 3 examples that caught our eye.

Image credit: housebeautiful.com     uxua.com     housetohome.co.uk

HOLIDAY PROOF PLANTS

Most gardens need lots of love and care. When you go away on holidays this year who will be looking after your plants?   Planting a garden using low maintenance and drought tolerant varieties means you can quite happily holiday away, knowing your garden will still be alive when you return.

For larger spaces here are 3 garden examples which not only look fantastic but practically look after themselves.

Image credit: google.com    houzz.com    ivillage.com

We haven’t forgotten about balcony gardens, or courtyards etiher. Clever container planting using low maintenance plants such as succulent species are a great option, requiring minimal TLC.

Image credit: photobucket.com    revivalhomeandgarden.com

We wish you and your family a very Merry Chirstmas.
Happy holidays!

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Can you believe it’s just over one and a half weeks until Christmas!
If you’re looking for a theme this Christmas to dress your home, why not keep it real… and get nature involved. Here are some ideas we found to get you inspired.

SUCCULENT WREATH

Make a succulent wreath for your front door or use the wreath as a centre piece for your Christmas table. The great thing about this wreath is the fact it uses real plants so after Christmas you can pot up the succulents and place on your balcony.

Image credit: blowoutparty.com

A LIVING TREE

Why not buy a real Christmas tree this season and watch it grow from year to year. There is something special about a real Christmas tree. A few tips to keep it healthy, include putting a saucer underneath it’s pot and making sure the soil is kept moist by watering it regularly. You can hide the plastic pot of the tree by using a decorative woven basket or planter cover pot. Topping this with hessian fabric will help stop water evaporation.

Image credit: remodelista.com

DECORATIONS

To compliment your living Christmas tree why not decorate it with living decorations. We found some great succulent decorations and small terranium Christmas baubles. These tiny terraniums would also make an adorable gift for someone special.

Last but not least, how cute are these little guys? Tiny wreaths made out of your favourite herbs which can be used as hanging decorations or as gift tags.

Image credit: frolic-blog.com

Hope this helps to get you in the Christmas spirit!

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