If you have a balcony or other outdoor living space, Spring weather means it's time to dress it up and prep it for sunbathing and socializing. Inspired by this chic vintage love seat, I've gathered up my Etsy picks for creating an inviting outdoor nook, complete with greenery, evening ambiance, and cushy seating. Check 'em out!
One of the houses that I grew up in had a great, big balcony off of the master bedroom. I took this photo on moving day, when it was empty, save for a plant that grew around the banister. But we used to have lounge chairs out there, where I spent countless hours trying to perfect my tan. Of course, it was also a great place to have a chilled glass of wine on a hot East Coast Summer night! In my two-bedroom San Francisco apartment, the closest thing I have to a balcony is an outdoor staircase that leads to the trash bins — not so picturesque. I dream of the day I might catch some UV-rays from the comfort of my house again.
How about you? Do you have a balcony?
BloomFrame, designed by Amsterdam-based Hofman Dujardin Architects, is the coolest thing since slicest bread. Essentially it is a window frame that transforms into a balcony with a flip of a switch. In addition to at least five other awards, the design won the Wallpaper* Design Award 2009 in the most life-enhancing category, which is well deserved. If you live in a compact city apartment, it allows you to step outside and enjoy your own private outdoor space. It's available in a range of sizes, materials, and colors to be customized to your builiding. The only problem I see with it is that when the balcony opens, it lets outdoor air (and bugs) into your apartment. Watch the video! The music is pretty funny!
Summer is officially here! So it's time to enjoy the great outdoors. What better way to enjoy the warm breeze than from the comfort of your beautifully styled patio, porch, balcony, or rooftop? To help you get your outdoor space into tip-top shape, I have 15 outdoor design ideas for you to steal.
Back in March, I told you about a balcony in Verona that's supposedly the 14th-century Casa di Giulietta (home of Juliet of Romeo and Juliet fame) in Verona, Italy. While evidence confirming the home's identity is sketchy at best, romantic brides and grooms can live the fantasy —hopefully without the tragedy of the Shakespeare play — for a fee of 1,000 euros. And if you're non-European, you'll pay an additional 300 euros for the opportunity. This payment ensures your rental of the house (and balcony), but the ceremony must be performed inside the home.
The first couple to take advantage of the historic home and balcony tied the knot in romantic fashion today. Hellas Verona footballer Luca Ceccarelli and his wife Irene Lanforti took their vows at Juliet's home and then posed on the balcony for pictures.
Interested in getting married at Juliet's home? You can contact the Verona Tourist Center for all the details.
Well folks, summer is just around the corner, and summer season means grilling season! For those of you with a backyard or a nice patio, this is great news. But what about those of you who live in tiny apartments? Well don't fret; there are actually a couple of ways for you to get your grill on.
First is the Portable Picnic Grill from Sagaform. It's a sleek briefcase-sized box that quickly transforms into a mini-grill complete with spatula and turning fork. If you don't have space in your backyard, take it to the park, beach, etc. Costs $35.
The second option is for those of you with balconies. You may have seen this a while back (it seemed like it was all over every gadget blog on the planet), but the Bruce Grill is designed to hang off the edge of your balcony railing (similar to flower boxes). I think it's a fantastic idea, although I do have to warn you, this is probably not legal in most apartment complexes.
Got any other great ideas for small-space grilling? Let us know below!
