apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

What a great space!! I love the ivy-covered wall, and the dimensions seem to invite an intimate gathering. How lucky you are!

What do you think about painting or re-paving the concrete, or getting an outdoor rug? I think it would define the space, and be quite cheery. Painting some of the white furniture a bright color would really make it pop too! (as you indicated). It's a small space so unifying with color would make it look less "busy", you know?

If you're into the old world vibe, why not replace that lattice-work with some old gilded mirrors or some wrought iron pieces. I would plant something in the garden above the wall that will grow down and over the wall, vines, perhaps something flowering (depending on your sun situation) --

Depending on budget, flagstone would be a nice touch.

Outdoor fireplace or a chimenea. Always cozies-up a joint.

Expensive option: Maybe you need to break up some of the concrete either with a sunken firepit or a small "pond" (see link). I would also line the concrete wall with horizontal wooden slats. Inexpensive: Add some narrow longer/modern planters along the sides and some colorful outdoor fabric and paint the concrete wall. Maybe even west elm wooden decking (see link)

http://www.cmsdesignassociates.com/photos/3/02.jpg

http://www.gardenoutlines.co.uk/users/www.gardenoutlines.co.uk/upload/Jody1.JPG

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODf243&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1ACCOUT&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1ACCOUT

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODr545&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1ACCOUT&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1ACCOUT

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=378006&cat=5

I'd make the outdoor dining table the focus of the patio by placing it in the middle and adding some color to it with a durable runner and maybe some hurricane vases and large candles.

The lounge chair seems a little out of place for me. I'd move that up to the garden along with the picnic table/bench.

First off, there's too much furniture out there that's mismatched and without a defined purpose. You need to arrange your outdoor space just as you would your indoor space: separate areas for eating and for relaxing.

I'd start with stuccoing over the cinderblock walls & painting over the concrete slab (all white?)

Get rid of the kiddie table. Either bring the coffee table and bench indoors where they belong, or get some White Outdoor lounge furniture to go around them: Loveseat against the wall flanked by your big pots and a pair of lounge chairs, all on a large outdoor area rug. Smaller round dining table instead of the big rectangle. Candles and colorful outdoor pillows all around.

1. Use the lattice by planting something vine-y underneath each one (jasmine?).

2. DEFINITELY paint that wall, if possible. This would make the largest impact.

3. Take the two potted palms and use them to create two separate spaces: one with the wood pieces and one with the white dining set.

4. An outdoor fireplace would be an awesome upgrade for ~$100.

Ohhh! :::rubs hands together:::

Back yard heaven! :::five hundred IDEA lights go on at once:::

"This one's mine!" she exclaimed, while pushing everyone out of the way. "Oh, sorry about that" she said to Stefanie after pushing her into the wall.

Want to turn your patio into an extension of your home? For real? Want it to resemble other rooms you already love? Like this one:
http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/020808stefanie/2221893726_c8f3815649_b

:::runs around in circles, all excited:::

Oh, I suppose everyone else wants to know what I'm all excited about.

This could be your new concrete patio floor:
http://www.concretenetwork.com/photo-gallery/concrete-patios_3/48843-mi-five-star-concrete-solutions-molted-polished_36/

That's acid stain and the concrete was polished, read more about acid stain here:
http://www.concretenetwork.com/stained-concrete/

OMG I love concrete. You can do the same to the walls with a thin set. Check these images:
http://www.concretenetwork.com/patterncrete/
http://www.concretenetwork.com/vertical-concrete-walls/design-ideas/flagstone.html
You can do a vertical pattern too, like these:
http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete-wall-covering/

You can do EVERYTHING with concrete, engraving:
http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/concrete_engraving/
Stenciling:
http://www.concretenetwork.com/stencil-concrete/
It can be colored before applying:
http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/colored_concrete/

Check out some of the colors here for various products for your concrete:
http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete-color/charts.html

You can spend DAYS wandering around in that site, Concrete Network, as well as clicking on the links that take you to the biggies, like Kemiko and Davis Colors.

Kemiko's photos will make you weep. OK, maybe not you, but I think they are stunning:
http://www.kemiko.com/

I kind of like the blotchy ones the best, it's a personal preference, and it reminds of aged leather upholstery or old bomber jackets with lighter and darker areas and creases:
http://www.kemiko.com/photo_gallery_5.htm# (look at image 99).

But those dark colors could be a bit intense for the sun. That IS something to consider.

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Since you love art and have a lot of white in your home, I have some ideas for that wall. IF you had it coated, with a colored concrete, and perhaps had a rail-support mounted to the upper area, you could potentially hang outdoor art along that retaining wall.

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For the retaining wall, there are also those plants that pretty much grow against the wall, flat, I have no idea how they cling. They are here at my apartment complex against one wall.

You might ask about that kind of plant at the local nursery, and ask if it would work from pots or growing down. Because the stuff here grows UP from the ground.

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You also like the turquoise colors, so do be sure to check out the Aqua Blue at Kemiko:
Image 3: http://www.kemiko.com/photo_gallery.htm#
Image 46: http://www.kemiko.com/photo_gallery_3.htm#

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I don't know how HOT it gets where you are, or what things you use the patio for. There are retractable fabric "roofs" that look sort of like the one at the top of this image:
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/room/decks/decks-and-patio-design-ideas/?page=5

Darned if I can remember where they are...FOUND IT!
http://www.shadetreecanopies.com/

They move. You can have them pulled over on the dreaded record heat days, and it should help with your cooling bill, if you choose the light/white fabric.

Which will also help keep the concrete, whatever color you choose, cool and comfortable to walk on.

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A smooth floor, a finished retaining wall, and a fabric roof will transform your current patio into a place you will want to spend a lot more time. It becomes an extension of your home.

You can hang outdoor art:
http://www.outdoorartonline.com

There's a lot of things, some are kind of cheesy, others quite lovely, like at Target:
http://www.target.com/Outdoor-Art-D%C3%A9cor-Patio-Garden/b?ie=UTF8&node=13452351

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So, what do you think?

Jackhammer up the concrete, lay down some sod, paint the wall, thow up some plants going up the trellis, keep the decent furniture, and repaint it.

Two big plants in those pots will make more of an impact.

My thought is plants. Is it warm enough to support fragrant beasties like creeping jasmine along the lattice? Or you could do a kitchen theme with rosemary, sage, mint and thyme growing in pots. (Mint especially if you like mojitos :)

Yes, paint the wall and perhaps do some artwork.

Here is a rad DIY backyard idea for your patio.

http://www.threadbanger.com/decor-it-yourself/episode/DEC_20080603

It depends on how you plan to use the space. I'd declutter the patio furniture, keeping only a few choice pieces. I would add plants, maybe an herb garden and some flowers. I love the retractable canopy idea, too.