apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Does anyone have a link or know where to buy those erector-set looking, rail hanging flower boxes?

Yeah thats so true!!! I thought that no one could see my (balcony) container garden since its in a 3rd floor, and keep on moving the plants try to keep it clean cause of the bugs ,but when I was walking my dog a few weeks ago my neighbor ask me if I was the one with the garden and start asking me what kind of plants I had and she told me that it look so lovely and healthy for Arizona weather also one of the maintenance guy always ask me what do I put to my flowers sinse they look healthy.It makes me happy that not only me enjoys the garden also my neighbors

I don't have any plants on my balcony (most things die when left outside on the 15th floor...) - just a couple wicker chairs, one with a pile of hawk poop on the back...

...at least it's not like the neigbor's balcony one over and a couple floors down that looks like a storage locker - full of plastic bins, dead houseplants, cardboard bozes and unused/rusty exercise equipment.

I've got big, bright flower pots and flowers on my balcony. I think it looks great and really stands out against the brown and beige of my building.

No one can see my balcony - I have a back corner apartment that is nestled into a wooded area. It's my favorite part of the apartment.

I've never really though of seeing if my neighbours can see my apartment - I am on the 9th floor - but now that they have replaced the outdated metal railing sheets with frosted black glass - I should check it out.

As for the window boxes, Ikea has a version of them that are really inexpensive - Right Here (links to ikea site)

EVERYONE can see our balcony. We live on an urban street that gets heavy foot traffic, and live on the second story of a 4 story building. Our upstairs neighbors also have a perfect view of our space.

We are planning on using the space as an outdoor living area, but have a little bit of a problem with the privacy issue. Passersby often look up, point and remark about our apartment.

JulieLeanne, I know exactly what you mean about lack of privacy. That is my balcony pictured above and people always stop and comment about the building (the balconies and brickwork seem to evoke a lot of interest). That is also part of the charm too. I enjoy meeting the people but if I'm reading or busy they tend to not bother me.

The "erector set" set planter boxes were purchased at Target many years ago. I haven't seen them there since. They've been modified by removing the galvanized liner and adding a mesh metal bottom and secured to the rail with pipe clamps.

My house is on a down slope from the road so the side yard, though fenced, is visible from the sidewalk.

I tried and gave up on outdoor rugs. Passersby quizzed me on it; "Oh, what happened to the blue rug? I liked it."

lensbaby photo!

Thanks for the info dmstudio. Your space looks great.

I live on the second story, but my apartment faces the parking area for our building and a line of 'privacy' bamboo. I freshened up my patio with some plants and furniture and a cute rug. I didn't think it would really affect anyone but me.
Then my upstairs neighbor cleared out her nasty faded plastic furniture, replaced it with a really cute bistro set and bought a tomato plant . And my downstairs neighbor has a started clearing out some of the junk that's collected around his back door. I like to think that it's partially the nice weather we've been having and partially influence from looking at the fun colors I've added.

Thank you! For the longest time we had to look at a balcony that had 5 plastic ice chests stored on it - thankfully the neighbor just moved and the new people have some cute chairs out there - so much nicer to look at. Yes - make your outdoor spaces nice for yourself and for your neighbors!

I love it! I'm so inspired! I've been procrastinating over buying a dwarf citrus tree and a few hanging baskets of flowers.