Name: GColmer
Location: Montreal
Type of space: Balcony
Tell us about your outdoor project and how you enjoy it: I LOVE my balcony. Because I have large patio doors, my balcony is a extension of my living room so I wanted it to be gorgeous. I knew I would spend time there during the summer because it's such a peaceful place to escape to. I live in the middle of the city so having a balcony that looks out on a beautiful interior garden with fountain is something I never expected to have. My balcony is also the place where my dog Maverick hangs out during the day when I'm at work (I leave the door open so he can come in and out as he likes)....
Although I dream of someday having an actual ward, the good side to having a small balcony is that you can splurge and be creative since there isn't much space to fill.
How did you create it?:
I started by checking out home design websites (including Apartment Therapy of course!) to get inspired and find some ideas. Then I drew a rough plan of my balcony to decide where I would put the various plants. This allowed me to determine how many plants I actually needed and write down a clear list. I also thought about the purpose some of the plants could have (ex: hanging plants to hide the view of my neighbours ugly patio on the lower level).
Recommended store, site, product or resource?
Local market for plants and herbs. Pier 1 for room divider which acts as support for climbing plant. Chair from Ikea.
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
That looks really nice. I like the divider idea for climbing plants. The window boxes are very pretty! Maverick likes it out there, too!
GC: the best parts about your balcony are your black lab and your terrific shamrock plant! I'm concerned that someone might take Maverick while you are at work. You must have double secret security. Kudos on a lovely balcony hiatus. You have made some very creative choices and it all looks very inviting. Especially that dog. And that purple plant. Nice.
it all looks great and must be such a treat at the end of the day, Maverick is cool and ?always safe? out there by himself?
So nice what you've done! Love your screen, chair and table to hold your plant... all great choices. Fun plant! And of course Maverick looks like a love! Hopefully your efforts and beauty pass onto some of the other tenants! I'm sure your balcony is a welcome site!
a labrador retriever always makes for the best part of an outdoor space. And indoor space. And personal space.
Hello, I will soon have both a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy and a new terrace. I live on the last floor of my building and have what we call here in Milan "mansarda", meaning a flat recovered from the building's attic. I was planning on leaving the terrace door open to allow the dog more space for the few hours I was at work (I come back for lunch since I live THAT close to my office). But has security concerns: will burglars find this a little too juicy? I mean...open door to your flat, just like that. And I live on the top floor...Aren't you concerned?
i love your folding chair!! :) Where did you get it?
Unless your building is not secured through it's front entrances, no one can get into your apartment and unless they can find a way to the roof, I'd not worry about it if you live above the ground floor.
I live in such a place, top floor flat, 4 floors up and the buidling is secured through the main entrances and unless one is bold, there really isn't any practical way to climb up there without being seen by other neighbors in the buidling and besides, the place is fairly well lit at night.
So in essence, I'd not worry too much about it.
@ alisaan:
As noted in the last line of the post, the chair is the Brommo deck chair from Ikea. I have two of them and love, love, love them.