apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Ikea's outdoor stuff looks great to me, I am shopping for some as well.
I'd troll my favorite junk shops and try stoop sales also for some metal furniture to repaint.
For plants, cheap pots can be found anywhere--then ask green thumbed friends for clippings and propagate your own. Have a "deck warming" party and have friends bring plants to swap/share. Also, buy small plants at a farmer's market.
have fun, looks like a great space.

The first place I'd hit for furniture would be the thrift or resale store, you'll always find more unique things there but you have to have patience and be willing to go back a few times...A lot of plants will grow from clippings, so keep an eye out for plants you like take a little piece stick it in the dirt & see if it roots. You can also use the seeds from veggies you get at the grocery store. I know avacado will grow(not fruit) and ginger root, & I'm sure lots more will too. good luck.

I have a similar, though slightly smaller, deck:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcweiss/sets/72157604300314814/

I purchased the wrought iron dining set from someone who was moving. So you might want to check Craigslist although this usually works best after summer, rather than right before.

I would add Overstock.com to the list, especially because their delivery fees are cheap. If you're into Adirondack chairs, look for cedar or even plastic rather than teak which is pretty expensive (although the teak chairs age beautifully).

With regard to plants, I learned the hard way that you have to be diligent about watering a roof deck. If you're lucky enough to have access to a faucet on your deck, I would highly recommend that you invest in a simple drip irrigation system.

My best source for plants has always been Craig's List. Don't wait for someone to advertise, put up a wanted post. It's amazing how many people out there want to weed (haha) things out of their yards for cheap or for free.

We have over 50 vendors that carry outdoor furniture and plants on our website. To boot, you can sarch each one by a particular style of your choosing. Go crazy and good luck!!
http://db.mydesignsecrets.com/product/view/4
http://db.mydesignsecrets.com/category/view/18

My two cents... While the real clay pots look nice, some sort of salt deposit forms on mine. Also, I'm afraid they will crack because of the freezing winter temperatures so I end up bringing them indoors for the winter... not cool if you bring in the bugs with them.

Real quick thought to keep in mind is the wind on your rooftop -- you want to make sure that whatever you do decide to use on your deck make sure it is heavy enough so that it doesn't blow away (sounds silly but there have been gusty days where even big pieces have moved on our old deck) or choose pieces that can be stored when not in use.

thirdcoast makes an excellent point - i used to garden on a 19th floor balcony overlooking the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. we weighted down all the large pots with rocks or 2 litre plastic soda bottles filled with water. since our balcony wrapped around our apartment, if we knew bad weather was expected, my sister and moved everything to the east side against the wall before we left for work.

that didn't always help - and there was also many a time when a storm would blow in at night and we would be running outside in driving rain and howling wind to rescue plants.

don't forget to time how much sunlight you get. it makes a difference in what will thrive.

on wind... my freestanding umbrella blew over twice even though it was folded had one of those HEAVY iron bases. I keep it indoors most of the time now.

regarding pots for plants:
- make sure you buy quality pots if you're planning on leaving them out all year. they should be high-fired and frost-freeze resistant or they will crack. you can also put a sealant on the inside to make them somewhat waterproof. this prevents water from being absorbed by the pots in the summer, meaning you'll have to water your plants a bit less.
- hand made pots are much preferable. machine made terra cotta is usually made with a lot of oil in the clay, which weakens the structure. this is why cheap terra cotta starts to flake off in layers in a few years.
- consider (high quality) fiberglass containers. many brands make very durable, light weight fiberglass containers, (often mixed with some stone to give them texture and strength), that are quite attractive and realistic looking. you can even get them with irrigation systems built in (that can either be supplied with a hose, or filled with a watering can).
- look at green roofing products. you can get large, shallow planters to have big patches of groud cover plants in addition to potted plants.

regarding the plants:
- cuttings will not do well on the roof unless you let them get started in your house for quite a while first. and most plants that produce easy cuttings are too delicate for roof tops.
- the main factor will be the wind. depending on how it is up there, you may need some very tough plants and probably can't get anything too tall.
- also note how long your rooftop gets that direct sunlight. that can be a killer, especially in the summer. will you be willing to water every day?

specialK: the white residue on your terra cotta is likely lime. this is natural and often helps create a patina (sometimes it's even faked). it leeches out from the clay over time. it can be removed by acid washing. most terra cotta is made to be freeze/frost resistant (even a lot of mass produced terrac cotta). this means it has been made strong enough to withstant the structural changes that occur when it freezes and thaws again, (sometimes they'll say "for 30 cycles"). it's not a guarantee, though, if it's of lesser quality. hand made italian terra cotta is usually frost resistant down to -30 fahrenheit, though. just make sure there's adequate drainage.

I would love to help you but I am insane with jealousy over your deck and view. I am sorry, but I cannot find it in myself to rise above my envy.

Judging from the picture, this space will need some privacy and colour. Perhaps you could plant a screen of potted evergreens or fruit trees and a mass planting of native grasses for texture. Overhanging that you could string up some fairy lights for a relaxing mood at twilight or some cheap solar lights in amongst the plantings. For furniture, perhaps put together a simple daybed or some floor cushions. Enjoy!

Kathryn-
I love your deck!! I didn't understand one thing though...why the insulation (looks like styrofoam) on the inside of the planters? Did you add any other sealant to the wood?
Thanks!

I would look at overstock.com. When I moved into a house with a huge back deck and amazing built in pool (the one thing I miss since moving to nyc) I got lounge chairs, table, umbrella, etc very cheap (like $100 or less each). And added bonus, shipping is only $3.

1. The Union Square Greenmarket tends to have a nice selection of herbs and other plants, and some (not all) vendors' prices are extremely reasonable.

2. If you come by plant vendors at street fairs in the last 15 - 30 minutes before the fair ends, they often cut prices 'way down rather than pack them up again.

3. This isn't everyone's cup of tea, but poinsettias (a type of euphorbia) are terrific out of season--soft-textured, light green and hard to kill, free (or close to it) in late December/early January. They don't turn red until the days are pretty short--i.e., the holidays--at which point they turn into Christmas decorations.

4. Speaking of Christmas, strings of lights look good on a roof deck, if you have electricity.

5. Furnishings depend on what you want to do, but a picnic umbrella or some sort of canopy (e.g., this one, per Martha) might be a good idea if you're going to be spending much time there.

6. I used to keep my terrace door open for my dog, but houseflies and/or mosquitoes came in. The I draped the doorway with mosquito netting (tulle); dog could come and go, flies not so much. It's really inexpensive and comes in lots of colors (try P&S Fabrics, B'way between Franklin and Leonard).

What a fantastic space! I have to say, I am also a little bit jealous. I think a few plants are in need, and possibly an umbrella, to add a big spark of color. You may have already found some pieces that work well in that space, but just in case you haven't - there are some really inexpensive adirondack chairs, that you can paint, or stain to your liking http://www.adirondackauthority.com/marina-adirondack-chair.html You will have to show us the space once it is completed.