apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would also consider hanging things from the walls themselves. It would free up floor space while giving some height. Suggestions could be interesting plants like stagghorn ferns attached to a piece of wood. I have an outdoor mirror (mirror pieces set in cement). Maybe lanterns to brighten the space at night.

Not sure what you have in mind with the bonus space... storage? Do you plan to tear up the deck to get there?

yikes! that under-deck space looks like something out of a horror movie. good luck to you!

if you have, like, a wood-burning fireplace or stove inside i think the under-deck space, might make a great place to store firewood. or store anything rugged, really.

A VERY thin el-shaped planter of something either trained up the wall, or something vertical like grasses or reeds.

'L' shape builtin seating w/storage for the deck, takes up less floor space and could store coushions, yoga mats, etc. Paint the walls a soft green or cream, hang hurricane laterns for lighting and add an indoor/outdoor rug. If plants aren't an option try a border for the top of the walls.

How do you access the underside and what's the height of the space?

i just saw this on tv sunday. a designer replaced random sections (about 12" sections) of the deck with tempered glass (frosted), so that light could filter through to underneath. then he under lit the plates at night so it acted as a soft accent lighting. it looked fabulous. he only replaced about (10) 12" sections. very cool. your understory space might really look perfect with such a solution. how much headroom do you have under there, btw?

here's the episode that had the deck glass plates
http://tinyurl.com/38s95h

I think painting the walls and a planter or bench along the walls would help a lot as others have said. Maybe do large square planters in the back two corners and one half way between. Then put two benches in between. I would put in some upright ornamental grass, like zebra grass, and uplight it with some solar landscaping lights to finish it off.

Bamboo in a container would be perfect plant, I think.
And, you could affix window boxes along the TOP of the wall and plant something that trails like IVY or jasmine (with a lovely fragrance).

I also agree with painting the walls a brighter color - and I like the L-shaped seating idea. Maybe L-shaped seating along the walls with a bamboo-planter at the apex of the 'L'

Also consider getting an outdoor rug...perhaps you can find one you like and that could be the inspiration for any color you introduce to the patio.

I think it would be cool to create a rainscreen effect by applying ipe or cedar planks (on sleepers) horizontally spaced about 3/4" apart. Not only does this create a more inviting space, this provides you with plenty of nooks and edges to hang stuff onto. I would take a similar approach with the floor (again, on sleepers). This will give you a little space through which you can run wires and put up nifty wall lighting fixtures on the rainscreen or do that frosted tempered glass trick mentioned by lisa2 in austin.

A less costly alternative would be to hang long white sailcloth drapes along both walls. You can then paint the floor a fun color (like lime green or red) and cover it with matching outdoor carpet tiles from Flor (the ones with the big holes cut out in them). Some kind of a drapey awning of a meshy/PVC material will help to provide some privacy from above while allowing sunlight to filter through.

Regarding seating, since you don't have alot of space, I'd encourage use of stackable chairs or stools that can easily be put aside during your yoga sessions. The Prince Aha stools and Bellini chairs are nice (both can be found on DWR, but I encourage scouring Craigslist/Ebay), and come in colors that can brighten the space.

Is it necessary for your walls to be that high? Assuming there isn't an issue, I would cut those trex boards down a foot or two or three from the top and perhaps insert lattice in the space. From the pictures it appears almost like your walls plus the surrounding buildings create a space akin to looking up a chimney.

If you really wanted to be whimsical, you could keep the walls at their current height, cut one or more holes in the wall, and insert windows, this would give one's eyes somewhere to land on other than the walls.

After cleaning the trex, if possible, I would also paint them, that grey color on the walls is drab.

One idea you might use for plants is a technique called espalier. You could plant climbing roses, vines or other tall plants in large pots beneath your deck along the walls, or transplant them directly into the soil beneath the deck. This keeps the plant containers from consuming valuable deck space. Then by cutting holes in the deck next to the walls, you grow the plant up through the floor and onto the walls. As the plants/roses/vines branch, you spread the branches out along the walls of the deck, supporting them with a trellis or plant ties. To provide water, anchor a segment of hose next to each plant stem with the opposite end anchored in the planter, insert a funnel into each hose and pour water down the hose. If you can make the area under the deck less scary, this system might give you lots of greenery without sacrificing space.

Wow, this top shot belongs in the Sad Chairs project.

for seating, I'd start with a long bench along the longest side.

For plants, I'd stick with long rectangular planters with tall ornamental grasses.

You are lucky to have such a great urban outdoor space.

With those tall, blank walls, the eye has nowhere to go. I also like the idea of cutting them down a foot or so, and installing lattice. I'm assuming they're there for a reason, i.e. to block out unwanted views (and Peeping Toms); otherwise I'd suggest cutting a few square windows, to break up that expanse of wall.

You know what might be easier, though...how about putting up some kind of awning? I would like to see some kind of fabric attached several feet higher to the brick wall than to the fence, so it slopes down and away from the building. Maybe a few strips of the camo netting that was shown here on a patio a few weeks ago - that would allow plenty of air and light to filter through; yet give a bit of shade, and counteract the 'chimney' feel. You could even accomplish it with just strings of outdoor lighting attached in the same way. A tented effect, but without using solid material.

The walls do need some decoration to break them up visually. I wouldn't put window boxes at the top - what a pain it would be to water those plants! Movable pots with bamboo is a good suggestions. You could built brackets along the top of the fence and hang a few plants, too. Paint, mirrors and artwork (that can withstand the elements) can all make the walls more interesting.

As for seating, I would also install benches. But I would hinge them so they (and their legs) can be folded up for yoga sessions. Make sure they're deep enough to be sat on comfortably. You can use loose pillows/cushions, removable for yoga and bad weather.

You will want a table out there, but I suppose that (or they) should fold, too. Perhaps you can install hooks on the brick wall or the fence, to hang them on, so you don't have to haul them up and down those stairs (or risk them falling on you during yoga).

The under-deck area would be FANTASTIC storage if you could clean it up. That's always needed in NY. Not having to park your bikes in the living room - what a luxury!

I think the answer ultimately lies inside the house.

Are you clean-lined architectural people? If so, keep it gray (but power-wash it), And add zinc rectangular planters with linear architectural plants, streamlined benches and stainless steel lanterns. Limit your palette to gray, cream, and brown, with one color of green with the plantings.

Are you quirky and colorful? Paint the wood (would make me cringe, but its not my patio) and hang planters and colored tiles. Cover the deck with outdoor friendly Flor-tiles. Plant sweet potato vine and colorful blooming plants.

Formal and Europen? Espallier a tree against the wall you see from inside. Add a wall fountain on the end wall.

I do like the idea of an el-shaped banquette in any of the above scenarios.

Or highlight the verticality with a bar-height table and stools.

Just don't cut the walls down, please. Privacy is the ultimate of luxuries in NYC.