Name: Rachel M.
Location: Redmond, Washington
Size: 40 square feet
Your Favorite Thing About Your Outdoor Space: The chaise lounge. Its a perfect place to read, and our puppy loves to lay out there and watch the cars and people.
Biggest Design Challenge With This Space: Generally this is a very unwelcoming space. On the corner of a busy intersection, exposed for all who drive by to view. The floor of the balcony is grated and very uncomfortable to walk on, and the space is long and narrow. We found a piece of furniture that fit the space perfectly (a chaise longe from IKEA that can also be used as a bench) and added pillows and green. The lounge is low so that when you are on it you feel enclosed which helps it to feel more private. Our Chilwich outdoor rug takes the pain away from bare feet and paws on the grates!
Tips for Creating a Great Small Outdoor Space: Think about what you will be most likely to use the space for and design around it. We wouldn't eat outside very often, so it didn't make sense to put a table and chairs, but a chaise lounge is flexible for reading, napping, and people watching with friends.
Thanks, Rachel, and good luck!
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It isn't letting me vote!
I see so many of these teeny apartment balconies used for storage or not used at all. This looks like a very good use of the space. What stops the puppy from going overboard?
I doubt the dog can fit through those rails. At least from what I can tell? I love the space though, it looks so cozy with that chair there. How's the view?
The bars are close enough together that his noggin cant fit through them :) He was not allowed anywhere near the balcony when he was younger however.
The view can be pretty accurately summarized by the first picture. Intermixed buildings and greenery with lush green hills in the distance. The large apartment building in that picture is the tallest building around us so thankfully most of our view is unobscured.
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