A Privacy Trick and Bold Colors Transformed a Bare, Exposed Concrete Balcony
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When Nicole Boyd got the opportunity to work remotely six years ago, she began to notice certain aspects of her home that she hadn’t before. With her standing desk facing out toward her balcony, Nicole realized it got nice sunlight, but the area lacked privacy, so it wasn’t an inviting place to hang out.
With a new focus on this space, she was “increasingly craving more bold amounts of color and plants everywhere.” Nicole wanted to make a change. “I decided that it was time to revamp the lanai, not only to improve my view while I was working, but also to serve as a relaxing and rejuvenating break area,” she says.
Luckily she shares her two-bedroom California townhouse with her partner Clay Barrett, who just so happens to be a licensed contractor. So together, they planned a redo that would give them more privacy (and more plants!) on their tiny balcony.
A privacy fence turned the balcony into a secluded retreat.
Nicole and Clay’s balcony revamp only took three days to complete, and cost $1,500 for materials, not including the fountain, furniture, or decor.
“I designed the project, but Clay definitely engineered it,” Nicole says. They started by lining the stucco walls with UV-resistant faux boxwood panels to add some greenery to the area, a simple project that “made a big visual impact,” Nicole says. Above that, they added a wood privacy fence that helped turn the open balcony into a secluded retreat.
New seating and a water feature created a cozy vibe.
Aside from the privacy fence, the couple also added some seating as well as Nicole’s dream: lots of plants on the balcony ledge, the floor, and on a new shelf. “I propagated most of the succulents out there myself, so of course I love those little guys,” she says.
Tucked into the corner behind the whimsical egg chair, Nicole also added a water feature that’s plugged into a remote-controlled outlet. “I can open the slider and turn on the soothing sounds of the fountain from my desk,” Nicole says. Dreamy!
The final touch: replacing the old heavy drapes on the wall that leads out to the lanai with sheer curtains that show off the gorgeous view. “You can’t help but notice that something really cool is happening out there,” Nicole says.
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