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Home Decorating Porches & Decks

Long narrow balcony apartment - Oasis dreams!!

3 years ago

In LOVE with our apartment balcony space that is currently a blank canvas. Wanting to turn it into a peaceful retreat yet inviting for dining al fresco. Thinking about putting a 4 to 6 seater outdoor dining set with umbrella and perhaps another area for seating? Or a big 2 person hammock? Outdoor rug vs. faux grass? Roll out the slip & slide?! Width is about 6.5ft.

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Comments (11)

Jlyn
Original Author
3 years ago
Elliot & Creek set I’ve been eyeing for this space.
rrah
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
It's a lovely view. 6.5 feet is very narrow though for a dining space. Is the entire length shown your space or does it stop at the half wall that seems to separate two sets of doors?

The tables you show are too wide for the space. People won't be able to move the chairs to get in/out of them and definitely won't be able to walk behind others to go into the house for a drink or whatever. Tight spaces aren't conducive to enjoyable outdoor dining. I think you need to look for very narrow, long tables that can be placed against the balcony wall.

You might also consider a grouping of small cafe tables. Think about what you see in restaurant outdoor spaces that tend to be narrow.

I'd look for an umbrella no wider than 5 feet like this one: and an umbrella stand that can also serve as a drink table.

Before rushing to purchase furnishings create a floor plan with the furniture to make sure it fits.
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Kaismom - thanks for the reply. Yes we know this will be expensive, but we're not moving from this house. We've been saving for a few years and could do either the kitchen remodel or the extension now. To do both together, means waiting a little longer. This is a cheaper option than adding a 2nd story. And it is cheaper than buying another house. Crazy I know but our neighbours knocked down their house and rebuilt as it was cheaper than buying a different home. Good point about seismic construction - I'm fairly sure our house was updated when the family room was added on 15 years ago, but I'll need to check into it. Load bearing walls - yes, that will be the first thing to work out. We enter the house through the laundry room. You get to the kitchen through the current dining room and family room - I have those doorways marked on the floor plan. I don't have a full house plan, but it's set up as front door to house, turn right to go through living room, then into dining room and into kitchen. The other side of the family room is a hallway for 2 bedrooms and bathroom, and to the front door. I need to get someone in to do the current house plan. Changing the living room to a dining room with seating area means moving furniture around. We can do this right now, DH wants to try it this weekend to see if we like it. If we want to make the opening on that wall larger, that does involve work, but it may not be necessary as we have 2 french doors that open into that room as it is. Yes the kitchen would be gutted, but it needs to be done. The cabinets are falling apart, the appliances are 20 years old, the floor needs to replaced. DH had another idea. We could add the bathroom off our master bedroom to make a master suite. We could move the laundry room into the current 2nd bath room, which is very small for a bathroom, but fine for a laundry room. The laundry room would now be a mudroom and main entrance for us into the house. From the breakfast nook would be access to a 3rd bedroom. This would be less change to current flow - still get in the house the same way, still get into kitchen same way.
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I'm squealing - a double sided fireplace is so cool! I definitely say go lighter and try lightening before walling in or having it torn apart and built differently. I say that because it can be done so inexpensively and with your wooden ceiling, a natural stone fireplace is only, well, natural! Go to Pinterest to look for how-to's on whitewashing - soooo many posts about it. Can easily be done yourself for very little money. Beverly posted about staining - that had me researching because I always thought to go lighter you had to paint. I found Masonry Cosmetics. I'm super excited about this because I have exterior stonework I want to change the color of and I did not want to change a maintenance free item on our home to one that has to be maintained. But indoors I would think white-washing would last just fine?
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millworkman
3 years ago
Looks a little narrow for a 4-6 seater dining set.
Jlyn
Original Author
3 years ago
@rrah that’s a great point. you’re right... the dining set would be a bit large. back to the drawing board. The space stops at the half wall.
Jlyn
Original Author
3 years ago
This is the view. We normally sit out during late afternoons to enjoy the sunset. Midday starting late May through summer the balcony gets full sun so we are hoping to put up some shade so we can enjoy the balcony space more. But that’s true... we will have to take winds into consideration as well. Thankfully those days are not as frequent.
Jlyn
Original Author
3 years ago
Hmm yes, like a separate stand alone patio umbrella. I’m now thinking my dining set up could be like this against the balcony wall
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
3 years ago
Exactly, long table against the wall, could be pulled out when you really need to squeeze in some skinny friends! The casual furniture is too large too- my last house had a 6' porch and I bought a teak set off amazon- look for descriptions that say 'small'... The polypropylene outdoor rugs are what you want- astroturf would be too casual. Use colors that are an extension of your interior. Can you close off the balcony with a large plant to define your section?
ratherbesewing
3 years ago
I have seen these half-size umbrellas this year which are new to me. I don’t know anything about their stability. Wondering if anyone has seen these in person.

https://www.wayfair.com/outdoor/pdp/pure-garden-9-52-half-market-umbrella-loop1082.html?piid=19445932
Jessica
3 years ago
I have the half size umbrella on my condo deck and love it!!!
Jessica
3 years ago
Be sure to get a half umbrella stand
Jlyn
Original Author
3 years ago
Genius!!! I didn’t even know they made these 🙌💯

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