Condos
5+ Inspiring Condo Balconies
Updated on July 30, 2024
For those used to living high in the sky, a condo balcony can be grounding. Some of our favorite condo terraces and balconies have a lot to teach us about maxing out these spaces for more summer enjoyment. We’re sharing inspiring images that reveal new possibilities for your condo balcony below. Scroll down!
A wood pergola was built at one end of this terrace and painted black for drama and depth. “The mirrors create a reflected view of plantings, enhancing the green feeling that is so important on a terrace,” says landscape designer Meredyth Hilton. The glass is easy to wipe and the cane chairs are super comfortable, and Meredyth designed a removable champagne pedestal to hide an unsightly hook used by window cleaners.
This wraparound terrace is an entertainer’s paradise with heaters, a custom fire table and views of the Regina, Saskatoon prairie skyline for days. The designers of this condo, Curtis Elmy and Trevor Ciona, kept the look tailored with dark stone tables and black upholstery accented by crisp white piping, to match the buildings’ sleek, mirrored exterior and railings.
The painted trellis wall at the far end of this seating area forms a backdrop for the space and frames a restful view of a Buddha statue and potted maple tree.
In this 1,485-square-foot, 8th-storey condo, the terrace is enviable. Divided into three distinct areas, it includes a dining area with a barbecue, a lounging area and a private terrace with a sitting area off the principal bedroom. Herringbone ipê flooring forms a “carpet” and contrasts the Algonquin limestone to define the central lounge area.
Paperbark maple trunks create textural interest and screens the lounge area from neighboring buildings for a sense of privacy. “The trees provide scale and an overhead canopy,” says landscape designer Kate Fox-Whyte. “None of them grow particularly large, an important consideration when the soil volume and space is limited.” They also have beautiful orange-red foliage in the fall.
Mature trees give a forest feel to a terrace. Here, paperbark maples and dogwood trees are underplanted with grasses that rustle in the wind and add an extra sensory touch. “Layering a variety of groundcover and mid-height perennials provides a lot of seasonal interest,” says landscape designer Kate Fox-Whyte.
Benches are multitasking space savers. This version is flush with the planter, for a seamless look that can display plants, or seat party guests when entertaining.
Using interior elements outside creates the feel of an outdoor room, and extends this condo by 240 square feet. An indoor-outdoor rug helps warm up the concrete balcony near the petite bistro table.
Lisa Rogers’ townhouse second-storey deck has an enviable view of Lake Ontario and tons of space, which she maxes out with a breezy, tropical theme. The 625- square-foot space is divided into distinct dining and lounge zones with beachy raffia-look furniture and curtains (hiding another sitting area), and potted palms and ferns. “The look all started when I got one big palm plant,” says Lisa, who brings the plants inside for the winter.
A tall pedestal urn filled with pothos and framed by two cedars is a striking focal point on designer Joel Bray’s apartment balcony. A painted garden trellis adds privacy and serves as a dramatic backdrop.
See more of this DIY balcony makeover on H&H TV.