Balcony Beautifying

Downsized? Thinking of downsizing? Never upsized? Or perhaps you just have an errant balcony begging for beautification. Either way, we’ve got some expert advice and inspiration to get you started, or finished.

Landscape architect Scott Torrance (scotttorrance.ca) says materials that drain and dry quickly are a good pick for furnishings, like the mesh metal chair and metal café table shown. “Woods and cushions can be a lot of work, daily and seasonally,” says Torrance, who’s currently working on a patio concept for the 109OZ condo development. (www.109oz.com) And more than maintenance, the heft of furnishings and plant containers are key. “Always check your condo docs, condo board or have a structural engineer review your space. Weight and wind loads need to be considered.”

As for flora, Torrance suggests drought-resistant types such as sedum; flowering shrubs and annual creepers that have water-storing leaves – the less lugging of watering cans, the better. He also recommends wild grasses “that are easy to maintain and keep well during winter.”