A perfect do-nothing spot, to just observe the screen of green trees with the occasional black mynah giving a show, Architect Varsha Pathak has designed a glass roof patio under a mango tree. It merges the indoors with the outdoors and enjoys a lovely view of the garden. She shares “White marble flooring which runs in the entire house is used for continuity and a moroccon tiled carpet is introduced in the centre to visually tie down the space and organise furniture around.” Her tip for those wanting to do up their balcony space is to think about the purpose/usage of the space.
That’s exactly what designer GayatriVijayan did with her client's space. “My clients wanted an outdoor study space as both the husband and wife worked from home some days. So we brought in hand-made athangudi tiles from Chettinad to create a sunshiny balcony study to go with the cheerful Bengaluru weather. It is a fairly unconventional use of the space and once we created enough storage and filled it up with the greens, it became a versatile space that extended into the outdoors and provided a nook for them to work outside.”
Sometimes all you want is an open layout and a meditative vibe going to feel a sense of well-being. Describing a space Architect Kesha Sheth created for her clients who wanted a space of calm to unwind after a long day at work, she says, “We provided for a fixed concrete bench on one side wide enough to put some throw pillows & put your legs up and sit. The green rustic tile adds a sense of being outdoors and weathered. The wooden ceiling adds a bit of warmth and shelter to the space. The other end of the balcony has been used to display some of the cool artefacts that the client has bought and collected like the antique mirror on the wall. This space gives a sense of serenity in an otherwise urban chaos.”
Who knew a good balcony design could also bring you pride for being distinct from the rest in the vicinity. For another client in a Mumbai high-rise who wanted to use the balcony to entertain guests, it was designed to be an extension of their entertainment room and a space to convey their aesthetics. “The flooring is done in terrazzo along with random inserts of cement tiles which is an extension from the entrance of the apartment to make it feel like one big open space. The client had an eye for eclectic pieces of furniture which can be seen all through the apartment including the antique distressed blue bench in the balcony along with wooden chair and stools. The copper hanging light adds a touch of interest & charm on the wooden ceiling along with the custom wooden trays on the railing bannisters to put glasses, bottles and small planters.
Creating a terrace or a balcony should not be considered as putting together a table and few chairs. Use it to portray your artistry and create a space to admire by others.
