Well, one of the parts of my apartment that I have yet to really make nice, is my balcany. it is unconvered, about 4'x9' or so, and these FL summer afternoons are perfect to just lay out on. A big sliding glass door goes into my living room, so I can have some music playing on the stereo and its very nice. On my balcany I have a hammock (only person to put a hammock out there)

But the thing is... I don't use it enough as I'd like to, and the main reason... because its bland, and not private enough. The little "road" (int he parking lot) infront of my aparment connects the North side of the complex to the South side, my building, building N, is right in the middle. So while there isn't much traffic in the aspect that most people will enter and exit thru the North or South enterance/exit, this is the only way to go form one side, to the other, without leaving the complex... so it gets its fair share.

I have a tree in front of my balcany, but its not enough. Basically, I'd like to make everything under the railing hidden, and have tuff about it to block some of the view.... but I want to leave the side facing thehighway/outside (only part not exposed to the complect parking lot) opened up, so its more open feeling and something to look at when laying down.

What i have so far is... some large fake palm trees... maybe 4 or so, get them in the corners and spread the others out... then some smaller fake trees/plants in between.... Maybe hanging on the inside of the railing, some black material to completly block the view off (2 other people did that, it dosn't look too bad)....

Then to make the balcany for paradise, I'll get a sound machine and keep that int he apartment, but near the sliding glass door, so I can listen to that... and I would like some more colorful stuff out there.

As it is now, there is the hammock, and a folding chair, which I keep inside. The only time i use the balancy is to take a nap on the hammock, usually listening to my head phones.

Because its a small balcany, I was left 2ith 2 options... get a nice bistro set with 2-3 chairs and make it a nice place to have friends over, eat and hang out.... OR.... put the hammock out there and make it my own mini paradise... well, since option 2 would be getting a whole lot more use then option 1, I figured to go the hammock route... but I was never able to complete the goal.

So, I am asking... what is the best way to make this more private to do a good job at blocking it off, so that when I go on the balcany I feel away from everyone else?

Here are some bad pictures... they are pictures that I took for other reasons, but its all I have right now....

here is a side shot, you can see the next door neighbors (really good looking ~25 y/o girl) balcany.... the side I'd like opened up is the side right behind the camera in this pic... My Christmas lights hanging from the gutter, and the light up tree are removed, but I have yet to remove the lights on the balcany itself... when I get around to doing this balcany over, I'll take them down.

I am free nearly thos whole weekend, and its pay check Friday (get paid every 2 weeks) so I'd really like to go to Wal Mart and make my tropical paradise come true.

http://inoventionseast.com/misc/Florida/balcany/PDR_0785.JPG

The view... this is the part of the parking that that gets a decent amount of traffic... maybe... 1-3 cars every 5 minutes depending on time of day

http://inoventionseast.com/misc/Florida/PDR_0690.JPG

Otherside... you can kinda see the side I'd like to leave opened up.... or maybe I'll just try and block all 3 sides.... I am not talking about totally isolating it, but I'd like everything under the railing to be out of view and most above to be hard to see... like fake trees side by side etc...

http://inoventionseast.com/misc/Florida/PDR_0691.JPG

While these pictures were showing off my lights... you can see the basic placement of everything...

http://inoventionseast.com/FL/PDR_0760.JPG

http://inoventionseast.com/FL/PDR_0766.JPG

Really, I'd like to be able to leave the glass door open all the time, keep the screen closed, and just be able to walk out there and feel like its an extension of my apartment, instead of an invite to the rest of the world.... and as it is now, when the blinds for the door/window are open, outside you can see right in the apartment... I don't really like that.

Huge post... if ya made it this far, maybe ya'll can help me out on this :).

I'm jealous :(

Ugh Walmart. Ugh ugh ugh.

Uh I dunno dude. Put a minifridge next to the hammock so you don't have to get up for a drink. That would be bad ass.

Hmm, ok first, I don't think you're gonna get the full "paradise" feel from that low lol...but let's see....

First, those lights redefine tack...put them on the X-mas tree, and only on the X-mas tree LOL. Just my opinion anyway... The next thing is do something about that ugly-arse railing. I'd either paint it, or grow some vines around it...make a bamboo facade...all of the above lol...something...

You've also got that stupid parking lot to contend with which is very much fighting any paradise aura. I wouldn't open up the side facing that highway. Paradise is not so urban. I'd stick a large fountain obstructing that view. The water will help the atmosphere. I'd also put a nice blue light shining on the water at night...reason is self explanatory there lol. Some bamboo windchimes might work if that's your taste. Overall lighting is important as well for at night. I'd get something soft...maybe an amber lamp or something. Can't see the top in your pics, but if there isn't one already, you could definitely use a nice awning. That would aid a little in the privacy aspect as well as aesthetics.

The music style will help psychologically too. If you have a girl over or something, have some classical guitar or mellow steel drum music playing there LOL. A small table with a couple candles could be nice too if you work them in properly. Really, I don't see this fully happening in the day time because you can see that drab lot lol..but at night, you've got some potential with the lighting and such like I said.

How it feels walking out will also depend on how nice the inside of the apartment is. It should be kept up well, nice carpet, maybe end tables and small lights on them, etc... If there aren't already some, some pinch-pleat blinds would work well to enhance the transition as well as aid further in your privacy goal.

The aformentioned mini fridge idea isn't bad...again, as long as you blend it in well so it's not the sole source of attention. I'd personally move the hammock as far away from the edge of the balcony as you can get away with....and also have everything that is going to be occupied the same way, even though you haven't got much to work with there. The closer you are to the edge, the more you can see over, and the less illusion of height you'll have, and thus making the atmosphere craptastic again... Hell, on the other hand, I'd take a rope and extend the hammock over the balcony to the tree LOL...but don't know if you can get away with that there.

Umm, in that corner visible in the hammock shot... I'd build a little triangle-shaped corner table and put a mellow light on it. You could also extend that into a narrow shelf (higher if you want) and place some plants on it. Anyway, this is just off the cuff. Hope it helps some.

Oh and move the Coupe Deville over, it could get bird s*** under that tree LOL.

Ugh Walmart. Ugh ugh ugh.

Uh I dunno dude. Put a minifridge next to the hammock so you don't have to get up for a drink. That would be bad ass.

Walmart sucks (rent the movie: The High Cost of Low Prices...it will amaze you). Anyway, as for your paradise...get a small fridge, beads for the door and some tiki torches. If you are so inclined, a place for your bowl as well. Do a few hits, drink a Corona and listen to Buffett...bout as close as youre gonna get.

F

Put a gun turret on there so no one will screw around with you.

My old townhouse had a window going to the roof of my two-car carport. It was a nice place to hang out and drink while browsing the web.