Work with a landscape designer/architect. Likely, some sort of retained, back filled walls will be necessary to create an area large enough to place a table with chairs & umbrella. If you entertain multiple generations, keep your patio to a single level. I would suggest integrating planting areas within the patio area, to introduce color & eventually partial shade. Designing a pergola into this composition would be a nice addition to. Get the blessings of any governing/HOA body that you need approvals from, which your design professional of choice should be able to facilitate for you. Happy Houzzing!

Hi Tammy, these planter boxes are pretty common these days and we've covered lots of them for homeowners staying in places like The Minton and The Palette. Our proposed solution is to build a stainless steel structure with industrial-grade walkway grating to span the depression in the balcony. This solution ensures a lifespan of 10 years and beyond. Then, we give homeowners the option of covering the area with artificial grass or wooden decking. I'm not sure about your balcony, but most balconies do get rainwater falling on it. This solution is ideal as it doesn't rot like a wood base does over time. I've attached a picture from one of our customers showing how we covered her planter box. Hope this helps. Please feel free to contact us or visit our website at AbsolutOutdoors.com for more information. Warmest regards, Gareth Lim Absolut Outdoors Pte Ltd

Your beautiful balcony that you own has a planter box (trench). You could either plant in there and give yourself some privacy from prying eyes or you could install decking to the area and have more space for your furniture layout. Another option is to create a bench but do be aware if you have children or are planning for the future.

Hi EJ, I'm not going to be of much help, but I believe the obvious sources of reclaimed wood would be demolition and removal specialists in Singapore? At least that's how I know how antique dealers source vintage tiles in Singapore. Chatting with reclaimed wood furniture specialists like Journey East (https://www.houzz.com.sg/pro/journeyeast) might help too. And its true shipping costs from overseas would be prohibitive. Malaysia has always been this country's hinterland for raw material, and Indonesia has also played the part of being a significant sourcing ground for furniture makers in the region. You might want to (or have already) make sourcing trips to Central Java or Bali where costs might even be significantly lower than finding these pieces in Singapore.