Dilemma in Paris!
I have no idea what to do improve this 'space' we have in our Paris flat, outside the kitchen. I don't even know how to describe it... It's basically a small interior terrace in between two blocks of flats.
It's normally pretty clean, although the upstairs flats kitchen windows face this space, except for the rare cigarette butt, we've never had the neighbours throwing stuff out there. Recently however, they've been doing some maintenance work on the roof and lots of gooey yuckness fell on the pavement, staining it. I think that's finished now, but we've been left with a really disgusting floor.
I'd like to do something to make this space look better, but I'm not sure what. Pressure washer to clean it firstly, but then what? Should we buy some AstroTurf? Paint the pavers? Artificial plants? We're only there couple of times for a few weeks a year, so real plants are out of the question.
I'd appreciate any kind of suggestion, I just don't know what to do. Many thanks!
Comments (23)
Luciana
7 years agoThanks Karen, but we already have those on the back balcony. Normally we just dump the rubbish bags there until DH is ready to take them to the basement.
It's not important, you can't see the space unless you're in the kitchen (it's through the open window in the second pic.) But I'd love to 'beautify' it somehow - I just don't know how...
Luciana
7 years agoLuciana
7 years agoLatest News!!
My darling husband refused to let some other man have fun; instead of hiring someone to clean the tiles, he went out, bought a pressure washer and started playing with it himself.
Boys and toys, right? I mean, we might need it again in 5 years, but hey! we now have one, so what if it's just going to be stored in a corner and clutter the space....
He didn't even change out of his jeans... So he is having fun at the moment; I'll let you know how it ends....
Luciana
7 years ago
PROAmber Jeavons Ltd
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoHello Luciana,
A walled terraced is lovely and with the given height you have.. Why not commission your husband to make some tiered planters or steps if you prefer.... with a row or one large faux espalier tree.. Faux buxus and perhaps astro turf edged with some gravel would then give you a lovely backdrop for one of these benches.. Concrete and wood and the most beautiful design..
I've taken inspiration from all these images to suggest a scheme.. and faux or artificial is a gr8 idea from Nicky if you don't get enough light to support the real deal!
For lighting why not poke a directional garden light into the back of a plant pot in soil behind said plant that angles up the wall to illuminate the space beautifully..
: ))
Bench
Suggested design for astro turf and gravel design with buxus and tall planters.. (I don't like the seat or hurricane lamp)
Steps to add height.. (not focusing on the plants in this one!)
Artificial espalier tree..
Potted Olive for another example.. Faux of course where light is a problem..
Solar but you can get powered versions..
Luciana thanked Amber Jeavons LtdLuciana
7 years agoHi all!
And apologies for not replying sooner - we've been busy with other stuff. Unfortunately, I managed to trip and twist my ankle a couple of days after my last post and all shopping trips for the terrace were postponed until 2 days ago when walking was not painful any more.
Haven't been that successful with online shopping either; the first mirror came smashed, I bought some sort of outdoor felt instead of artificial grass, couldn't get the pots delivered quicker, etc. etc. Funnily enough, the artificial topiary that we ordered from Britain came on time and it was the right thing!! :))
Anyway, to cut the story short, we decided to finish the place in September when we'd be back for a couple of weeks. The topiary need some tallish pots, I'm going to order those well in advance, maybe some fake ivy. The artificial grass was too much laid over the whole floor, it just darkened the place significantly, so I decided not to use it for now. So far it looks a bit too formal, I might buy some metal birds or butterflies to hang on the wall. Until then, I left a cat in charge with looking after the place :))
Many thanks again for all your ideas! I'll post more photos in September when it will be, hopefully, finished.
Luciana
7 years agoHey all! Not much in terms of progress, I've ordered some planters from Germany last week before leaving Cardiff and they're not here yet. I guess I'll need to send a strong worded email - they said they deliver in up to 5 working days. I wonder if Google translate would be any good, as I don't think the phrases I know in German would be appropriate for inquiring about planters...
I used some fake ivy I brought with me on the wall, I think I placed that panel a bit too high, but until I get the planters to see how they all work together, I'm just going to let it be.
Luciana
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoFinally, the planters got here today. We were meeting some friends this afternoon and I didn't have enough time to play, but managed a quick arrangement. I'm going to redo it tomorrow, I actually have two more of the low planters but I realised 4 of them were too much and settled for 2. I need to nag Andrew to rehang the mirror as the screws we used before were too weak - I bought some heavy duty ones this time.
Overall, I think I'm going to keep the arrangement slightly asymmetrical. I know I'm missing something, maybe colour, the whole space looks too formal but, as its main use is keeping the rubbish bags there until we take them to the basement, I think it will do :))!
Luciana
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoI played some more with everything and got now to a stage where I'm more or less happy, meaning I can't be bothered to fiddle with things anymore. I kept thinking it needs to be more asymmetrical in a symmetrical way; the breakthrough came when I had the brilliant idea (ha!!) to stuck up the planters in an wonky way. I had to put my engineer hat on and think how to manage to balance and fix the arrangement in a way that the top planter would stay without using glue or anything like that, just in case I want to reuse the pots later. So I went and bought polystyrene sheets and cut them to fill the portion of the plater that's suspended and added lots of gravel on the end that stays on top. And it worked!
Andrew was great, as always, he offered to paint the walls; unfortunately we chose a colour that's darker/yellower than the original hue, but at least it looks clean. However, the big however, my darling husband managed to spill paint everywhere, even though I put newspapers all over the floor. Just don't ask how in the name of all that's holy he achieved that feat, apparently it's trade secret and he can't share! He said he's going to bring the pressure washer out and clean it (I suspect he did it on purpose so he can play with water again!)Anyway, the light is not great right now, but this is how it looks... a bit like a hotel reception, right? (please ignore the fact that I couldn't be bothered to finish sweeping the floor before taking the photo:))
This is it! It's still colourless and a bit too pretentious, but truly, I've had it with it. What do you think?Luciana
7 years agoLuciana
7 years ago
Jonathan