How to Create the Inner-City Terrace Garden Into Your Private Oasis

We know how the adjustments go when you move into an apartment after owning a large home and garden. But, sometimes some transitions seem easy to be made since the owners know what they want precisely for the outdoor space in their new place. Here, in the given apartment the purchase was two adjoining ground-floor apartments off-the-plan and converting them into one. So, the owners were able to create one outdoor terrace along the east-facing rear wall. This space was made in heaven filled with relaxing energy and plant life, simply the perfect retreat and entertaining zone for family and friends.

1. The Solution

First, start with strategic placement of custom-designed  just like this owners did. They have divided the space into three zones – a sitting area, a dinning area and a fire pit/conversation area. As you can see the zones gave the garden a sense of scale and purpose, enhancing the sense of journey as you enter the space. Also, there a garden created out of luxurious and layered greenery, over the preference of the owners to have foliage plants over flowers.

2. Design Process

We will share you how to do everything step by step because the strength of this design lies in its mostly green palette:

• To be ensured with completion throughout the seasons a curated and minimal palette of evergreen plants works well in a small space.
• Even in the mostly evergreen palette, by having a small columnar tree (maple) or a deciduous vine like Virginia creeper this is the best way to introduce the seasonal interest and color.
• If you want to achieve and ensure cohesion and connection between the different zones use a repetition of plant species.
• Leaf shapes? Think about it more, since they pair contrasting foliage types and we have example for it. The deep lobes of the Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ leaves contrast so beautifully with the round leaves of tractor seat plant like Ligularia reniformis.
• And last but not least, amplify the sense of greenery through the use of cascading foliage down the faces of pots and planter boxes. You will witness the effect of lush and softening.

3. Seasonal Color

Now, most of the plants are evergreen, ensuring the space feels lush year-round, and the Japanese maple and Virginia creeper are the two deciduous species that provide seasonal color and let in the winter sun and light.

4. Dark Tones

The dark elements are the ones that let the greenery to pop in the space. Here the plants are powder-coated in Dulux Onyx Pearl; the pergola in Interpon Sable Black and the deck is stained with three coats of Cutek Black Ash.