Balcony Revival, a project by me

Hi Everyone, I'm finally getting to actually sharing my space with you guys. I know I promised to do that long time ago, but I'm getting too caught up in the little details to start sharing just yet. So I decided to share one space at a time!

We never used the little balcony which is in one of our 3 bedrooms ever since we moved into our first apartment in September after our wedding. It was so hot that we never actually even opened the sliding doors because the Air conditioners were on all the time. Once the winter in Doha started though, my husband started day dreaming about having a nice balcony and I was day dreaming about trying out my green thumb.

I had to get a maid to clean out the balcony, it was so dirty- I don't think anyone cleaned it ever since the building was built!- that I didn't even know what type of flooring laid underneath the layers of dust and dirt and then planning commenced!

These pictures were taken during mid cleaning, it was much much worse than that. I didn't know if I had terrazzo tiles or ceramic tiles laying under the dust, to my surprise it had ceramic tiles just like the ones inside the house! 

I took measurements and logged onto the best website ever, IKEA of course! and started shopping around for items that would work within my space, I knew I needed storage for all the plants care tools and items and outdoor equipment and that I wanted plants to be able to vertically grow (climbing plans and shelves for pots to go on) and that I had very limited space so furniture size mattered big time here. I chose the furniture and did the layout as per the furniture measurements.

My husband liked these floor decking tiles that we saw at IKEA once so I did a tile layout just to know how many tiles I needed.

I then went to IKEA for a shopping spree and got everything on my shopping list+some candles and garden lanterns and all the furniture pieces were assembled and in place! my husband and I spent the following days having every cup of coffee, breakfast, dinner there, we loved it. It had transformed so much although it was still pretty bare.

The next weekend my husband and I took off to the plants shop near the whole sale market and picked and choose plants and flowers to go in our balcony and had them arranged in the pots right there. I also picked up some seeds which I should get to planting right now so that I don't miss the season! I got cherry tomatoes and some herbs to try and see if I have a green thumb!

All the plants and lanterns went into place and the place turned into a mini oasis! we are absolutely smitten and in love with our little balcony/garden for two and we are keeping our plants company by being in that balcony on almost daily bases.

So what do you think? have you had any green thumb experiences lately? tried yourself at landscaping or got someone to redo your garden, balcony, outdoor space? share your ideas, comments, and photos with us!

Emerald Green, Color of the Year 2013

I've promised myself and many of my Facebook page fans to write about how to make the best of Emerald Green being the color of the year this year, but hey! It's the perfect time to write about that now as Spring sprung around us...feels more like the summer in Doha one day now and more fall like the other but it truly is as Spring-ish as it could get in Doha. Scroll down for more about how to Incorporate the color of the year into your homes, offices, and gardens

So Emerald Green is the color of the year for 2013, what does that mean to you as a decorator, home owner/renter?

Well, more green products in the market for you! I'd only expect that to be good news to you if you were big on green.

More advice on incorporating greens into your interiors, specifically, emerald green- which you are about to hear more about once you scroll down.

In some cases Emerald green products for home, garden, and fashion might be more available and affordable this year but in many others it might actually be more expensive than the same exact product displayed in a different color just because it's in the color of the year 2013.

Green has a restful psychological effect that touches us as humans on a primative level as humans associate it with fertility and plenty of vegetation which in turn means plenty of water and food which indicate no famish approaching and thus relaxation and restfulness.



This beautiful pictured credenza is by Graham & Green
The credenza is very modern in terms of colors but the application of bone in-lay is quiet ethnic and traditional in Syria, Turkey, India, and China, showing you that your favorite traditional classical pieces could be modernized to step out into the 21st century.

A great way of using the color of the year this particular season this year is by getting landscape seating in green, whether it's; a metal powder coated set, a rattan set, or a wooden traditional Qatari style exterior seating style sets.

The weather is absolutely beautiful in Doha right now and the planting season is still ongoing, so if you are thinking of doing a little bit of gardening in your backyard, add a little punch of color with green garden seating and accessories. For some contrast surround such seating with planters and pots full of colorful flowers and say Helloooo to Spring!

I came across these beautiful nest tables which look like floating lotus leafs, a great product to use indoor or outdoor in your garden.

If you are home is styled in a formal/classical way and you think that Emerald Green might clash with that style then think again, because you can most definitely add little punches of emerald green to a room with an almost all neutral color scheme and classical furniture pieces, like this great room featured in Elle Decor magazine.

Want to submerge fully in green and keep the formal classical look going on? you can do that if you can do with being surrounded with shades and shades of the same hue, best place to apply such a color scheme would be in a bedroom, garden, bathroom, or a room were you don't seek a lot of activities due to the color's relaxing effects. You would need to change values and shades otherwise the room will feel too bland, try to stay away from greens with a grey undertone as they have a depressing psychological effect and mix it up with blue greens and yellowish greens for added depth and variety.

again Emerald green curtains in a formal clean dining room with greyscale and beige shades for the main color scheme.

play up Emerald green in an eclectic modern fun room by adding more solid green objects and mix them up with wood, whites, and metallic.

Want the modern eclectic look to be more sophisticated and "grown-up" like? Go for deeper emerald greens and more classical furniture shapes

for an ultra modern look go for a B&W color scheme with pops of emerald, but be very careful as this might be too jarring if done wrong.

This porch might seem too jarring but a person sitting in here will be facing out and not actually starring at those black and white striped walls all day, I would go crazy!

another beautiful living space done right (greyscale + monochromatic brown scale + pops of emerald green) Don't you just love the chevron curtains and those cushions?

If buying furniture in a strong color such as emerald green isn't your thing and you don't want to splurge on getting new accessories every time pantone announces the new Color of the Year, then consider adding a splash of paint in your space that is in the Color of the Year, only if it works with your existing color scheme. You don't have to paint an entire room; one wall, the back of your cupboards, or a niche in your home will do.

Are you Mid-Century Modern crazy like I am? then an emerald green will add to the earthy-ness of an all the walnuts and oaks in your flooring, paneling, and furniture.

Want to break up the Green-i-ness add on some blues, in white/woods interiors for an instant fresh/costal look.

By adding a multitude of blues, greens, and purples you can get an instant wild garden feel in your interiors.

For a dramatic look, mix up Emerald green with other jewel tones like purple, and get an instant mysterious/sophisticated looks for your interiors, in which you'd need to use ocassional warm tone lighting fixtures and avoid all over head blue/white lights like fluorescents

So what about you? did you decide to embrace the Color of the Year in your homes/offices/gardens? are you going to consider using it the next time you redecorate or redo a room in your house? I'd love to hear about it!

XO