No. 33 Balconies & Rooftops · Mediterranean
Mediterranean Balcony with Terracotta Planters
Paved in weathered terracotta tiles, this Mediterranean balcony features a metal bistro table, stone-trimmed doorway, and rustic terracotta planters filled with olive trees alongside pink bougainvillea draped along the iron railing.
Design notes
Mediterranean design is about shade and thick walls. Look for stucco in warm neutrals, terracotta or travertine underfoot, arches and loggias that throw deep shadow, and gravel courtyards rather than lawn. Water is small and central — a fountain, a rill, a tiled spa — and planting is drought-tolerant: olives, cypress, lavender, rosemary and bougainvillea. Wrought iron, blue-and-white tile and a long table under vines finish the picture.
What to look for
- Weight — lightweight planters and mix, no wet soil in stone pots
- Wind and privacy handled with screens and planters, not walls
- One purpose per balcony: dine, lounge or grow

