I am excited to share our new Chicago balcony design! This large balcony off the kitchen sat empty for four years while we focused on decorating our rooftop and other spaces inside our home. Finally, this project became a priority, and we love how it turned out! Neighbors have already started similar projects.
Our Chicago Balcony Design:
The process of assembling furniture and setting everything up took a significant amount of time. We needed to prep and paint the rusty balcony floor, assemble the trellises and furniture, and install the deck tiles. The process took half a day on one weekend, and most of another weekend. A friend helped Charles install the trellises.
The Problem:
Our balcony is very typical of a Chicago balcony. It's long and skinny with a metal railing. The problem was that we wanted to find a way to make the railing taller to provide privacy and to hide the many cables and power lines near the balcony. While I am sure this must be a common Chicago problem, we struggled to find a solution. We purchased three composite wood trellises to attach to the balcony railing. My husband was able to find adjustable brackets that worked perfectly.
Installation Steps:
The metal balcony had lots of rust spots. First, we sanded the really bad spots and powerwashed them. Then, I used a Rustoleum rust primer and a coat of Rustoleum paint (in the color "Aluminum"). Even though we were covering the balcony with tiles, we didn't want the rust to become a bigger problem that we would have to deal with in the future.
Next, I added the composite wood tiles. This process was so easy - it took about 2 hours total, including sawing some of the tiles for the perfect fit.
Balcony Before:
Before, the balcony was empty and sad. We never went out there.
Chicago Balcony Design After:
The space feels so welcoming. I am excited to spend more time here now that the weather is warming up. Looking at this balcony is so much nicer than looking out at the empty rusty balcony, and having this space decorated makes our home feel more complete!
Balcony Cost Breakdown:
I am sharing the cost breakdown, and I want to point out that the balcony is 16 feet long and 5 feet wide. The size of your balcony will significantly impact the cost of this project.
3 Trellises: $927.64
Composite Wood Tiles (with corners and edge Trim): $827.85
Sectional and Chaise: $3068.39
Planter and Plants: $300
Throw Pillows and Covers: $106.08
6 Adjustable Brackets: $231
Total: $5,460.96
Melissa Mahoney
Tuesday 6th of May 2025
Oh my gosh, how much fun is it going to be to watch those trellis’ fill out by the day this summer! I love that this is a “free” square footage gain!
Megan
Tuesday 6th of May 2025
Looks beautiful, Kit! Adding the floor tiles was so smart.