The Beauty of a Balcony

An L.A. designer brings color and functionality to two narrow outdoor spaces.

Known for his exuberant love of color, Dabito is the Los Angeles- and New Orleans-based designer, blogger, photographer, artist and vintage hunter who was named a Best Decorating Blogger of 2015 by Better Homes and Gardens.

He recently took on a design challenge when a client who lives in an L.A. hillside mid-century home with fantastic views asked Dabito to outfit two long, narrow balconies that were getting very little use.

“She’s a fabulous host, and she loves to have people over to wine and dine them,” he says. “I wanted to turn the balconies into two great spaces for outdoor entertaining.”

Here’s how Dabito used his favorites from our Summer 2021 collection to do just that—plus, his small balcony ideas for creating your own fab and functional space.

Tell us about the two balconies. What vibe were you going for?

My client has this gorgeous view and it’s a mid-century modern home, so I wanted to give her that mid-century modern vibe. And Crate and Barrel has a great collection of pieces that are stylish and modern with clean lines, like the Kinney collection.

For the lower balcony, I squeezed in a beautiful outdoor dining table that could easily fit six people. There’s also a sofa to the side and a round wicker coffee table for extra seating. I chose the sofa, dining table and chairs from that collection because I just love the mix of the wood and black steel. And all the pieces have rounded edges, which gives it an organic, interesting shape.

Then, I sprinkled in some color by using chairs, throws, pillows and pots. For the upper balcony, it’s more of a lounge-like chill vibe. It’s where you wanna enjoy a morning cup of coffee while reading a newspaper or a book. It’s great for naps. The curves on the Simeon lounge chairs are beautiful. The shape is so good.

I also layered outdoor rugs on both balconies to ground the space—otherwise it would be too much wood. And all the planters and pots are gorgeous. They really add a sculptural element to the space. Now my client can finally enjoy both spaces and take in that beautiful view.

What challenges did this project present?

Both of the balconies are long and narrow. I wanted to have a sectional and a sofa on both balconies but it can be tricky because, do you place the sofas facing the gorgeous view? But that takes up most of the space and all you will see is the back of the sofa from the inside of the house. And so I found the perfect sizes with clean lines and was able to squeeze them into the corners of the balcony. By doing so, we were able to maximize both spaces to include multiple seating areas.

What are your best outdoor balcony ideas for small spaces?

I like round pieces, like tables or ottomans, because they allow flow. Don’t be afraid to maximize every inch of the space by filling it up. People are always nervous about filling up small spaces ’cause they’re scared it’ll feel cramped, but it’s the opposite! Like with small spaces inside, the more you add, the more cozy it becomes. Find pieces that can do triple duty—that offer storage, seating and table surface. Foldable tables and chairs are also great for small spaces. Oh, and some string lights always make any outdoor space that much more inviting.

After the year we’ve had, how do you think peoples’ relationship to their outdoor spaces has changed?

People are starting to prioritize and reclaim their spaces, both indoors and out. I think people now realize how important it is to create a home that’s not only stylish but also a space to foster creativity and calmness.

Outdoor spaces are an extension of your home, and regardless of how big or small it is, it's a space where you can go out and connect with nature. My client moved into her home almost four years ago and never once used her balconies because she didn’t know how to make use of the spaces. Now she is so happy with how it all turned out. She feels like she just moved into a brand new home. It’s crazy how being intentional about how you want to use a space can do that. And with the amazing weather we get here in Los Angeles, there’s no excuse to not utilize outdoor spaces.

We’d love to hear more about your home design philosophy. How would you describe your aesthetic? Why are your clients drawn to you?

I want everyone to give themselves the permission to own the space they’re in whether it’s a rental or not. Decorating your home is about celebrating your life, your family, friends, embracing your culture and honoring your history. Fill it with things that remind you of all of those things.

My design style is colorful. It’s very eclectic. It’s a touch modern, a little bit of romantic bohemian and just a dab of maximalist, while still very contemporary. People are drawn to my use of color because we don’t see enough vibrant spaces!

What inspires you?

My favorite plant in sixth grade was the bird of paradise, so I drew it on the cover of my journal. I love the color combination of yellow, orange, green and purple. And I’ve been using those colors in my art and also interiors.

My inspiration comes from many places. Walking around my neighborhood, checking out boutique shops, hotels, galleries...or from works of interior designers, traveling to different parts of the world and seeing how different cultures use color, exploring nature, going to flea markets and antique stores.

Color can completely transform a space. It’s an excellent way for people to get creative and personalize their homes.