You can make a party in the city just by hanging out on the stoop. But what if you don’t have a stoop? Maybe you’re lucky enough to actually have a city garden? Here are some great spaces on the east and west coasts to socialize with the folks on the block. Please, BYOB:
Above: Architect Kim Hoyt created a lush and leafy backyard retreat in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood, with plenty of seating for a crowd. For more, see Before & After: A Brooklyn Townhouse with a Double-Wide Garden. Photograph by Dan Wonderly.
Above: In Brooklyn’s Park Slope, Kim Hoyt designed an airy steel structure that supports a deck, a massive wisteria vine, and steps that lead to the courtyard garden below. For more, see The Garden Designer Is In: Kim Hoyt Architecture/Landscape. Photograph by Dan Wonderly.
Above: Outdoor space is even tighter in Manhattan, but the residents have learned to make do. This terrace in Harlem is tailor-made for cocktail parties. Read more in Garden Visit: 66 Square Feet (Plus) on a Harlem Terrace. Photograph by Marie Viljoen.
Above: In Brooklyn, landscape designer Susan Welti of Foras Studio created this low-maintenance scheme with its handsome symmetrical beds. To navigate that crushed bluestone, best to wear sneakers–or maybe just flip-flops. Read more in Steal This Look: Modern Brooklyn Backyard on a Budget.
Above: Heading to the West Coast, we find bluestone pavers instead of grass at a San Francisco property. If you’re worried about the ivy trashing the building (an artist’s studio), don’t: It’s growing on a wire frame. Get the details at Landscape Architect Visit: Scott Lewis Turns A Small SF Backyard Into an Urban Oasis.
Mandatory: Before the sun goes down, have some Cafe-Style Outdoor String Lights in place. And you might want something to keep drinks close at hand: 5 Favorites: Outdoor Bars, DIY Included. All set now?
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