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How to Transform Your Terrace Into an Urban Oasis

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From multilevel lounge areas to custom planter boxes, the sky’s the limit

In a city like Toronto, outdoor space is highly sought-after real estate. If you’re lucky enough to secure some of this precious square footage, you ought to make the very most of it. Enter Box Design. Founded in 2003, the Toronto-based outdoor design studio offers bespoke services for the creation of high-quality, modern outdoor terraces. Experts in design, building and landscaping, the studio boasts itself as a one-stop shop for clients seeking a complete transformation of their outdoor space. Anywhere from 400 to 3000 square feet in size, a Box Design terrace encompasses all the modern fixings with a sense of functionality vital to urban living.

Toronto Patio and Terrace Design ideas

For the terrace of a King West condo, the IPE decking is a Brazilian hardwood that has a 50-year lifespan.

“We love using a mixed-material design approach, creating unique spaces using IPE decking along with porcelain tile and Eramosa limestone as an accent to wood,” says principal designer Dylan Couvrette. “We also enjoy creating dimensional spaces using multilevelled dining and lounge sections to form different areas for use.”

Beyond its visual aesthetic, a Box Design terrace is constructed using completely removable and modular components, making it an ideal solution for condos. This include’s the studio’s signature custom insulated planters, which are equipped with an automated irrigation system as well as RGB LED lighting to create a beautiful ambiance at night. “These planters are built to last and withstand exposure to all the elements, long-lasting whether you live on the 1st floor to the 40th,” adds Couvrette.

Patio design

IPE wood for decking also makes great use when constructing privacy screens.

As spring approaches and many condo dwellers in Toronto seek to cook on their terraces, Box Design’s outdoor kitchen schemes can be customized to seamlessly integrate with other terrace features, including hot tub cladding or water features. But there are no bounds to what a custom terrace can look like. “Some of our clients are avid golfers and have requested a putting green on their terraces,” says Couvrette. “We design our putting greens with our planter boxes integrated in to create a lush and streamlined playing environment.”

Box Design terrace golfing

A putting green makes for a playful addition to a downtown condo.

With warmer weather in sight, an upgrade to your outdoor space may be just what you need to take your condo living to the next level. Or at the very least, an excuse for a comfortable staycation.

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