Balconies are essentially small decks.
One of the big distinguishing features is that balconies project out
from a building from an upper story. Balconies are the method of
adding outdoor living space to apartment buildings. However, you see
them in houses when space simply doesn't allow for a deck.
Every balcony needs
a sturdy railing for safety. Iron is a sturdy and durable material
that is also attractive and adaptable to different styles. Below are
some styling ideas for your balcony's iron railing.
Whether you're
talking about arches or other round forms, curves offer a classical
appeal in architecture. Architects often add semi-circular shapes to
modern buildings to emphasize the geometry of all the angles found in
the style.
Interior balconies
add an extra design consideration. The railing itself may help drive
the décor style of the room. Homeowners will need to decide if they
want the balcony and its railing to take center stage or be a subtle
backdrop to the rest of the décor.
If you have a modern
building with a curved exterior balcony, consider keeping the lines
of the railing simple. You may want straight pickets that end in a
simple top rail. You could also add a ringed double railing to the
top to emphasize the curves in the design.
Typically, you see
curved balconies on old-world houses, especially those inspired by
the Mediterranean. Flourishes and other ornamentation are common with
these balconies to emphasize the elegance of the curved shape. One
adaptation you often see is avoiding the standard black for a coppery
brown finish, which is more in tune with the Mediterranean palette.
The Juliet balcony
consists of a railing in front of a door or over-sized window on an
upper floor. While some Juliet balconies might feature a small deck
for you to step outside, most simply provide a protective barrier
over the opening. Juliet balconies allow you to open up an
upper-story room to the outdoors without the involved construction of
adding a full balcony.
With the Juliet
balcony, you could use any style of iron railing that provides the
safety you need for your upper-floor opening. However, because of the
connotations with Juliet from Shakespeare's romance, you often see
more elaborate wrought iron styles. Indeed, you often see railings
that curve out from the building's facade so that you can lean out or
place trailing plants.
To choose a Juliet
balcony, try to conform to the style of your house while implementing
that romantic ambience. If your house is more modern, consider
straight pickets with some subtle geometric flourishes. For a country
or cottage style house, simple curves might work well. For any
historical style, though, consider highly ornamented balcony
railings.
Rectangular
balconies are probably the most common, especially with apartment
buildings. Any style of building can feature a rectangular balcony,
so you have many different options for the railing. Generally
speaking, match the railing style to the building style.
Concerning apartment
owners specifically, balconies are one of your big selling points.
Therefore, you don't want to skimp on the railing style - potential
renters will be scrutinizing that space. What's more, rows of
balconies will be visible from the street, so passersby will develop
opinions of your building based on the balconies. And the railing is
the most visible aspect.
So, to that end, try
to choose statement balconies. If your building is historical, look
at some of the elaborate railing styles. If you want to emphasize an
Art Deco appeal, consider balconies with mixed shapes. For a modern
building, simple, straight rails are fine if they emphasize the
beauty of your modern apartments.
Safety is the main
concern when choosing a balcony rail. However, choose a sturdy
balcony that also adds beauty. Capitol
City Iron Works
has a wide range of balcony railing styles for
you to choose from.
