Inspirational Terraces

by Marija Pantović

InspirationalTERRACES, BALCONIES & SPACES

Tips on outdoor design by Marija Pantović & Oleksandra Nešković, Luštica Bay team

The stunning natural surroundings of Luštica Bay and its spectacular coastal location offer the perfect opportunity to create beautiful gardens, balconies and terrace areas that complement your home and lifestyle. With the amazing backdrop of the Adriatic, get inspired and express your style by choosing plants and outdoor elements that create shady corners, places to relax and work, and your own special haven. Two styles that work well at Luštica Bay are the classis and timeless Mediterranean Style or a the chic and contemporary Modern. Read on to find out how you can make these styles come to life in your Luštica Bay home.

The Mediterranean Style Embrace the Mediterranean vibe and create a wonderful haven with a curated collection of plants. The Mediterranean style is all about laid back outdoor living and lingering over an alfresco dinner with the people you love. A good start is to incorporate terracotta pots, which offer a rich earthy aesthetic. If you have a ground floor terrace, you can also consider using stone. This style is all about relaxed spaces that resonate with scents, textures and a splash of rustic style. Choose low-maintenance plants that will offer you that irresistible Mediterranean vibe all year round.

Luštica Traditions

Of the tall plants, Olea Europaea (Olive) dominates. Olive cultivation goes back over 2,000 years on the Luštica Bay Peninsula and half of Montenegrin olives are located here, so this is a plant that is sure to feel at home. The great thing is that this tree is available in a wide selection of shapes and sizes and can provide ample shade whilst adding an attractive architectural element.

Fruity Choices

Add citrus notes to your space with Fortunella or Kumquat. This plant creates an opaque barrier and offers a delightful aroma during the flowering season. A bonus is that you will also get to have a harvest of delicious fruits. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent root rot and put a layer of stones or gravel at the very bottom for drainage.

Delightful Scents

Beautiful classic combinations of lavender, rosemary, thyme and mint look great on terraces, and ensure that your private haven always smells mesmerizing. They can also be used in home cooking and barbeques.

Stunning Hanging Pots

Hanging pots and balcony pots can also be used as long as they do not obscure your spectacular views. Choose pots with double bottoms to avoid frequent watering and use make life easier by selecting drought-resistant plants. Pick out plants such as Lamprantus, Geranium and Petunia to achieve a vibrant and uplifting effect.

Climbing Beauties

Bougainvillea, Trachelospermum Jasminoides (Star Jasmine), Wisteria and Bignonia (Crossvine) are effective as gorgeous climbers on pergolas and vertical surfaces. Take your pick from an evergreen plant or go for a plant that blooms profusely. One handy tip is to choose a large pot for your climbing plant to offer stability and plenty of root space.

The Modern Style

Contemporary Modern Style is all about creating the perfect synergy and flow of ‘indooroutdoor’. To get started on this aesthetic, select pots that reflect the style of your interiors and then intensify the effect by using a wide variety of shapes and textures. Choose cement, fiberstone (a mixture of stone and plastic), wood and rattan to achieve a stylish and natural effect. Whatever you do, avoid plastic – it isn’t attractive and is unpleasant for your plants as it heats up quickly and fails to retain water.

Evergreen Bliss

Enjoy year-round luscious foliage with evergreen shrubs. Go for varieties with dense leaves such as Laurel, Laurel Cherry, Eleagnus, Viburnum.

Mediterranean Paradise

Bamboo is a great natural choice to create air fences. Try to avoid using tropical plants with large leaves (Musa, Strelitzia) as they can take up space and obscure views.