The latest problem I’ve fixed is the issue of privacy on our balcony.

Some units here have solid concrete barriers but ours simply came with silver railing. With another apartment complex so close by, we could see right into our neighbor’s living room. (And undoubtedly they could see into ours.) I quickly got used to it, but our dogs did not. Their favorite hobby became patrolling for passersby and yelling at the neighbor’s cat when he was sunbathing on the windowsill. It was inevitable — I needed to block off their view.

Here were some solutions that didn’t quite pan out:

• I definitely want to start my balcony garden (more on this later) but this would take time and didn’t offer 100% coverage.
• The ceiling was too high to install any type of outdoor curtains, and I didn’t want to lose my mountain view.
• I didn’t have the money for high-quality weatherproof material, or the patience to sew.

Once again, IKEA came to the rescue. I was able to grab two of the DYNING fabrics from their summer collection for $15 each. The best part is that it was located right outside the store in their summer tent — no long lines or weaving through the warehouse!

Now I can focus on putting some plants out there to brighten in up, and hopefully find a better place for my bike.

On a side note, I’m so tempted jump onto the neighbor’s roof with a hammer and kill those satellites. What eyesores on an otherwise beautiful view of the estates on the mountainside!