Inspired by the colors and textures of Morocco, our bohemian rooftop deck holds a special place in the memories of our apartment chapters.

A little over a year and a half ago, we packed up our apartment, hauled box after box down the many flights of steps, and moved into our dream house. Saying goodbye to my apartment of 12 years was emotional. I was overjoyed by what was in store for us, but the empty apartment echoed with many memories. One of the hardest elements to part with was the roof deck we had created together.

When Dylan and I had schemed our summer bucket list, Dylan’s top priority was gaining access to our roof. Years prior, a maintenance team had sealed the opening, and I’d given up on rooftop hangs, but Dylan was persistent. I was, admittedly, more nervous about the endeavor. However, once he sawed through the closure, I became obsessed with the potential of the blank canvas. 

My designer brain went into overdrive. Within a day of access, I had paint swatches and mood boards of Moroccan riads and tropical courtyards. By day two, I had sourced a furniture set from Facebook Marketplace, half of which had to be heaved up the side of the building with a makeshift pulley system.

Within a week, I had painted a huge (!) swath of the roof in layers of earthy pinks and adobe reds. By the time I was done painting, my face was equally earthy red – a rooftop at noon is no joke, but that was the weather window I had. So be it!

We added plants, strings of Edison bulbs, and an array of props from my arsenal. It was magical to sit around the fire pit at night with a 360° view of the city. We hosted family and friends on the roof. We watched a neighborhood parade from above. We hosted a movie night (more to come on that!). Every time I sat up there, I tried to be present and grateful, knowing that this type of space was a unique opportunity.

Though our rooftop deck days are behind us, I am looking back fondly on this special project, and I hope you enjoy the “after” magic…

“After” photos by Tom Macconnell. 

Inspired by the colors and textures of Moroccan riads, I achieved a plaster look by combining two rosy hues and blending them together sporadically with a roller. I layered several outdoor rugs and textiles to highlight various activity areas and create pops of color.

An antique army cot became a cozy seating area for the fire pit.

I hauled all my planters to the roof and even recruited leftover roof-repair buckets. They had a rusted, vintage feel to them that fit the scheme.

Thanks for joining me!

Q.