SLIDESHOW: Rooftop Retreats

If you think that outdoor entertaining is impossible 15 stories off the ground, you couldn't be more wrong. With urban square footage at a premium, more and more city dwellers are turning to rooftop gardens to increase their limited living space, raise their property values, and foster opportunities for open-air parties.

Here are some rooftop gardens by Chicago Specialty Gardens, an urban garden design/building firm headquartered in Evanston, Illinois.

The bamboo privacy screen on this garage roof was designed to add texture and interest to the space, while maintaining a sense of openness.

Lighting makes for a magical environment at night. Low-voltage halogen lamps highlight the plants and deck, while an LED strip behind the bench emits a neonlike glow.

Bamboo set into concrete adds an Asian touch to this rooftop terrace and helps block the preexisting Art Deco railing. A small stone water basin is nestled in pachysandra.

A zinc urn and pedestal serve as a focal point to draw the eye outside to the garden space. Pebbles and stone add texture and coverage to the roof membrane.

Sheer outdoor curtains soften hard architectural elements and help contain in the space.

A 500-square-foot rooftop is transformed into a dynamic living space with dining, lounge, and grill areas. Plants were selected for their form, volume, and texture.

A water feature running through the garden defines the different spaces. A bridge offers an interesting transition from the lounge to the dining area.

An octagonal pergola provides shade to the dining area, while drapery softens the hard elements and adds privacy and movement.

Custom storage and work cabinets are sited in the side portion of this L-shaped space.

This garden was designed to maximize the spectacular downtown views by careful placement of large containers and seating. Annuals along the railing frame the skyline view.

Layers are created to add a sense of depth to this narrow terrace. Grasses between the bench and fencing soften the hard elements and expand the space.

A large pergola provides shade to the dining area of this space, while a custom bamboo screen serves as a backdrop.

Water and plantings balance the hard structural elements of the deck and fence. Though pebbles are a hard element, their organic nature helps build the idea of a garden in this rooftop space.