Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Painted Pattern Window Boxes

Last spring/summer when we remodeled (er, rebuilt) & screened in our back porch, my dad also rebuilt the old window boxes.  Last summer they remained unpainted or stained mainly because I just couldn't decide what I wanted to do with them.  Color, no color...just stain them...paint a pattern?  I could NOT commit to anything.


They were pretty sad...

Anywho...we're having a birthday party in a couple of weeks for Grady (4 years - how is that possible?!), & I really wanted the porch to be "completely" done by then.  That meant I had to figure out what the hay to do with those darn window boxes.

First, I decided that I wanted a fun pattern in white paint & walnut stain.  Happy, but not brightly colored which I felt would compete with any flowers I would plant in them.  I needed a super simple pattern since the wood on the planters is super rough.  On a whim I chose a scallop or fish scale pattern.

I started by removing the metal box from the wood planter, cleaned it up a little bit, & stained the four sides and top edges.  then I took a styrofoam cup, cut the round bottom in half, & used that as a template for the scallops/scales.  Pretty high-tech - haha!  A little bit of white paint & some spray spar finish & we were in business!

With a little assistance from my favorite helper between rain storms, we got the boxes planted & hung this weekend.  Gosh I love the spring after things start to grow again!



I finally got a couple of minutes where it was "dry" enough outside to take a couple of shots this morning.  I think they turned out pretty durn cute!  I can't wait until the flowers fill in a bit & the surrounding landscaping starts to green up some more.


Has anyone else been planting?  How about working on any fun outdoor projects?  We're scrambling like crazy to get our yard in order for the party - I feel like we're really far behind due to our LATE spring here in Minnesota!

13 comments:

  1. I just love these hanging boxes! I thought they were cute before, but I love them even more with the scallop pattern painted on them. They are just so charming!

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  2. Very Cute! What a great way to hang window boxes without actually attaching them to the windows. Do they blow around much in the wind? Oh and it looks like you're much further ahead on your exterior work than I am with our late Minnesota spring. I just took the holiday spruce tips out of our planters a couple weeks ago ;)

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    1. That's one thing I was concerned about when my dad was building them. I really wanted them hanging, but didn't want them spilling or banging into the screen. He assured me that they wouldn't swing and they don't! Even if I push them, they barely move.

      I'm not ahead at all! If you turn around and look out into the yard from the porch you'd see a totally different sight - shhh, don't tell! Haha!

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  3. Replies
    1. I definitely like them better hanging & planted than in the first picture I sent you! :)

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  4. I love this look. Would you mind posting a photo from further away? Is this in the front or the back of your house? We are trying to up our home's "curb appeal," and I'm thinking window boxes might be one of the ways. Very cute and thanks or sharing!

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    1. I totally will snap a couple of pics from farther away! I was trying to stay out of the rain when I took these - haha! It's a bright, sunny day today though so I'll try to get out there over lunch maybe! :)

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  5. Your boxes turned out really nice. I love the rustic look of the rough wood. :-)

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  6. OK I just LOVE the idea of hanging boxes! May have to borrow that one! And yes - sigh - this spring is just so weird (in mpls). Winter finally, finally ends and now all we have is rain. At least it will help everything (except my mood) grow!

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  7. Ha! I am in MN too,jsut planted some seeds in the garden today and put some plants in a few baskets.
    I have some window boxes that are cedar wtih a clercoat that need a freshing up...love what you painted on yours!

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