An 'inspired' potting bench

16 years ago

Here's the progress my DH and I made on a potting bench. I lugged home an old enamel top table from my farmer SIL bldg. a few months ago...it needed lots of TLC. So today I sanded and sanded...we fixed up the legs & my DH re-built the drawer. We added some bracing near the bottom and added boards for another shelf.

The old door I drug home a couple yrs ago from a consignment store...broken glass and needed TLC. So today I also sanded, my DH screwed trimmed off the bottom, screwed

onto the back of table. Got one coat of white paint on it and will share the finished project...hopefully, tomorrow!

We're due for another "nice" day in Iowa! Inspiration for this project from all you GJ'ers and Purplemoon's Inspiration Album. Thanks all sharing! Jeanne S.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (22)

cindee11461
16 years ago
Wow that is beautiful!! I love it!!! What a great use for the door it turned out wonderful!!!!
Purplemoon
16 years ago
Well that is definitely going to be one beautiful potting bench. Very impressive. The finished photo will have to go in our GJ Inspiration Album!!

hugs, Karen
Related Discussions
Linking Question
Q
Comments (1)
Hi Jeannespines, I had hoped someone else would help you since I'm not too technically inclined--but here's how I do it. If anyone has a better way, hopefully they will chime in. Go to your post on the t to t forum and open it. Now go up the the top of the page and copy the http:// address portion. Now come to this forum and type any message you want. Click the preview message button and then when your message appears there will be two bars at the bottom. Just put your cursor in the "Optional Link URL" box and right click and select "paste". Now in the "Name of the Line" box, you can type a title. Click preview message again and then click submit message. That's all there is to it. Let me know if you have any other questions, okay. Luvs
...See More
My Potting bench.
Q
Comments (27)
I W A N T ~~~~ IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Love IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it is just fab !!! I think I might have the ingredients to whip one of those up out in the garage.... the one I was suppose to be cleaning out................. But I did NOT throw away. the springs from the old baby bed......YEA....!!!! & I do have an OLD DOOR>>>> and Some old shutters... THINK I BETTER GO & TRY TO WHIP>>>> ONE OF THOSE COOL POTTING BENCH/ Centers up for ME ! ! ! ME>>>>>>>>>>> ME ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea Robo Lady !!!!! Thanks for the pics & the Groovy Idea ! ! ! ! ! You are such a wonderful Creative Artistic Inspiration to me ! ! ! God Bless ! SusieSunshine *** Luv your Blog & Store pages !!!! Thanks again (
...See More
Potting bench
Q
Comments (29)
I'm going to post the directions for this bench here as I have had another request about how to make it & can't figure out how to go back & pick up the last E mail I sent out about it & copy it so here goes... I got an old barn door from my junk store for the back. I decided how high I wanted the bench shelf to be. Mine is higher than counter height as I am tall. I then took a 2x4 & placed it across the back of the door right below the height of the top bench. This is the brace for the shelf. I then made a 3 sided box to be the rest of the brace for the top. I attached this to the outsides of the brace that was on the door. Then I decided how high I wanted the bottom shelf. & did the same thing down below. I then stood the shelf up while my son held it & measured how long the legs needed to be. I cut the legs out of 2x4's & attached those to the inside of the legs. Now it could stand up on it's own. I decided where I wanted the basin to be & then placed a brace on each side to support the wood after cutting the hole. I used deck boards for the top of the shelves. I left an overhang of about 1 inch on each side when I placed the deck boards for both of the shelves. I used my sons Rotozip to cut the round hole. Then I dropped in an old galvanized basin that I got from my junk store.Make sure you measure the size of the basin before you go cutting that hole. I made mine about a half inch smaller than the basin measured. This allows enough of a lip to keep it from dropping the whole way through The only prep work I did to the door was to clean it up a bit with a wire brush so it would hold the paint better. I used screws so my joints would stay tight. Incidently, the hooks are dragon fly hooks that I found for cheap on E bay, & the hose reel is a cheap aluminum one I found on E bay too. Oh I almost forgot about the top shelf. I found the metal iron work at (yep you guessed it!) my favorite junk shop. They already had screw holes in so they were great supports for my very top shelf. Well, that's the story of my little potting bench! If anyone else makes it, I would love to see your rendition of it. Someone said I should make them & sell them. There are so many different things you can do with them. Different color paint, different accessories, grape vine wreaths, bells, mirrors, windows, oh my! I could go on & on about what you can do with them. But anyway I just hope you have as much fun with it & it gives you as much joy as it is me! And remember, you don't know what you can do until you try!!
...See More
How to build this potting bench
Q
Comments (3)
That design is very basic construction. Use 2&1/2" long deck screws for assembly. Torx or square drive screws are best. Home improvement/hardware stores have either or both. Pressure treated wood will last longer, but needs time to dry out before priming and painting. Really wet PT wood may need several months to dry. And, really wet PT wood can warp, so pick dry pieces(lighter is dryer). Assemble the top frame, screw ends together. Use stove bolts/washers/nuts to attach the legs to the top frame---positioning the legs inside the top frame. Use stove bolts to attach the gussets(the angled braces from leg to top frame. Use screws to attach the leg stiffeners(the boards on the lower sections of the legs). Use screws to install the lower shelf. Add the boards for the top shelves to the assembled lower section ---use boards as long as the legs plus the desired height of the upper shelves for strength. Use screws to install the upper shelves to the upright posts. Shorter screws to install the support brackets. Should be a fun project. Happy Potting!
...See More
Bright199
16 years ago
Ditto!!! I sooo love that idea. Very creative. Those old tables go for alot of money round here. Please do post a finished picture. Thanks for sharing.
jlily
16 years ago
What a great project!! It is almost too decorative for a potting bench. Well, maybe you don't make the kind of mess that I do? LoL Thanks for sharing. JLily
rmlanza
16 years ago
Love that! It would be great in a foyer or something. Maybe with a mirror in the arched door panes! Are you going to put hooks around the door area for garden tools or anything? What a creative way to put two old pieces together!
shysue
16 years ago
Oh, I love it!!! I want it!!! You sure did bring it from trash to treasure. You need to post it on the Trash to Treasure site, too. Great job!
countrygrl
16 years ago
That is one beautiful potting bench! I love it when you finally find a use for something you've been holding onto for a while, but don't quite know what to do with it, like that gorgeous door. It's perfection! Can you post another picture when it's got all your tools,soil, etc. on it?
garianntx
16 years ago
That is great! What a cool idea!
daisyme
16 years ago
What a great idea using a table AND a door! It looks wonderful, and you should get lots of fun gazing and potting hours there. Thanks for sharing!
goldenpond
16 years ago
Love love love it!!!!!!!Too pretty to fidwe give it a great spot! I have seen such beauties in the shade and the top covered with moss,gorgeous!
kudzukween
16 years ago
Oh,Jeanne,that's GORGEOUS:) I'm so jealous!! lol I have a similar table that belonged to my Granny, I have my computer on it for now. It has black turned legs,black on the bottom edge of the table. Ya'll did a great job on it.
craftylady-2006
16 years ago
Absolutely beautiful. You and DH did a great job on transforming that into a potting bench. I love it, the door is so pretty.

Sal
tradewind_64
16 years ago
I heart that very much. I wish I had a potting table. Well, I do, it's called my basement laundry room :-)
rmlanza
16 years ago
tradewind, LOL! My potting bench is my front sidewalk! Hmm, gotta go sweep now that I think about it;)
kirkus
16 years ago
Just beautiful and inspiring! Carol wants me to make us one now! And I will be glad to do so if it turns out as nice as yours! You and your DH's talents are such a gift! Thank you for sharing your ideas! Bear Hugs! Kirk
use2bcapecodr
16 years ago
Jeanne, I love it!! It's wonderful!

~Sandy~
tradewind_64
16 years ago
rmlanza, sidewalks work great! I've been known to hang out on the driveway with the hose and potting soil myself. I want to make sure the neighbors have fresh stuff to talk about :-)
jeannespines
Original Author
15 years ago
I love my new potting bench! It's now complete with planted flowers. The backside I added a flower box and planted it with purple salvia and a ferny houseplant...can't wait until they flower...also added a bright cobalt blue glass vase (upside down) inspired by you glass/mosiac people!

Also put up a bracket on the edge of the door and hung a wire basket planted with purple wave petunias...they should be awesome when they grow. We've had some warm weather here the last couple days! The bench sits over a big half rotten stump.

On the table top is a pot of pansies. Later on I plan on laying flagstone in front of the bench and, hopefully, lead the path to my ol' garden shed. This has been a fun project and I can't believe how much I've used it already and kept the dirt off my patio table & chairs now! Jeanne S.

{{gwi:136138}}
{{gwi:136139}}
susiesunshine
15 years ago
Oh My Ms Jeannie S/
That is just SOOOOOOOOOO W O N D E R F U L ! ! ! !
I am just so proud of you and DH ! ! !
I appreciate the pictures so very very much and
the IDEA ! ! !
You should have that Published in a Magazine ! ! !
I just ADORE IT ! ! ! !
I hope I get one like it one day...
and I'll think of you every time I see it...
You are such a CREATIVE ARTIST ! ! !
God Bless !
SusieSunShine
Dottie B.
15 years ago
OMG...that is so awesome!!! I am totally jealous to say the least...LOL. So unique!
Bright199
15 years ago
Ditto!!! it came out wonderful. I too am totally jealous.
robolady
15 years ago
That is so kewl!!!!!!

An 'inspired' potting bench

Comments (22)

cindee11461

Purplemoon

Related Discussions

Bright199

jlily

rmlanza

shysue

countrygrl

garianntx

daisyme

goldenpond

kudzukween

craftylady-2006

tradewind_64

rmlanza

kirkus

use2bcapecodr

tradewind_64

jeannespines
Original Author

susiesunshine

Dottie B.

Bright199

robolady

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

An 'inspired' potting bench

Comments (22)

Related Discussions

jeannespinesOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

jeannespines
Original Author