Category: DIY Projects

Home decor, DIY, Do it Yourself, Renovation, Bedroom Designs

I Heart Potting Benches

Potting Bench Ideas

POTTING BENCH

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!

One of the nicest things my husband has done for me, and he’s done many, was to make me a potting bench in the garage.  It’s about 12 feet long with a utility sink in the middle.  The one side of the bench has a laminate top and the other side has a granite top. The reason for that is because we bought these pieces cheap at a cabinet shop and a granite slab yard.   I have 2 deep shelves underneath each countertop.  He used corrugated tin for the “cupboard” doors covering the shelves.  Behind the bench he used cedar fence planking, which he stained grey to resemble barn wood, and nailed vertically to the wall to look like an old fence.  He also painted the garage wall apple green.  It looks great!

I can’t tell you how handy this area of the garage is.  And having the sink with cold AND hot water is marvelous.  The shelves are nice and sturdy and deep enough to hold half used bags of mulch, fertilizer, potting soil, etc.

He made a couple of shelves to hang on the wall above the “fence” and I have decorated them with some fun random items; a big metal star, organizers with plastic holders for small hand shovels, scissors, pruners, etc., shelves with old watering cans, and even an old camping coffee pot.  I have no idea where it came from but it sure looks cute on my shelf. I even hung up my old cowboy hat that I wore on a pioneer trek.

This wonderful work space even doubles for cooking space when I need it.  Whenever I make chile verde in my big 22 quart electric roaster that’s where I cook it.  The garage smells heavenly.  Or if I want to make bacon I take my griddle out on my bench and cook it out there.  So much better that my garage should smell like bacon rather than my house.  It’s also great to do some canning in the fall.  A Coleman stove and our pressure canner and we’re set!

Painted Window Trim to Love

Painted Window Trim Ideas to Love

What an amazing way to add a BURST of fun to a room!  I just love the idea of painting window frames and trim.  And HOW CHEAP!

Remember the term window dressing?  Well, there are still experts who refer to the “ART of window dressing.”  They may be in the blinds and shutters business, I don’t know, but painting windows certainly adds to the creativity and artful sense of the homeowner.  Hey wait!  That’s YOU!!

  • For a classically modern look consider painting the window the same color as the walls.  It’s especially fantastic when done in a neutral gray or taupe; and white on white is impeccable.
  • Go a little darker than your walls for a restful and yet still very contemporary look.
  • There’s always the gray against yellow for something fantastic and fresh, and maybe a little shabby chic.
  • And then, of course, there’s always the classic black, the antithesis of bright white (which I happen to love), but maybe a touch more thoughtful.
  • Thinking of buying an older home?  Does it have natural wood?  Lucky you!  Natural wood lends a fabulous historical feel to a home.  Not in good enough shape?  Then here you go!  Choose a knock-out paint color and go to town!

Take a look around and decide which rooms could use that CRACK OF COLOR just by painting the windows.  Maybe your area needs that ever so important focal point.  This could be IT!

I LOVE this idea!

P.S.    Painting trim doesn’t stop at windows you know…..

Go a little crazy and if you’re building a new house don’t let the contractor talk you out of your ideas.  They do that, you know!   Be bold with that baseboard ~ do darker trim than walls if that’s what you want.  It will look fabulous!