I know. I’ve posted about window boxes before. I just can’t help myself! I’m in love with them, but I simply can’t bring myself (or my wallet) to pay the hefty prices I’ve seen them for.
It seems like window boxes are such “the norm” in other countries or other parts of the nation for that matter, but I wish they were used more around me. I think they can make a world of difference for any home.
Notice the before and after of this home. The charm is there, but just not at its full potential. Notice the after! Okay, so the dog helps. :)
My favorite part about window boxes is that they look incredible on the smallest of homes right up to some more grand scale lookers. Look at these!
Are you ready for my point to this post (other than the beauty tour)? I’m going to bite the bullet and build my own. I want it to look like the ones below.
I’m not really sure why you’re laughing so hard, but I think I can do it. I’m going out to buy the wood this week. Anyone have any advice you want to offer me if you’ve built one?
I’ll either come back next week with a post about my brilliant carpentry or about my lack of 4 fingers on one hand. We’ll see.
See you tomorrow for Show and Share Day!! Can’t wait to see what you’ve all been up to!
Links to the pictures…
http://www.newworldeconomics.com/archives/2009/101109.html
http://www.deborahsilver.com/blog/?tag=window-boxes
44 comments:
I think window boxes are so charming! The third picture down the little alley is gorgeous! I don't think they will be really hard to make. The hardest part will be the crown molding because it requires a special kind of cut. I hope it goes well for you...can't wait to see the results!
I built two last summer and I LOVE them. I love them so much I am going to do one more for a garage window. I didn't want to pay over $100 for 1 little box and I didn't want anything metal, I wanted wood. It only cost me about $10 for each box. Look at the pvc molding that is very light weight and super cheap and it meant to be outside. That would be only bit of advice. Good luck!
Hi Chris...I too adore window boxes. When I was in Italy, I was enthralled with them!!! I took literally hundreds of pics of doors adn window boxes. I JUST saw on one of the HGTV shows over the weekend that they were building them out of some new material...looks like wood, but doesn't wear or warp. I wish I coudl remember the name of the product. I will be anxiously waiting to see what you do, as I might then decide to make some myself as well!!
What beautiful pictures! You're right--window boxes can really make a big difference. I'm sure you can make your own--I have great confidence in what you're able to do.
My suggestion would be to drill small drainage holes in the bottom of the window boxes. You could line the boxes with gravel or packing peanuts or something to allow the water to drain, or you could simply place individual pots with drainage holes into the boxes rather than placing the plants directly into the boxes. But you wouldn't want water to stand in your beautiful boxes.
Can't wait to see them on your house!
I, too, adore window boxes and I'm going to add one this summer as well. I would recommend that you either build it out of cedar or, like the ones you have in the photos from Hooks and Lattice, out of that composite decking stuff. Having decaying wood next to your house is NOT a good thing. I did see a great window box-building tutorial on the "This Old House" Web site, so maybe check that out.
I too love window boxes...they come in so many sizes and styles and can be planted with just about anything! Make sure whatevr lumber you use is either pressure treated or cedar for outdoor use. It will also need drainage holes in the bottom and if you want to make replanting easy you can often find standard size plastic liners for the inside to help protect the wood. You might want to build your box to a standard size if you decide to use a commercial liner. Remember they tend to dry out faster than things planted in the ground so you may want to use a an additive to your soil to retain moisture. Good luck!
Good luck! I have every confidence in you! I, on the other hand, bought some at Big Lots :)
My father in law built some for my old house. I love the design you chose, they will be classic. I asked him to create the bottom out of think screen so the water would be able to drain out. It was a pretty good idea and worked well to keep the roots from rotting. You can line the box with moss or something to help hold in some of the moisture (and dirt).
Mmm...they're so pretty.
Happy constructing!
: )
Julie M.
Mmm...they're so pretty.
Happy constructing!
: )
Julie M.
I love window boxes too! I have some on my house but the never look as nice as the ones in the photos you shared!
What a great post! I loved all the pictures- thanks for bringing some color into my afternoon!
Hi - you may want to check out -http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/
She has great build your own furniture plans - however I don't recall seeing a flower box design - but she may be able to give some pointers if needed!! ;) Good luck!!
I think I remember reading a post by Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick making her own last Summer. You might want to check her blog. I love window boxes, too. I love the one filled with coleus that you show. I don't have any either. : (
I've wanted a window box for quite some time too. I'd really like a wrought iron one. I like the idea of opening my window and watering the beautiful flowers that I don't yet have. lol Window boxes definitely add curb appeal and charm-factor, in my opinion. Best wishes with yours!
* stumbled across your blog today and just had to comment. :-)
LOVE flower boxes. Mine wallow in comparison to 100% of those pics you posted, but I try! :) Nothing makes me happier than driving up to my house and seeing my two boxes in bloom. Definitely helps curb appeal! Can't wait to see what great luck you'll have with your boxes! Happy to have found your blog. :)
Great selection of window box pictures. Curt is going to build one for me at my office window on the front porch. He said he buys a plastic planter box "liner" that fits the size box you want. This way, you can take the liner box out and give it a good cleaning and it protects your wooden planter better. They have so many moldings to choose from, can't wait to see it.
ps.... don't forget drain holes
What a great post! I love windowboxes also and have been planning to build my own this summer as well. I'm sorry I didn't buy them last summer at Smith & Hawken before they went out of business. I'm thinking it's a Saturday project, but my husband is not convinced . . .
bwahahaha! You are too funny. I'm sure you'll do great! Can't wait to see, maybe you can post a tutorial!
I love window boxes. I bought two REALLY EXPENSIVE ones for our home in Florida. We lived in an all brick neighborhood but we built a shaker shingle and stacked stone home. The window boxes just fit. You know that I took them with me when we moved to the north last November. I am putting them up at this house even though it doesn't quite have the same 'look' as our other home. I can't wait to see yours.
I love the flowers in the picture with the wrought ironed front door. Lovely.
I think a home with window boxes is so charming. I would love to have them too.
Good luck with building them and be sure to show us. I know they will be lovely.
hugs
Sissie
Window boxes are so charming....and some of those pictures had me drooling. I agree that I saw some great plans in This Old House, so you might want to check it out!
I love window boxes. Our place in Berlin had them coming off the windows and the balconies. My advise is to also buy a cheap plastic planter as a liner, then build your box to fit the liner. Your wood will stay nicer longer.
Good luck!
The pictures are lovely. I never had window boxes but I've always admired them, especially when they are brimming with flowers. They do add so much charm to a house. Hang on to your fingers and good wishes on your project!
The pictures are lovely. I never had window boxes but I've always admired them, especially when they are brimming with flowers. They do add so much charm to a house. Hang on to your fingers and good wishes on your project!
The pictures are lovely. I never had window boxes but I've always admired them, especially when they are brimming with flowers. They do add so much charm to a house. Hang on to your fingers and good wishes on your project!
Gah! You could SO do that. Awesome! I made some last summer and I can't believe it but they are still together. They aren't fancy but with a little more time they could be. You can do it!! :) (Here's the link...http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/08/diy-window-boxes.html)
I LOVE window boxes. They are awesome!
I totally agree that window boxes are lovely! It's the one thing I make sure gets filled every year...even if I don't do anything else in my garden my window boxes will be full!
I don't have any suggestions on how to make a pretty box. My hubby made some simple ones out of cedar. Perhaps I'll figure out how to pretty them up. I would strongly urge (as others have pointed out) to get plastic liners FIRST and build around them.
When you get ready to plant make sure they're planted nice and full. You have to check their water daily and fertilize often. (also make sure that you plant stuff in that location according to the light you get).
Most of the window boxes in Austria have ivy geranium- which is something I've had a hard time locating (anybody know of a source?). They hang beautifully. That first window box has lots of coleus and sweet potato vines in various colors (plus there's another plant I recognize but can't remember). Those are super easy plants to grow!
Good luck! (can you tell I like to garden?)
Love window boxes too, good luck you can do it.
Love window boxes & how about automatic sprinklers in them too? My friend has that & sets them to be watered 2x a day & they are gorgeous all summer. NG
This Old House Magazine just had a cute planter box plan in their April issue. can't wait to see your tutorial!
Good Luck building. I built some 2 years ago, but the design was not nearly as nice as yours ( I didn't add the molding) and my biggest piece of advise is reinforce the hanging of your box. I didn't do this and one of my boxes fell off the house! I guess now I'll follow your directions and build news ones. Can wait for the post of how to.
We added window boxes to our home a couple of years ago, and I absolutely LOVE them. They just really up the charm factor to our house and I'm so glad we finally did it. We are getting ready to move now, and I think I'm going to have to have them at our next house too, I love them so much.
You can see them the first year we put them in. I entered a contest on the website from which we purchased them and got 3rd place. :-)
http://www.flowerwindowboxes.com/Williamson-Window-Boxes.html
No laughing at all over here. I think you'll do marveously. I own 11 (yes ELEVEN) window boxes. In the city, container planting is all we've got. I have the black wire ones and I love them. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
I didnt read the other comments so excuse me if I repeat the info.
Sarah @ trifty Decor Chick did a post about it, I believe las summer.
I can't WAIT to see the one you make! I too am a fan of window boxes. My son and his wife have an iron one under their kitchen window. I love it!!
I love window boxes. Still trying to convince my husband we need some. Good luck, hope all goes well.
What a pretty post! I would suggest that you do the following: go to Lowe's or HD or some place like that and get an inexpensive plastic trough planter. Then build your box around the dimensions of the trough. You do not want to fill your box with dirt which will make it very heavy and subject the wood to a lot of water. Make sure the rim of the trough is just below the lip of your box. You can put the trough on 1 x 2s laid crosswise if you need it to be up a little higher inside the box. Also, this allows you to remove the trough easily for planting or soil replacement, then just slip it back inside.
I'm having Window Box envy now! I think they would do so much for my house, but I don't know where to start. I guess I'll start looking for a tutorial after your inspiring post :)
the biggest advice I can give is when you plant it after you make it is... make sure you use LIGHT soil, vermiculite, and add that stuff that retains water. When building remember to think about space inside, not just the look outside. THe less amount of soil the more you'll have to water! You want as deep and wide as you can. Good luck!
I love these pictures. Window boxes are such a nice addition. I wish I could recreate some of the gorgeous ones you've shown here.
Ruth
It's lovely. It window boxes make the houses even more alluring. Thank you for sharing.
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