A Potting Bench And A Summer List

Do you remember this?

work bench turned potting bench
I blogged about this work bench here when I cleaned up a small section of our garage.  Well, it went from work bench to potting bench. 
potting bench

potting bench
I used some left over paint from when we had our shutters painted last summer (Valspar Graphite in a Coronado exterior latex paint).  I added some water to the paint to give this bench a washed look.  
summer list potting bench
I created a shelf by turning over two old urns and placing a scrap piece of wood on top.  These urns used to be black.  I used Rustoleum’s Heirloom White and a some of our exterior trim paint ( I don’t know what color it is.  It was left by the previous owners).  Then I sanded them in places and used some antiquing glaze by Valspar to give them an aged/weathered patina.  
summer list
summer list of fun activities
I re-purposed the cabinet doors we took out of the kitchen to create “shutters” to go next to my “trellis window”.  The kids and I had such fun putting together our summer list of things we want to do!  The “trellis window” is a ReStore $5 purchase.  It’s a twin headboard that I’ve turned into a trellis, and I’m hoping that sweet potato vine starts to wind its way upward.  I’ve also decided to use some twine to hang my garden tools here as well because one of my small garden helpers misplaces my things (even though she has her own “princess” garden tools).   
chalkboard shutters
What’s not to love about chalkboard paint?! 
chalkboard flower pots
Those chalkboard pens are amazeballs!  I. big. fat. love. them!!!!
diy painted flower pots
Painted pots in fun summer colors aren’t too bad either!
painted flower pots

painted flower pots
Here’s a closer look at our summer list. 
summer list on chalkboard
summer activities list

diy chalkboard shutters
Uh……did someone say……have a watergun fight?!  

What’s on your summer list?  Have you been doing any re-purposing lately?  
Take a look at how I’ve used this bench for all the different seasons! 
potting bench for all seasons

Share this

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

you might also love

  • Carmel, I love it. You are so smart to turn those urns over and create that awesome shelf. Love, love, love the shutters made from your cabinets. Cute pots and colors. Hope you share this at the wow party tomorrow night, too.

  • Carmel! I love your nook! The bench looks awesome and the repurposed cabinet doors… well you know how I feel about those!
    I love it all! it looks so cheerful.
    gail

  • Hold the phone!! That is amazing! I want one! Ok, inspiration for some day. You did such an amazing job. I would like to try the chalkboard paint somewhere one of these days. Enjoy your new space – it's incredible.

  • I definitely have "junk" in my yard. :o) On the bed subject, I have two old metal cot springs – both are being used as a trellis.

    I'm obsessed with chalkboard paint, but have yet to use it! I seriously need to get on the bandwagon.

  • OH MY GOSH I LOVE IT!!!!!!! I AM DEFINITELY WRITING THE REST OF THIS COMMENT IN CAPS BECAUSE I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT HOW GOOD THIS LOOKS!! I WANT ONNNNNE NOW! Ok ok maybe I'll stop writing in caps, but seriously girl, this is incredible! GREAT JOB!! : )

  • What an awesome potting bench!! I just love all the touches you've done!! The upside down urns for a shelf was genius…the headboard….all of it! 🙂

  • What?!? I mean, *who* does that??? Turns a headboard into a trellis and a work bench into a potting table and old cupboard doors into chalkboards??? You do, my dear, because you are a talented genius and it looks amazing!! I'm blown away by how great that turned out…and P.S. I love the summer list the most, that is too cute. (c:

  • oh your kids are so funny! LOVE this project you lucky girl! Fabulously generously sized work bench and a perfect fit on your back patio! Couldn't be nicer at all – simply charming!

  • Oh! You have no idea how perfect the timing is of this! I have been searching for potting bench ideas and absolutely LOVE everything about yours. I scrolled up and down studying all of the details and think the little shelf with the overturned urns is genius! You have so much talent and creativity Carmel and it all looks magazine worthy! 🙂
    Vanessa

  • This was such fun to see and look at all the different things that you did. Great job. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day.

  • Wow- this is really amazing-I mean beautiful-love the chalkboard shutters, the "wicker trellis" and just about everything-super inspiring!!

  • I love potting benches – yours is attractive as well as functional! Great reuse of old materials and now you have wonderful spot for all your gardening projects!

  • Hi there! I'm loving your blog – Just read your post about a summer reading list – and this one about the summer list – What's funny is we do the same things. What's REALLY funny is that we have some of the same things on our summer lists! Lemonade stand? Check. Stay up late? Check. Ice Cream? Check! Kids are so predictable. I actually have a post coming up about these very subjects – soon. Our reading list is a little different – just a place for the kids to record what they've read.
    Oh, and congrats on the HGTV gig! way to go!
    breida

  • Want to be a Fifth House Insider?

    Get the latest updates, exclusive content and behind the scenes photos delivered to your inbox weekly!