I shared this post several years ago and have to say, still one of my favorite upcycles! This flower box still sits on my patio and is doing fabulously. I have some updates about how the wood is doing being exposed to the elements at the end of the post.
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I’m still sharing projects from the potting shed makeover! It was a pretty huge feat, and we made a LOT of fun things to go on it. Including this flower box made from an old drawer {edit: I’ve now learned this is a beehive lid!). It is one of my favorite upcycles EVER!
I have a quick video that shows all the steps for making the flower box but you can also follow the step-out photos below.
I have had this vintage drawer in my possession for a couple of years now. I found it at a barn sale and fell in love! Its so chippy on the outside and has that wonderful old wood look on the inside. It has been sitting in my potting shed holding unused flower pots. But it was screaming to be something more!
To me, this gorgeous old drawer was just begging to hold beautiful, bright flowers. I knew I didn’t want it to set on the ground, so I went about designing some legs to raise it up. The drawer is heavy, so the legs needed to be sturdy and solid. A couple of 2×2 posts and scrap 1×4’s would work perfectly for very little cost!
I found 2×2 posts at Home Depot that were 36″ long, and I spent less than $5 on the 2 I purchased.
We cut them in half to make four 18″ table legs. There wasn’t a good way to attach the legs directly to the drawer. We cut scrap 1×4’s into 8 right triangles, 2 for each table leg. The triangles could be attached to the drawer then, in turn, to the legs.
Here you can see how everything was attached. The table legs were held in place to figure out where the triangles should go. The triangles were then screwed to the drawer from the inside of the drawer into the triangles. The triangles were then screwed to the legs. We did this for all 4 table legs.
The bare wood legs did not look great with the chippy drawer. They needed to be painted, but I didn’t want to take away from the drawer. I wanted to use white paint, but was afraid it would be so bright that the new legs would not look right with the old drawer.
The solution? White wash!
I made a white wash solution from some white paint I had on hand mixed with water. I didn’t do any exact calculations, just thinned the water to the consistency I wanted it to be at. If I had to guess, I would say it was 1 part paint to 8 parts water.
I worked on one leg at a time. I applied a coat of the white wash then immediately wiped it off lightly with a shop towel then repeated until I reached the opaque coat that I wanted. It took about 3-4 coats until I was satisfied.
The white wash isn’t too bright and doesn’t take away from the chippy awesomeness that is the drawer!
Before adding the flowers, I sprayed a coat of paint sealer around the outside of the drawer to preserve the chippy paint now that the box would be outdoors. I sprayed 2 coats of Thompson’s Water Seal on the bare wood inside the drawer.
I didn’t place dirt directly into the drawer – I was afraid of it rotting over time. Instead I arranged 5 pots, one in each corner plus one in the middle, in the drawer and filled them with flowers. The inside of the drawer still gets wet when it rains or when I water the pots, but the water beads up beautifully and does not soak into the wood.
I love this addition to the patio! Just seeing it sitting there makes me happy.
UPDATE: The wood on the beehive is holding up great! The Thompson’s Water Seal has done a great job protecting it from the elements. I still do not add dirt directly to the box, but rather typically use one large, somewhat shallow pot. Once all of the flowers in the pot bloom, you don’t even notice the pot in the box. I will add another coat of the Thompson’s next spring prior to the gardening season. It will be the first time needing to add it in 5 years! Not too bad!
>> See where I party! <<
Kerryanne says
August 24, 2018 at 3:06 AMWhat a fun and innovative project Michele.
Thank you for sharing your old drawer flower box at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be sharing it at tonight’s party and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne
Amber Ferguson says
August 23, 2018 at 9:01 AMSuch a great project, I am so happy to feature you today at TFT! Please join us again and have a great weekend ahead!
https://followtheyellowbrickhome.com/late-summer-inspiration-at-thursday-favorite-things/
Jann Olson says
August 21, 2018 at 9:12 PMI have a stack of bee boxes in my garden that I planted. I love them! This is such a cute idea. I may need to buy another one and do this! Thanks for sharing it with SYC. I would have liked to feature you on Thursday, but I don’t see a link back to the party. Sorry, but that is a requirement.
hugs,
Jann
Sheri says
August 20, 2018 at 1:56 PMCool! Thanks for sharing at To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More Wednesday Link Party! Pinned it to Pinterest! Hope to have you join the party next week!
Erlene says
August 19, 2018 at 6:00 PMSuch a fun project and use of an old bee hive box cover. I have some projects using wood for outdoors and I’ll have to remember to seal them with a water seal. Thanks for sharing your project on MM.
Ann says
August 13, 2018 at 9:01 AMI just adore this. I tried making one a couple of years ago, but it didn’t last long. I’d luv to invite you to share this with us at Wall to Wall DIY Wednesday, which runs thru Mondays!
Mi bitácora artesanal says
August 13, 2018 at 2:14 AMMe encanta el fin de la caja. Un precioso reciclaje. Saludos y feliz fin de semana!!!
Emily says
May 7, 2017 at 6:57 PMI love this! I’m pinning it for later since I have a desire to do more in our yard, but a long to do list before the yard becomes a priority! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
JaneEllen says
May 2, 2017 at 12:13 AMHave 2 drawers left from turning 6 drawer dresser into tv stand. Have been waiting to find just right project to use them for, at least one drawer anyway. Now to get hubs in mood to make base. Clever how you made legs for drawer, love how it looks. Pretty sure we have wood to make legs and braces for base.
Spring must spur my creativity cause have been making one thing after another. Thanks to wonderful generous bloggers have plenty of printables to choose from for new wall art in rooms.
This drawer flower stand will be pretty on our front porch. Can use on back deck until gets too hot. Our deck faces due west and it’s very hot out there in Summer with sun blazing all afternoon. Very dry here in western CO also, need plants than can handle the heat and being so dry. Our front porch faces East so have shade in mid-afternoon.
So love idea of this for enjoying plants. Enjoy rest of week
Michelle says
April 28, 2017 at 12:09 PMHi Michele! Just wanted to let you know that we loved your Old Drawer Flower Box so much when you shared it at #HomeMattersParty last week, we’ve FEATURED it THIS WEEK! Hope you can check it out when you get a chance. http://ourcraftymom.com/home-matters-linky-party-133/
[email protected] says
April 26, 2017 at 10:03 PMI love this idea. I have a vintage box that I bought at an estate sale and i’ve been trying to find something unique to do with. Thanks for the inspiration.
Evija says
April 26, 2017 at 7:46 AMSuch a great post! Thank you for sharing with #OMHGWW linky so happy to feature you this week! http://fromevijawithlove.com/2017/04/26/distressed-letter-wonderful-wednesday/
Tammi says
April 22, 2017 at 11:14 AMI LOVE this project! Just picked up an old wooden fruit box. I’ve been trying to decide what I’ll do with it. Now I know! Got a table saw for my birthday, so I’m ready to start creating. Thanks for the great project. Visiting from SITS.
Christine says
April 21, 2017 at 4:40 PMI love it, you did a beautiful job!
Karren says
April 21, 2017 at 7:56 AMYour flower box is so cute, and I love the flag box as well!!!
Thank you for sharing on Oh My Heartsie Girls Friday Features this week!!
Have a great weekend!
Lisa says
April 20, 2017 at 7:20 AMThanks for sharing your awesome drawer planter table on our Share Your Style Party. It is so a clever and it looks fantastic with all the flowers in it. Your technique for attaching the legs could be applied to any box or crate to make many different tables–great idea!
Beverly says
April 19, 2017 at 10:29 AMLove this flower box and how you made it so special.
Hugs,
Bev
laura {not a trophy wife} says
April 18, 2017 at 8:24 AMhi michele found you via funky polka dot giraffe. I love the drawer flower box. love it! laura
Deborah says
June 17, 2015 at 3:43 PMWOW! I totally love this! Awesome job!
Teri says
June 4, 2015 at 3:44 PMJust saw this blog… very cute. However, I am 99% sure that your ‘drawer’ is actually a bee box cover. Hubby (son of a bee keeper) said that is what goes on the very top of the hive, like a lid.
Michele McDonald says
June 5, 2015 at 8:46 PMI think you’re right, Teri! And I think that makes me love this project even more! 🙂
Lorelai says
May 22, 2015 at 2:54 AMLove this! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – We hope to see you again soon! The door is OPEN!
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Jennifer Dawn says
May 19, 2015 at 11:39 PMThis is such a great project! Just wanted to let you know that I’m featuring it at this week’s link party! http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2015/05/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-141.html
Debi @ Surroundings by Debi says
May 19, 2015 at 1:29 PMMichele – I loved your flower box. So cute! Thanks for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. I will be featuring you on my Tuesday Treasures tonight! I invite you to stop by and take a look!
Theresa @DearCreatives says
May 18, 2015 at 11:44 PMLove this idea. Makes me wish we weren’t on water restrictions. Miss my little garden projects.
Pam @Threading My Way says
May 18, 2015 at 7:50 PMYour drawer upcycle is fabulous!!! I’d love to have this sitting in my garden. I’ll be on the lookout for old drawers, now. Pinning. Found you via Treasure Box Tuesday.
Tammy says
May 18, 2015 at 7:11 PMThis is absolutly adorable….Love it!!! Thank you for sharing at Share it One More Time… Tammy
Lou Lou Girls says
May 18, 2015 at 1:48 PMHello gorgeous! I’m just stopping by to let you know that your cute drawer flower box was the most viewed at our last party! Happy dance time! We will be featuring it our at our party tonight at 7. I hope to see you there! Lou Lou Girls
terri says
May 18, 2015 at 10:11 AMThis is COOL! Great idea using a drawer—–what a timesaver!
Joy @ Yesterfood says
May 18, 2015 at 9:12 AMMichele, you have hit this one out of the park- people are going nuts over it! It’s such a great project! Pinned! I am featuring it at Treasure Box Tuesday when we get started tonight (8 pm EST)! Thank you for linking up with us!
Donna says
May 16, 2015 at 8:27 PMExcellent tutorial – great photos, instructions that anyone could use to replicate this project. So often details are so limited I feel I need to have taken a woodworking course. Now where did I stash that drawer>
Cathy says
May 16, 2015 at 6:51 PMI love this! I think there are a couple of old drawers in our garage – may have to put them to use. Thank you so much for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy
Hannah @ Eat, drink and save money says
May 15, 2015 at 7:25 PMSo cute! I want to make one!
Thanks for linking up with Share the Wealth Sunday.
CD Loken says
May 14, 2015 at 7:54 PMOh my goodness!! I LOVE your flower box!! Thank you so much for the inspiration-and for sharing at The Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! PINNING!!!
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
May 13, 2015 at 11:20 AMUpcycled drawer planters are one of my favorite projects out here in blogland. Yours is so pretty! Great tutorial, too, on adding the legs.
SusanM says
May 12, 2015 at 8:39 PMGreat idea for a planter box. A great size that could be moved around to different locations throughout the spring/summer. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for a drawer at upcoming garage sales.
Kristina & Millie says
May 12, 2015 at 1:00 PMwhat a great idea! love how you preserved the fab chippiness! the legs look awesome too with the extra detailing. Something like this would love LOVELY on my front porch! Thanks for linking to Snickerdoodle, if you get a chance stop by our Creative Challenge upcycle party on Fridays. This month it’s all about the silverware but all upcycle crafts welcome!
Sarah R. says
May 12, 2015 at 10:42 AMWhat a great idea!!! I’m pretty sure I’m going to need to make one of these myself! Love that you shared this at Snickerdoodle Sunday and I hope to see you again this weekend!
Sarah (Sadie Seasongoods)
Cheryl says
May 12, 2015 at 1:24 AMThis is awesome!! Thanks for the idea!
Trish says
May 11, 2015 at 3:16 AMYour flower box is really pretty. This was a great idea. Love it. .
Rhonda Gales says
May 10, 2015 at 2:12 PMI love this upcycle. I’m picturing Wave Petunias in this drawer and on the other hand a drawer full of lettuce for fresh salads this summer. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best. I can’t wait to see more you crafts.
Beverly {Flamingo Toes} says
June 9, 2014 at 11:52 AMThis is so darling Michele!! I love the idea of using a drawer as a planter – and thanks for sharing how you sealed it to make it able to stand up to water too! Sooo cute!
Carmody Tisdale says
June 8, 2014 at 5:20 AMGreat idea, it is so pretty.
Crystal Nell says
June 5, 2014 at 4:18 PMLove this flower drawer!! It’s super cute!! Love it!!
Gail Wilson says
June 4, 2014 at 5:44 PMI love your chippy little flower box drawer!
gail
amy espinosa says
June 4, 2014 at 8:37 AMCute as a button! Great job!
Joyce Scott says
May 19, 2015 at 10:38 PMWhile I love this flower box…it truly is a great idea; i wanted to share I think that, rather than this being an old drawer, I think it is actually a super or box from an old bee hive. The handle holds on each side was my tip-off. We have bee hives and each box that holds the frames on which the bees make honey and comb, is called a super. As the bees fill the frames in each super, the bee keeper can layer on another super for the bees to continue making honey. It’s a fascinating hobby, craft, etc., and the payoff is the honey we harvest. The idea of using a drawer is a great one…I have one lined in metal that began it’s life as a drawer from an old sewing machine cabinet…Pretty old wood…great character, it’s really an asset to the pergola my husband built two years ago. I love this site. Thanks
Michele McDonald says
June 5, 2015 at 8:49 PMThanks for stopping by, Joyce! I think you are correct about this being the top of a beehive. We were very curious about the handles when I purchased the “drawer” and couldn’t figure out the shape. I think I may love this upcycle even more now! 🙂