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Old Drawer Flower Box

August 8, 2018 By: Michele McDonald89 Comments

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.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
 
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!

 

siggie
>> See where I party! <<

 

You may also be interested in these other projects from the patio makeover:

 

Comments

  1. Kerryanne says

    August 24, 2018 at 3:06 AM

    What 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

    Reply
  2. Amber Ferguson says

    August 23, 2018 at 9:01 AM

    Such 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/

    Reply
  3. Jann Olson says

    August 21, 2018 at 9:12 PM

    I 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

    Reply
  4. Sheri says

    August 20, 2018 at 1:56 PM

    Cool! 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!

    Reply
  5. Erlene says

    August 19, 2018 at 6:00 PM

    Such 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.

    Reply
  6. Ann says

    August 13, 2018 at 9:01 AM

    I 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!

    Reply
  7. Mi bitácora artesanal says

    August 13, 2018 at 2:14 AM

    Me encanta el fin de la caja. Un precioso reciclaje. Saludos y feliz fin de semana!!!

    Reply
  8. Emily says

    May 7, 2017 at 6:57 PM

    I 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

    Reply
  9. JaneEllen says

    May 2, 2017 at 12:13 AM

    Have 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

    Reply
  10. Michelle says

    April 28, 2017 at 12:09 PM

    Hi 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/

    Reply
  11. [email protected] says

    April 26, 2017 at 10:03 PM

    I 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.

    Reply
  12. Evija says

    April 26, 2017 at 7:46 AM

    Such 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/

    Reply
  13. Tammi says

    April 22, 2017 at 11:14 AM

    I 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.

    Reply
  14. Christine says

    April 21, 2017 at 4:40 PM

    I love it, you did a beautiful job!

    Reply
  15. Karren says

    April 21, 2017 at 7:56 AM

    Your 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!

    Reply
  16. Lisa says

    April 20, 2017 at 7:20 AM

    Thanks 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!

    Reply
  17. Beverly says

    April 19, 2017 at 10:29 AM

    Love this flower box and how you made it so special.
    Hugs,
    Bev

    Reply
  18. laura {not a trophy wife} says

    April 18, 2017 at 8:24 AM

    hi michele found you via funky polka dot giraffe. I love the drawer flower box. love it! laura

    Reply
  19. Deborah says

    June 17, 2015 at 3:43 PM

    WOW! I totally love this! Awesome job!

    Reply
  20. Teri says

    June 4, 2015 at 3:44 PM

    Just 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.

    Reply
    • Michele McDonald says

      June 5, 2015 at 8:46 PM

      I think you’re right, Teri! And I think that makes me love this project even more! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Lorelai says

    May 22, 2015 at 2:54 AM

    Love this! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – We hope to see you again soon! The door is OPEN!
    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

    Reply
  22. Jennifer Dawn says

    May 19, 2015 at 11:39 PM

    This 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

    Reply
  23. Debi @ Surroundings by Debi says

    May 19, 2015 at 1:29 PM

    Michele – 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!

    Reply
  24. Theresa @DearCreatives says

    May 18, 2015 at 11:44 PM

    Love this idea. Makes me wish we weren’t on water restrictions. Miss my little garden projects.

    Reply
  25. Pam @Threading My Way says

    May 18, 2015 at 7:50 PM

    Your 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.

    Reply
  26. Tammy says

    May 18, 2015 at 7:11 PM

    This is absolutly adorable….Love it!!! Thank you for sharing at Share it One More Time… Tammy

    Reply
  27. Lou Lou Girls says

    May 18, 2015 at 1:48 PM

    Hello 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

    Reply
  28. terri says

    May 18, 2015 at 10:11 AM

    This is COOL! Great idea using a drawer—–what a timesaver!

    Reply
  29. Joy @ Yesterfood says

    May 18, 2015 at 9:12 AM

    Michele, 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!

    Reply
  30. Donna says

    May 16, 2015 at 8:27 PM

    Excellent 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>

    Reply
  31. Cathy says

    May 16, 2015 at 6:51 PM

    I 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

    Reply
  32. Hannah @ Eat, drink and save money says

    May 15, 2015 at 7:25 PM

    So cute! I want to make one!

    Thanks for linking up with Share the Wealth Sunday.

    Reply
  33. CD Loken says

    May 14, 2015 at 7:54 PM

    Oh my goodness!! I LOVE your flower box!! Thank you so much for the inspiration-and for sharing at The Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! PINNING!!!

    Reply
  34. Audra @ Renewed Projects says

    May 13, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    Upcycled drawer planters are one of my favorite projects out here in blogland. Yours is so pretty! Great tutorial, too, on adding the legs.

    Reply
  35. SusanM says

    May 12, 2015 at 8:39 PM

    Great 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.

    Reply
  36. Kristina & Millie says

    May 12, 2015 at 1:00 PM

    what 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!

    Reply
  37. Sarah R. says

    May 12, 2015 at 10:42 AM

    What 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)

    Reply
  38. Cheryl says

    May 12, 2015 at 1:24 AM

    This is awesome!! Thanks for the idea!

    Reply
  39. Trish says

    May 11, 2015 at 3:16 AM

    Your flower box is really pretty. This was a great idea. Love it. .

    Reply
  40. Rhonda Gales says

    May 10, 2015 at 2:12 PM

    I 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.

    Reply
  41. Beverly {Flamingo Toes} says

    June 9, 2014 at 11:52 AM

    This 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!

    Reply
  42. Carmody Tisdale says

    June 8, 2014 at 5:20 AM

    Great idea, it is so pretty.

    Reply
  43. Crystal Nell says

    June 5, 2014 at 4:18 PM

    Love this flower drawer!! It’s super cute!! Love it!!

    Reply
  44. Gail Wilson says

    June 4, 2014 at 5:44 PM

    I love your chippy little flower box drawer!

    gail

    Reply
  45. amy espinosa says

    June 4, 2014 at 8:37 AM

    Cute as a button! Great job!

    Reply

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