Furniture Design Ideas

Transform a wooden box into a stylish planter by enclosing it in slate. Inexpensive and easy to make, the planter can be filled with a range of plants—see pages 164-6 for an alpine-themed planting scheme. I Take your wooden wine box and drill drainage holes in the base using a large drill bit. You’ll need […]

Upcycle an old stepladder into a tiered planter by adding shelves across the steps. Paint in a snazzy color, plant in vintage crates, and, presto, you have an eye-catching, space-saving feature. , TIME IT RIGHT You can paint your stepladder at any time of the year, but colder weather may slow drying time. Aim to […]

Create a vibrant and welcoming display of climbers by simply painting a terra-cotta pot in bright colors. We’ve used two colors here: a sunny yellow and a warm purple, with climbing poles in a soft gray. TIME IT RIGHT You can paint your pot at any time of year, but in cold, wet, or freezing […]

Nutritious, fast growing, and with attractive flowers and lush foliage, climbing beans are easy to grow from seeds and perfect for planting in pots for an edible container garden or to decorate an entrance. TIME IT RIGHT Sow seeds indoors from mid-spring or outdoors in late spring. Beans are frost sensitive so only plant outside […]

Get creative with bamboo poles. Make your own abstract-design trellis and use it to support climbing plants. This contemporary feature also makes an artsy screen for a small space. ■ TIME IT RIGHT You can grow trailing squash plants vertically—it’s a good use of space. Put squash plants in during early summer when the danger […]

TOOLS & equipment 2 wooden wine gift boxes (4-bottle) strong outdoor adhesive metal clamps electric drill, drill bits & screws small handsaw wooden batten pencil, pen & ruler wooden rounded architrave additional piece of wood, for lid 4 metal hinges exterior wood paint & paintbrushes clear marine varnish (optional) sheet of acrylic glass & silicone […]

Transform ordinary plastic gutters into an attractive and innovative growing space for a tasty, nutritious crop of salad shoots—a fun way to use vertical space for growing vegetables. TIME IT RIGHT Sow dried peas and beans from spring through to fall. Protect emerging shoots from frost and freezing weather. If conditions are right, you can […]

Make an eye-catching vertical display of plants that seem to float in the air. Tillandsia air plants get all their moisture and nutrients from the air, making them perfect for creating some living art. TIME IT RIGHT Air plants aren’t frost hardy so make your living picture frame inside during late spring, which will give […]

Easy to look after and, once rooted, happy growing vertically, succulents are a good choice for living pictures. Start your decorative display by using small succulent cuttings or offsets, then watch your picture grow and evolve over the seasons. TIME IT RIGHT Plants will start to root quickly, but it will take 4-6 months for […]

TOOLS & equipment compass & pencil electric jigsaw large piece of particle board round mirror exterior wood paint & paintbrushes clear marine varnish (optional) greenhouse shading material craft knife staple gun chopstick, dibber, or pencil hairpins or florist mossing pins garden wire & wire cutters strong outdoor adhesive nails & sturdy brass picture hook hammer […]