Window box

Create a splash of seasonal colour with this cottage style window box.

Ways with wood with Mark Rayner - Project 24

Difficulty level: Moderate

You will need: 12mm treated plywood cut to the following dimensions: two 180mm x 170mm for the sides, 550mm x 170mm (x2) for the front and back, 180mm x 526mm for the base.
30mm zinc plated panel pins, drill with 10mm drill bit, hammer, paintbrush, pencil, plastic plant trough measuring 500mm x 170mm, potting mix, sandpaper, saw, steel ruler, exterior PVA glue and a selection of ‘potted colour’ (we used six pansies). Resene Waterborne Woodsman Penetrating Oil Stain tinted to Resene Grey Green.

To get the look: Mark painted the background brickwork with Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Tosca and the windowsill with Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Goblin.

Other ideas: Create an indoor planter in the same way and stain with a colour from the Resene Waterborne Colorwood, finishing off with three coats of Resene Aquaclear.

Step one
Use the pencil and steel ruler to measure and mark out the pieces of plywood to the dimensions as listed above.

Step two
Cut out the pieces of plywood, using the ruled pencil lines as a guide.

Step three
Smooth any rough edges with the sandpaper.

Step four
Fix the front and back sections to the side sections with panel pins and PVA glue, as shown.

Step five
Fix the base into position with panel pins and PVA glue. Drill two or three drainage holes in the base of the window box.

Step six
Apply one coat of Resene Grey Green to the outside, bottom and top edges of the window box, brushing in the direction of the grain.

Step seven
Apply one coat of Resene Grey Green to the inside of the window box. Allow to dry for 24 hours and apply a second coat of Resene Grey Green to the entire window box, allowing 24 hours for this second coat to dry.