Rack it up

A space-saving produce rack made from wire baskets and untreated timber is great for storing your garden bounty.

Fruit and vegetable storage bins

You will need:

Untreated pine measuring 185mm x 20mm – approx 1600mm
Untreated pine measuring 40mm x 10mm – approx 1480mm
6 x 15mm white plastic coated cup hooks
19mm galvanised clouts
3 x black wire baskets – ours measured 360mm (w) x 160mm (h) x 200mm (d)

Dry brush
Hammer
Paint stirrer
Paintbrush
Pencil
Pliers
PVA glue

Resene Aquaclear
Resene Colorwood Whitewash
Sanding block
Sandpaper
Saw
Set square
Tape measure

Top tip: Use four 65mm screws to fix your produce rack to the wall, screwing directly through the wooden backing board.

Here’s another idea: Create a more rustic look by using old wooden boxes instead of baskets.

To get the look: Mark painted the background wall with Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom, tinted to Resene Duck Egg Blue.

Get a different look: Stain the wooden backing board with any colour from the Resene Colorwood range before applying the Resene Aquaclear.

Step one
Measure and mark the 185mm x 20mm timber into two 800mm lengths.

Step two
Use the back of the saw to rule a perpendicular cutting line.

Step three
Measure and mark the 40mm x 10mm timber into four 370mm lengths.

Step four
Cut the pieces of timber to size and smooth any rough edges with sandpaper.

Step five
Sand all the pieces of timber until they are smooth, dusting off any sanding residue with a dry brush.

Step six
Place the two 800mm lengths of timber together and fix one of the 370mm lengths across the top edge using 19mm clouts and PVA glue and then, using a set square, rule a horizontal line approx. 213mm down from this. Use this line as a guide to fix the second 370mm length into position.

Step seven
Continue in the same way until all four 370mm lengths are fixed in position. Allow glue to dry.

Step eight
Carefully stir the Resene Colorwood Whitewash.

Step nine
Apply one even coat of Resene Colorwood Whitewash to the wooden backing board, brushing in the direction of the grain. Allow to dry

Step ten
Carefully stir the Resene Aquaclear.

Step eleven
Apply three coats of Resene Aquaclear to the wooden backing board, allowing two hours for each coat to dry.

Step twelve
Screw in the 15mm cup hooks approx. 20mm below the horizontal pieces of timber and 50mm in from each side edge.

Step thirteen
Carefully remove the feet and handles from each basket using the pliers, and then hang the baskets from the cup hooks.

Words and photos by Mark Rayner

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