The North End Loft: Potting Bench

Oct 9, 2014

Fall Potting Bench

Yesterday, I was out in the gorgeous fall air playing on my potting bench. Potting benches and autumn go together for me like ice cream and hot fudge. There's nothing better than a pumpkin or two sitting on a potting bench waiting to be carved into jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, or a basketful of just-picked juicy apples ready for making caramel apples.

My husband made this potting bench for me last year out of pallets, and it's been so handy having it close to our little vegetable garden on the side of our house.

I brushed off the dirt, made a few quick and easy decorations for a fun fall display, and added some things from the garden shed.

My felt leaf banner embroidered last year was inspired by the talented Lisa at Lil Fish Studios.

Turquoise mason jars are topped with one of my prized thrift store finds, a set of heavy zinc lids. The wood tray is also a 75¢ thrift store find that was one of my first chalk painted projects. The apple cider label was simply printed onto card stock and taped onto the side of the tray.

The leaves haven't quite turned their fall colors here in Boise yet, so I picked these pretty colored ones off some inexpensive craft store stems.

My apple sign was painted by hand onto a piece of scrap wood. It was adapted from a cute sign with printable template shared by Cristina at Remodelando la Casa.

Remember my old faux painted milk can? It makes a perfect pumpkin perch.

Fall mums fill an old wooden crate.

My French Flower Pot is a galvanized bucket with a graphic from The Graphics Fairy transferred onto fabric.

When I searched my stash yesterday, I couldn't find a large picture frame for a chalk board, but I did have an old painted artist canvas I didn't want anymore. I have to say, it made the easiest and quickest chalk board I've ever made. I literally just slapped two coats of chalkboard paint on the top and sides with an old brush, let it dry a few hours, and primed it with chalk. Works great!

It was so fun decorating my fall potting bench. Wouldn't it make a great spot for serving a buffet for an autumn party? I better get busy carving those pumpkins and dipping those apples into caramel!

Enjoy another great fall day!

Let's Party!

Rooted In Thyme
The Charm Of Home
From My Front Porch To Yours
Anderson & Grant
French Country Cottage
Craftberry Bush
My Repurposed Life
The Cottage Market
One More Time Events
Elizabeth & Co.
The Inspiration Exchange

Aug 14, 2013

My Summer Potting Bench

Elizabeth & Co.

Each month this summer I've been inspired by The Garden Party over at Elizabeth & Co. to go outside and photograph something in my yard to share.

This month I've chosen my potting bench.

My raised vegetable beds (just visible in the bottom corner of this picture) are on one side of our yard, and the garden shed is around the corner on the other side. I asked my husband to build me a potting bench for the veggie side where I could store my garden tools closer at hand during the summer.

He modeled it after ones I found on Pinterest made out of pallet wood and added some old fence pickets, a couple of 2 x 4's from the lumber store, and some chicken wire we already had. It's been really handy (and fun to decorate, too.)

On one side I put my old faux-painted milk can and my cute rustic flowerpot man that I made following Debbie's tutorial over at Confessions of a Plate Addict.

On the other side my bulb planter hangs on some cast iron frog hooks.

These tin containers are stacked below waiting to hold succulents. I'll get around to drilling holes in the funnels for hanging up one of these days.

Up on top are a few chrysanthemums waiting to go into my big front porch pots for fall, along with a birdhouse and some bunting.

I bought the bright blue birdhouse at the craft store last summer for 75% off.

The bunting is made from vintage seed packet art I found online and printed onto card stock. I glued them onto rectangles of fringed burlap using spray adhesive, punched holes, and strung them onto some twine. I love seed packet art and seed catalog covers.

I use the middle work surface for potting flowers.

I can't believe it's almost time to plant my fall flowers! Where did the summer go?

I found these pretty clay pots at thrift stores for less than a dollar each. I can't decide whether to gesso them.

My favorite garden tools are hanging from a rusty old rake head, easy to find.

The bottom shelf is for storage.

I keep garden stakes in a galvanized bucket that held a hydrangea on my front porch last year. (My French label tutorial can be found here.)

And new perennials waiting to go in the ground.

I fell in love with this delicate lacy one.

Next year I'll be adding a small perennial cutting garden to part of my vegetable beds.

Tucker had to wait on the other side of the garden gate today while I took photos of the potting bench. He wanted to be in every picture.

He doesn't like to be away from my side for even a moment, but he's been waiting here and patiently watching me.

I hope you'll join Tucker and me over at Sharon's for the Elizabeth & Co. August Garden Party now. I'm so honored my new yard was featured from last month's party. While you're over there, be sure to check out Sharon's incredible garden, gorgeous painted furniture, and the wonderful Be Inspired link party and features, too. Seriously, this girl does it all!