| Hi Archaeologists! | | | | You should stand the door up and visualize a great |
| Using "architectural salvage finds" in new and | | | | planting creation taking place and what height the |
| interesting ways is a great way to blend historical | | | | work table should be....mark the height and screw in |
| accents from the past to your home or garden. | | | | the frame. Be sure that you get two rows of |
| When a wonderful salvage find becomes a new and | | | | screws about 6" apart into the frame and door so |
| significant design accent or finds a really good use in | | | | your work table has good support from the door. |
| a new recreation you show your creativity and | | | | Step 5. Stand the door up straight (lean it against a |
| respect for history and design! | | | | wall) and measure the distance from the top of the |
| Here is another new idea to add a really great piece | | | | horizontal table top frame to the bottom of the door. |
| of yard art and functional gardening center to some | | | | Cut two 2x4's at this length. These will be the front |
| special place in your yard or garden. This project is | | | | legs of your potting bench. Screw the front legs of |
| "building your own architectural salvage potting bench | | | | the potting bench to the corners of the frame at the |
| from a old salvaged door: | | | | front. Put 2 screws into the front of the legs and 2 |
| Step 1. Find a inspiring old salvage door at your local | | | | screws into the side. |
| antique store, salvage yard, thrift store or a yard or | | | | Step 6. Stand your free standing potting bench up |
| estate sale. Any regular passage door will work but | | | | now and be sure that it stands up by itself with the |
| the truly great project will have at its nucleus a | | | | shelf level. And cut your 1x6's to match the depth of |
| multi-panel, chipped paint or interestingly detailed | | | | your new table from the front of the wood frame |
| salvage door. Be sure the door is "solid core" which | | | | to the back of the door. Lay out the cut pieces of |
| means that the entire door is solid wood rather than | | | | your potting bench table top so that they fit onto |
| a "hollow core" which is basically a frame with outer | | | | the table top. Adjust the 1x's with spacing so that |
| skin of laminated wood and hollow in the center. A | | | | the boards create a nice work area. Small spaces add |
| hollow core door will not give you places to secure | | | | to the character of your creation or you can take a |
| the bench or structural integrity against the elements. | | | | table saw and cut one piece of the 1x table top to |
| Step 2. Have on hand 6 good quality and straight | | | | make a perfectly solid (no spaces) top. |
| 2x4's - 8' long on hand. They can be purchased for | | | | Step 7. Paint, decorate, add shelves, hooks for |
| about $2.00 each at your home improvement store. | | | | hanging garden tools or any other design elements |
| You will also need a drill with a #2 phillips head and | | | | your heart desires. Paint, sanded edges, and any |
| one box of 2 1/2" course thread dry wall screws. | | | | other creative accents that inspire you will add |
| Finally find some old 1 x lumber from your old material | | | | further character to your creation. |
| resource or you can use new 1x6 fence board of | | | | This project will give you a inspirational potting bench |
| redwood or cedar purchased for about $2.00 per 6' | | | | that reflects your individual sense of style! It will be |
| board at your home improvement store. You will | | | | much more significant by the "reuse" of salvaged |
| need 4 pieces of 1x6 - 6' long. | | | | materials and new life to a discarded item that |
| Step 3. Build a wood frame that is 3' on wood side | | | | respects our environment and historical architectural |
| and width of your door on the other. The 3' side will | | | | elements of the past. |
| be the depth of your potting table. (modify it as you | | | | Ladies and gentlemen "to your screw guns" a exciting |
| desire depending on how much work area you desire | | | | project is ready to take off! |
| for your planting creations). The side that matches | | | | If you live in or are visiting Southern California stop |
| the width of your door will be the area that you | | | | by and visit our 2 acre architectural salvage and |
| mount the frame to the door. Your frame will be | | | | primitive antique store and we will help you find |
| made with the 2x4's on their side, secured at the | | | | inspiration architectural details and show you how to |
| ends with 2 screws into each connection point. | | | | recreate them into exciting new designs! Our store is |
| Step 4. Screw your frame (at the height that you | | | | in Rainbow, California (4 miles so. of Temecula) and |
| want your work table to be) to the face of your | | | | at the Northern most part of San Diego County! |
| door that you want to be facing your adoring public! | | | | |