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3.06.2020

greenhouse from salvaged windows

decorating, DIY, diy decorating, farmhouse style, garden, industrial, junk makeover, junking, original designs, outdoors, re-purposing, rustic style, salvaged, spring, up-cycling,
 going through an old journal, i stumbled across these photos... from 1995.
(that's so long ago that i used an old-school film-loaded camera and had them printed!)
they show a very sweet birthday surprise that my late husband created for me:
a small backyard greenhouse, made from vintage windows.

he covertly collected vintage windows and a door (free off of Craigslist!)
then built the frame and inserted the windows to make this charming little place for me...
it was one of the nicest birthday gifts he ever gave me.
(i just wish i had been a better photographer back then!)

continue reading for more photos, and details about how he built it...

decorating, DIY, diy decorating, farmhouse style, garden, industrial, junk makeover, junking, original designs, outdoors, re-purposing, rustic style, salvaged, spring, up-cycling,
 the basis for the greenhouse was four very large @ 5X5 foot square vintage windows,
which form the roof, the back wall, and the two side walls.
above them on the sides, there are framed triangles of wood trellis lined with clear plastic.
the front wall consists of two stacked smaller windows, 
next to a regular door with a window pane.

he laid the windows out and measured the dimensions, then built the frame from 2X4s,
with salvaged flat stone panels on the ground under the bottom sill for water protection.
then he inserted the windows into the framing, hung the door, and caulked the seams.
then he poured a bag of wood chips down as ground cover.
(it's not complicated construction, and it wasn't meant to last forever)

decorating, DIY, diy decorating, farmhouse style, garden, industrial, junk makeover, junking, original designs, outdoors, re-purposing, rustic style, salvaged, spring, up-cycling,
our four kids helped him fill it up with blooming daffodils - my fave flower -
along with a pear tree, marigolds, and other plants destined for our backyard garden.
then they came and led me out to the backyard for the big reveal. and i was surprised!

inside the greenhouse, a simple potting bench was assembled from some salvaged palettes,
stretching across the length of the 5' back wall.
of course, i gathered up every wood crate and tin can i could find 
to organize my clay pots, hand tools, and gardening paraphernalia. 
i styled the HECK outta' that place - and then snapped these photos!

for the years that i used it while we lived in that house, i enjoyed it a LOT -
not only did i do a lot of gardening back then,
but i'd sit in there and enjoy the pitter-patter of raindrops on the glass roof.
(and if it weren't so hot where i live now, i'd think about replicating this idea in my yard.)
______________________________________________

there's a place near me that reminds me of this same kind of construction...
it's an old well pump house on a historic property.
decorating, DIY, diy decorating, farmhouse style, garden, industrial, junk makeover, junking, original designs, outdoors, re-purposing, rustic style, salvaged, spring, up-cycling,decorating, DIY, diy decorating, farmhouse style, garden, industrial, junk makeover, junking, original designs, outdoors, re-purposing, rustic style, salvaged, spring, up-cycling,
when Stephani opened her shop 'Needful Things Addiction' several years ago, 
she had her hubby add old windows and wood to create a greenhouse roof on the structure - 
making it look much more charming than utilitarian.
(sadly, Stephani recently closed her store)

want to see another really amazing outdoor decor project?
decorating, DIY, diy decorating, farmhouse style, garden, industrial, junk makeover, junking, original designs, outdoors, re-purposing, rustic style, salvaged, spring, up-cycling,

PSA: don't forget to set your clocks FORWARD an hour on Sunday
AND change your smoke + carbon monoxide detector batteries!

shared online:

funky junk interiors | diy salvaged junk projects #517

2 comments:

  1. Isn't that fantastic!?! I love any sort of greenhouse and this one is especially sweet with the salvaged materials. Hope you have a great weekend. xo Diana

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    Replies
    1. thank you so much, Miss Diana! - thank you for stopping by! i really loved that little garden folly. i hope you have a great weekend, too!

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