Antique French Country Window Boxes

These wonderful French Country Window Boxes are a super colorful way to update and transform the outside of your home into a French Country style home. Anyone can make these simple French Country Window boxes to easily update their curb appeal on a budget.

Creating a French Country antique paint finish on Window Boxes is an easy project that can be accomplished in one weekend. To start this French Country antique Window Boxes project you will need a few different materials from your local home improvement store as well as some time.

You can use pre made wood window boxes or even build your own wood planters. If you want to build your won simply buy 3 2X10’s and have them cut to the same length. Have two pieces cut to the end size. You can assemble a simple window box with L brackets or even some nails and wood glue. Add those great pre made wooden embellishments you find at the home imporvemtn store to make them look custom.

Here is a list of supplies you will need to start your French Country Window Boxes:

· Primer
· Bright or Royal Blue Paint & Sunny Yellow Paint or Terra Cotta and Blue Paint
·. Once you have the surface lightly sanded, you should wipe off the dust with a clean dry clothe. An old white t-shirt will work perfectly here.

Now, you are ready to put a coat of primer. If you are using a wood Window Box this is a very important step. Your resurfacing and French Country antique paint technique will not stick to your surface if you don’t sand and then prime your Window Boxes.

If you want a rough more rustic French Country look try putting the primer on with one of the 4″ brushes. This will give texture and create the look of real wood. If you prefer the smoother look you can roll the paint on with any type of paint roller. A foam roller will create the smoothest surface.

Allow your primer to dry completely.

Put on a coat of your base paint, which can be one of two colors. You can use yellow as your base and blue as your topcoat or blue as your base and terra cotta as your topcoat. This first paint should not be the actual color you want your French Country window planters to end up, but the color you want to show through when you antique the Window Boxes.

Now you are ready to paint your French Country Window Boxes with the real color you wish them to be, so blue or terra cotta, whichever applies to you.

Don’t be scared to choose a bright color because the antiquing process will tone down the appearance of the French Country planters considerably.

Once your French Country Window Boxes color has dried you are ready to start antiquing it. Start by using the sand paper to rough up edges and other areas that would typically be used over time.

This will allow your sunny yellow to show through the bright blue or your blue to show through the terra cotta color.

Once you have finished sanding the French Country Window Boxes wipe the surface down with a clean dry cloth. That old white t-shirt will work well here again. You can stop at this point, but if you want to go the extra mile you can use a mixture of ½ wood stain and ½ glaze to darken your piece.

Start by mixing your wood stain and glaze in a plastic container. Use a white rag or another old t-shirt to rub the stain onto the French Country Window Boxes.

You can do this process until you achieve the antique look you want for your French Country Window Box Planters.

Tips:

Have your window planters be as wide as your window for a more dramatic look.

You can also paint pre made plastic window planters to give them a custom window box look.

Reference:

• www.lowes.com