Weekend Project: Reinvent a Wine Crate
Discover 8 DIY possibilities for these inexpensive but beautiful boxes, then see one handywoman's reinvention
Sometimes a large DIY project just isn't what the day calls for. If you need a quick DIY fix, look no further than an inexpensive wine crate. Imagine what you can do with a neat little box that may have traveled from overseas and still smells of lovely pine. Here are the steps that led me to a perfect weekend project, which you'll see at the end.
The trepidation. I've been kicking around ideas of what to do with wine crates for some time now, but honestly, they just look good on their own. Knotty pine, smooth finish, attractive wood-burned brand, the notion that they once contained wine crafted by a European winery older than the United States ... how can it get any better than that?
The inspiration. The final call to action came when I found a front-yard lending library a few blocks from my house. The concept: Take a book and leave a book of your own. Just perusing the titles makes our evening walk that much more enjoyable. The fact that this honor-system library is housed in a tiny wine crate in a neighbor's front yard makes me smile. So I drove to my local wine store wondering if they had crates and what I could make with them.
More about the Little Free Library movement
More about the Little Free Library movement
The find. Barely did I step in the door when I saw fantastic crates of various shapes and sizes ... and one box even had dovetail joinery. I was smitten. Why didn't I go there before?
Was that price tag right? I can't even buy a latte for $2.50. I might have to build my next house with these, but would they have enough?
I guess the answer is yes. Mike Janeway, a wine buyer at Beltramo's Wines and Spirits, led me to this display and said there were many more empties in the back — how many did I need? I didn't even know what I was going to make yet, but it could be big. I bought two for a fiver, just so I could play with some ideas.
The possibilities. I began my search for the perfect project by browsing through Houzz. Here are the top eight ideas I found:
1. Wall covering. Covering an entire wall would be clever, and this was lovely, but the three-dimensional aspect of the box itself really appealed to me. I kept looking.
1. Wall covering. Covering an entire wall would be clever, and this was lovely, but the three-dimensional aspect of the box itself really appealed to me. I kept looking.
2. Bookcase. Making a bookcase would be great. Contemporary splashes of color are fun, and the nice thing about this bookcase is that when redecorating, I could just paint them another color. I do seem to change colors quite often.
3. Diorama. Or I could try a modern, minimalist approach. In this case, if the crate was going to match my wall, I probably had enough paint already.
4. Display case. If just painting wasn't enough of a challenge, then maybe adding a little eclectic wallpaper or fabric would stretch out the fun.
5. Wine storage. At this point I wondered why people with wine cellars store bottles in these boxes — it seems like such a waste of a good crate!
6. Rustic seating. I could at least use my crates as a makeshift chair — they are strong enough. All I'd have do to is flip them over and stack. Voilà, as the French say while holding a glass of wine.
7. Planter box. This is a brilliant use of these crates. I could add some casters and move them around to keep them in the sun. I could turn one over and make a bench-seat planter. The pine has no harsh chemical treatment, which is important when growing edible plants. I'm sure a liner is required.
8. Herb garden. I really liked how this looked. But honestly, I'm a horrible gardener. Even an indoor herb garden would push the limits of my sickly green thumb.
I put the crates in the sunroom to think about them for a while, just setting them next to my bike ...
Crate Scott, I've got it! For one of my crates, at least. Two drilled holes, stainless steel bolts, nuts and washers, and a couple coats of varnish. Now I have a bike box that can hold my laptop and groceries, maybe even a small dog.
To attach a crate to a bike, you'll need:
Now tell me: What should I make with the other crate?
More:
Call for DIY Projects: Show Us What You've Got!
Get inspired by the latest DIYs at Houzz
To attach a crate to a bike, you'll need:
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Drill with drill bit
- Stainless steel nuts, bolts and washers (rustproof)
- Polyurethane wood finish
- Standard bike rack
Now tell me: What should I make with the other crate?
More:
Call for DIY Projects: Show Us What You've Got!
Get inspired by the latest DIYs at Houzz
Sponsored
DC Area's Award-Winning Interior Designer | 12x Best of Houzz