Vail, Colorado is known for their store front window boxes.  Every store and restaurant has flowers tumbling over window boxes. Window boxes are like handbags; they say alot about the mood of the space or home. But, just like handbags, you don’t want just one window box. But window boxes can get pricey and if you are like me you want them to match.  I found a simple alternative to window boxes that you can make in an afternoon.

And, the best part of this alternative to window boxes: no mitered corners required.

I wanted to recreate the look of window boxes, but something more flexible for year round use.

And, when I say flexible- I really mean easier.

I turned to my kitchen’s farmhouse shelves for inspiration and decided shelves would be a simple alternative to window boxes. I found the idea in my kitchen when I made these farmhouse shelves.

Why reinvent the wheel or the window box? I made farmhouse shelves like these for a simple alternative to flower windows box.

These flower shelves were easy to make, install and decorate. I had three windows facing the back yard and I loved the idea of flowers outside the windows.

The shelves were easy to make, install and decorate. I used one of the shelves for a mini bar this summer.

Supply List :

• 1-2 2×12 select pine boards; unfinished
• 6 brackets (2 for each window shelf)
• favorite pre-stain wood conditioner, stain and water based sealer.
• tools: drill, miter or chop saw, level

Before I stained the boards I took a few minutes to prep the wood with this  pre-stain wood conditioner. I love this stuff and use it on every stain project.

If the significance of  pre-stain wood conditioner was in the form of an ACT question, this would be the correct answer: Moisturizer is to your face like pre-stain conditioner is to unfinished wood.

I cut three boards to the length of my kitchen windows. I think Home Depot will cut boards too. The dining room window is wider, but I liked the symmetry of the three window shelves cut the same length. I stained each board several times (both sides) and finished with two coats of a water based sealer.

Here is the hardest part for these window shelves: waiting for the stain and sealer to dry.

So I drove to Home Depot and grabbed brackets. I went simple because six brackets adds up and I wanted to keep this simple and inexpensive.

I can’t wait to add pumpkins and branches this month and evergreen for the end of the year!