living ch ea p tricks
planters with punch Unexpected container + plants = one big green thumbs-up. (Bonus: Your friends will think you’re a gardening genius.) By Elizabeth Roehrig
1 bread box
Trade the bread for buds: Drill holes in a vintage metal bin for drainage, then plant spring flowers like daffodils. (Now if only cutting carbs in real life was so easy... .) Get the details from Apartment Apothecary.
2 shutters
Think of this as a garden gallery wall—the more, the merrier. Build a box on the back of each shutter, drill drainage holes in the bottom, fill with soil, then slip succulents and cuttings between the slats. Leave the shutter flat for a week to let the plants take root before hanging it. See more of garden and floral designer Baylor Chapman’s work in The Plant Recipe Book, out in April.
3 colorful tires
A pile of old tires in the yard is sure to incur the wrath of your neighbors. But paint them in bright hues and add some greenery and suddenly you’re beautifying the ‘hood. Find more info at Lemon, Bean and Things.
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4 pretty tins
Why recycle olive oil and tea tins when you can upcycle them into tasteful herb planters? Use a hammer and nail to make drainage holes, or—hello, shortcut—just slip already potted herbs inside the tins. Learn more at Apartment Apothecary.
5 chandelier
Here’s how to make a nonworking light fixture earn its keep again: Glue small saucers and pots onto the chandelier’s arms and spray paint the entire thing. Plant ivy and petunias, then hang it on your porch. See other great ideas at DIY ShowOff.
6 egg carton
Whip up a yummy frittata, then use the empty eggshells to make this chic little centerpiece. (Easter brunch party— check!) Fill the shells with moss, succulents and flowers, then nestle them back into the carton. For a step-by-step guide, visit Le Robin’s Nest.
18 The Nest Mag
try this cool, unexpected take on Easter eggs