After creating a neat little garden room that we aptly named “The Nook”, we realized that to really be a ‘nook’ it needed more privacy. {It sat right beside the property line.} A few years earlier when visiting some friends I noticed a huge stack of shutters by the road—they were renovating the outside of their home and throwing out the old shutters. EEEEEEKKKKKK! Throwing out!!???? I immediately loaded them into the car and hauled them home—not knowing at the time what I’d do with them; but I knew it would be fun!
So, here we are needing Nook privacy–and a shed full of wooden shutters. Handsome went out and purchased four 4 x 4 posts, hinged the shutters together; and after cementing the posts in the ground nailed our hinged shutter fence to them! We are not sure why our friends had two different colors of shutters on the outside of their house?? White for some, gray for the others…….. BUT, didn’t matter to us, because we painted them a wonderful French blue. {We painted the other side a bark color to blend in with the trees—since this was the side facing our neighbors. We weren’t sure they would be as excited about the French blue as we were. In fact, we know that they wouldn’t be.}
So, if you come across (or already have!) some old wooden shutters—have fun making a little nook for yourself!
Before they were painted:
….and here is the finished product:
Here’s what you need to make a fence out of old shutters:
* as many shutters as you would like the fence long–we have 10-6 feet high shutters
* 4 x 4 posts (that are 2 feet taller than your shutters)—about 1 every 3-4 shutters (depending on the width of your shutters)
* 2 sets of hinges for each set of shutters
* nails/screw to attach shutters to posts
* cement for posts
Here’s how ya do it:
1. Paint the back side of the shutters—once installed you will not be able to get to this side! (Be aware of any neighbors that may not be as excited about your nook as you are–so, be considerate in your color choices for their side. )
2. Measure off how many feet apart you will need a post, dig a hole that is 2′ deep, put post in, fill with cement. When dry, cover with dirt.
3. Attach shutters together with hinges—make sure the ‘hinge’ is on the back side, spread out flat
4. Once cement has dried—usually 24 hours—attach shutter sections to posts using nails or screws. (Screws are a bit more sturdy for this project, but nails will work just fine.)
5. Paint your side of the fence! {When we painted ours–we didn’t make it opaque, we wanted a weathered look. That is hard to see in the pictures—if that is the look you are looking for it will only take one coat.)
6. Cozy up your Nook with furniture, plants, walkways, etc.
7. Sit and listen to birdsong while sipping your coffee!
In the Nook~
Sharing with: Skip to My Lou, Tip Junkie, Today’s Creative Blog, Not JUST a Housewife, Blue Cricket Design, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Whipperberry, The Idea Room, Between Naps on the Porch, French Country Cottage, The Lettered Cottage, Thrifty Decor Chick, Funky Junk Interiors, At the Picket Fence, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Common Ground, DIY Showoff, Home Stories A to Z, a.k.a. Design, Someday Crafts, Organize and Decorate Everything, Making the World Cuter, The Girl Creative, Craftomaniac, Carolyns Homework, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Tatertots & Jello, Serenity Now, No Minimalist Here, Savvy Southern Style, Coastal Charm, My Romantic Home, Redoux, We Are That Family, The Charm of Home, Delightsome Life, Anything Goes, Rooted in Thyme, Positively Splendid, Cedar Hill Ranch, House in Roses, Rook No. 17, Elizabeth & Co., Domestically Speaking, The Power of Paint, The Trendy Treehouse, Faded Charm Cottage, Michele Raven Designs, Junk in Their Trunk, Gingersnap Crafts, Night Owl Crafting, The Vintage Farmhouse, My Repurposed Life, The Rooster & the Hen, Shabby Nest, Finding Fabulous, Thrifty Handmade Days, Homemaker on a Dime, Beneath My Heart
What a clever idea and I love the blue!
It’s my favorite color to use in the garden. :)
Couldn’t love the blue more looks great!
What a lovely little retreat you have created for yourselves with your nook! It looks like a peaceful place to sit and relax!
It is! It has become one of my ‘quiet time spots’. :)
What a cozy spot, it looks so inviting. I love the color you chose!
Thanks…it’s a great color to use, especially in a shady spot. It really pops. :)
Great idea and it looks great. Very oh la la.
Thanks, Brandy!
Love love love this! I too recycled old shutters only they were on this house when we bought it. I painted them all different colors and we first hinged them together and tried to use them as a privacy screen on the little porch. However, they kept falling over, so we took them apart and the husband screwed them to our fence. Now they provide some color, since there is so much shade, it is hard to have flowers there.
Oh how fun, Geneva! I know they add so much character to your fence….I love the idea of painting them different colors. :)
This would be a pretty solution to blocking off my hot tub from the neighbors….much more interesting than a fence. I am your newest follower and would love it if you would follow me back. http://smallholdings.blogspot.com
Thanks, Sherron
Great idea for the hot tub!
woo-hoo! Great idea and love love the color! So nice to see someone else not afraid of the bold hues. Nice job!
Thanks, Beth! We love it….it adds so much to the shady spot where it is hard to get flowers to grow. :)
I love the pop of blue color. Looks very inviting! :0)
Thanks, Jana…..it’s great in this shady corner to have some brightness!
Perfect! I have a small side yard “room” that needs privacy. I wasn’t wild about fencing and Innkeeper Dave wasn’t wild about another hedge to trim (we already have over 250 ft of hedges.) This could be the compromise! I often see free louvered doors on Craig’s List but rarely shutters. It could be fun with different widths of doors.
I think doors/shutters of different sizes would be so fun! Craig’s List would be a super resource, too. And, no trimming!
What a brilliant idea…that blue is lovely. I’m popping over from No Minimalist Here.
Glad to have you, Sherry!
Fabulous idea! They look great and give your “nook” a nice little country french vibe..love the color you painted them too!
Thanks, Christine….we love this little area!
I think your nook is just charming! I hope your neighbors are okay with it too. They could create their own little nook on the other side!
Yes, they could….but they aren’t quite the ‘nook’ type. :) The brown on the other side blends in so well with the bushes/hedges, I think it’s ok. :)
What a cozy spot you made for yourself! Great use for old shutters too.
Thans, Kerstie!
Definitely keeping this in mind once our new house is actually built and we move onto the landscaping. I know I could find a bunch of shutters at the restore! Visiting from AKADesign
Thanks, Chantelle! We love it! :)
What a great idea! Definitely keeping this in mind for once our new house is actually built and we move onto the landscaping (we are building the house now – feel free to check out the progress!). I know the restore would have a lot of shutters!
Thanks so much for sharing this creative idea on Simple & Sweet Fridays. I love the blue shutters, they’re perfect! It really makes a great difference in the privacy of your house.
Jody
Thanks, Jody….
Amazing – throwing them out!
What a lovely idea – the shutters make your nook perfect! I just love the French blue color – striking! I appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
I already pinned this too – I’m on a mad pinning craze of all your outdoors fabulousness! Another fun post at our party!
Kelly