Turn your rusty old barbeue into a planter

Turn your rusty old barbeue into a planter

Just because summer’s over for another year doesn’t mean you can’t get out into the garden.

Or make use of the barbie.

OK, I wasn’t planning on a big al fresco cook up. Mind you, Mother Nature is making a late bid for warm weather and I do remember sunning it up in October last year, so who knows? But if you got about as much use out of your barbecue as we did this year, it might be sitting forlornly in a corner, rusty, unloved, and ready for the tip.

But WAIT!

If your old charcoal BBQ is looking a little worse for wear, don’t throw it away… repurpose it!

This project was inspired by a cute little number by fellow blogger, Jane Windham at Cottage at the Crossroads.

So when I heard that our lovely neighbour wanted to get rid of her rusty old barbie, I immediately saw OneandSeventy’s kerb appeal go up a gazillion points.

This is how it was when I liberated stole it and ran like a loon before she could change her mind.

And this is how it looks now.

What a transformation! All it took was a little cleaning with a wire brush, a coat of spray primer and a can of black spray paint. Oh! And a little silver enamel just to smarten up the temperature dial.

What do you reckon?

Cool, huh?

I even managed to work in a few more quirky touches, like this goblin who’s been with me for years and has been rescued from the back garden to stand guard at the front door.

The plan is to use it as a nod to the blog and style it throughout the seasons.

At the moment, it’s still hanging on in there with its late summer blooms, but it’ll soon be time to hoof out those Balloon plants and replace them with something a little more autumnal.

Mini Cypress trees and ivy provide year-round structure and both will withstand a fair amount of neglect, so they should do ok in our north-facing porch area. Despite thriving well, there’s still a goodly amount of space to change up the planting as we move through the year.

Think Halloween vignette fit for the dead, festive Christmas colours and pretty snowdrops, crocuses and daffs in the spring.

Beloved still thinks I’m completely bonkers having a barbecue at the front door, but it’s become quite the talking point and I absolutely love it! It adds much needed height and life to the area by the front door and saves one more unwanted item going to landfill.

Thank you Jane for your inspiration and Carole for your lovely donation to Planet Suzy Homemaker.

Now it’s over to you? Do you fancy the idea of a barbecue by the front door? Or do you think I’m crazy? It’s ok… I don’t mind! Either way, drop a comment below to let me know.

If you love this project, why not subscribe to the blog for regular updates? I hope to see you on the blog again soon!

A hui hou,

Original article and pictures take suzyhomemaker.co.uk site