Interior Shutters and Window Boxes

Materials:

1 x 8 pine boards
1 x 4s
paint (Tanglewood SW1173)
paintbrush
drill
metal straps
self-anchoring Molly bolts
brad nails
hammer
wood putty
chisel
drywall screws

1. Cut two pine boards to the desired length for each shutter. Place them wrong side down and chisel out a small horizontal section toward the top and bottom of each to hold a metal strap (figure A). Be sure to leave a gap between the boards where the hole in the strap is for hanging.

2. Cut the 1x4s to create a "Z" pattern and tack them to the front with brad nails and cover the holes with putty. Flip the shutter over and screw them in place from the back.

3. Paint the shutter and let dry.

4. Put Molly bolts in the proper location on the wall and screw into them through the metal strap from the front to hold the shutter in place.

Window Boxes

Materials:

pine boards
quilt batting
staple gun
fabric
drill
screws
scissors

1. Build a pine box to the desired size and attach a cleat along the back bottom edge to serve as a space filler so it fits flush against the wall. Cover it with batting and fabric using staples to hold it in place (figure B).

2. Hold the box in place under the window trim and cut a small hole in the fabric on each edge of the back board. Drill pilot holes through the fabric, into the box and into the window apron. Then attach the box with screws and hide each behind the fabric folds.