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Add warm, welcoming touches to this little workhorse.
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Drive out of town and you’ll pass one of these soldiers standing guard at the end of just about every driveway or lane, a flag waiting to be hoisted when it’s full. There are various models on the market, but you can start with just a basic version, and then go to work to give it a personal touch. Finish the look with some choice plantings beneath your box—its own little work of art, a whimsical mailbox will anchor a small bed or plot. •
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Pillar And Post
Dress up a plain post box with architectural elements. Here, a turned pillar (salvaged from an old staircase) makes a charming post from which to hang the box, and a salvaged bracket is as useful as it is lovely, especially when painted to match. Try this look to match with a classic Victorian home exterior. Pick up the paint colors on your home’s façade for full effect (plus, it may be paint you already have on-hand). |
Not for the Birds
A traditional birdhouse sits up tall and its hinged “roof” opens up top, so mail can be deposited inside. Jazz it up with some bright paint; even try your hand at re-creating a cozy little cottage scene like this one. Whatever painted effects you try, be sure to follow them up with a clear weather-protecting finish to keep your mailbox looking great—and staying as waterproof as possible. |
Perfectly Pastur-ized
You don’t have to live on a dairy farm to try out a whimsical box like this. If you’ve got a jigsaw, you can easily create limbs and a head, and then paint and attach them to a regular mailbox. If you don’t, try buying pre-cut wood shapes (at hardware and crafts supply stores) or ask to have pieces cut in whatever shape you want—maybe you’d prefer to have a dog dutifully “guarding” your mail!
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| PHOTOS: Tony Giammarino |
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