Chippendale Window Box

Put a mixture of your favorite flowers in this easy window box.

This box requires moderate woodworking skills. Simplify construction by leaving off the box's fretwork; instead nail three mitered strips of crown molding underneath the 1 x 2 that rests atop the box. Or simply leave off the fretwork. The materials list is based on a 5-foot-wide box. If you want a wider or narrower box, adjust the amount of lumber.

• 17 feet redwood or cedar 1 x 8
• 14 feet redwood or cedar 1 x 2
• 30 feet door stop molding or 3/4 x 3/4-inch strips
• Two 8 x 10 metal shelf brackets
• Four 8-3/4-inch rust-resistant screws for attaching brackets
• 1-1/2-inch rust-resistant finishing nails
• 2-inch deck screws for assembling the basic box
• Three 3-1/2-inch deck screws or lag screws for attaching the box to the building
• Exterior oil-base primer
• Exterior latex paint