INO advice for an empty box near front door
by
Kim Weiss
+23
We recently moved into a house built in 1955, and it has a short wall with a box just inside the front door. (See pictures). We are relatively sure that it was originally a ledge that held poles to the ceiling, which was a regular feature when the home was built. At some point, the poles were removed and the ledge was opened into a box. The previous owners put plastic foliage in the box, but we don't really like plastic plants and the spot doesn't get enough light for real plants. Right now, it's just an open, empty box, so it tends to collect mail and other junk items. I would love some suggestions on what we could do with it, other than just put a shelf on top of it.
If you do not like it, why don' t you just remove it. It isn't load bearing and would give you some extra space.
You can have many real live plants to choose from. There are many houseplants that don't need a lot of light. We have one of them just inside our kitchen door, circa 1954, that is made of the brick the fireplace has. The previous owners put in rock and set jarred candles in it as accent. It works for me! It is not unattractive at all.
I would remove it. Looks like it was an after thought. Looks weird.
You could make a cover from a piece of wood shelving or plywood to fasten to the top. Add edge molding to match the other trim if needed and then paint to match the base. Then treating it as an entry divider instead of a mail drop might be the hardest part.
Pebbles or coloured glass flat marbles with candles
https://www.lovelyetc.com/updating-retro-built-in-planter/
Other ideas:
https://thediyplaybook.com/2013/06/upcycled-planter-box.html
https://imgur.com/gallery/OfNjV
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/284852745161428341/
https://www.houzz.com/photo/858668-divider-bookcase-contemporary-entry-los-angeles
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/dc/71/95/dc7195e9e67c75bfd423baa9dae46031.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/64/1b/5a/641b5a48ee0bd8920056e66ef0dbc633.jpg
You could also do an aquarium or fountain if you are adventurous!
Snake plants do well in low light and are hard to kill.
Cap it with a nice, overhanging piece of wood that matches your beautiful floors
Hi Kim,
We actually just bought our home that was built in 1953 and it had the same exact thing! I really want to knock it down eventually but for the time being my husband got a beautiful piece of barn wood that we sanded down and stained and it sits on top. I have a bowl on it now to drop your keys into when you come into the house and some fresh flowers. Ah! But how I dream of the day it's completely gone!
I would attach a piece of white lattice panel and grow a philladendron or golden pothos on it
I grew up in a house that had this exact box! It was a "modern design feature" in the 60's that was meant to hold silk or real flowers or plants.
In that case, buy a piece of plywood, stain and place on top and use it for a ledge. Or you can go to a tile store and buy a few of those large tiles and cover the top.
We put a board on top of ours .stained and vanished it.. Putting a bowl of box on top is optional.
i had that in my house but I just ripped the whole dang thing out!!
Someone else said it above...i was thinking a small bubbly fountain. They are relatively easy to make, are inexpensive, and the sound of water is always soothing. Plus, you'll tend to keep your mail elsewhere.:)
There are succulents that would work great there.
HI,
SHOUTS Bamboo Canes and Climbing Plants to me.
I would take the whole thing out.
Hello, you could put a counter top on it and do a fish tank, or a faux fish tank
Remove the planter box, as it looks cumbersome and awkward.
Leave the pony wall though, as it provides a needed visual and physical separation between the entry and the living room.