Curb Appeal w/ Cabot Stain: Raised Garden Bed turned Address Sign

I’ve been on a curb appeal mission lately. And there was one project I’ve been dying to do for a while now to up our curb appeal game: a diy address sign. Our house sits far from the street, so I wanted something that welcomed visitors when they entered our driveway while also providing the address information from afar.

So I transformed an old raised garden bed into a stunning in-ground address sign. With the help of Cabot stain, I was able to breathe new life into the old weathered wood, giving the garden bed a fresh new purpose.

Choosing the Design

First things first, I spent some time brainstorming and scouring Pinterest for inspiration, but I had a pretty good idea of what size, color, and style would complement my home’s exterior, so I sketched up a plan in Canva.

An Epiphany

As I was preparing to start the build, it struck me (a bit late, because I bought all the supplies) that I actually had a sort of prototype already assembled— one of our raised garden beds from the previous summer hadn’t survived the winter, and with the trellis removed it would be a very close match to my sketch.

Transforming The Garden Bed Into an Address Sign

So Jace, my nephew, who was visiting for a few days, was eager to help—so he and I dragged it over to the front of the yard to see if it would work for scale. The garden bed was 45” wide and I had planned on building something about 15” shorter, but after trying it out, I figured we could make it work.

Now when it comes to upcycling, even the most unexpected objects can find new life with a touch of creativity, and I was so excited that I was 1) able to save some money and 2)  be able to repurpose this wood in a very useful way.

So Jace and I hosed it down, let it dry and then began deconstructing the diy trellis that was attached to it to get it to look a bit more like my sketch.

We then reused a majority of the wood from the trellis to bulk up the address sign.

I let the boys get in on the action and showed them how to use some of my tools, it was so fun. Here they were nailing posts on both sides that would act as stakes for the ground.

 

I also went ahead and added a few additional pieces of scrap wood to add some decorative elements to the address sign as well as reinforced the structure for long-term stability.

Next I had my hubs dig holes so I could test fit the sign. And it was perfect! Next it was time for the fun part-finishing it!

Applying Cabot Stain 

What I used

• Cabot Semi-Transparent Stain, Pewter Gray
• Cabot Semi Solid Stain, Dark Slate
• Purdy Syntox Brush
• Purdy White Bristle Brush
• Painter’s Tape

For this project, I chose Cabot Semi-Transparent stain in Pewter Gray and Cabot Semi-Solid Stain in dark slate, for a two-toned look. Cabot is known for its quality and durability so I knew it would be perfect for this project. Did you know that not all stains are equal? Cabot is the ultimate exterior finish, providing your deck, outdoor furniture and diy projects superior protection from the elements.

Staining Process

I taped off the main portion of the sign and began applying the stain to the posts first. I used a Purdy Syntox brush to apply the stain for an even finish. I used two coats, for a more solid finish.

For the main part of the address sign, Cabot Semi-Transparent Stain in Pewter Gray. I used this stain recently on another project and I just love that it’s a great match for our siding color.

To apply the stain I used a Purdy White Bristle brush which is a bit larger, and helped me to get great even coverage fast-while also allowing the stain to penetrate and enhance the wood’s natural beauty, no need to wipe off the excess or anything.

Adding the Finishing Touch: Address Numbers

Once the stain had dried, it was time to add the address numbers. I was gifted these custom house numbers from Dropcap Studio a while ago and I never got around to installing them on the house. Our house sits so far from the street that I figured it would make sense to have them on the sign and make them more visible. I placed the numbers at the top of the sign to allow room for the garden to grow, so I won’t have to worry about the characters being hidden in the future.

Securing the Address Sign in the Ground

Since my hubs had previously dug the holes, my job was to mix up some concrete so I could ensure that the sign would be stable and that it would last. I can’t lie, this was my first time doing this and I was a little nervous. 

My hubs dug the hole approximately ⅓ the height of the overall sign, and then I inserted the stakes into the holes. We poured in the concrete and created a simple brace with scrap wood to let it dry. 

Once it was dry, I backfilled the soil around it, ensuring a firm and level placement. It was important to align the sign correctly to make a strong visual impact, I wanted it to be visible from the street but also to have our home as the backdrop.

I transplanted some flowers and hostas from elsewhere in my yard, but I was thinking this could be a really fun place to decorate seasonally as well.  Think; mums in the fall, garlands or a small wreath in the winter-it could provide so much character!

This project was so gratifying, especially getting help from my nephew and Kyle (even if it was short lived), and Cabot stain proved to be the perfect solution to revitalize the wood.

The address sign looks beautiful by day . . .

but absolutely stunning at night!

 

Learn more about Cabot Stain and find inspo for other fun outdoor stain projects here.