I have been on the hunt for an affordable over the garage trellis option. After searching high and low I ultimately decided a budget friendly garage trellis did not exist. Instead of wasting more time searching I put on my thinking cap and designed and built my own affordable and aesthetically pleasing over the garage trellis!

Cut Boards for Corbels

Cut all necessary boards. (Determined by the desired number of corbel/brackets.) In my case I utilized a total of three brackets to span over a 2-car garage entry.  I used to “Large” corbels for the sides, and one “Small” corbel as a center support. 

Drill Holes

I found that it was very helpful using a speed square accurately mark the hole placement.  Word to the wise, mark the placement for all the corbels at the same time.  This will ensure that the holes will all line up when ultimately run the poles through the corbels. 

*Something to consider:  Before drilling determine the best size bit for your rods.  I used inexpensive IKEA curtain rods.  These rods worked best when I used a 7/8” paddle bit to dill out the hole. 

 I opted to use a drill press; this required a lot of resituating the depth of the drill as I drilled through the board.  While it required a little work, I highly recommend using a drill press. 

If using a drill press is not possible, a drill is still an option. It will just require a very level and steady hand. 

Another Option:  Drilling straight holes through the entirety of the 5.5” board is definitely the trickiest part of this build, there are a few ways to adjust the skill level.  Using a 2×4” board as opposed to a 2×6” board will make the step easier.  It will change the overall aesthetics, but it is an option. 

Cut Chamfered Edge on Corbel Board (Optional)

 I opted to add a chamfered edge to the ends of my boards.  This is not a necessary step, I simply wanted to jazz up my corbels. You can achieve this look. By either using a router or a table saw. 

In order to create a chamfer edge, I set my table saw blade on a 45 degree angle. In order to prevent cutting my rip fence I used clamps to secure a scrap board to the fence. 

Sand and Seal Corbel Boards

Before assembling I sanded all my boards and then treated them with and exterior stain and sealer. 

I used Olympic Elite exterior Stain and Sealant in the color “American Chesnut” I used this same stain when I created my “Vertical Planter” and I loved it so I used it again.

Construct Corbels

Using 4” exterior use screws secure the horizontal board to the (soon to be wall mounted) vertical board.  Reference the PDF Plan(s) to see the designated measurements. 

Secure Corbels to Wall

 In my case I will be attaching my trellis brackets to our stucco/block home.  Seeing as I will be drilling into concrete, I’ll need to take a few extra steps. In order to secure it into masonry I will need to use a sleeve anchor.  They are basically a mollie for concrete. I am using a 4” long by 1/2” diameter sleeve anchor. 

To use these anchors, I need to drill a ½” hole to accommodate the sleeve. I drilled a hole at both the top and the bottom center of my brackets. 

BEFORE YOU GET DRILL HAPPY…  take the time to check, double-check, and triple-check the placement of the corbels.  They will need to be perfectly level in order to accommodate the poles that will run through them.  I began by installing my center bracket first and then took careful measurements to figure out the positions of the side corbels. 

Once the holes were drilled in the bracket, I positioned the bracket in the desired location.  While holding the bracket in place I used the holes pre-drilled as a template for drilling holes in the masonry. 

Drilling holes in masonry is not as scary as it sounds, so long as you use the right tools. I suggest a ½” masonry bit and a “hammer drill”.  (Pictured below is a “Rotary Hammer Drill”.) 

 I drilled a hole approximately 3” deep into the masonry. This measurement considers the length of the anchor and the depth of the bracket board

After hole is drilled into masonry, insert the anchor sleeve through the wooden bracket and into the hole drilled in the masonry.  It should be a snug fit but should slide in without the use of tools. (If necessary. use a rubber mallet to tap into place.)

Once the anchor is in place use a wrench to tighten the anchor.  The anchor will expand as you tighten the bolt ensuring that the bracket is securely attached to the wall.   

    I knew I wanted the hardware to all be black, however I also knew that painting them before tightening the bolts would scratch up the paint job. Instead, I installed all the hardware and then cut a 1” hole in a scrap piece of paneling and used it to mask off the rest of the corbel and expose the unpainted nut. I used a satin black paint and primer and it worked like a charm. 

Almost done!  In order to complete the over the garage trellis we needed to connect our  corbels. To do this I used inexpensive  curtain rods from Ikea.  I found that they worked excellent and the fact that the could extend made it a great option.  

Another great option would be using ½” electrical conduit.  I liked using the curtain rods because they came with everything I needed to add finials (end caps),  but fear not I have a tutorial  how-to add finials to electrical conduit curtain rod here. 

 Once all the rods are in place, add finials (if desired) and add a vining variety plant. I opted for Bougainvillea that I purchased a few month prior to building my over the garage trellis.   In order to help it reach the new corbels I did build a small trellis that would bridge distance between the corbels and the ground. 

 That just about wraps up yet another homerun DIY project.  I had looked into over the garage trellis options for years and never found anything affordable.  I’d like to think that I knocked this inexpensive DIY out of the park. 

 Thanks for following along. 

Take Luck, 

Corey

Make it easy to organize your projects by Pinning it !

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Hey all!   I kid you not, I have been thinking about this simple spring centerpiece for over a year!  Last year Target started carrying cute cake plates in the Dollar Spot.  Like any normal human being I started hoarding ALL THE CAKE PLATES.  Totally normal right ?  Well,  when they are only $5, $3, and $1,  it made it a little easier to go a little crazy.  Over the course of the summer I slowly accumulated a small stash that would make Matt Paxton do a double take.

Anyways,  I may have over estimated how many of these little babies I needed… by like 23,  but who’s counting. I digress…  I had an epiphany as  I was unloading my haul from my Target bag…  I had simply unloaded  the cake plates onto the table until I could put them in their proper homes. But as I was preparing to put them away, I realized they looked beautiful AS-IS.  They were all clustered together on my table, and that’s when the “lightening struck my brain”. (10 pts. If you can name that movie.)  THIS happy accident would be my next spring centerpiece/ tablescape!

So without further ado…  I give you my completely impractical,  but totally gush-worthy spring centerpiece!

Spring Cake Plate Centerpiece

As I said,  this look simply  required repetition.  It was a very simple concept that I kept repeating.  I loved all the cake plates alone, but I wanted to add something simple that would create a little contrast…

Confession,  my hoarding issues is not limited to cake plates… I also like little ornate glass bottles,  so I pulled out my arsenal of  bottles and started staggering them through out the cake plates. All it needed was a small sprig of color and this arrangement was complete!

Once the centerpiece was complete I moved onto the actual place settings. I wanted it to also be simple,  so I AGAIN, simply  repeated elements.  I placed the same bottles, and sprigs and tied a  small homemade place setting card to it. Cost? $0.00.  Booyah.

There you have it, a beautiful tables-cape that is simple,  but based solely on repetition it gains the “Wow!” factor.

     There you have it folks, a simple design that can easily  be adapted to any season or setting! Can’t you just see it with Holly Sprigs, or sprays of wheat for fall?  Seriously,  the possibilities are endless! So make sure you pin it and save it for later!

Take Luck,

Corey

P.S. If you love this table-scape you will love what I did last spring!  You can check it out here. 

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 I kid, I kid.  Haha,  I let them sit at the counter.  But in all seriousness, if you are entertaining this Easter or you simply want to take your Easter Dinner up a notch this is a fun DIY project you are gonna love!  Enjoy and Happy Easter! 

Easter Tablescape – The Centerpiece

Let’s start the centerpiece. Instead of using the usual table runner,  I decided to build a long rustic basket. (There will be plans coming soon, but in the meantime you can see the original farmhouse try I modified HERE.) 

If you love the chippy paint effect,  you can find the full TUTORIAL HERE.

Easter Tablescape – The Pots

As for the pots sitting in the tray,  they are your basic run of the mill Terra Cotta pots!   These are super cheap and easy to find,  I think I spent right around $15- $20 on all of them.  I wanted them to not be so ORANGE so I gave them a little face lift.   I used this limewash glaze, it really does create a cool texture,  but if you don’t care about the texture you can dry brush white paint on with a stiff bristled brush and still achieve the same effect.  I decided I LOVE the stacked look of these posts, so I used some spanish moss to separate them and to add some gorgeous  texture.   You can purchase a bag of moss for $3.50 at Walmart. 

Easter Tablescape – Tulips

I then added copious amounts of tulips to get that gorgeous Magnolia Market/Spring feel.  Now,  I wish these were real,  or the amazingly  real-like fake ones.   However, when I was playing around with them at Michael’s I decided that when they were in large groups they  actually looked pretty convincing!  Bonus: when they are on sale  you can get them for about $2.50 a bushel.  In this tablescape I used 15. Honestly, I love them and would have bought more, but I cleaned them out!

I wanted to do something original and CHEAP for the name placement cards… I  had picked up these fake Easter Eggs for the kids to paint from Walmart. ($2 for a dozen) Watching them paint them gave me an idea, (and an eye twitch). So instead of watching them mix colors to create a “beautiful!” brown concoction, I grabbed some paint of my own.  I used gray paint and watered it down until I could create the same effect as a water color.  Once the paint was dry I used a black brush tip marker to write our names in a sloppy calligraphy.  (If you want to try this it is easier than it looks!  Just write in cursive and make the downward strokes thick, and the upward strokes light.   Impress EVERYONE!)

I then placed them in these little mini pots!  You can get them from Walmart for $.38!   I then used the leftover limewash from the larger pots to give them the aged look. Let’s break it down,  that means that one placement holder is only $.54 !  So to make all 6 was approximately $3.50 . Not bad! 

I tried a couple of the standard napkin rings, but it made the napkin way to gathered, but it definitely  needed SOMETHING.  So, I threw together these oversize napkin rings.  Best part, they are cheap!  You can get the wire for $1, and floral tape for $1, and  I purchased this bunch of greenery for $3 when it was on sale at Hobby Lobby!

Ta-Da!  A gorgeous non-traditional napkin ring. 

  And there you have it folks,  my take on this years Easter table.

(Let’s be real,  it probably  won’t make it to Easter, but one can hope/pretend.)   

Take Luck,

 Corey

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