Trough Transformations
Make your home farm-fabulous by reimagining stock tanks into useful decor.
1 SHABBY CHIC SIDE TABLE
What started out as a 4-H project for her son is now a stylish focal point in Kim Bailey’s living room. With guidance from Kim and her husband, Dwayne, her son Wyatt created this head-turning side table from a rusty 100-gallon stock tank.
The table now sits in the living room of their home in Bondurant, Iowa, and serves as an equally beautiful and clever way to store pillows, blankets and board games. The tabletop is fashioned from reclaimed barn wood from their farm, Irishman Acres. Recycled metal hinges mounted to the back allow it to open and close easily, and a wood-burned sign adds to the rustic charm.
“I love that it’s not perfect,”
Kim says. “That’s what makes it perfect to me!”
2 GENEROUS AND GRAND GARDEN PLANTER
Looking to downsize her backyard vegetable garden into something more manageable, blogger Michelle Minner turned a 6-foot oblong stock tank into the perfect vessel for growing tomatoes, basil, lettuce and cucumbers. The cucumbers grow up a trellis made from a wire panel bent in half.
“Using a galvanized trough gives a clean farmhouse look that gets better with age,” Michelle says.
“It’s the perfect size for a patio. I still have all the joy of tending a garden without the stress.”
She recommends drilling holes in the bottom for drainage and selecting the right location before filling the trough with soil. Then create a trellis to allow such climbing plants as cucumbers and squash to grow vertically.
Since Michelle also owns a custom upholstery service, she’s always looking for ways to add decorative flair to pieces. She finished off her stock tank garden with a little paint and a stencil.
3 TROUGH POOL
Jamie Thomsen’s sons, Brady and Brock, took a dip in horse Lucie’s stock tank on a hot summer day.