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Hi all, I have an old broken brick BBQ which I would like to make somewhat more appealing to the eye... ideally without too much skill or cost if possible. I was thinking of using some sleepers to block off the front and then fill with soil to make some raised beds. What do you think? Any other suggestions? Anything I should bare in mind if I end up making the raised beds (ie do I need to paint the bricks beforehand?). Unfortunately it gets covered in pine needles, but I guess if I keep the tree trimmed back it won't be so bad. Thanks so much in advance.
Hello @lyndas100
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about your old brick BBQ.
Turning it into a planter using sleepers sounds like an excellent idea. My only other thoughts are to continue with your plant themed idea. I propose installing a trellis on the back brick wall to give climbing plants such as star jasmine a chance to grow and flourish. You can also hang light weight flowerpots for succulents or herbs and edibles.
Let me call on our experienced members @mich1972 and @Adam_W for their recommendations.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
Hi @lyndas100,
My vote would be to demolish and remove rather than repurpose. I think it would be easier and you would get a better result to build a new raised bed from scratch.
Let me tag some other helpful members for their thoughts: @MitchellMc, @Dave-1, @Jewelleryrescue, @JoeAzza and @Nailbag.
Jason
Morning @lyndas100
Im heading away from the raised gardens 
I am not so succesful with smaller beds as I tend to forget about them needing water....
Looking at the height and layout of the brickwork I think it has an exellent chance to become an outside seating area.
The alcove where timber use to sit end up being one end of a bench seat, the other say 1.8m out from there.
You put in two so both old timber boxes get used. (The timber seats can be fixed on a support between bricks or freestanding. I like freestanding as they can then be moved if wanted.)
With the height of the rear brickwork, you could put in two posts at the far end of the bench seats. Then put some slats across the top to the bbq brickswork to diffuse the sun. Not a solid roof (at this point tho you could if you wanted to go to a resonable amount of effort to make it larger) The two fancy pedestals I would just place at the end of the bench seats to give it more of an impact.
The seats could be free standing so they could be moved if wanted.
The BBQ plate area, I would repurpose to have a tub for ice and drinks to sit there with something like a chopping board that can sit over the top or half over the top so you could have food sit there.
The last bits would be some nice solid large pillows to get thrown into the ends of the bench seats that sit in the old timber alcoves. Perfect place to curl up to when the weather gets that cool bite to it.
Dave
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