Handmade Birdhouse Makeover: How I Restored a Shingled Roof Vintage Favorite

This handmade birdhouse has always held a special place in my heart—it was crafted by my father years ago and styled with charming cedar shake shingles to match our home.

After seasons of weathering, it was time to give this vintage favorite a much-needed restoration.

In this post, I’m sharing how I brought this handmade birdhouse back to life, along with roof shingle ideas and inspiration for adding birdhouse decor to your outdoor spaces.

Birdhouse Roof Shingles: How I Restored This Handmade Roof with Cedar Shake Charm

The birdhouse roof shingles were thin, weathered, and barely hanging on—but still full of character and worth saving. I began the restoration by gently securing each shingle with a few small nails, taking care not to split the fragile plywood siding beneath.

You can see in the photos just how worn this old handmade birdhouse was, but there’s something about that rustic shape that already looks like a tiny New England thatched cottage.

My father built this birdhouse years ago, along with so many other outdoor pieces—benches, planters, and more—that still live quietly around the property. We won’t have them forever, so I love rediscovering and restoring each piece while I can. I’ve included a few photos of his handiwork throughout the yard—each one tells a story of its own.

To bring the dry, faded shingles back to life, I used my trusted combo: Restor-a-Finish to deepen the wood tone and Feed-N-Wax to add moisture, richness, and protection. A simple wipe-on application with a soft rag made all the difference—the shingles soaked up the color beautifully.

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Now, the birdhouse roof glows with that familiar cedar shake charm, echoing the siding of our own home and blending right into the landscape with classic New England rustic appeal. See more in this How to Restore 30-Year-Old Home’s Cedar Shake Siding post.

Painting a Handmade Birdhouse: Simple Decorating Ideas with Vintage Charm

Once the roof shingles were restored, it was time to paint the birdhouse and complete its makeover. I decided to stick with the original white color, which contrasts beautifully against the rustic cedar shake roof and really pops amidst the surrounding greenery. There’s something so timeless and peaceful about a white birdhouse with a shingled roof—especially when it sits quietly under the trees.

This step was super simple. I used a full can of Rust-Oleum white flat spray paint to refresh the siding, giving the birdhouse a clean, matte finish while still letting the character of the wood shine through.

It instantly brightened the entire piece, making the weathered shingles stand out even more—and turning this handmade birdhouse into a standout feature in our outdoor space.

Birdhouse Stand and Outdoor Styling Ideas for a Handmade Heirloom

After restoring this special handmade birdhouse, I needed the perfect place to display it—and wouldn’t you know, the solution was right under my nose. The stand I painted it on during the restoration turned out to be just the right fit. My father made this stand years ago, and I can’t help but wonder if he originally built it for this very birdhouse. Maybe he repurposed it for his garage at some point, but it fits like a glove now.

With another can of white flat spray paint, I gave the birdhouse stand a fresh coat to match the newly painted siding. Together, the soft white finish and weathered roof shingles give this setup a homespun, pastel charm that blends beautifully with the surrounding trees and fencing.

Now the restored birdhouse sits proudly in the woods just beyond the split rail fence—another project my father installed years ago. I’ve placed it among a small collection of his other handcrafted birdhouses and white-painted benches, turning this little woodland corner into a heartfelt display of vintage outdoor decor.

In the distance, you can even spot our DIY stone fire pit surrounded by white Adirondack chairs—one of my favorite backyard styling moments that ties everything together in our Vermont home. Scroll through the photos and video below to see the full transformation from every angle.

Looking for more homemade backyard inspiration? Explore a few other of these other posts:

Looking to build your own handmade birdhouse? You’ll love my friend Kippi at Home’s popular DIY Birdhouse Plans – Easy Tutorial post.

Restoring this handmade birdhouse wasn’t just about a fresh coat of paint or reviving old roof shingles—it was about preserving a little piece of my father’s creativity and keeping his legacy alive in our outdoor space. From the cedar shake roof to the white-painted birdhouse stand, this project brought together vintage charm, family memories, and a bit of DIY joy.

If you have an old birdhouse tucked away—or even just a spot in your garden that’s calling for something unique—I hope this post inspires you to give it new life. Be sure to pin this makeover for later, and explore more of my outdoor decorating ideas and handmade heirloom projects above to bring rustic character and heart to your home.

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