From Basic Economy to First Class

The old metal box was tired. Crooked, mismatched numbers peeling off, barely attached on one side, and full-on daylight coming through the holes in the top.

I knew I wanted something as modern and bold as the front door. After scouring the internet for MCM-style boxes, I landed on a favorite: the small locking post-mount box from Adoorn, in the limited color Chili Pepper Red.

Post Mount Locking Mailbox | Small
Product link: https://amzn.to/44TELYw

Truthfully, I would’ve gone with the smaller size (non-locking) box—but that color wasn’t available. Even though I wasn’t specifically looking for a locking mailbox, Adoorn’s design made it a nice bonus. Once you register your box, you can order a spare key if you ever lose yours. A solid feature for someone who’s always misplacing things.

SIDENOTE: Wouldn’t it be ironic if they mailed you the replacement key to your locked mailbox? I wonder if that’s ever happened…

Installation was easy. Adoorn provides clear instructions, including USPS height guidelines. I trimmed the post a bit, used the box as a template, predrilled, and installed it with the provided lag bolts. It still had a bit more wiggle than I liked, so I added a couple of discreet side supports to tighten things up. I even had a passerby (they used to be a mail carrier) stop and comment he appreciated the work I was putting in on something most people overlook. That felt pretty great!

In case you didn’t know, it’s customary for house numbers to go on the same side as the outgoing mail flag. I think it looks just fine—but I did wonder if I should put numbers on the other side for better visibility. For now, I’m leaving it as-is.

CHEERS 🥂 to small wins and curb appeal!