I love the versatility of the design and size. You could make it smaller and it would still look elegant.
The finish I used is Shou Sugi Ban and is full of texture. Shou Sugi Ban is currently being used by artists because of its unique appearance, but here it is also useful in much the same way as the Japanese have historically utilized it to protect wood from the elements. You could use your favorite outdoor finish, or cedar fence boards. However, I would never use treated wood for a garden.
Dimensions 5ftL x 2ftW x 12inH
my cost was around $60 and included lumber, screws, hex bolts and large washers, hardware cloth, garden fabric. the rest of the stuff I already had.
2 10ft 1x6 pine boards (untreated)
1 8ft 1x6 pine board (untreated)
6 2x2 boards
2 1x2 board
8 3in. carriage bolts
8 extra wide washers and nuts
1 roll 1/4in hardware cloth
1 roll garden fabric
1 box of 2in screws
finishing nails
staple gun
flame thrower
water based polyurethane