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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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May 11, 2016

Bi-fold Shutter Doors Turned Entry Decor

I’m so excited to be kicking off a fun new series today with some of my favorite thrifty blogging friends and sharing with you how I transformed an old pair of bi-fold shutter doors into a fresh new look for my entry.

But first, let’s just get real here for a minute. Do you ever stress decorate? Do you ever feel so overwhelmed by the craziness of life that you just have to step away and do something that seems kind of mindless but in reality provides your mind with a lovely little escape even if just for a few moments?

French country entry decor with shutter doors atthepicketfence.com

Well that’s how I felt a couple of weeks ago when I was up to my eyeballs in book edits and deadlines and didn’t think I could handle writing ONE.MORE.WORD.

So, I closed the lid of my laptop, opened the windows to let the cool breeze come into the stuffy house and went upstairs to grab the bi-fold shutter doors I had recently picked up at a second-hand store. My original intention was to use them in a lonely corner of our bedroom but they just weren’t the right fit.

old shutter doors

I quickly gave them a fresh coat of paint and set about giving my entry a little bit of a softer, brighter look as we head into these warmer months.

Simple French country inspired entry table decor with shutter doors

While I was at Home Depot last week I had every intention of only purchasing a metal bucket but these lavender topiaries just begged to come home with me and I couldn’t say ‘no’. Honestly, I’m kind of obsessed with them and have moved them around to many different spots in my home but I know that soon I will need to properly pot them and put them outside.

lavender topiary in clay pot

After such a long stretch of feeling like I had totally lost my creative mojo, it was just so nice to do something that seemed to fill back up my empty creativity tank.

And it was such a reminder to me of how important it is that I maintain that balance. While writing is definitely creative, sometimes it can leave me feeling like I’ve been in a dark tunnel.

It amazes me that something as simple as sprucing up a second-hand find and rearranging decorative items can make me feel as though I’ve come out of that tunnel and into the light.

Shutter doors as a backdrop for simple french country decor

 

And now that our book is FINALLY going to press at the end of this month, look out!!

Who knows how much more creativity might be coming your way! 😉

Now, don’t miss seeing all of the other thrifty ideas coming your way from the Thrifty Style Team.

Thrifty Style Team Faces

An InLinkz Link-up


Thank you for meeting me at the Fence today,

Vanessa signature

14 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, Decorating, Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. Design Chic says

    May 11, 2016 at 4:25 AM

    i love it,Vanessa! What a perfect idea for your entrance! Happy Wednesday!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 11, 2016 at 7:12 AM

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Nancie says

    May 11, 2016 at 4:42 AM

    I’m obsessed with shutters! They just make me happy. Your entryway is gorgeous, Vanessa! I too love lavender. I’ve planted three outside this year and they are thriving! Have a great day!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 11, 2016 at 7:12 AM

      Thank you so much Nancie!

      Reply
  3. Meg | Hello Farmhouse says

    May 11, 2016 at 6:42 AM

    I love these shutters, Vanessa! They look amazing behind that beautiful wood dresser. And great call on those topiaries!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 11, 2016 at 7:12 AM

      Thank you so much Meg!! I’m kind of obsessed with those topiaries. LOL!!

      Reply
  4. Linda says

    May 11, 2016 at 8:23 AM

    I get the exact same feeling you do when I have taken a break and been creative. There’s no feeling like it! Keep it up! BTW, LOVE that entry hall.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 11, 2016 at 9:10 AM

      Thank you so much Linda! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Julie says

    May 11, 2016 at 8:29 AM

    Beautiful vignette, Vanessa! I’m obsessed with shutters. Shutters and gates get me every time. Thanks so much for joining our amazing team! XO

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      May 11, 2016 at 9:10 AM

      Thanks girl!

      Reply
  6. kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says

    May 11, 2016 at 9:45 AM

    Oh my heck, Vanessa! This is sooooo pretty!! Love all of the texture this brings to this area. Such a perfect anchor. And I bet the lavender topiaries smell incredible!! xoxo

    Reply
  7. Debbie @ Refresh Restyle says

    May 16, 2016 at 4:18 AM

    Love the bi-folds, just wish I had some!! I need to put them on my thrifting list 🙂
    Debbie

    Reply
  8. Amy says

    September 2, 2016 at 11:00 AM

    Hi. Where did you get the wreath?

    Reply
  9. Debbie Stem says

    August 16, 2017 at 4:02 PM

    can you please email me with the name of the yellow paint on the walls above. I carry the picture around with me of that same wall when you had plates on it. I can’t seem to match the yellow

    Reply

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What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the gr It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the greatest joys of this stage in my parenting journey is getting to see the results of the years spent pouring into my children. The worry, the sleepless nights, praying, questioning our decisions and learning to trust in the Lord Who loves them even more than we do. We definitely didn’t do everything right, but what an an amazing experience it is to watch them become these incredible teens/young adults. My tip this week might seem simple, but I believe it can make a major difference in the lives of our children, in our homes and maybe, just maybe, in the culture too. 🌸
It was the most glorious day to celebrate my best It was the most glorious day to celebrate my best friend! Oregon came through with perfect weather for my wonderful husband’s birthday and we made the most of it by taking the convertible to our favorite winery and soaking up the sunshine, yummy food and wine. Then we had a lovely time celebrating with family at our home. Robb is truly the most amazing husband and father and all around incredible man. He loves and leads us well so it’s such a joy to get to honor him on his special day. 🎂

“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good.” Matthew 12:35
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! Today I’m s It’s time for another #tiptuesday! Today I’m sharing with you two critical things to determine if you want to create order in your home which leads to a much more peaceful experience for everyone. As a recovering perfectionist, this has been one of my greatest lessons and I hope it encourages you today! 🍃
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