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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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September 26, 2016

Built In Kitchen Cabinet Makeover

Good morning At the Picket Fence friends! Julie, here from redheadcandecorate.com. Before we get started today I would like to extend an invitation to you to subscribe to our free newsletter. I’m now offering our 12 page “Cottages & Bungalows Fall Home Tour” as a free gift when you sign up.

Now lets get to the fun part…Do you remember that show “Starsky & Hutch” that aired in the 1970’s? I was around 5 when it was popular and I remember having a crush on “Hutch”. Oh, he was so handsome, and brave, wasn’t he? It’s funny because now I am way older than he was in the show. Wait, maybe that’s not so funny.

So, why bring up Hutch , you ask? Well, because I have a crush on another “hutch” only this one lives in my house. I’m referring to our built-in hutch in our kitchen. It’s one of the reasons we fell in love with this house and it has never looked better. So, I thought this would be a great time to tell you all about “Hutch” and all he’s been through.
Here’s how it looked when we moved in…

best-kitchen-buffet-before

 

What are your first thoughts? Mine were, “Wow, that’s beautiful woodwork, but it’s so orange.” Notice how you can hardly see the antique clock on the top shelf, and the lines and wood craftsmanship don’t shine like they could. Everything blends in and disappears.
So, right before I began blogging, I took the plunge and painted the hutch. It was super easy to paint because the maple wood was extremely dry. Sanding was not required, and I even left the doors on the hinges when I painted it. Here’s how it looked after…

painted-buffet

Very fresh, clean, and shines up against the black armoire to the left. However, did you notice that I got tired and didn’t paint the inside of the seeded glass cabinets? See how dark they are? They stayed that way for years until I finally gained the energy to empty out all of those glasses.

Here it is dressed up for Fall last year and it’s one of my favorite designs ever. My creative juices must have been flowing that day. Actually, I did it at night when I was relaxed and sipping wine. That must be the secret.

fall-hutch-by-redhead-can-decorate

To achieve this rustic Fall look, I first took everything out/off the hutch (I had the kiddos help me with that). I find that if the slate is clean, I can envision things much better.
I began decorating with the jars on that little shelf in the middle and filled them with raw popcorn kernels and a tea light candle. A few of the kernels did fall into the fire, but they did not pop (FYI be careful). Lighting the candles back there really extends your eye deep into the hutch.
Then I searched the house for anything white that would fit. I decided on a party theme complete with the cocktails & treats (non alcoholic cider champagne is from the dollar store).

Here’s another angle…

rustic-fall-hutch

I love the coziness and welcoming vibe it all gives off. The wood logs (we use a lot this time of year) add the rustic outdoor element that I am so fond of. This decorated hutch would be perfect for a small get together with family & friends. If I wanted to keep it up for the Fall season, I could always fill the tub with pumpkins & apples-or mail.

So, after we enjoyed the hutch for a couple week decorated this way, I finally grew tired of the theme, and was ready to clean it up and bring the real glasses back in for Christmas. Then bam. I received the e-mail of a life time from Cottages & Bungalows asking if I was interested in doing a “Fall home tour” the week of Thanksgiving for Fall 2016. Oh dear, it was so exciting, but got a little challenging looking for mums in November.
We ended up finding the mums (in a snow storm), the caramel apples, and the photo shoot was a huge success. If you would like to read our 12 page “Cottages & Bungalows” Fall tour you can read it on my blog now. Just click here: “Cottages & Bungalows Harvest Homecoming“.

Here’s a sample page and the star…”Hutch”.

hutch-needs-editing
*** Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. Read full disclosure policy here.
Thank you for hanging out with me and my guy “Hutch” here At the Picket Fence. Here’s where you can find some of the products I used to get this look…

Glass Knobs

Mercury Glass Owl

Popcorn Bowl Set

Chalk Board

Chalk Markers

Black & White Scarf

 

10 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Decorating, Good Ideas Tagged With: Autumn, furniture makeovers, kitchen

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Comments

  1. Karen says

    September 26, 2016 at 6:59 AM

    That is so gorgeous. Love how it bright and cheerful.Just wonderful.

    Reply
  2. Shelley MacMillan says

    September 26, 2016 at 7:22 AM

    I am new to the world of blogs ( my new favorite thing! So glad I found you!) so you may have answered this before…
    I love your hutch redo, have poured over every detail. I am interested in (what looks like) a craft paper holder to the right for your “to do” list. Did you make that? Can you elaborate?

    Reply
  3. Hayley says

    September 26, 2016 at 7:42 AM

    I LOVE this hutch!! It just goes to show that all this “old” looking woodwork around our houses can really be turned into cute, vintage, clean-looking accents. My kitchen cabinets look similar to this and I think I’ve almost mustered up the courage to paint them… Our countertops are also about that same color, so I’m glad to see that the white cabinets still look OK with it. What paint did you use for the hutch?

    Reply
  4. Summer says

    September 26, 2016 at 8:34 AM

    The cabinet looks so cozy and stylish ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

    Reply
  5. Pamela says

    September 26, 2016 at 8:56 AM

    Love your hutch…great job. Congrats on being asked to do the photo shoot for the magazine.

    Reply
  6. rose l. says

    September 26, 2016 at 9:53 AM

    Changing the color definitely made it a real standout.

    Reply
  7. Lisa@2perfectiondecor says

    September 26, 2016 at 10:57 AM

    Wow I love how it all turned out. Looks amazing!! Your Fall styling is perfect as well.

    Reply
  8. MARY-ANN FROM CANADA! says

    September 26, 2016 at 12:16 PM

    Love your cabinet! You did a beautiful job of both painting and decorating! You are a real inspiration to your readers.

    Reply
  9. Cindy says

    November 2, 2016 at 9:20 PM

    WOW! The transformation is phenomenal. Love it!

    Reply
  10. McKenzie says

    April 3, 2017 at 11:58 AM

    WOW! The transformation is absolutely amazing, and I really love this hutch, it has so much charm. Thank you for sharing this.

    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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