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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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“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10
This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. 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.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
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I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
“The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and “The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…HE’S RISEN!” (Charles R. Swindoll).

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; he has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried; yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53)
I try to always remember to put a water bottle in I try to always remember to put a water bottle in my car before I go to pick up my daughter from school. She didn't ask me to do this, but a few months ago I began to notice that she was often thirsty when she would get in the car. Her water bottle filled up at the beginning of the day was empty by the time school got out and she would ask if she could have some water from my hydroflask. So I make sure to have one waiting for her. It's just a simple thing, really. But, I want her to know that I'm paying attention, that I see her.

Isn't it amazing how small gestures can make us feel less invisible? Knowing that someone is thinking of us and takes the time to meet a need that we might not have even realized we had? These little acts can have big impacts. What is something that someone has done for you recently that made you feel valued and seen?

What have you done for someone else to remind them that you are paying attention to their needs?

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
“The next day the large crowd that had come to t “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ – John 12:9-19
#palmsunday
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