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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 27, 2017

Dining Room Makeover and Paint Color Reveal!

So, my husband and I are attending a banquet this week and I realized that I don’t really have anything that qualifies as ‘cocktail party’ attire. So, yesterday I found myself in the Macy’s dressing room with an armload of dresses and quickly became aware that since I am neither a ‘mother-of-the-bride’ or a teenager (praise Jesus!), my options for fancy dresses were dwindling rapidly. Nothing fit quite right. They were either too fancy or too poofy or too beady or too short (for the love of all that is good and holy how do these girls get out the door in dresses that are THAT short?!) and as I exited the mall I was fairly certain that I was just going to wear my sweats to the banquet and call it good. Elastic waistbands for the win!

I was really looking for that elusive ‘just right’. And, while I may not have found it in the Macy’s dressing room, I’m pretty sure I’ve found it in my dining room. Because ever since we had it painted and freshened up, I can’t help but think that this how it was always meant to look.

Like finding the perfect dress, it’s flattering in all the right places. It hugs the curves and shows off the best sides. It’s effortless.

But, let’s take a quick peek at how it looked before.

I think it was in need of a pair control top pantyhose and some Spanx.

//BEFORE//

And here it is AFTER!!

While everything was off the walls, I decided it was time to really make the most of the height in the room. So I purchased this set of botanical prints (sources listed at the end of the post) and I cannot believe what a difference it makes!

Our dining room table was purchased the year we got married (19 years ago in October!) and for awhile now I’ve been debating about whether or not to replace it but, you guys, dining room sets are EXPENSIVE!

So, I decided that I would freshen it up with new chairs instead and I cannot believe what a difference it made. I already had the two captain’s chairs on the ends, so I selected side chairs to go with them and I think it dramatically changed how it looks.

I’m pretty sure tufting makes everything look better.

Let’s take a look now at this side of the room. Here’s how it looked BEFORE.

And here it is AFTER!

Simple changes, but big impact, don’t you think?

Whether it’s a dress or a room, figuring out what works best for you and being comfortable in it is such a freeing feeling.

Just like working with my figure instead of against it, working with my home rather than trying to make it something it isn’t (cough…cough…it will never be a farmhouse) has actually helped me to experience a glorious sense of freedom.

And, speaking of freedom, I got home from Macy’s and took another glance in my closet. There, in the way back, I spotted something I had totally forgotten about. A dress I purchased on clearance at Target last winter that still had the tags on it! Lacy, long-sleeves, not too short, not too long, not too tight…just right.

And, I think it even has a little bit of carefully hidden elastic in the waistband! Elastic for the win!

I can’t wait to reveal how the living room looks now as well (I’ll even share a photo of us at the banquet!) but, in the meantime, thank you for letting me share with you my dining room makeover and for meeting me right here at the picket fence!

Sources:

Paint color – ‘China Doll’ by Sherwin Williams

Tufted Dining Chairs – Amazon

Botanical Prints – Wayfair

 

24 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Dining Room, Good Ideas Tagged With: decorating, dining room

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Comments

  1. Kim says

    September 27, 2017 at 1:02 PM

    Love the new wall color and I didn’t even realize the wall was tall before. Love the gallery prints and chairs.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 27, 2017 at 2:11 PM

      Thank you Kim!

      Reply
  2. Patty says

    September 27, 2017 at 1:05 PM

    Just so pretty!! Bright and inviting!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 27, 2017 at 2:11 PM

      Thank you Patty!

      Reply
  3. Julie Briones says

    September 27, 2017 at 1:50 PM

    Just lovely… love those prints!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 27, 2017 at 2:11 PM

      Thank you Julie!

      Reply
  4. Julia says

    September 27, 2017 at 1:50 PM

    Very nice! And I like the chairs. Im going to look at that wall color for my living room.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 27, 2017 at 2:10 PM

      Thank you Julia!

      Reply
  5. Susan says

    September 27, 2017 at 3:36 PM

    Great transformation! Funny how certain pieces of clothing can hide in a closet!

    Reply
  6. Cassandra E says

    September 27, 2017 at 4:08 PM

    I generally love buttery yellow walls, so I may not even have thought to change it up! THe white on white is gorgeous. It all turned out lovely.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 27, 2017 at 6:52 PM

      Cassandra, I’ve had yellow walls for many years and have loved them so much! They were so scuffed up and in badly need of freshening up so I figured I should make a change but I still love me some yellow. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Julie says

    September 27, 2017 at 5:13 PM

    Wow I picked up china doll swatch cards today and in my house it doesn’t look white like your walls. You must have a lot of light in this room to bounce the wall color so light. Nice !

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 27, 2017 at 6:54 PM

      Hi Julie! It definitely looks lighter in the photos because of the editing. I would say it goes between being kind of beige-y and kind of gray-y. And it definitely changes with the light in the room!

      Reply
  8. kddomingue says

    September 27, 2017 at 6:20 PM

    I’ve had buttery yellow walls for years now….. almost as many years as you’ve been married! Your redo of your dining room has solidified my hunch that I’m ready for a change and a soft white is what I’m wanting. Love your redo….love the new chairs and I think you’re right….tufting makes everything better!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 27, 2017 at 6:56 PM

      Thank you so much for your kind words! I had buttery yellow walls for many years too and when we realized how badly the walls were needing to be repainted I decided it was time for a change so I totally understand where you’re coming from. Change is hard but good too, right? Blessings to you! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Norma Rolader says

    September 27, 2017 at 9:50 PM

    very pretty and love the chairs and table thank you for sharing

    Reply
  10. Elaine Sharrard says

    September 27, 2017 at 10:46 PM

    How great it looks. The chairs are really wonderful. I love the color of the paint. What a neat idea the pics are. Very stunning.

    Reply
  11. Michele says

    September 28, 2017 at 8:06 AM

    BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  12. Lisa Mothersead says

    September 28, 2017 at 8:16 AM

    It’s beautiful! We did the same thing recently painting our living areas/kitchen alabaster white and love it, too. My inspirations were these bloggers’ homes: Paige Knudsen, Jeanne Oliver, Michele/Sweet Threads, Brittany York, and The White Farmhouse blog. Yours now makes the list-lol. Enjoy your event. You will look beautiful, too.

    Reply
  13. Kim Gregory says

    October 4, 2017 at 3:47 PM

    I love those prints but I cannot get the link to work for the item source…

    Reply
  14. Pat says

    October 25, 2017 at 2:23 PM

    I love it! The before is really nice, but the after just feels so light and fresh! The wall color is gorgeous! Seems to give the room a sort of glow. Love love love!

    Reply
  15. Kathy says

    November 7, 2017 at 4:10 AM

    Where can I find those pretty gallery prints? The link won’t take me there.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      November 7, 2017 at 11:47 AM

      Hi Kathy! I’m so sorry the link isn’t working for you. The prints are from Wayfair and you can search for them under ‘set of botanicals’. So glad you like them!

      Reply
  16. Elizabeth says

    January 16, 2019 at 4:28 AM

    Love it. It made everything look fresh. It really amazes me how just paint makes such a big difference.

    Reply

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I’m working my way through a GK Chesterton Adven I’m working my way through a GK Chesterton Advent devotional and the first day there was a line in his writing that has been running through my head ever since I read it. “Advent is a desire in the Now for Not Yet”.

Every Christmas there’s this ache in my heart that accompanies my love for the season. I take such pleasure in decorating my home and making all of the preparations but there’s often a sense of melancholy that creeps in. I used to worry about this feeling and analyze it to death. But then I realized that it’s actually a good thing. God created in me this desire for something, Someone, beyond this present world. As such, my soul is longing for the ‘not yet’ even while I’m going about the work of living in the ‘now’. That tension is always with us whether we acknowledge it or not but it’s even more present at Christmas.

As we prepare our homes and our hearts to celebrate the birth of the ONE who came to fulfill the prophecies and promises, may we embrace those feelings and let them serve as a reminder of the hope we have in Him.

#adventdevotional #wearethehomemakers #advent #gkchesterton #proverbs31woman #club31women
This is such a busy time of year and I’m always This is such a busy time of year and I’m always on the lookout for easy recipes that use minimal pots and pans therefore requiring minimal cleanup. 🙌🏻

This one sheet roasted veggies, sausage and gnocchi definitely fit the bill! And I don’t know how I’ll go back to boiled gnocchi after tasting it roasted. 😋

Here’s how easy it is to make: 

Preheat oven to 425

Use any combo of veggies you like. I used sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and red onion. 

Dice into small pieces and spread on a sheet pan. 

Slice up the sausage and add to vegetables. Then add the uncooked gnocchi. Drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil and add a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. You can also add any herbs you like! 

Roast in over for 25 minutes stirring once halfway through. 

While it’s in the oven, melt a stick of butter in a saucepan and add in two teaspoons of garlic. 

When you remove the pan from the oven, drizzle the butter/garlic mixture over the top and stir well to coat everything. Top with Parmesan cheese! 

Easy peasy and SO yummy! ✨

#sheetpandinner #sheetpanrecipes
The first weekend in December seems like a good ti The first weekend in December seems like a good time for my annual gentle reminder about this month. I don’t know about you but, for me, December is a month of mixed emotions, ranging from joy-filled moments to ones that have me wanting to pull my hair out.

There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our families or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap. Or have a good cry. 

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

My hope for you is that, as you head into this season, you will be given fresh perspective and that you will give yourself (and your family) permission to just ‘be’. ✨
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#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
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#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
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*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
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