• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

September 17, 2015

Fall Home Tour 2015

Hello friends! So glad you could come and meet me At the Picket Fence today for my stop on the Finding Home Farms Fall Tour.

If you are coming over from The Handmade Home, welcome, welcome!

Fall Home Tour 2015 graphic

You know, when I was a little girl, the opening of the box of seasonal decorations was always met with great eagerness and anticipation. And while there was definitely more decor for Christmas than any other time of the year, my mom always had a few items for each season that she would set around the house.

fall branches in glass bottle atthepicketfence.com

I always knew that fall officially had arrived in our home when the orange ceramic pumpkin candle holder made it’s grand entrance.

Simple and elegant fall entry decor atthepicketfence.com

And I couldn’t wait for the moment when the little candle in the back would be lit and my mom would turn off the lights so we could see the glow emanating from those upside down triangle eyes and crooked toothed mouth.

vintage picnic basket patina atthepicketfence.com

I would get myself right to where I was eye level with that orange ceramic pumpkin and be flooded with feelings that at the time I’m sure I could not have properly put into words.

fall dining room centerpiece atthepicketfence.com

There was so much comfort in seeing it each year. Not only was it a tradition, it provided us with such a sense of consistency in times when our lives were full of change.

White pumpkin and hydrangea centerpiece atthepicketfence.com

We moved a few times when I was growing up. But each year, no matter where we lived, that orange ceramic pumpkin did it’s job of ushering in Autumn.

Fall buffet table decor with glass bottles and leaves atthepicketfence.com

That orange ceramic pumpkin represented home to me.

wheat in a glass bottle atthepicketfence.com

And now, each year, the highlight of opening up my own bins of seasonal decor is the moment when I pull back the tissue paper to reveal that orange ceramic pumpkin candle holder.

Apple Cider station atthepicketfence.com

And my own daughter eagerly awaits the inaugural lighting of the candle. We dim the lights and she leans down so she can be eye to upside down triangle eye with it.

fall breakfast buffet atthepicketfence.com

In a time when we are flooded with a steady stream of new ideas and trends, it’s so easy to get caught up in having to have the latest and greatest in our homes.

pumpkin in nest on scale

One year everything is neutral and the next it’s bright, bold colors.

French country fall mantel decor atthepicketfence.com

Or you start buying up all of the shabby chic decor you can find only to realize that everyone has moved on to farmhouse style.

antler and pine cone on mantel fall decor atthepicketfence.com

And it’s tempting, so very tempting, to think that those things are what the seasons are all about. To think that they are what will be remembered.

simple fall mantel decor with vintage books atthepicketfence.com

But the older I get the more I realize the truth.

simple vintage inspired fall mantel atthepicketfence.com

The seasonal decorations are so much fun and I thoroughly enjoy adding nods to each new season throughout my home.

But decorations do not the season make. 

tiered metal stand with fall decor atthepicketfence.com

The first whiff of fall carried on a cool breeze.

The sunlight that streams through your windows suddenly beginning to shift and fade earlier and earlier.

fall front porch decor atthepicketfence.com

The moment you trade your flip-flops for boots.

The realization that your kids are 6 inches taller than the last time you were at the pumpkin patch.

The colors on the trees that are so vibrant and so beautiful they actually make your heart ache a bit.

All of the things that can’t be packed up in plastic bins and stored in the attic.

suitcases with pumpkins

They are what I look forward to the most at this time of the year.

And the decorations? Well, I think that they are simply our way of trying to capture all of the feelings of each season and make them more tangible.

Even if that means they come in the form of an orange ceramic pumpkin. 😉

 

I’m so excited to be joining 16 other bloggers this week as we fling open our homes to fall and to you. Grab a cup of coffee and start at the beginning of the tour by paying a visit to Finding Home Farms, the beautiful home of our host Laura.

 

fall home tour button

And we’re all so thrilled to be teaming up with Better Homes and Gardens again this  year!

BHG-Button

BHG and some of the bloggers want to see your fall decorating ideas.  Follow the directions below so that you can be part of us sharing some of our favorite fall ideas this week on Instagram.  You can find me on Instagram @findinghomefarms.

Share pictures of your fall decorating on Instagram and use the two hashtags:

#BHGCelebrate for a chance to be featured on BHG’s Instagram

and

#findingfallhometour for a chance to be featured by me or one of the other bloggers participating on Instagram

Now, be sure to head on over from here and take the tour of Angela’s gorgeous home at Unexpected Elegance.

And thank you so much for meeting me here today At the Picket Fence!

Vanessa signature

40 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Decorating, Home Tour Tagged With: Autumn, fall, fall decor, fall Decorating, fall home tour

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Fall Front Door Decorating
Next Post: Happy Fall! Have a Ball! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynda Brandly says

    September 17, 2015 at 3:51 AM

    Your home is really beautiful and I love how fresh all your fall touches are! So happy to see such a classic home with lovely antiques and rich decor. Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
    love and blessings~
    Lynda @ Gates of Crystal

    Reply
  2. Michael Wurm, Jr. says

    September 17, 2015 at 6:08 AM

    Oh my! Everything looks so festively fall! I always love getting a peek inside your home. Just beautiful. 🙂

    xo Michael

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 6:42 AM

      Thank you so much Michael! So fun being apart of the tour with you!

      Reply
  3. Becca says

    September 17, 2015 at 6:28 AM

    Gorgeous, Vanessa! I’ve loved watching your style evolve over the years, and while all of your seasonal decorating has been gorgeous, I thick that “this” is my favorite Fall tour of yours! Happy Fall, friend.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 6:39 AM

      Awww…thanks so much sweet friend! Hugs to you! xoxo

      Reply
  4. courtney says

    September 17, 2015 at 7:22 AM

    So warm and inviting Vanessa- love it!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 8:21 AM

      Thank you Courtney!

      Reply
  5. Janna Allbritton says

    September 17, 2015 at 8:41 AM

    Vanessa! Beautifully done. And I absolutely love your orange ceramic pumpkin memory!❤️❤️❤️

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 9:05 AM

      Thanks Janna!

      Reply
  6. Loni says

    September 17, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    I know it’s all objective and about personal style, but this home tour was by far my favorite of all 16 bloggers. It spoke to me like none others did, and your narrative was just exactly how I felt when my mom got her decor out and its still how I feel when I get mine out every year. Thank you for all your inspiration! Your home and your words felt so effortless and easy. I loved it! I’m your newest follower! 🙂

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 9:40 AM

      Oh Loni!! I’m seriously fighting tears here after reading your sweet comment. It means so much to me to hear that my blog post spoke to you and that it made you think about your own experiences! You truly have no idea how much I appreciate your encouragement and I want to say welcome, welcome to the picket fence. Blessings! Vanessa

      Reply
  7. Cindy says

    September 17, 2015 at 9:24 AM

    Gorgeous home and your fall decor is amazing!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  8. Design Chic says

    September 17, 2015 at 12:03 PM

    White pumpkins and ornamental cabbages are my fall favorites. Your home looks amazing…now I am completely inspired to do my decorating this weekend!

    Reply
  9. Tracey says

    September 17, 2015 at 1:13 PM

    Good afternoon, although your home tour is lovely and certainly beautiful, I’m feeling very cheated – where is the ceramic orange pumpkin ? F.R.O.G., Tracey

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 1:46 PM

      LOL Tracey!! I was going to try and get it out of the attic but ran out of time. I’ll have to sneak it into another blog post! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Julie Blanner says

    September 17, 2015 at 1:42 PM

    It’s so pretty! I love all of your vignettes and how you integrated wheat.

    Reply
  11. Deb Guggisberg says

    September 17, 2015 at 1:53 PM

    Your colors and decor resonates with me. Beautiful! What is your paint color in the foyer area? The color is so cheerful! And you write beautifully! I felt it in my heart.

    Reply
  12. Mary Ferguson says

    September 17, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    Thanks for sharing, every thing looks great.
    Mary

    Reply
  13. Debbie @ Refresh Restyle says

    September 17, 2015 at 3:34 PM

    Love your home! Thanks for sharing, so pretty!
    Debbie

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 4:11 PM

      Thanks Debbie!! xoxo

      Reply
  14. Michele says

    September 17, 2015 at 3:55 PM

    Oh, beautifully and well done, my dears! Not only was this a fantastically nostalgic sweet post – but my oh my was it filled with eye happiness! Your pics are amazing, your home beautiful and I just adored this post. Thank you!

    [clapping]

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 4:11 PM

      Thank you so much Michele! You always leave such lovely and encouraging comments that mean more to me than you realize. Blessings to you! <3

      Reply
  15. Jessica says

    September 17, 2015 at 5:41 PM

    Lovely! Vanessa, the chicken picture over your mantle is glorious. In fact, I almost bought one exactly like that over the weekend. By chance did you find it at Monticello up in Portland? I fell in love with it! Gorgeous pictures. Bring on fall!

    Reply
  16. Carol Reddin says

    September 17, 2015 at 5:41 PM

    Ahhh, Vanessa, I so enjoyed reading your post and touring your home and reminiscing with you! Your home is always so welcoming and homey. Your Dad and I always feel perfectly comfortable in your home and, as you know, make ourselves completely “at home.” Now, we just have to find that orange pumpkin. Love you!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 6:35 PM

      Thanks Mom!! I know where the pumpkin is I just haven’t gotten it out yet. LOL! Love you guys!

      Reply
  17. Elizabeth@ Rustic Maple says

    September 17, 2015 at 5:43 PM

    Your home is lovely and the Fall touches are very pretty. Your words are beautfiul and very wise. Thanks for sharing your tour.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 6:35 PM

      Thanks so much Elizabeth!

      Reply
  18. Lisa M says

    September 17, 2015 at 5:43 PM

    Such beautiful pictures and words.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 17, 2015 at 6:35 PM

      Thank you Lisa!

      Reply
  19. Paige.Rose says

    September 17, 2015 at 8:40 PM

    I love every inch of this tour!! The simple fall entrance screams classy & festive with such simple touches & I love the cider station { I went with a cider & donuts themed dining }!! Now that makes me want some cold cider & hot donuts hahah! Happy Friday!!

    Paige.Rose
    from
    http://www.TheQuaintSanctuary.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 20, 2015 at 7:42 PM

      Rose thank you so much! Such a sweet compliment and much appreciated!

      Reply
  20. ashley @ the handmade home says

    September 18, 2015 at 6:41 AM

    LOVE it, as always, ladies! Oh so beautiful! That dresser is my FAVE!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 18, 2015 at 8:35 AM

      Thank you Ashley!! So fun sharing a tour day with you!

      Reply
  21. Jessica @ Four Generations One Roof says

    September 18, 2015 at 8:29 AM

    Vanessa! Your home is just so beautiful. I love your traditional design mixed with the perfect vintage goodies! That mantel is amazing… great job!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 20, 2015 at 7:36 PM

      Thanks girl!

      Reply
  22. Gabriela says

    September 19, 2015 at 4:09 AM

    Everything looks just perfect! You show a lot of good taste. Thank you for this inspiring post! Have a good day!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 20, 2015 at 7:35 PM

      Oh thank you so much Gabriela!

      Reply
  23. Sandy says

    September 19, 2015 at 9:26 AM

    Wow, this was so beautifully written! Love your home and the soft colors with a pop of color here and there. Your mantel is so soft and interesting. Fall is such a beautiful time of year. I resist it at first but succumb to the beauty of the leaves, bonfires and apple cider. It’s a magical time of year.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 20, 2015 at 7:34 PM

      Thank you so much Sandy!!

      Reply
  24. Alison- The Pink Tumbleweed says

    September 20, 2015 at 8:07 PM

    Absolutely lovely! Your orange ceramic pumpkin story rings a familiar bell 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Take the Quiz

Stay updated!

Get all the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Lessons From Growing Out My Bangs March 12, 2021
  • Painted Staircase Handrail Makeover March 4, 2021
  • A New French Country Dining Table February 3, 2021
  • Open Now December 17, 2020
  • Tradition and a Christmas Home Tour December 9, 2020

Get all the latest straight to your inbox

Footer

Instagram

I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 At The Picket Fence