• 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 to Loni Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Why We’ve Chosen Vacations Over Projects April 26, 2022
  • A New Look for the Family Room March 1, 2022
  • Christmas Kitchen and Family Room December 19, 2021
  • Christmas Home Tour Part One December 10, 2021
  • Easy Hot Cocoa Station November 21, 2021

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Happy Friday!! I’m working on a blog post to sha Happy Friday!! I’m working on a blog post to share all of the details of our family room shelving makeover but I’m super impatient and just had to give you all a sneak peek!! We are SO happy with how they turned out and it finally looks like I’ve always envisioned. Our quick fix years ago (scroll to see the before photo) never felt quite right but now? Soooo much better!! 🙌🏻 Big shoutout to our amazingly talented friend Matt @redemptive_woodworx for bringing our vision to life and doing such impeccable work.

I hope you all have a great start to the 4th of July weekend and make sure to check my stories later for Friday Funnies!
The month of June is coming to a close and it has The month of June is coming to a close and it has been JAM packed! The highlight by far though was my son's graduation from high school. When I started blogging, he was only 6 years old and some of you have been apart of my community here for that entire time. Now, he's 19 and there is a reason parents are told not to blink because the years truly do go faster than I ever could have imagined. He has become such an incredible young man we are so excited to see how God is going to unfold the next chapter of his life. We celebrated with parties galore (SO many open houses to attend!) and made memories we'll forever cherish. My mama heart was filled to bursting with the joy of it all! Now we're taking some time to just enjoy these warm, summer days making even more memories because, when you’re at this stage of parenting, you know all too well how much you need to grasp every opportunity to spend time together.

I hope your summer is off to a great start too dear friends! 🪴
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts o “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Happy first day of summer dear friends!! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted something new here but life has been crazy. I’ll have some new photos of house projects and life events to share with you soon but, got now, I’m just going to enjoy this gorgeous first day of summer after our ridiculously long, wet spring. ☀️
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. Th “It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” (Maud Hart Lovelace) 

Welcome June!
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
“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? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

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.
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 At The Picket Fence