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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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October 5, 2018

Fall Home Tour 2018

Confession…most, if not all, of the years I have shared my fall home tour here with you, there has been quite a bit of ‘staging’ done prior to taking the photos.

Vintage suitcases trying to look casual all stacked on top of each other with pumpkins spilling out. Extra throw blankets and pillows tossed onto chairs which makes it more than evident that no one is actually supposed to sit there.

There would be tables set for parties that were never going to happen or freshly baked bread with just a few pieces sliced up to look like they were waiting for someone to walk by and grab one.

I would huff and puff and sweat as I moved around furniture and rearranged things to get the perfect shot and then as soon as I had captured the image, huff and puff and sweat moving things back to the way they are normally arranged.

Which means that what you would see was not really an accurate portrayal of how my house looks on any given day.

Now, from a photographer’s perspective, there are always things which have to be adjusted to get the best look, always staging involved.

But, this year I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

This year, I wanted it to look like it would if you just popped over to pay me a visit one day. Granted, normally you would see dishes in the sink, a laundry basket or two, papers on the desk in the kitchen and socks, so many socks. What is it with kids leaving socks everywhere?

But, for the most part, this is my home…unstaged.

Now, for the sake of full disclosure, I will say that for my fall mantel blog post I shared last week, I did move a couple of chairs away from the wall and had them flank the fireplace.

And I won’t be taking you to see the rooms upstairs because with a 15 and 11 year old, well, you understand.


But, if you’re ok with a blogger sharing a fall home tour that has a little less and doesn’t look like the inside of a home decor store exploded everywhere, then I’m your girl!

All I wanted this year was to see ripples of fall through my home rather than huge splashes.

To have little pops of the colors of Autumn here and there but only if it could be done in a matter of minutes and didn’t involve any huffing and puffing.

I’m not going to have a table laden with gorgeous place settings and handmade napkin rings.

But you are welcome to sit down on a stool at the kitchen island and talk to me while I figure out what to make for dinner.

Lately, more than ever, I’ve been feeling that pull towards simplicity in my seasonal decorating.

And not just in my decorating but in my life too. My desire to have a peaceful home is greater than it’s ever been. With so much coming at us all of the time, creating a haven for myself and my family means I’m choosing to control what I can control.

And because I believe a peaceful home begins with a peaceful heart, I’m giving myself the gift of really enjoying the seasons rather than making them stressful by dragging out decorations that will only be used for a photo or spending hours staging rooms that look like they’re an advertisement.

So, I’ll just keep sharing ideas for your homes that I think you might like and inspiration for your heart that I think you might enjoy.

Because my desire isn’t to just have a home that is beautiful to look at but, instead, to have a home that is beautiful to live in.

Thank you for letting me open my door to you today dear friends,

32 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Decorating, Good Ideas, Home Tour Tagged With: fall, fall decor, fall Decorating, fall home tour

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Comments

  1. Kim DeBastos says

    October 5, 2018 at 8:53 AM

    Love the subtle “hints” of fall decor. Very pretty!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 5, 2018 at 9:18 AM

      Thank you so much Kim!

      Reply
  2. Darlene says

    October 5, 2018 at 9:04 AM

    Love the simplicity and you are correct, let’s just live and enjoy our lives!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 5, 2018 at 9:18 AM

      Thank you so much Darlene! Have a great weekend!

      Reply
  3. DJ Baggerly says

    October 5, 2018 at 9:07 AM

    Vanessa, I love your post and your home ! It looks so peaceful and comfy, something I always hope my home will look like. With two fur babies, there are days I think I have two toddlers around, their toys are all over the place! What is wonderful when you come into your home after you’ve been a way and there is a peace…..you’ve found the right combination.
    I used to go all out with decorating; however, now as I’ve gotten older, like you I’ve scaled back. It’s more peaceful, not in my face. As God watches over us, may your home be filled with love, laughter and wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 5, 2018 at 9:18 AM

      Thank you so much for your kind words DJ! I know that fur babies can definitely be like toddlers. Teenagers can too sometimes! LOL! Peaceful is definitely my goal for my home and I love hearing from folks who feel the same way. Thank you for stopping by today!

      Reply
  4. Barbara B Edwards says

    October 5, 2018 at 9:45 AM

    I wish everyone was honest in their post and or pictures. We all project the “perfect” side and no one can live up to that pressure.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 5, 2018 at 12:56 PM

      You’re so right Barbara! There is no such thing as perfect so we need to make sure we don’t perpetuate a false ideal. Thanks so much for coming by!

      Reply
  5. Laura Harrie says

    October 5, 2018 at 12:31 PM

    You have a lovely home!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 5, 2018 at 12:55 PM

      Thank you so much Laura!

      Reply
  6. Pamela says

    October 5, 2018 at 1:06 PM

    it’s wonderful, peaceful, useful and intentional.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 5, 2018 at 4:44 PM

      Pamela that is a high compliment for sure! Your choices of words are exactly what I hope everyone who comes to my home feels. Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Diane Lawrence says

    October 5, 2018 at 4:26 PM

    Vanessa-Beautiful!! FYI-Your house is WAY neater than mine EVER is-and there are 3 adults living here!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 5, 2018 at 4:42 PM

      Awww thanks so much Diane!! And believe me it’s definitely not always neat. There’s a reason only a few rooms were shown. LOL!

      P.S. I know I still owe you some photos and a book!!! I’m literally like the most forgetful person ever these days!

      Reply
  8. Cheryl says

    October 5, 2018 at 4:29 PM

    Vanessa, Your message rings true and timely. I have been wondering lately how the frenzy for perfection has gotten so out of control. We all want lovely and welcoming homes but if we get lost comparing our homes and ourselves with others we will never be content. It is a good thing to “share” our homes and to encourage one another to take interest in making our homes a place of beauty and a safe haven. I think you have done just that!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 5, 2018 at 4:45 PM

      Thank you so much Cheryl! I can’t tell you how much your kind words and encouragement mean to me!

      Reply
  9. Marijean says

    October 5, 2018 at 8:31 PM

    This is so refreshing! I can’t thank you enough for keeping it real! Your home looks beautiful!

    Reply
  10. Judy says

    October 5, 2018 at 9:15 PM

    The arrangement on your dining room table is simple, but it is beautiful! I like that it isn’t too busy or bright. It is very comforting and peaceful to look at.

    Reply
  11. Angela Slaughter says

    October 6, 2018 at 4:19 AM

    I have several bins of fall decor that I try to find a place for every year, but not this year. My daughter is getting married next week, so I haven’t had the time to decorate the way I usually do. I have just a few things sprinkled around for pops of color in our main living spaces and that is it. I, like you, Vanessa, am loving the simplicity of the clean, unfussy spaces. I think this will be the standard around my home from now on. This was a great post and your home is so lovely. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    Reply
  12. Lisa says

    October 6, 2018 at 6:02 AM

    I applaud you for just keeping it simply beautiful! It’s so much easier for the average reader to relate to and be inspired!

    Lisa

    Reply
  13. Karen says

    October 6, 2018 at 6:58 AM

    We downsized considerably a few months ago and relocated, so I gave myself permission to cut back on all the holiday decorating. Plus we have some renovations to do to make this home ours. I agree, it’s nice to have a few pops of holiday decor, but lugging out boxes and rearranging the whole house had to stop. So simplify we did and it’s been great. In fact our whole move centered around being more authentic in our lives and our home. You home is lovely and has breathing room without all the fuss. By the way, we have the sock issue too! I don’t understand that at all. Both my husband and my 13 yo son leave socks about and then the pup carries them around. First world problems I guess!

    Reply
  14. Connie says

    October 6, 2018 at 7:29 AM

    love the simplicity of your fall decor. I appreciate you doing an easy and not over-the-top look. It’s something people can actually apply to their homes! Looking forward to upcoming Christmas decor. Thanks

    Reply
  15. Susan says

    October 6, 2018 at 9:34 AM

    Vanessa, I think your way of simplicity is beautiful! Seems that the less of decorating is more! Your home looks like’home’!

    Reply
  16. Mary Caliendo says

    October 6, 2018 at 9:56 AM

    Beautiful as always! An inspiration for me! thank you

    Reply
  17. Margaret says

    October 8, 2018 at 7:02 AM

    Your home is beautiful and inviting. I like the simple touches of fall ….not a lot of clutter.

    Reply
  18. Doris Raab says

    October 8, 2018 at 11:08 AM

    Your home is beautiful and has just the perfect touch of fall!

    Reply
  19. Linda says

    October 14, 2018 at 8:08 PM

    No huffing and puffing is needed…your home is beautiful!

    Reply
  20. Judy g9QQ says

    October 17, 2018 at 1:04 PM

    Beautiful home, beautiful words, beautiful idea. Less truly is more! When you’re aren’t too busy, could you please tell me where you got those gorgeous stools in your kitchen? Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 18, 2018 at 2:05 PM

      Thank you so much Judy for your kind words! The stools were purchased on overstock.com

      Reply
  21. Adrienne says

    October 27, 2018 at 2:21 PM

    I’ll also confess – – I’m a tad jealous that your house looks THIS GOOD on any given day!!! Your ‘EVERYDAY’ home looks better than if I attempted to stage mine a thousand times. (ok maybe I’m being a LITTLE hard on myself, but you get what I’m saying) All of this to say – beautiful home!

    Reply
  22. Becky Cassera says

    November 5, 2018 at 9:47 AM

    Love everything about this post! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  23. BJ Gibbs says

    December 12, 2018 at 9:47 AM

    Entering your site for the first time; oh my, it’s almost Christmas. You are saved to my Favorites because I agree with all you shared – photos, ideas, and especially your words! Real and transparent. Others have labeled me a minimalist and though it sounded negative (and a few meant it to be), I now embrace it as the real me. Less is more, and it equates peaceful, orderly, and beautiful, IMO. Your design style is all of these.

    Reply

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“Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season “Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season that awakens my soul, your awesome beauty compels my spirit to soar like a leaf caught in an autumn breeze and my heart to sing like a heavenly choir.” Peggy Toney Horton.

Happy October dear friends! 🍂
On Monday my heart just felt so heavy. Yes, the po On Monday my heart just felt so heavy. Yes, the pouring rain outside contributed to my feelings. But the primary cause was this overwhelming flood of thoughts about how much in our world and in our culture is going off the rails. I’d planned to make pumpkin bread that day but I was tempted to just curl up in a ball on my bed, pull the covers over my head and pretend that this would actually solve something. I didn’t give into that temptation though. Instead, I got out my favorite pumpkin bread recipe and found that, as I worked and prayed and hummed worship songs, my spirit began to settle. When the world feels very loud, the demands of family and home can actually help to quiet our souls. As each family member walked through the door later in the day, they commented on how wonderful the house smelled. It’s better than any fall candle in my opinion! And I knew that the extra loaf that I get from the recipe would be a welcome treat for my widower neighbor. So, if your heart is feeling a bit unsettled this week too, maybe this recipe will come in handy!

Pumpkin Bread:

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups white sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7×3 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 🍂
Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super simple centerpiece that you can make in five minutes (or less) with just a few pumpkins and extra faux greenery. Let’s spend less time decorating and more time enjoying this season. It’s my favorite!! 🧡

#fallcenterpiece #falldecor #centerpiece #fiveminutedecorating
"Define your day", she told me as I held my newbor "Define your day", she told me as I held my newborn son. My mom and I were talking about how blurred my days and nights had become and how easy it would be to just stay in my pajamas 24/7. She encouraged me to make an attempt to put on 'real' clothes in the morning even if they were just nice sweatpants (bonus if they were clean!) and to throw a little bit of makeup on. That simple advice helped chart a course for my years of motherhood that continues today. And recently I began thinking about how critical it is that we not only seek wisdom from those ahead of us in our stage of life but that we are willing to apply it as well.

So, I asked this question on my personal Facebook page; "What is something you feel you've done well to create a peaceful/meaningful home for yourself and your family?" The catch was that the question was geared towards women in the 40+ age range. The responses came flooding in and were so wonderful and insightful. So, I'm going to be starting a new series where I share this wisdom with you and will include the first name of the woman who offered it. 

Today we start with Alison who said "I learned to set my alarm early to get up and moving before my kids woke up. I showered, got dressed and did my devotions while the house was quiet. It set my heart and perspective for each day.”

Is this something you do in your life too? What wisdom would you offer to a mom of young children?

I truly think our culture would greatly benefit from more women in different seasons of life being willing to invest in each other. 🍂

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #motherhood #parentingwisdom
If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a resta If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a restaurant I’m definitely ordering it! It’s one of my all time favorite treats. So I decided to try my hand at making some here at home with a little fall twist and it was SO delicious!! 🍎

Ingredients:

6 slices of day old bread (french, sourdough or even brioche works great)
2 cups of heavy cream
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the apples:
3 peeled and chopped apples of a tart variety
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour (or corn starch)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350
Cut bread into cubes and place in a greased 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish
Whisk together in a bowl the eggs, cream, vanilla, rum, cinnamon and nutmeg and then pour it over the bread cubes. In a separate bowl, mix together the apples, brown sugar and flour/corn starch. Pour the apple mixture on top of the bread mixture making sure to spread the apples evenly across every part of the bread mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes. 
Enjoy!

#falldesserts #breadpudding #fallrecipes #desserts
When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after onl When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after only a week of school, you take the opportunity to make Saturday a truly restful day. Pancakes on the griddle, puttering around the yard admiring the way the limelights have begun their autumn journey from white to green to pink. Sprinkling touches of fall around the house a little bit at a time. Savoring the slowness of it all and taking care of my people in this place that provides us all with a respite from the world even if just for a day.

Hope you’re weekend is off to a great start and that you make it a priority to slow down for a bit and soak up the beauty around you. 🍂

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #falldecorating
As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but thin As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but think about how grateful I am for the reminders all around me of God’s Sovereignty over everything including the seasons. It can be challenging in our world today to trust that there isn’t a single thing happening that surprises Him.

In a way, decorating my home to reflect the changing season serves as a tangible reminder of this trust. Even something as simple as seeing a pumpkin on my mantel or a basket of mums on the coffee table fill me with peace because they represent the things that remain constant and true.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #club31women
I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
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