• 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

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

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Dear Hallmark Channel
Next Post: Paper Bag Pumpkins »

Reader Interactions

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

Leave a Reply to Margaret 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

  • A New Gig! April 16, 2021
  • 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

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