• 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 5, 2015

Kitchen and Family Room Makeover

Happy Saturday friends! On behalf of my friend Kara (who is the one who gets to live in the gorgeous new spaces I’ve been showing you!) and myself we’d like to say a big huge THANK YOU for all of your lovely comments the past two days!

This was such a long process for Kara and her husband Caleb but he got to go to work each day while she, on the other hand, was living in the midst of chaos while their home was being remodeled. Oh and they have 5 kids. She deserves a trophy don’t you think? 😉

rooster pillow atthepicketfence.com

Today we’re sharing with you the changes made to the rest of the kitchen along with the family room.

After coming through the front door and through the entry you would have to turn right and then go through another door to get to the kitchen and family room.

Here is how it looked BEFORE

kitchen and family room entry before

and AFTER

built in kitchen cabinet to look like furniture atthepicketfence.com

BEFORE

farmhouse kitchen before4

AFTER

kitchen cabinets built to look like furniture atthepicketfence.com

At the last minute Kara decided to have this cabinet built to like a free-standing piece. And then on a whim she decided to have it painted this gorgeous shade of blue instead of the white used in the rest of the kitchen.

Isn’t it AMAZING?!! It is seriously my most favorite part of the kitchen!

blue kitchen cabinets atthepicketfence.com

chalkboard canisters on shelf in kitchen

This is a homeschooling family so the addition of workspace was a MUST and having two desks means an easier school day for kids and mama both.

double desk workspace in kitchen atthepicketfence.com

There was great debate about whether or not to paint the brick surrounding the fireplace.

Williams family room before

But ultimately they decided to not to paint it but to have a beautiful custom mantel made instead.

wood mantel on brick fireplace

The backs of the bookcases were painted white which completely lightened up this wall.

family room with built in bookcases atthepicketfence.com

The rooster pillow is the perfect nod to this family’s new life in this home.

patterned chair and rooster pillow

And everywhere you look you see signs of how much they have embraced a reality that is far better than any of their dreams.

red scale with fabric carrots on top atthepicketfence.com

So what do you think so far? Did you get a chance to see the kitchen makeover?

Farmhouse Cottage Style Kitchen makeover atthepicketfence.com

How about the front door and entry transformation?

farmhouse entry with red front door atthepicketfence.com

Be sure to come back next week when we’ll share the final room in this home renovation.

Have a fantastic weekend friends!

Vanessa signature

15 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Parade of Homes Tagged With: decor, decorating, home tour, kitchen

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Farmhouse Kitchen Makeover Reveal
Next Post: Before and After Dining Room Makeover »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rosemary says

    September 5, 2015 at 3:57 AM

    Beautiful counter tops. They look like wood. If so what type of wood? This is exactly what I am looking for!

    Reply
    • Kara says

      September 5, 2015 at 10:34 AM

      Thank you, Rosemary! The blue hutch countertop is wood, but the desk/kitchen countertops are granite with a leathered (matte) finish.

      Reply
  2. Laura says

    September 5, 2015 at 4:32 AM

    This looks so warm and welcoming! A happy place to come home too!

    Reply
  3. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    September 5, 2015 at 6:15 AM

    What a gorgeous makeover!….I so love the warmth of this home….so beautifully done and did not compromise the comfort factor… definitely defines beauty and function….love the dual work station. Must say that cabinet is my fav too!…Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  4. Anita Ward says

    September 5, 2015 at 7:34 AM

    Love, love, love it all!!!!!!!! Yes, she most definitely deserves it all!!!! God bless her!!

    Reply
  5. Lynn Richards says

    September 5, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    Oh my goodness. This is lovely!!! I am debating on some open shelving in our renovation and this just tipped me into the “heck yeah!” position. Love the blue cabinet. Makes me so impatient for the city to give us the go ahead on all our plans!
    xo

    Reply
  6. Lynn Richards says

    September 5, 2015 at 8:33 AM

    p.s. what did she use for her floors?

    Reply
    • Kara says

      September 5, 2015 at 10:36 AM

      Thank you, Lynn! I’m glad I tipped the scale to open shelving, as I’m a huge fan! The floors are a pre-finished wide plank, distressed oak. Good luck on your own remodel!

      Reply
  7. Hope Williams says

    September 5, 2015 at 10:29 AM

    Wow, this is so gorgeous! And it is my colors too!
    Can you tell me if her cabinets are a light yellow, walls white, black counters? This is just absolute perfection to me as well!
    LOVE!!!
    Hope

    Reply
    • Kara says

      September 5, 2015 at 10:41 AM

      Thank you so much, Hope! It sounds like we have similar taste. The cabinets and the plank wall in the kitchen, as well as the trim throughout are cream (Sherwin Williams Summer White) and the opposite wall with the blue hutch and desk is yellow (Behr Charismatic). The counters are actually a dark brown granite, though without light shining directly on them, they do look more black. Thank you for asking!

      Reply
  8. Gwen says

    September 5, 2015 at 11:05 AM

    Love it all as I’m sure the family will too. It’s home and school so it looks organized and ready to use

    Reply
  9. Donnamae says

    September 5, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    It’s a very warm and welcoming home. I’m sure they must love living there! 😉

    Reply
  10. Rose L. says

    September 5, 2015 at 12:24 PM

    It all looks so lovely and expensive. They must have saved up for a long time for this!

    Reply
  11. Carol Reddin says

    September 5, 2015 at 4:21 PM

    Love your home Kara! So beautiful!

    Reply
  12. Design Chic says

    September 7, 2015 at 6:25 PM

    What a transformation – love the addition of the hardwoods and the bookcase is gorgeous…great color!

    Reply

Leave a Reply 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!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

decorating with pine cones

Latest Recipes

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

Grandma’s Banana Bread

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022
  • Vintage Inspired Hot Cocoa Bar November 21, 2022
  • Autumn Home Decor Tour October 7, 2022
  • Built In Shelving Makeover in Family Room August 31, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.

While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.

We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.

If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.

And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence