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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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July 22, 2016

Kitchen Makeover Sneak Peek

Recently I was shocked and horrified to find out that my mom will almost always peek ahead and read the end of new book. Even a mystery novel!! For her suspense-loving daughter this was mind-boggling. She said that it helps her to be more relaxed as she reads the story knowing how it all ends up.

And while I will not be making this a habit in my literary adventures, I suppose I can see the merits of getting a little sneak peek now and then.

Which is why I thought I might give you one today of my kitchen makeover!

white kitchen cabinets preview

It’s been a few weeks since the painting was completed and yet every day when I come downstairs I’m still in shock over how different it looks. How light and bright and cheerful.

I snapped some photos immediately after putting everything back into the cupboards (nothing like emptying out your kitchen to remind you of how badly you needed to clean things out. Yikes!) and you’ll see that they have the old knobs on them.

sun through kitchen windows

But, since then I’ve received these beautiful new ones from D. Lawless Hardware and they couldn’t be more perfect.

After the full reveal I’ll have a fun giveaway for you from them!

white kitchen cabinets

I still have a few more changes to make before you can see the rest. I had to order a piece of glass for the top of the kitchen desk and I’m making some decisions about the backsplash.

 

But I thought that, in the meantime, you might enjoy seeing this little sneak peek.

I know my mom will! 😉

Have a great weekend and thanks for meeting me at the fence today,

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12 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas, Kitchen Remodel Tagged With: decorating, kitchen, Makeover

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Comments

  1. Michele says

    July 22, 2016 at 7:20 AM

    Oh I certainly DO like seeing your sneak peek – holy moly your kitchen is stunning. Whoo hoo! I couldn’t be happier for you! It’s GORGEOUS and I can’t wait to see every. single. detail! YAY!!!!! ♥

    Reply
  2. Richella Parham says

    July 22, 2016 at 7:50 AM

    How exciting! Looks like the painting was a huge success. Hope you’ll share what method the painters used–I’m guessing the new finish was sprayed on? I’d love the skinny on that.

    So glad you’re enjoying your new, light-filled space!

    Reply
  3. Lisa Mothersead says

    July 22, 2016 at 8:15 AM

    Thanks for the pic’s of your pretty kitchen. One of the many things I really like about your blog is your organization and scheduling of home updates. It seems you plan and can be patient like we (have to) do in our home. (Some of the bloggers work at such a maniac pace, it’s overwhelming.). My current kitchen is the first white kitchen I’ve ever had and I’ve just loved it so much. Hope you’ll feel the same about yours!

    Reply
  4. Shelley says

    July 22, 2016 at 8:18 AM

    one question…are the edged of the granite rough…..if so then watch out….we had granite tile like that in CO and the edged were rough…..ruined many tops….ended up wearing an apron everyday in the kitchen till get got slab granite

    but what a nice change….amazing what a touch of paint will do

    we moved into this house beginning of June….and knew the kitchen had to go….honey oak and the cabinet doors would not shut…..and frankly I like taller uppers….so we are having a whole new kitchen put in…everything…..as the appliances are old too….husband is going to reuse a bank of uppers for the garage so it won’t all be trashed…

    in the laundry the cabinets were an odd pinkish color, hey the house was build in 1994….but in great condition…so husband painted them for me….WOW, what a difference….and I bought knobs for the doors too…as there were NONE….and I kept trying to open 1 door the wrong way….LOL….

    we are keeping the bathroom cabinets….as they are in much better condition than the kitchen….but we are having granite counter tops put on and NEW faucets….the clear plastic crystal looking MUST GO!!! lol and I did buy new knobs for those rooms too…..

    it’s been a long 2 months…and still a month to go…..quickly I HOPE!!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 22, 2016 at 5:21 PM

      Hi Shelley! Thankfully the edge of our granite isn’t rough because that would definitely not be fun! Sounds like you have had quite a lot of work on your home but I’m sure it’s all turning out beautifully. Thanks so much for coming by!

      Reply
      • Shelley says

        July 23, 2016 at 5:30 PM

        well I see a glaring TYPO in my reply….lol…..EDGES….NOT edged….duh….lol
        happy to hear it’s not rough….ruined many great tops before I started wearing an apron….actually 1 I made with a sturdy dish towel and some twill tape….and cheap too….lol
        this is the first “used” home we have purchased since 1978…..that one was a 1928 Spanish style in La Mesa, CA….and needed MORE work than this home…..lol….so been there done that…and at almost 62….I think I am just about OVER IT!!!!!
        lol
        and I love your blog….it’s an easy read…

        Reply
  5. Sandie says

    July 22, 2016 at 4:19 PM

    Thank you so much. Most don’t want their readers to see a work in progress, but I do! That’s the way most of us have to do it…..a little at a time. BTW, love all your crown molding . It is beautiful and so thick.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 22, 2016 at 5:20 PM

      Thank you so much Sandie! A little at a time for sure. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    July 22, 2016 at 6:37 PM

    Loving the sneak peek Vanessa…and love that hardware….your kitchen is so bright and beautiful! Have a great weekend!

    Reply
  7. Gwen says

    July 22, 2016 at 6:53 PM

    I don’t peek. I just don’t want to know. But I DID want to peek today!!! I like all your choices!! It all looks so 2016 and lovely!! Thank you for inviting us in for the preview. There. That sounds better on my conscience (wink)! I can’t pick one thing I like more. The counters –yes!! And the knobs!!! You’ll have to wait for me to see it in the full glory reveal day!!!

    Reply
  8. Michelle Mortensen says

    July 22, 2016 at 10:12 PM

    It looks great – can’t wait to see the full reveal.
    Best & Bisous,
    Michelle from Simply Santa Barbara

    Reply
  9. Leslie says

    July 23, 2016 at 7:30 AM

    Beautiful! We are in the midst of a redo, too! Now to make decisions on what goes back into those cabinets…and decisions on countertops, backsplash and paint colors are still swirling.

    Reply

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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
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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