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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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January 24, 2015

Modern Country Cottage Home Tour

Happy, happy Saturday! We are so excited to show you another amazing home today in our ongoing Parade of Homes Series!

This week we are welcoming the incredibly talented Shannon from AKA Designs who also happens to be one of our newest sponsors here At the Picket Fence. We know you will love her home as much as we do so let’s get to the tour, shall we?

modern country cottage home tour from aka designs

Hi there At the Picket Fence readers! Shannon here! I’m a Canadian writer, interior designer and homeschooling momma of three. I am the writer and half of the creative team (the other half is my handy hubby, Dean) behind the lifestyle blog, AKA Design. I am also the author of Bloggers & Brands, the blogger’s guide to pitching and working with brands.

I’m so excited to be here to share our house tour with you!

Come on in…

landscape progerss

We moved into this house in December 2012 – just 10 short days before hosting family for Christmas. Home ownership has been such an adventure. But now that we’re settled into our house I love spending time changing the decor with the seasons.

THE LIVING ROOM

We adore that this house has both a living room and a family room – something we’ve never had before. The upstairs living room has thus far progressed from not enough seating to ample seating for at least six. We built the Barn Door, Mantel and Coffee Table ourselves. I love cozy spaces so I always keep plenty of throw pillows and blankets around for cool nights!

AKA DESIGN LIVING ROOM

RUSTIC CREAM LIVING ROOM

AKA DESIGN LIVING ROOM INDUSTRIAL SHELVES

LOG SLICE CHALKBOARD

More of Our Living Room

DINING ROOM

We sold our old dining table, chairs and hutch to the buyer of our last house. They were totally suited to the space. Which gave us a blank slate to decorate again. Dean built the farmhouse table and I finished it. We also DIY’d most of the other accessories in the room.

chalkboard wall

HUTCH WALL DINING ROOM

COTTAGE FARMHOUSE DINING ROOM HUTCH

More of Our Dining Room

KITCHEN

Our kitchen’s realtor photo threw me for a real loop when we were first looking at houses. I just couldn’t imagine such a tiny kitchen for a family of five. What didn’t show up was that there was a good 8 feet between the fridge and the closest wall! We are finally just about finished making it over…although we’re just about to start tiling the wall behind the floating shelves with counter-to-ceiling white subway tile!

kitchen progress fridge

kitchen progress

kitchen open shelves

breakfast bar

kitchen from side door

More of Our Kitchen

BATHROOM

Last spring we were chosen to participate in Creating with the Stars. Although we didn’t win, we did make it to the final round in which we redid our main bathroom. Who am I kidding? It’s our only bathroom! I have rather a black thumb so faux plants and flowers brighten up the space and will change with the seasons.

aka design bathroom wall

AKA Design bathroom detail shelf

vintage industrial bathroom vanity makeover

MASTER BEDROOM

Our master bedroom is the room that was most finished first. It is usually the last room most people work on, but with the kids getting older and taking over more of the rest of the house, it was important to me to have our bedroom looking great! We stenciled a feature wall, created the reclaimed wood look headboard and whipped up some easy envelope pillows to pull it altogether.

rustic chic master bedroom

aka design master bedroom

tallboy dresser

More of Our Master Bedroom

Aside from our family room and kids rooms, which are currently a mess, that’s our house!

Thank you so much for having me, Heather and Vanessa!

Be sure to pay Shannon a visit at AKA Design for more ideas and inspiration!

6 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Home Tour, Parade of Homes Tagged With: parade of homes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says

    January 24, 2015 at 6:08 AM

    Beautiful home! I love the colors and the overall welcoming feel!
    Shelley

    Reply
  2. barb. says

    January 24, 2015 at 1:42 PM

    Is it awful not to be able to pick a favorite space? I know that if I were invited to your home you’d think a cat had got my tongue because I would just spend the whole time wandering around and loving what I saw. My total admiration for all that you do and that you have such a pulled-together, gorgeous home – all blessings to you and your family in it.

    Reply
  3. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says

    January 24, 2015 at 1:48 PM

    Loved seeing more of Shannon’s home. It all looks very warm and cozy, and I especially like the continuity of colors used throughout the home.

    Reply
  4. Rose L. says

    January 24, 2015 at 2:56 PM

    LOVE the kitchen cabinets!!! Now want to do that look!

    Reply
  5. Caroline @ Shutters and Sunflowers says

    January 26, 2015 at 4:57 PM

    Looks so cosy and stylish, loved seeing all your great ideas! Caroline

    Reply
  6. Chrissy says

    February 1, 2015 at 11:26 AM

    Wow…love ShAannons style!! So much to inspire! Great blog…all the best,Chrissy

    Reply

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The first weekend in December seems like a good ti The first weekend in December seems like a good time for my annual gentle reminder about this month. I don’t know about you but, for me, December is a month of mixed emotions, ranging from joy-filled moments to ones that have me wanting to pull my hair out.

There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our families or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap. Or have a good cry. 

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

My hope for you is that, as you head into this season, you will be given fresh perspective and that you will give yourself (and your family) permission to just ‘be’. ✨
✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this ✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this year I created a super simple centerpiece for my dining room that incorporates the candles we will use each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While we will only light one candle each week, I used more than four so that the centerpiece would look a bit more filled in. In keeping with my goal to embrace a softer approach to my decorating, this arrangement works perfectly and helps to keep our focus on the beauty and the meaning  of the Advent season. For more ideas like this, check out my previous Advent post! ✨

#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Bec Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Because it’s the Saturday after and my house is almost completely ready to start the season! So I’m sitting with my coffee and just soaking it all up knowing that now I can focus on shopping, hosting and preparing our hearts for the start of Advent. The only thing left to do is get our fresh tree for the front room and then the decorating is done. 

Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Christmas has arrived in the family room where I k Christmas has arrived in the family room where I keep things simple but festive! We’ll get a fresh tree after Thanksgiving which will go in our front room bay window but this slim faux tree with its colorful ornaments tides us over for now. Which room in your home gets the Christmas treatment first? Or do you just start doing a little at a time in each room? 🎄

*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
How do I want people to feel when they walk throug How do I want people to feel when they walk through my front door? That’s always at the top of my mind when I’m decorating my entry for each season, particularly at Christmastime. 

✨I want them to feel like my home is greeting them with a smile.

✨I want them to feel like this is a place where care has been given to details (but not to the point of being too stuffy or too busy or too overwhelming). 

✨I want them to feel like there is peace here.

✨I want them to feel like they are welcome…because they are. 

My home is a reflection of my heart and my heart is a reflection of the ONE for whom I live and try to honor and praise all of my days, but especially at Christmas.

How do you want people to feel when they come into your home? 

#christmasentry #simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
This is not a criticism of those who are sharing t This is not a criticism of those who are sharing their great new Christmas finds but rather an encouragement to those of you who are feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and trying to resist the temptation to purchase more items than you really need.

Several years ago I felt a conviction in my heart about how much time and money I was spending on trying to create a new look every Christmas. I was not being a good steward of my resources and I was far too easily swayed by the peer pressure in this area. And a funny thing happened when I smashed this idol that had taken up residence in my heart. I suddenly found renewed joy in decorating for the season. By keeping things simple and maybe only buying something like a new spool of velvet ribbon, I actually realized that I could be far more creative reusing and repurposing what I already had.

In the coming weeks your news feeds will be filled with temptations for MORE. Maybe, this year, you too can find the joy in LESS. 🌲

#simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
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