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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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April 6, 2011

Mr. Beadboard…Meet Miss Chair Rail!

They say that Kitchens and Bathrooms are what sell houses and apparently Heather and I are taking that to heart!
She has shown you a little bit of the progress they are making on their
Kitchen Remodel on a Budget

And a couple of weeks ago I shared with you some changes we made to my rascal’s bathroom.
Can you tell we are getting a little Beadboard Happy here at the Fence?
And while I proudly declared my undying love for Mr. Beadboard and his magical ways of transforming a space, I have come to realize how lonely Mr. Beadboard would be without the love of his life….
Miss Chair Rail!
She has begun to wind her way throughout our house and around our hearts.
My most recent project has been sprucing up our downstairs Bathroom.
But, first…a Caveat.
 There really is no way to get good pictures of a small, dark, windowless room which is actually inside another small, dark, windowless room. All of the colors get distorted and no amount of editing will help.
Can I get an AMEN?
But I tried…I promise you…I DID try!
This is the Bathroom that is used by guests but mostly by kids…dirty, rascally kids.
It can be entered by going through the hallway off of the Family Room
Or through the office.
And see through that other dark doorway?
That is the space that got some lovin’ from Miss Chair Rail recently.
Having a full bathroom down here really works well for us as we frequently have out-of-town guests. Otherwise they would have to take showers in the bathroom upstairs which is used by the aforementioned dirty, rascally kids. Or in our master bathroom which, well, let’s just say that it isn’t much better.
Until a few weeks ago, this is how the space looked.
Just remember that the color is off slightly because of the bad lighting. The yellow is actually quite a bit softer than this.
I know, I know….Boring City!
And here is how it looks now after we got to know Miss Chair Rail!
Don’t tell my husband, but she and I are making plans for her to do her magic in many other rooms of the house. Hee hee!
I added this yummy striped yellow wallpaper down below to help anchor the room (which actually has very high ceilings) and soften things a bit.

I also changed out the shower curtain which is actually 2 drapery panels and I spray painted the mirror with an Oil Rubbed Bronze. I think that prior to this, I was actually a bit intimidated by this small space so I kept the drama to a minimum.
But, then I realized that this was causing it to look even more drab and boring.
I think small spaces often need to have even more attention paid to them, don’t you?
And yes, I am aware that the curtain is wrinkled.
I am too lazy and tired to take it back down to iron it.
I’m sure after we get enough people to take showers in this bathroom the steam will help get those out right?
 In 2 years they will be wrinkle free!
Here is a close-up of the fabric so you can get a better idea of the colors.

This was my first time ever spray painting a mirror and I’m really happy with it!
 
I had 2 rugs stored away and I pulled them back out to see if they would work here and I don’t think it could be any better!

My older and wiser sister (you might know her!) did this next thing in her bathrooms and I, of course, had to copy her. Kind of like when we were kids and I saw her layering 2 different pairs of neon colored socks which perfectly coordinated with her oversized Guess sweatshirt and I just had to do the same thing. 
Somehow it never looked quite as cool on me as it did on her.
Maybe because mine were hand-me-downs.
I’m not bitter, though.

Heather replaced the basic silver handles on her toilets with these oiled rubbed bronze ones to instantly, and inexpensively, update them.
I did the same thing in this bathroom.

And, just for good measure, I thought I would show you what the outer part of the bathroom looks like.
We put up new wallpaper in this room which completely transformed it. We also added a new faucet, new light fixture and new cabinet knobs.
The mirror was a Ross Dress for Less find for $30!

I think that more than anything else about this space, this next thing might just be my most favorite new accessory in the bathroom…

Because you know what it means, right?
We are FINALLY having success with Potty-Training our youngest!
Hallelujah!

Thanks so much for coming by and visiting us today at the Fence,
And, don’t forget!
It’s not too late to enter our fabulous Giveaway for a $25 Gift Certificate to our
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Just scroll down to the next post to enter to win!
And when you are done with that, scroll down a little bit further to meet our
Featured Blog of the Week

Linking to these Parties:
Feathered Nest Friday
Friday’s Unfolded
Open House Party
Tuesday Treasures
Swing into Spring
Wow Us Wednesday
Whassup Wednesday

26 Comments Filed Under: Beadboard, Decorating

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Comments

  1. Martina @ Northern Nesting says

    April 5, 2011 at 8:38 PM

    Vanessa the bathroom looks fabulous!! Isn’t it amazing how a little molding changes the look of a room!! I absolutely LOVE your slate floors,I want to change the tile in our kitchen to slate I just wish there was a way to do it without making a big mess!! Have a great week, Martina

    Reply
  2. Delightblog.blog says

    April 5, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    What a great job you’ve done! I love the new handles on the sink and toilet…that really makes a difference.
    Linda

    Reply
  3. Judy says

    April 5, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    You have done such a great job. I really love the damask wallpaper. I might have to steal the idea for the flusher…great idea. You crack me up with the neon sock part…brought me right back to the 80’s. My next project is my downstairs bathroom…you are inspiring me to get my act together and get it started. Love the rugs…they work perfectly. Again, everything is gorgeous.

    Reply
  4. Debbie says

    April 5, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    I’m such a huge fan of chair rail, too. That’s ONE nice gift the former home owners left us here.

    Love everything, Vanessa. You made me laugh with tht little sister lamentation. To say that I can relate is an understatement.

    Love that shower curtain, and I think the ORB switcheroo on the toilet looks great too.

    Reply
  5. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    April 6, 2011 at 12:48 AM

    Hi Vanessa…thank you so much for visiting my blog and your kind comments. I’ll be back to your blog on Friday for your party. I think my favorite part of your bathroom is your new toilet handle! What an improvement over the basic chrome. Hope your week is going great…~Ann

    Reply
  6. Kelly says

    April 6, 2011 at 2:33 AM

    Don’t you love how the little things add up? Beautiful touches.

    Kelly

    Reply
  7. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    April 6, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    I’m with you Vanessa! I love bead board. And that damask wallpaper is just gorgeous!

    Reply
  8. Becomers Community Group says

    April 6, 2011 at 3:17 AM

    Very nice, ladies!

    Reply
  9. Steve Hunt says

    April 6, 2011 at 3:20 AM

    Very fun stuff!

    Reply
  10. Cindy says

    April 5, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    Looks beautiful! Love the wallpaper and the chair rail does add such a nice touch. The mirror was a steal, so elegant at a great price! Isn’t it great when you have pieces on hand that work well with your new projects…like your rug…perfect!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  11. Petie@inspirednesting.com says

    April 6, 2011 at 4:12 AM

    That chair rail adds so much more interest. Looks great!

    Good luck with your dining room. Hope we both see more sunshine soon 🙂

    Reply
  12. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    April 6, 2011 at 4:55 AM

    Hi Vanessa, I love and I want this damask wallpaper. It looks fabulous. The chair rail adds so much interest to a small space. Great job!
    xo,
    Sherry

    Reply
  13. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    April 6, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    Hi Vanessa~ Your wallpaper is gorgeous and loving miss chair rail!!! Your bathroom looks beautiful! Congrats on the potty training success too!! Hugs, Courtney

    Reply
  14. Rachel says

    April 6, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    Yep, I would agree with you! My favorite accessory is that potty seat! I love how you were able to reuse your rugs there – it truly does work well. The wallpaper looks gorg with it all!

    Reply
  15. Cozy Home Scenes says

    April 6, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    Congrats on the potty training! Looks like you got the bathroom redone just in time. The decorating is very pretty!

    Reply
  16. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    April 6, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    Oh, Vanessa, first of all I have to say that I LOVED your post about your little boy. You always sound like DUCH a perfect mother. Even amidst your protestations that you’re not, it’s still obvious to me that you are!!

    Second of all, your toilet is looking pretty gorgeous, if I may say so!!!

    Sarahx

    Reply
  17. kara@elements-interiors.net says

    April 6, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    OK…WHERE to begin…The Damask wallpaper…DIE! The Yellow tone on tone stripe….BANANAS! Its all Magazine READY! I LOVE it! And Yellow is always a GREAT choice in color…it promotes Happiness! LOVE IT!

    xoxokara

    Reply
  18. Olive Cooper says

    April 7, 2011 at 12:08 AM

    You are right that small rooms need attention and even drama. I love the bead board and chair-rail. Do not iron that shower curtain. I ironed a queen sized duvet cover yesterday and nearly fainted doing it. hugs♥olive

    Reply
  19. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    April 7, 2011 at 3:07 AM

    Hi Vanessa, I wanted to drop by again and thank you for linking to my party. Take care.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  20. Michele Smith says

    April 7, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    Thank you for visiting my blog and following 🙂
    Too funny I LOL @ the layering neon socks with oversized t. I’m still LOL…I remember those days don’t forget the slap bracelets!
    Love the beadboard and cute cute cute rug.
    I’m your newest follower and I can’t wait to look around.

    Michele

    Reply
  21. Becca says

    April 7, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    Gerrrrrl, this is GORGEOUS !! I can’t tell you how much I love this. The wallpaper (both striped and the lovely pattern) are gorgeous … the chair rail adds the perfect touch, and that shower curtain is beautiful !! Your guests (or anyone who visits this “loo”) is in for a treat. So inspiring … *Becca*

    Reply
  22. Dear Sweet Home says

    April 7, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    Love it! It is all sooooo pretty. The wallpaper is perfect and Miss Chair Rail looks very happy 🙂 I like the idea of changing out the potty handle – it makes it look so dressy (and it is not easy to make a potty look dressy!)

    Reply
  23. Laura Ingalls Gunn says

    April 8, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    What great makeovers! Congrat on the potty training.

    Reply
  24. Bonnie@Creative Decorating says

    April 8, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    Oh Vanessa! I haven’t been blogging in a couple months and then I couldn’t find you!!! I figured it out, obviously. The bathroom is looking great! Love it all!

    Reply
  25. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    April 9, 2011 at 2:33 AM

    Just stopping back loving your beadboard all over again- and saying thank you for sharing at FNF! 🙂

    Reply
  26. Crystal DuBois says

    May 18, 2012 at 6:15 AM

    I have been searching for a toilet flusher exactly like that. No luck at OSH or Home Depot. Do you remember where you bought yours?

    Reply

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This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka. Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
“The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and “The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…HE’S RISEN!” (Charles R. Swindoll).

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; he has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried; yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53)
I try to always remember to put a water bottle in I try to always remember to put a water bottle in my car before I go to pick up my daughter from school. She didn't ask me to do this, but a few months ago I began to notice that she was often thirsty when she would get in the car. Her water bottle filled up at the beginning of the day was empty by the time school got out and she would ask if she could have some water from my hydroflask. So I make sure to have one waiting for her. It's just a simple thing, really. But, I want her to know that I'm paying attention, that I see her.

Isn't it amazing how small gestures can make us feel less invisible? Knowing that someone is thinking of us and takes the time to meet a need that we might not have even realized we had? These little acts can have big impacts. What is something that someone has done for you recently that made you feel valued and seen?

What have you done for someone else to remind them that you are paying attention to their needs?

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
“The next day the large crowd that had come to t “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ – John 12:9-19
#palmsunday
When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the pa When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the payoff of your investment in your children, it is truly one of the greatest gifts. We had that experience twice this week with our 18 year old son and were overwhelmed by this opportunity we had to watch as he handled two very different situations (one personal and one professional) with grace, maturity, integrity and courage. Those of you mamas of little ones, don't ever minimize the job you are doing in raising this next generation. 

Every story read at bedtime
Every correction made to strengthen character
Every outdoor exploration
Every nose wiped
Every bandaid applied
Every time you say no when the world says yes
Every night of helping with homework
Every difficult conversation
Every prayer uttered

The final pieces of the puzzle of his childhood are falling into place and the picture revealed is one that is more wonderful than we could have imagined. And we know that it is only by God's grace on us as we sought His wisdom and guidance that we have come to this point. We have been FAR from perfect parents, but one of my most sincere prayers for the past 18 years was that the Lord would stand in the gaps that were surely to be revealed by our imperfections. And He has answered those prayers again and again. He's taken my humble petitions and most sincere intentions and knocked our socks off with the young man we are so privileged to call our son. And we can’t wait to watch as his future unfolds!
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