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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 9, 2014

New Entry Lighting!

Are you a ‘quirky movie’ person? We definitely are in our family. Maybe that’s because we are all a tad quirky. And if it’s a quirky British movie? Well, that’s the best of the best! Quirky sounds better with an accent after all.

Years ago we discovered this incredible, quirky, heart-warming movie called ‘Everything Is Illuminated‘. I HIGHLY recommend it.

But, that’s not really what this is about. And the only reason I’m even telling you about that movie and our quirky-ness is because as soon as the new fixtures in my entry were installed, the words ‘Everything Is Illuminated’ kept running through my head!

‘Cause I’m kinda quirky like that! 😉

oiled bronze wrought iron sconce

 I freely admit that when we first moved into our house I was intimidated by the scale of our entry. There were soaring ceilings with a huge skylight and frankly I wasn’t too sure how to approach decorating the space. Oh I knew the ugly old brass fixtures had to go but I didn’t know what to put there.

So, I did what you do when you are intimidated by something. I took the path of least resistance and installed a pair of sconces that matched the ones in the living room. Familiar. Comfortable. Safe. Too small.

entry sconces before photo

Oh sure, they were pretty enough. But they just looked so dwarfed by the scale of the entry.

Of course, instead of changing them out I decided to live with them like that for almost 5 years.

I’m nothing if not dedicated! 😉

entry sconces before

I don’t exactly know what caused me to finally ‘flip the switch’ (hee hee) and purchase new lights but let’s just chock it up to being quirky, OK?

The new lights are bigger, bolder and everything is definitely more illuminated now!

Traditional entry with curved staircase atthepicketfence.com

I chose an oiled bronze finish which matches the chandelier.

oiled bronze wrought iron sconce

 And I love the leaf details.

oiled bronze sconce details

 Of course, after we installed the new lights the “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” syndrome kicked in and I finally purchased the chair I had been stalking for weeks and I’m fairly certain that all that time it was sitting there in the store wondering what was wrong with me because once I brought it home I realized it was always meant to be in this space.

decorating an entry with a curved staircase

 It kinda looks smug, doesn’t it? 😉

french style chair in entry atthepicketfence.com

 I absolutely love the simplicity of the linen fabric against the beautiful details.

french country chair details

 A little bit of Spring made it’s way over to the table.

spring decor in the entry atthepicketfence.com

It’s always interesting to me how something as simple as lighting can make such a huge impact in a space. And when it’s the right lighting it just pulls everything together.

chair in entry atthepicketfence.com

Kind of like those quirky movies, you know? It’s that extra ‘something’, that intangible quality that you can’t quite put your finger on but you know when it’s ‘right’.

french country entry with staircase

My entry might not be what you would consider ‘quirky’.

But I’m pretty sure with this new lighting I finally got it right!

Thanks so much for coming over and visiting us today At the Picket Fence,

Vanessa signature

21 Comments Filed Under: Decorating

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Comments

  1. Kimberly ~ SerendipityRefined says

    April 9, 2014 at 4:43 AM

    I love your new lights and the chair…well, the chair is simply swoon-worthy. Would you share the source? xo

    Reply
    • Vanessa says

      April 9, 2014 at 7:24 AM

      Hi Kimberly! I actually purchased the chair from TJ Maxx and absolutely love it! 🙂
      Thanks for coming by!

      Reply
  2. Cheryl at Snaps of Ginger says

    April 9, 2014 at 6:54 AM

    Beautiful!!! I love fresh, bright, open spaces like that.

    ~Cheryl
    https://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com

    Reply
  3. Tessie says

    April 9, 2014 at 7:54 AM

    This space is just lovely. What is the paint color? It’s so light and fresh!

    Reply
  4. kristin says

    April 9, 2014 at 9:16 AM

    It is just gorgeous Vanessa always love seeing your beautiful home!!!
    XOXO
    Kristin

    Reply
  5. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    April 9, 2014 at 10:17 AM

    Gorgeous new lighting, Vanessa. I love them!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      April 9, 2014 at 4:03 PM

      Thanks Kathy! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Angela says

    April 9, 2014 at 12:26 PM

    Vanessa, it looks great!!

    Reply
  7. Amanda @ Dixie Delights says

    April 9, 2014 at 1:37 PM

    Yes, you did get it right. They are perfect!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      April 9, 2014 at 4:03 PM

      Thank you Amanda! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Alicia says

    April 9, 2014 at 4:37 PM

    Simply stunning as always, and thank you for allowing us to visit your beautiful home. Alicia.

    Reply
  9. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    April 9, 2014 at 7:36 PM

    Love the new sconces Vanessa…yes, they have a better scale with relation to your gorgeous staircase..I can so relate to getting all of the “matching pieces” to the lighting…I did that 9 years ago…and so wish i could replace all of them…the chair is what you described, beautiful and meant to be in that space!!! Oh, and I love Quirky!

    Reply
  10. Jeanette @ Creating a Life says

    April 9, 2014 at 10:22 PM

    Love the lights and the pretty chair! (and quirky British movies, too!)

    Jeanette

    Reply
  11. Judy says

    April 10, 2014 at 5:27 AM

    The new lights are absolutely beautiful. Makes a big difference. I am in love with your area rug in your entry. Where did you get it? LOVE IT!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      April 10, 2014 at 7:58 PM

      Thanks so much Judy! I got the rug at Tuesday Morning and they always have fabulous options there! 🙂

      Reply
  12. best e Cigarette says

    April 14, 2014 at 11:06 PM

    I hardly write remarks, but i did a few searching and wound up here New
    Entry Lighting! – At The Picket Fence. Andd I do have
    some questions for you if you usually do not
    mind. Is it simply me or does it look as if like some of the responses look like they are coming from brain dead people?
    😛 And, if you are posting on additional social
    sites, I’d like to follow everything new
    you have to post. Would you make a list oof the
    complpete utls of your communal sityes like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?

    Reply
  13. AM Shield Corp says

    April 15, 2014 at 10:50 AM

    The new lighting is beautiful, Vanessa! Love it!

    Reply
  14. bullets for sale says

    April 15, 2014 at 11:47 PM

    Thanks designed for sharing such a pleasant opinion, post is nice,
    thats why i have read it fully

    Reply
  15. Gerry says

    April 24, 2014 at 1:47 PM

    I just finished Everything is Illuminated (on your suggestion) and loved it. Lots of tears. I enjoy your blog a lot.

    Reply
  16. Sharon says

    April 25, 2014 at 10:30 PM

    Everything looks beautiful!

    Reply
  17. WorkwearUSA says

    May 6, 2014 at 4:15 PM

    Whoever designed your house must have done ours too. Same UGLY lights when we moved in. These new fixtures look amazing! This are definitely getting added to my ever-growing project list.

    Reply

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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!! 🦃
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✨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? 

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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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Do you have a hot cocoa or coffee station at your house? Here’s a look back at years past if you’re needing a little bit of inspiration!
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Friends, take care of those who are in the trenches of preaching/teaching right now as it is not an easy time to be in that role. Bake them a loaf of bread, drop off a gift card to a restaurant or maybe even have them over for dinner (but don’t use that time to complain or critique 😉). 

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Here’s some inspiration from years past in my home! 🌲
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