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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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May 21, 2012

A Picket Fence Project

I’ve been keeping a little project under wraps for a few months now.
You see, right before Christmas I got a call from our dear friends Craig and Denise.
They led the Young Marrieds Community Group at our church
 wayyyy back when we were young marrieds. 😉
Since then there have been 4 or 5 other “young marrieds” groups that have formed so we definitely don’t qualify for that demographic anymore!
But, I digress.

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2 weeks before Christmas, Craig and Denise were upstairs in their home when Denise smelled smoke.
They realized that it was coming from their basement and when they opened the door leading down the stairs, smoke immediately poured out. While Denise called 911, Craig crawled down the stairs to make sure that there were no windows or doors open. He is a blueberry farmer and just beyond their home are acres and acres of some of the most lush and beautiful land in the Willamette Valley.
To lose a house is one thing, to lose all of those crops would be quite another!
But most importantly, no one was hurt!
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While the flames did damage downstairs, the smoke took care of the rest.
It was so extensive that they quickly realized that this would be a gut job.
The cause was related to an electrical problem.
The walls would need to be taken down to the studs.
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And that is where I came in!
Craig and Denise saw the silver lining in all of this mess and realized that they were now presented with the unique opportunity of redesigning their entire home. They hired an awesome builder, Brandon, (who also attends our church and whose wife went to school with my husband!) and they asked me if I would be willing to join the team and be apart of every phase of this rebuild.
I immediately jumped at the chance!
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While I have had opportunities to provide “decorating” services for people in the past, this is my first time working on a project of this magnitude and I have absolutely LOVED being involved on this side of it.
I never realized how much I would enjoy sketching floor plans and solving dilemmas like where to place the master bedroom doors. (They went with my idea by the way!) Smile

And this past week we met out at the job site to see how work is progressing.
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As you can see, the only thing remaining from the original interior of the house is the brick fireplace, and even it will be getting a major face lift!
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What was once a dark home filled with smaller rooms and a chopped up floor plan will now be an open and spacious one flooded with light!
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The fireplace will separate the kitchen from the family room. 
In this next photo I am standing in what will be the family room looking towards the kitchen.
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Here, Denise and Brandon discuss her new window seat which is something she has always wanted.
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And here we are standing in what will be the kitchen discussing the new layout. 
We were also discussing the options for refacing the fireplace.
It is all going to be so gorgeous and very soon we will be picking out cabinets and flooring!
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This hallway is just off of the kitchen and leads to what will be a very nice sized main floor bathroom and just beyond will be a HUGE mudroom. This is a horse-riding family so we plan on this space giving them plenty of room for taking off their boots. I also made a suggestion for how this room could serve another purpose and I will be sharing that idea along with some inspiration photos in another post!
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The basement, which is where the fire began, was once a jumble of small, awkward rooms and hallways. It will now be a beautiful open space with 2 large bedroom suites, an open living area and a small kitchenette.
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I am deeply honored that Craig and Denise hired me on to be part of this exciting project.
While I know they wish this had never happened, they are very aware of how blessed they are that no one was hurt in the fire and that they now have the opportunity to create their dream home.
DSC_0502

And, I am so excited that I get to take all of YOU along on this journey with us!
So, buckle up friends, I’m going to be calling on you for your opinions and advice along the way and I can’t imagine a greater resource to have than all of you amazingly talented folks!
Thanks so much for joining me today for this first installment of A Picket Fence Project!

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39 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, DIY

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ange says

    May 21, 2012 at 1:21 PM

    How fun Vanessa! Sad that they lost the inside of their home but a great opportunity to build a new home in their old home. Looking forward to seeing all these great ideas come to life!

    Reply
  2. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    May 21, 2012 at 1:52 PM

    It is going to be beautiful, Vanessa! How exciting for you to be involved. I’m sorry they had to go through this whole ordeal though.

    Reply
  3. Debbiedoo's says

    May 21, 2012 at 2:06 PM

    WOW, how exiting Vanessa! You are going to do fabulous work, they knew what they were doing!

    Reply
  4. Stuff and Nonsense says

    May 21, 2012 at 2:10 PM

    oh what fun
    to be able to see this project through
    from the studs on up

    i can’t wait to see this project
    come to fruition!

    alison

    Reply
  5. Wild Oak Designs says

    May 21, 2012 at 2:22 PM

    So exciting!! Congrats on the special project and enjoy….can’t wait to see the other pix…
    Nancy
    https://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

    Reply
  6. Cindy says

    May 21, 2012 at 2:23 PM

    What a great outlook they have! It’s a devastating experience but an opportunity to change what they didn’t like before. How exciting for you to be in on the “ground” floor! I’m sure you will do fabulous work! I love blueprints… 😉

    Reply
  7. myric andreasen says

    May 21, 2012 at 2:59 PM

    What a fun project! The fire story was scary. Glad nobody hurt and the fire did not spread out! Im sure the house is gonna look so lovely with your touch!

    xo
    Myric@Petites Passions

    Reply
  8. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    May 21, 2012 at 5:13 PM

    Oh Vanesssa, they hired the right person…how exciting it must be to plan the interiors for such a great couple…I cannot wait to see the progress…I am sure it will be beautiful….so glad no one was injured in the fire…a true blessing!

    Reply
  9. Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns says

    May 21, 2012 at 6:03 PM

    This looks like it is going to be a great project. I am looking forward to seeing what you have in store for this house.

    Thank God no one was hurt, and further that they did not loose their blueberries.

    Good luck, looking forward to seeing more.

    Reply
  10. Dana @ Cooking At Cafe D says

    May 21, 2012 at 6:21 PM

    Oh, I can’t wait to see the progress.
    She’s lucky to have you!

    Reply
  11. Laura from Top This Top That says

    May 21, 2012 at 8:23 PM

    how devastating for your friends to experience the fire but how blessed they are to be rebuilding a beautiful home. can’t wait for the progress updates.

    Reply
  12. ashley says

    May 21, 2012 at 9:52 PM

    Hi Co-Host! Sorry to hear about the fire. I’m excited to watch the progress 🙂

    xo, Ashley from Mister G and Me

    Reply
  13. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    May 21, 2012 at 11:04 PM

    Wow Vanessa how exciting! I am so glad no one was hurt in the fire! Your going to be awesome, and I can’t wait to see the progress!

    Reply
  14. Val says

    May 21, 2012 at 11:31 PM

    You’re going to be amazing on this project. My heart breaks for them.

    Reply
  15. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    May 21, 2012 at 11:47 PM

    What a great project. Looking forward to seeing how it comes along.

    Reply
  16. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    May 22, 2012 at 12:28 AM

    Vanessa I’m so proud of you…what a wonderful way to use your special gifts. As bad as the fire and loss were, good is coming from it. Can’t ask for much more than that!

    Reply
  17. Martha says

    May 21, 2012 at 5:29 PM

    Hi, Thanks for helping host the blog hop. I’m so sorry about your house, hope everything works out. I’m following via Facebook. As my business but I also have a ministry at the url below but it’s Martha J Smith on Facebook. https://simplylivinglovinglearning.blogspot.com

    Reply
  18. Serendipity. says

    May 22, 2012 at 12:36 AM

    It’s so good that you and your talents were put into their lives to help them at this sad time. I’m excited that you get to use your gifts and they’ll have a beautiful new home. Blessings to all of you. Can’t wait to see how it turns out!

    Reply
  19. Stacy Curran says

    May 22, 2012 at 12:36 AM

    Vanessa, thank god no one was hurt. They were wise to see the opportunity, and to hire YOU! I can’t wait to see the progress!!
    Stacy

    Reply
  20. Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says

    May 22, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    I’m sure it took some time to get over but wow, they are on to the exciting part now!! And how fulfilling for you that your get to help make their new home dreams come true!!

    Reply
  21. Pam - @diy Design Fanatic says

    May 22, 2012 at 12:40 AM

    Very exciting! It is really fun to do a project from the studs up! When I was designing kitchens most of the kitchens I designed were new custom homes. Can’t wait to see what you do!

    Reply
  22. Carmel @ Our Fifth House says

    May 22, 2012 at 12:42 AM

    So glad to hear no one was hurt. House fires can be so very devastating. They’re blessed to have you and your talent on the team to create their dream home. Can’t wait to follow the progress!

    Reply
  23. Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers says

    May 22, 2012 at 12:43 AM

    Such a horrible tragedy but what a cool opportunity! I can’t wait to see what you do with the new space!

    Reply
  24. Kristin @ Simply Klassic Home says

    May 22, 2012 at 1:37 AM

    So sad for the family, but what an amazing opportunity. Looking forward to hearing more of your great ideas!

    Reply
  25. chels says

    May 22, 2012 at 1:49 AM

    I know God is giving you His creativity and wisdom. What a great project!
    –Stopping by from Thee Networking Blog Hop 🙂

    Reply
  26. Judy says

    May 22, 2012 at 1:53 AM

    What a wonderful way to help your friends. Can’t wait to go along for the journey.

    Reply
  27. NanaDiana says

    May 22, 2012 at 2:16 AM

    What a great way to help your friend. I love it. As a word of advice from an owner of a window/door/siding company for many years…make sure that building in the window seat you put it low enough if it is going to be used for seating at a table. Allow not only room for the top piece of finished wood but for a cushion. Even a couple of inches can make a big difference when it comes to comfortable seating. Pull a standard kitchen chair up to the window and the sill should be 2 or 3 inches LOWER than that. I have told this to many, many people…it makes a big difference in actual usage. Maybe you already know that–but if you don’t…well, there it is- xo Diana

    Reply
  28. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    May 22, 2012 at 2:59 AM

    Vanessa, What a fun project! I am looking forward to seeing the progress.

    Reply
  29. Jana@Transformations From the Heart says

    May 22, 2012 at 3:24 AM

    Sad that your friends house was so damaged by the fire, but what a great way for you to showcase your talents in helping out with the details. Sounds like it’s going to be a fun project that you have taken on. Look forward to you sharing all along the way.

    Reply
  30. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    May 22, 2012 at 6:26 PM

    Hi lovely,

    What a great way to help out – I bet you were completely fab! But how awful for your friend to have had to go through that. I always think you sound like a LOVELY friend!! It shines through your posts. Come and move near me!!

    Sarahx

    Reply
  31. Eclectically Vintage says

    May 23, 2012 at 1:13 AM

    Glad nobody was hurt in the fire – but this new house will rise from the ashes and with your input I know it will be stunning!

    How exciting for you – can’t wait to follow along for the ride!
    Kelly

    Reply
  32. Taylor Greenwalt says

    May 23, 2012 at 2:38 AM

    I am so glad no one ways hurt. What a fun project. Cant wait to see what you will do. Thanks for stopping by.

    Reply
  33. thistlewoodfarm says

    May 23, 2012 at 4:01 PM

    Vanessa! I am so excited for you! What a fun project and I know this couple has turned a challenging situation into one filled with joy and excitement! I can’t wait to follow along!

    blessings,
    karianne

    Reply
  34. reFresh reStyle says

    May 23, 2012 at 4:27 PM

    This is wonderful! I can’t wait to watch your hard work unfold! You go girl!

    Reply
  35. Jen Lossing says

    May 24, 2012 at 2:56 AM

    I am so glad no one was hurt. I can’t wait to see how it all goes.

    Reply
  36. Paula says

    May 24, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    Although the fire was devastating, I’m sure your friends are going to just love what you are helping them to create for their rebuilt home. I’m sure that they are happy to have a friend like you with design talent.

    Reply
  37. Jennifer L. Griffin says

    May 25, 2012 at 2:12 AM

    What a tragedy turning into a blessing! That new floor plan will be amazing. Quite a daunting project but what fun!

    Reply
  38. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    May 25, 2012 at 7:38 PM

    What a wonderful silver lining, Vanessa! I can’t wait to see what’s planned. Ministry and fun all rolled into one project — I love that!

    Reply
  39. Richella says

    May 28, 2012 at 1:54 AM

    Oh, Vanessa. Fire. So very scary. I am grateful that no one was hurt in this fire. Bless you for helping your friends find the rainbow in these clouds! And how great for you to include all your blogging friends in this journey. You obviously love these friends and you know how they’d like to live, so you’ll do a wonderful job!

    Reply

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“Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season “Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season that awakens my soul, your awesome beauty compels my spirit to soar like a leaf caught in an autumn breeze and my heart to sing like a heavenly choir.” Peggy Toney Horton.

Happy October dear friends! 🍂
On Monday my heart just felt so heavy. Yes, the po On Monday my heart just felt so heavy. Yes, the pouring rain outside contributed to my feelings. But the primary cause was this overwhelming flood of thoughts about how much in our world and in our culture is going off the rails. I’d planned to make pumpkin bread that day but I was tempted to just curl up in a ball on my bed, pull the covers over my head and pretend that this would actually solve something. I didn’t give into that temptation though. Instead, I got out my favorite pumpkin bread recipe and found that, as I worked and prayed and hummed worship songs, my spirit began to settle. When the world feels very loud, the demands of family and home can actually help to quiet our souls. As each family member walked through the door later in the day, they commented on how wonderful the house smelled. It’s better than any fall candle in my opinion! And I knew that the extra loaf that I get from the recipe would be a welcome treat for my widower neighbor. So, if your heart is feeling a bit unsettled this week too, maybe this recipe will come in handy!

Pumpkin Bread:

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups white sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7×3 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 🍂
Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super simple centerpiece that you can make in five minutes (or less) with just a few pumpkins and extra faux greenery. Let’s spend less time decorating and more time enjoying this season. It’s my favorite!! 🧡

#fallcenterpiece #falldecor #centerpiece #fiveminutedecorating
"Define your day", she told me as I held my newbor "Define your day", she told me as I held my newborn son. My mom and I were talking about how blurred my days and nights had become and how easy it would be to just stay in my pajamas 24/7. She encouraged me to make an attempt to put on 'real' clothes in the morning even if they were just nice sweatpants (bonus if they were clean!) and to throw a little bit of makeup on. That simple advice helped chart a course for my years of motherhood that continues today. And recently I began thinking about how critical it is that we not only seek wisdom from those ahead of us in our stage of life but that we are willing to apply it as well.

So, I asked this question on my personal Facebook page; "What is something you feel you've done well to create a peaceful/meaningful home for yourself and your family?" The catch was that the question was geared towards women in the 40+ age range. The responses came flooding in and were so wonderful and insightful. So, I'm going to be starting a new series where I share this wisdom with you and will include the first name of the woman who offered it. 

Today we start with Alison who said "I learned to set my alarm early to get up and moving before my kids woke up. I showered, got dressed and did my devotions while the house was quiet. It set my heart and perspective for each day.”

Is this something you do in your life too? What wisdom would you offer to a mom of young children?

I truly think our culture would greatly benefit from more women in different seasons of life being willing to invest in each other. 🍂

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #motherhood #parentingwisdom
If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a resta If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a restaurant I’m definitely ordering it! It’s one of my all time favorite treats. So I decided to try my hand at making some here at home with a little fall twist and it was SO delicious!! 🍎

Ingredients:

6 slices of day old bread (french, sourdough or even brioche works great)
2 cups of heavy cream
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the apples:
3 peeled and chopped apples of a tart variety
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour (or corn starch)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350
Cut bread into cubes and place in a greased 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish
Whisk together in a bowl the eggs, cream, vanilla, rum, cinnamon and nutmeg and then pour it over the bread cubes. In a separate bowl, mix together the apples, brown sugar and flour/corn starch. Pour the apple mixture on top of the bread mixture making sure to spread the apples evenly across every part of the bread mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes. 
Enjoy!

#falldesserts #breadpudding #fallrecipes #desserts
When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after onl When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after only a week of school, you take the opportunity to make Saturday a truly restful day. Pancakes on the griddle, puttering around the yard admiring the way the limelights have begun their autumn journey from white to green to pink. Sprinkling touches of fall around the house a little bit at a time. Savoring the slowness of it all and taking care of my people in this place that provides us all with a respite from the world even if just for a day.

Hope you’re weekend is off to a great start and that you make it a priority to slow down for a bit and soak up the beauty around you. 🍂

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #falldecorating
As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but thin As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but think about how grateful I am for the reminders all around me of God’s Sovereignty over everything including the seasons. It can be challenging in our world today to trust that there isn’t a single thing happening that surprises Him.

In a way, decorating my home to reflect the changing season serves as a tangible reminder of this trust. Even something as simple as seeing a pumpkin on my mantel or a basket of mums on the coffee table fill me with peace because they represent the things that remain constant and true.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #club31women
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
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