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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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September 27, 2011

A Tale of Two Mantels…Part Two

Ok….so you are going to have to forgive me while I get all mushy-gushy here for a minute.
Can I just tell you how proud I am of my sister??!!!
Her Kitchen Island Transformation is beyond incredible and the fact that she did the bulk of it all by herself truly amazes me! I think she is such a great example to all of us, that we can bring our vision for our homes to life, not break the bank and learn new skills along the way. You rock Heather!
And your photography skills ain’t too shabby either!
Now, since we are on the topic of bringing a vision to life and not breaking the bank, I would love to share with you how I did that on a much smaller scale when I tackled dressing up my
Living Room Fireplace Mantel for Fall.

As with my Family Room Mantel, a Harvest theme, keeping things simple
 and avoiding the craft stores as much as possible were the goals!
Those craft stores just suck you right in don’t they? I think it’s all those coupons. Feels like I’m just throwing money away when I don’t use them…at least that’s what I tell my hubby!
I love the juxtaposition of the white urns against the dark wood of the mantel.
Still loving my corn husks and their many different functions.
Still haven’t made Tamales with them.
I have had this urn forever but it used to be a red-ish/gold-ish tone.
So I took a can of white spray paint to it and then sanded it up to let some of the base color come through.
The wheat bunches were stuck down inside for added height and then faux flowers and gourds were tucked around the base to add a pop of color. I think it provides just the right amount of drama and creating this could not have been easier!
Most of these gourds I have had for years but this is the first time I have ever used them on my mantel.
Bead and berry filled branches at the ends finish it off.
This is the time of the year when I feel like the color pallette in my home really comes to life.
The buttery yellow walls seem to take on a soft glow.
And the reds, greens and golds all seem to perk up, ready to welcome Autumn in all of its glory.

Thanks for letting me share my mantel with you today at the Fence,
This post is partying here:
The Lettered Cottage

Savvy Seasons: Autumn Arrives Party

Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
Stuff and Nonsense: Friday’s Unfolded
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home Party
2805: Potpourri Friday

32 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Decorating, Good Ideas, Holidays

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Previous Post: « My kitchen island transformation…Part One
Next Post: Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 34! »

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Comments

  1. Becca says

    September 27, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    Bravo *clap clap clap* Bravo !! This is beautiful, Vanessa !! It’s truly a fabulous mantel, showcasing Fall in fine fashion. Love the old books … the corn husks (mine are still in the bag … lol) … the painted urn and pumpkins and guords! Great hurricanes, too … I had those same ones, but broke them. Waaa. Well, well done, friend! xoxo

    Reply
  2. Becca says

    September 27, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    And, PS: YES, I’m truly amazed and inspired by Heather’s gorgeous new island! She did an awesome job … you girls rock. Creativity doesn’t run short in your family, that’s fo’ sho’ !! xo

    Reply
  3. Kelly says

    September 27, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    Looking good! You’re all ready for fall. Now all you need is a fire in the fireplace.

    Reply
  4. housedressingblog.blogspot.com says

    September 27, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    Vanessa, it’s so organic, you truly captured the essence of fall! I’m coveting your ottoman coffee table, and the fact that you have a mantel… this is the first house I’ve lived in that doesn’t have a fireplace. The Hubster promised to put one in after-market, I’m still waiting!

    Reply
  5. NanaDiana says

    September 27, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Vanessa-It is absolutely beautiful! I love it. Very homey and comfortable looking. A mantle to be proud of …and…. I am proud of your sister too…she did a phenomenal job! xo Diana

    Reply
  6. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    September 27, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Your fall mantel looks great. I love the urn with the corn husks and your old books are perfect!

    Reply
  7. Jennifer says

    September 27, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    Beautiful mantel! I love the urn with the corn husks!

    Reply
  8. Kathryn Ferguson Griffin says

    September 27, 2011 at 9:24 PM

    Loving the white urns! My fav! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

    Reply
  9. Richella says

    September 27, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    Your mantel looks lovely, Vanessa! You did a great job! And I love all the ways–other than tamales–you’re using those corn husks! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing says

    September 27, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    Gurl you done good on Mantel II! I love the corn husks and the pretty orange pops here and there. Loves it!

    Reply
  11. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    September 28, 2011 at 12:18 AM

    It’s so pretty Vanessa!! And ummm is that a wedding picture I see that I want to see more of ???
    XO

    Reply
  12. The French Hutch says

    September 28, 2011 at 12:25 AM

    Your mantle got great results. Love the white urns and the bright colors. Your mantle is lovely with the dark wood and I love the tile. After seeing yours I think I need to do a little something to mine. I understand your mushy-gushy sister feelings too. Have a great evening……

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

    Reply
  13. Alison @ The Polohouse says

    September 28, 2011 at 1:35 AM

    This looks so pretty!
    Love the design of the arrangement!
    xx
    Alison

    Reply
  14. The DIY Show Off says

    September 28, 2011 at 2:40 AM

    It’s a beautiful and inspiring mantel! Perfect for autumn harvest. So warm and inviting!

    Reply
  15. Betsy (BB) says

    September 28, 2011 at 3:09 AM

    This looks great! A great fall mantel and so inspiring! I love those old books!

    Reply
  16. very merry vintage style says

    September 28, 2011 at 3:47 AM

    Very nice. Love the angle of that first photo– Stop by and link up if you have time.
    Mary

    Reply
  17. Cindy says

    September 27, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    So pretty…the perfect fall touches!

    Reply
  18. Debbie says

    September 28, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    Great job, Vanessa! I love the colors for fall too. I’m working on mine. I’ve been working on it. I thought I liked it and then got sucked into blogland and a state of dissatisfaction so I’m dinking again.

    Reply
  19. Judy says

    September 28, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    Great job Vanessa. I love your mantle. I have got to tackle mine…hopefully today. It’s raining here so it will be a perfect day to get some fall decorating done. Thanks for inspiring me…as always.

    Reply
  20. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    September 28, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    *wolf whistle* You have set the bar very high this year, Vanessa! Your mantelpiece arrangements are LOVELY!

    The colours all tie in so beautifully. I am feeling thoroughly inspired…

    Sarahxxxxxx

    Reply
  21. Kim says

    September 28, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    Vanessa your mantle looks Fall-licious!! I agree about the white urns against the dark mantle – great contrast. You did good girl!
    xoxo,
    Kim

    Reply
  22. CAS says

    September 28, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    The mantel looks beautiful! I think you’ve done a super-fantastic job on both mantels. I really do love your buttery-yellow walls. Everything looks so cozy!
    🙂 CAS

    Reply
  23. Mandy says

    September 28, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Gorgeous! Love the black hurricanes with the pinecones and candle :-).

    Reply
  24. Willow says

    September 28, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    Beautiful mantel. I love this time of the year don’t you.

    Reply
  25. Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} says

    September 29, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    It’s looking great and oh-so-fall! It makes me even more excited for the cooler weather to get here! Yay for fall!!!

    Reply
  26. andrea says

    September 29, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    It all looks fabulous with the yellow walls! It lends itself to a very cozy atmosphere and sometimes simple is striking. andrea@townandprairie

    Reply
  27. FABBY'S LIVING says

    September 29, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    How beautiful your mantel came out Vanessa! I love such pretty elements you used for it, like the black hurricanes, books and pumpkins, very inspirational! Thanks for sharing,
    FABBY

    Reply
  28. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    September 29, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    Your mantle is beautiful, Vanessa! I love both of them.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  29. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    September 29, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    Vanessa, I forgot to thank you for linking to the Open House party. I always appreciate your participation. Thanks!
    xo,
    Sherry

    Reply
  30. Ellen says

    October 3, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Just the mantel all dressed up for fall. It all looks so nice together. Very well done.
    Hugs,
    Ellen

    Reply
  31. Savvy Seasons says

    October 6, 2011 at 2:59 AM

    Vanessa~
    Your mantle is truly gorgeous. You have balanced it out to perfection. I love the wheat arrangement and the pops of color around the base, it looks so elegant. I also like the urn with the corn husks, great idea. Fantastic job! Thanks for sharing and linking up! XOXO ~Liz

    Reply
  32. Lella Loves... says

    October 15, 2011 at 12:21 AM

    Hello there 🙂
    Just to say, my heart skipped a beat when I saw the pumpkins.
    I am obsessed with pumpkins and I am so happy to see I am not alone!
    Delightful blog.
    Can’t wait to browse your archive.
    Lella xx

    Reply

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I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
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