• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

August 6, 2016

What You Don’t See

Blogging and social media always has a bit of a smoke and mirrors element to it. We let others see what we want them to see, right?

What I tend share here At the Picket Fence are the areas of my home that are neat and tidy. There are vignettes and displays and carefully decorated nooks and crannies.

Old world map hanging from chain

 

And, while I like to think that I’m all about keeping it real with you, I’ve also been known to photoshop dust out of a picture. So…yeah…there’s that.

The truth is, there are parts of my home that aren’t so pretty. Areas that need some work.

There’s the hole in the wall in my daughter’s room. A result of some over-zealous playing.

There’s the paint chipping in the kids’ bathroom which is a room that really just needs an entire overhaul.

There’s the spray painted knobs in the laundry room that are working their way back to their original color.

And there’s this door. It’s the door which leads from our backyard into the garage.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. That door looks perfectly fine, right?

back door

Well, just like with social media, looks can be deceiving.

You see, this particular door has a frame that is falling apart. And every time we go to open or close it we have to push and pull which puts more stress on it.

door frame

The weather stripping is flopping all around and even just the door itself is starting to feel the neglect.

rotted door frame

We’ve been putting it off until this summer but now summer is flying by and we’re realizing that we really need to do something about it and soon because once the rainy season starts here in Oregon we could have an even more serious problem on our hands when water starts coming in.

So, you can imagine my delight when I was given the opportunity to partner with Window World!

Because, not only does this amazing company offer a huge array of windows to choose from, they also have…yep…you guessed it. DOORS!!

So many high-quality doors!

products-entry-door-enduring-2x

Beautiful, beautiful non-falling apart doors!

products-entry-door-durasmooth-2x

I’m more than comfortable clicking that ‘place order’ button when it comes to a new pair of shoes, but for a bigger item, I really want to be able to do my due diligence by researching the products and see them in person.  Luckily, Window World has over 200 locations nationwide. And I get to visit our local Window World store location and pick out my door in person! And guess what? I’m taking you along with me.

We’re going to do a little shopping together!

Stay tuned as I navigate this process and take our back door from falling apart to fabulous!

Thanks so much for meeting me at the fence (and at the back door!) today,

Vanessa signature

9 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Socks on My Table
Next Post: Wood Chargers Turned Wall Art »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Design Chic says

    August 6, 2016 at 6:25 AM

    That is so exciting and I can’t wait to see your choice! Happy weekend!

    Reply
  2. Chloe Crabtree says

    August 6, 2016 at 7:36 AM

    It is funny how when you take pictures, sometimes you see the really good things in your home and sometimes your eyes are opened to the things that need work. I don’t blame you for putting time and research into your new door and look forward to seeing what you choose!

    Reply
  3. Julie K says

    August 6, 2016 at 8:58 AM

    I agree with Chloe….sometimes all I can see are the flaws. I need to train my eyes to see the good. I’m looking forward to seeing your new door! Very exciting!

    Reply
  4. Diane | An Extraordinary Day says

    August 6, 2016 at 6:49 PM

    We’ve been in that boat too. It’s the back door to the garage… and even though it was opened and closed many times a day… we would just step over the rotting threshold. Funny thing… when we finally fixed it. It really took no time at all. The hardest part is getting the job done in our heads before we actually begin. I’m looking forward to your new door adventure. Should be so fun… and pretty!
    Best!

    Reply
  5. Michele says

    August 7, 2016 at 10:48 AM

    Oh YAY! It’s going to be awesome – I couldn’t be happier for you.

    We need new doors. I need to check them out – my interest was piqued when I read Kari Anne’s post about how happy she is with her windows- and now they do doors, I am beyond excited.

    Thanks for the great news – can’t wait to see what you decided upon! : – )

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      August 8, 2016 at 8:10 AM

      Thank you so much Michele!

      Reply
  6. Julia says

    August 9, 2016 at 7:43 AM

    I am shaking my head yes, yes…because we have 2 outside doors that needed replacing and we planned the project several times but “just didn’t get to it”. Well my precious husband and my precious brother took on that project just about a month ago and yeah I have 2 beautiful doors that are no longer an eyesore or a mess! We used doors from our local hardware store but we will be checking out Window World for the kitchen windows that need replacing. Looking forward to reading about your adventures in door replacement!

    Reply
  7. Lidy@FrenchGardenHouse says

    August 9, 2016 at 9:26 PM

    How exciting! I can’t wait to see what door you’ll choose, it’s always thrilling when something that hasn’t worked well for a while gets a brand new replacement. I can be over the moon happy with a new vacuum hose, so I can only imagine the happy dance you’ll do when the door is IN!

    Reply
  8. Linda T says

    August 20, 2016 at 12:43 PM

    Thank you for sharing your “areas not shown”. As someone that loves stuff…especially old stuff……I often have to close doors or make room under a bed for things that are just laying around so I can admire them. My question for you is….where do you store all of your seasonal/extra items when not on display?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

Grandma’s Banana Bread

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022
  • Vintage Inspired Hot Cocoa Bar November 21, 2022
  • Autumn Home Decor Tour October 7, 2022
  • Built In Shelving Makeover in Family Room August 31, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.

And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
Oh how I love this week each year! It’s my favor Oh how I love this week each year! It’s my favorite for sure. Everything is still festive and decorated but there’s none of the stress of the cooking and wrapping and making preparations. It’s the week where we get to take everything slowly and simply enjoy being together while the house still has twinkling lights and we can just be cozy.

What about you? How will you be spending this week? ✨
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence