As a young wife, mom, and student, you can image that funds get tight for the O house. Therefore, things such as diapers, textbooks, and food become more important purchases than say, house ware. We survive on the basics and we’re okay with that. So needless to say, I was absolutely floored when BlogHer invited me to spend $500 in gifted money (yes, you read that right) and write a review on JCPenney’s new house ware line, called Linden Street.

From the moment I saw what Linden Street offered, I was even more excited. Everything was exactly our style and what I’ve envisioned for our one day dream home: simple sleek lines, beautiful rich colors, and soft fabrics. After surveying what the line carried, I decided we would redo our bathroom since 1) It needed our own touch to it. 2) It’s something we could take down easily when we move. 3) You can never have enough towels!

We did most of our shopping in store at JCPenney. I quickly fell in love with the unbelievably soft fabrics and how easy they make it to find coordinating colors and accessories. We decide to use Mark’s favorite color: Orange! I chose the Waffle Strip Fabric Shower Curtain in “Foxtial Orange” and Toffee Shower Curtain Rings to compliment it. We bought bath towels both in “Foxtail Orange” and “Soft Cream,” along with matching cream Reversible rugs. To bring the orange over to the other side of the room, we purchased the Toffee hand towel that has a beautiful cream embroidery on it.

We also bought five lamps. Yes, five. You can’t have enough lights, right? We bought two Wood Column Adjustable Table Lamps in stores that we placed in our bedroom, along with the matching floor lamp that we put in our living room. The Birdcage Table Lamps are still being shipped, but eventually they will go in our living room as well.

I only have a few draw backs that I’ve found. Firstly, my shopping experience was a bit frustrating as some things were not in my local store (the furniture for example, or different shower curtain options), or what was in store wasn’t always online to purchase (which is why I cannot link you to every purchase I made).

Secondly, the bath towels, though I love how large and soft they are, do not absorb well. We’ve noticed that we have to keep going over our skin after a shower to feel dry, and yet it never really gets the job done. I’m hoping that once they get washed a few times and the ultra softness goes down, it will be better in the absorbency factor.

Lastly, the bath room rugs that I love tend to slide around. I’m constantly having to readjust them to their places throughout the day. While I understand the cool thing of being reversible, I think having one side a sticky backing would be much more practical (and safer).

But despite those small issues, I cannot tell you what a joy it is to walk into our bathroom now and it look “put together.” My husband even made the comment that it “feels like a hotel,” and that’s really what I love about this line is the sophisticated luxury feel you would find in a nice hotel. But what’s even better? The price. We got everything 40-50% in stores, and I believe many of the items are still discounted online and perhaps in the stores as well. Over all, I’m very satisfied with Linden Street and I’ve learned that even little things like a splash of color from a towel or an extra lamp can make a big difference (and can be so quick and easy!)

To view all the pictures, including the items that could not be linked to JC Penny’s website, head on over to the my Linden Street album.