Home Décor Review: Southern Homes & Gardens=Dual Tier Metal Filigree Tray

The detailed metalwork and practicality of this decorative, tiered filigree tray makes a perfect addition to any room of your home. Use it to display other, simple decor or simply leave it as a standalone that makes a statement in itself.



I was excited to get a chance to work with Southern Homes and Gardens. I had a ton of fun window shopping through their many categories! They have SO many adorable items that I really liked, that I couldn’t choose. They sell items for baby & child, fashion items, gifts, and home & garden decoration.

I ended up choosing the Dual Tier Metal Filigree Tray for my vanity! I really needed something that was sturdy enough to hold my vast collection of styling tools. I was definitely tired of sticking them in a box or a drawer! I wanted to be able to showcase them in a unique way.

I love this tray! It came within NO time, and was VERY easy to put together. It took me less than a minute. It comes with the bottom and top trays in parts. All I had to do was screw the poles inside the holes inside the trays and was DONE!

I immediately filled it up with my hair tools at the bottom. I was amazed at the beauty of having them all together without tangles getting in the cords. I never have to dig for a certain item now, which makes it 10x easier for me to get ready. EVERYTHING fits which is amazing considering how many styling tools I have!

I am very pleased with the Metal Filigree Tray! It is absolutely stunning, beautiful, and well built. I even MOVED it with everything on it that you see and it never ONCE swayed. It’s strong as an ox. I am glad that I now have a place to store everything with it being out of reach so my loving and curious daughter doesn’t dump out all my hair supplies! Kids! Got to Love Em’ LOL



I’ve already gotten at least 4 compliments on this! Everybody has something different they want to do with it, and somewhere they think it’d look best in their home. My mom was over the next day after I got it, and she said she thought it would look good outside with small potted plants on it!



I like it where it is though, and that is where it is going to stay! I absolutely love the elegance it brings to my vanity area! The black metal is just so stylish and the heart designs built in give it a classic feminine look! I adore it!

This would make the perfect gift for your mom, sister, or best friend for Christmas. They will definitely love it just as much as I do, and immediately find their FAVORITE place for it!

Get it: Dual Tier Metal Filigree Tray  $71.95

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Jessica Renee

City Creek Candles Review: The Heritage Collection

If you don’t have any City Creek Candles in your home, you are totally missing out on the joys of life. I have always been a fragrance lover; candles, wax warmers and wax melts, potpourri, and CERTAIN incense. The sweet essence of beautiful aromas floating through my home inviting my visitors in with class, sophistication, and simplicity. Out of any brand of candles on the market today, City Creak Candles is easily my favorite.

City Creek Candles are hand poured right here in the United States. The company thrives because they have the ability to make simple yet beautifully stylish candles that spice up our homes with their breathtaking containers and delicious fragrances.

It will definitely change the way you look at your existing candle stash. These candles are environmentally savvy and look fantastic as well. They’ll have you pitching all those horrible soot filled candles out the door right away! You won’t have to sacrifice style to have style to have eco-friendly anymore. All City Creek Candles are absolutely Non-Toxic.

They do candles in such a beautifully unique way that I can’t help but become addicted. I could immediately tell that they were non-toxic. They just smell so much better and burn so much cleaner. There’s no more black soot following the flame and flying above the candles, because there aren’t any chemicals for the candle to burn off.

Once you have a couple, you will immediately want more. They smell so heavenly and add such a homey feeling to any space. I was excited to be able to work with City Creek Candles. They have an amazing line of candles called the Heritage Collection.

The Heritage Collection is immediately noticed for it’s beautiful antique look that it brings to any home. The Heritage Collection features 3 gracefully designed ceramic containers. Each container has 4 refined, sophisticated, beautiful fragrances. All containers have the same available. which are Warm Vanilla, Serene Woods, Sugared Citrus, and White Flower.

City Creek Candles was generous enough to send me 4 of the beautifully designed ceramic container candles from the Heritage Collection. Each of the candles I was sent was different and all contained each of the 4 available fragrances.

What makes these so amazing and unique is that when the candle has burned down all the way, you can reuse the beautiful containers that they come in! There’s no limit to what they can be used for! It’s all up to you!

The first Heritage Collection candle I pulled out of the box just so happened to be the biggest of the collection. I was simply amazed at the delicate charm of the Fleur De Lis Basin. The scent of the white Fleur De Lis Basin is Warm Vanilla.

Warm Vanilla has been on my top favorite home fragrances since I can remember. I could just soak up the deliciously rich notes of vanilla that is mixed with the lusciously sweet smell of syrupy sugar. It is just so relaxing and helps me to unwind even on the toughest day!

I have never in my life thought something smelled so welcoming and intriguing. The first thing someone notices when they walk into your home is how it smells. This isn’t something they MEAN to do, but we detect whether a home smells clean or not subconsciously. That’s why we all strive to make our homes smell delectable and City Creek Candles hits it right on the head! They definitely know what they are doing!

Get Yours: Warm Vanilla Fleur De Lis Basin $34.99

I also received two Vintage Urn Candles from the Heritage Collection. I absolutely love the way these are designed. My mom did too, she is into Native American designs and she has tons of stuff in her living room. She wanted me to give her these after the candles burned down. I really do think that they would look perfect in her living room.

The Blue Vintage Urn Candle smells of White Flower. It has a mixture of flower smells. It contains scents from Fresh-cut lily of the valley and magnolia paired with soft sandalwood and white amber. The scent is very refreshing and revitalizing. It definitely smells like flowers.

My stepdad thinks it smells clean, fresh, and simple like freshly washed hair washed with White Rain Shampoo. I think it does have a clean, fresh scent but I think I smell more of the magnolia mixed with the sandalwood. My mom thinks it smells like lavender. No matter what people think it smells like, we all agreed that it’s very invigorating and relaxing!

The yellow Vintage Urn Candle is Sugared Citrus. I really love this scent as well. It mixes Fresh citrus, tropical fruit and pure sugar cane. This candle sets you in the season of Summer. Every time I light this candle, it makes me think of swimming, long summer nights, and family gatherings. I love Summer! It’s my favorite season, and City Creek Candles has successfully bottled Summer into this candle.

This would be an amazing candle to have in the dead of winter when summer seems so far away. When you’re longing for a tan, warm weather, and a day where you can actually go outside without getting frost bite. My mom thinks this smells like “Oranges”, my stepdad thinks it smells like “Orange/Vanilla mixture”.

I love the light scent, it floats through my house like a breeze. It gives off a faint citrus smell but because it is Sugared Citrus, the sugar tones down the citrus smell so it isn’t so strong. I love it! I love putting this one in the kitchen or bathroom because of the clean yet homey smell it gives off!

Get Yours: Vintage Urn Candles $27.99 a piece

The last of the Heritage bunch is the Serene Woods Regal Vase. I love the weathered look of this vase. You can tell that it’s meant to look antique and it does look it! This is another one that my mom wanted to snatch.. and of course, because I love her, I agreed.

It goes well with her Native American designed living room. It definitely fits right in, and looks like it belongs! There’s no fighting for a space there. She immediately took to it and loved the smell as well as the design.

This doesn’t smell ALL woodsy if that’s what you’re thinking. It is actually a beautiful combination to make a tranquil, relaxing scent. It smells more earthy than woodsy. It would make an awesome office gift for your husband or brother.  It’s a mixture of Blonde woods, weathering pine, a hint of spice and lime zest.

Get Yours: Serene Woods Regal Vase $19.99

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Jessica Renee

 

SmartDeco SmartStand: Join the Furniture Revolution <Review>

SmartDeco Furniture pieces are like no other furniture that I’ve ever had the pleasure of owning. SmartDeco Furniture has 3 different pieces of furniture, which consist of an Intellidesk, a SmartDresser, and a SmartStand. They even offer bundles of the different furniture.

The SmartDeco furniture pieces are simply designed and easy to put together because they require absolutely no tools at all. The best part about it is they are 100% recyclable and made right here in the great United States of America!

I was hoping to get the SmartDresser, but ended up getting the SmartStand instead. The SmartStand is available in 2 colors; cardboard brown and white. They send me the white SmartStand.

I received it in no time flat, within a week/ week and a half to be exact. I was super excited when I seen the box being delivered to my house and I got a sneak peek at the label and it said SmartDeco Furniture. I immediately (of course) opened the box and started putting the SmartStand together. Of course, I had a very small 4 year old assistant who definitely thought she needed to help out.


All you have to do when the furniture (whatever piece you choose) arrives go to the SmartDeco website and click on assembly at the top of the page. Then just click on the piece of furniture that you received and get to building!

The video is super amazing. It shows you exactly which piece to choose first and an exact step-by-step tutorial of how to put the furniture together. The lady in the picture below puts it together, so that you can see how it’s done!

I laid the furniture pieces out on my couch and just took a piece at a time and followed the videos advice. For each piece that contained a duplicate (such as the drawers) I just rewound the video a little and replayed it if I forgot a certain step. The instructions are very easy to understand and follow along with!

The pieces pop right into place without a problem. Even putting the entire thing together by myself (I’m very handy lol) I had it fully constructed in less than 15-20 minutes. Of course about 3-5 of those minutes was spent laughing my butt off when I looked over and she had already taken the stand hostage as her “fort”.

She loved hiding inside of the stand while I was putting the other pieces together! She is absolutely adorable and she had fun “helping” and that’s all that matters. I definitely want to buy 2 more of these stands (one for each kid). It definitely makes an awesome desk for small kids.

Of course, since it’s white.. I let her decorate the sides of it anyway she wanted to. She had tons of fun coloring and designing Mama’s new <side desk>. I love how durable this is. She colored and colored and not once did it sway!!

I also love the fact that I can take either drawer out of the SmartStand and turn that space into something else. It has the potential for so many things. In my crafter mind I could totally see decoupaging fabric inside a space used for books, the drawers and sides painted contrasting colors, or just random “magazine” style clippings that fit your style in random spots! I love personalizing things and making them “mine”.. so I will definitely do something like that!
 
See how the top is glossy? It comes with a clear plastic cover that expands over the entire top of the SmartStand. I really like that because it protects the top from water damage (if you place drinks on the top), and natural wear and tear!

Of course she had to take her “own” pictures of the Smartstand! She’s amazing growing inside a 4 year old body, I tell ya! This fits perfectly inside our home! It is re-usable, so when we are done with it (should it ever tear up 5-10 years later) we could just recycle it. As someone concerned about the environment I’m raising my kids in, this is truly important to me.

As a crafter, the design possibilities are endless! That’s something else that matters to me. If I were getting just a regular stand, there’s no way I would feel comfortable painting it, drawing on it, or decoupaging fabric to it. I need furniture in my “office” to reflect who I am and this is just what I was looking for. Of course, you could always leave it the way it is if that’s what you like. It’s all up to you!

I truly love how modern and beautiful it is standing inside my office. It just captures the light with it’s amazing angles and the openness “air” feeling it has to it. I love that it can be used in many different ways, for so many different things, in any room in your home!

Specs :

• Made in California
• Bedside table / file cabinet
• 23” W x 30” H x 17” D
• 13 lbs
• Tested to hold over 300 lbs
• Made from high grade cardboard
• Folds together without tools
• 100% recyclable

Buy it: SmartDeco SmartStand $59.00 $41.00

To assemble the SmartStand

Connect with SmartDeco on Facebook and Twitter


Jessica Renee

How to Modernize Your Home with Window Treatments

It's a common desire to want to modernize your home. However, it's not always in the budget when you start thinking about the changes you have in mind. Choosing the right window treatments can have a similar impact without the expense of a more extensive home makeover. As an added bonus, window treatments can easily be changed or altered if you get tired of a certain look or just feel like changing things up. Here are some window treatments likely to give your home an affordable modern look:

Panels

Panels are a popular window treatment for a few very good reasons. Panels can be simple with neutral colors to add a subtle accent to your decor or you can infuse some contrasting colors into your decor with wider stripes. Incorporate bold colors for a modern, vibrant look.


Curtains

When you play with height and texture, curtains can create a wonderfully modern feel in a room. Simply changing the placement of the rod can produce a modern look by appearing to change the dimensions of the room. Create the illusion of height by placing curtains above the frame or choose curtains that gather on the floor to make a window look bigger than it really is.


Accessorize Hooks, rings and rods are great accessories that can easily add some modern touches to your window treatments. Instead of hiding your curtain rod by choosing a color that blends in with the wall, choose a bold color that stands out. Exchange old-fashioned drapery hooks for fun, funky gold or silver rings. Consider using colored, textured rope to hold your curtains back instead of traditional tiebacks.

Layers
While not a new concept, carefully selected layers can make a room look fun and modern. Take your cue from your existing decor. If you have a bright red bedspread and matching throw rugs, for instance, consider pink and red curtains layered together with white sheer curtains placed in the middle to add some privacy. The layers can be as simple or as complex as you like.

Be Bold
If you want an instant modern look, be bold and forget about matching anything. If you have a room with subtle blues and whites, for example, consider black and white curtains hung purposely unevenly spaced. The look is definitely bold, modern and eclectic and meant to be noticed. Don't be afraid to think out of the box.

Mix It Up

If you want a modern look, forget convention. There is no rule that says you can't mix and match different windows treatments throughout your home. Window blinds can accent curtains pushed to the sides or vertical blinds can be mixed with matching curtains purposely placed a few inches above the frame to create a different perspective. Some other ways to mix it up for a fun, modern look include:

• Curtain combos - Try valances with panels or sheers with more textured curtains. How about mixing up lighter fabrics with darker fabrics? How about different color panels spread across a large bay window? Again, forget convention.

• Multiple styles - Just because you have multiple windows in a room, doesn't mean that every window has to be exactly the same. Use Roman shades on one window and panels on the other for an off-balance modern look.

• Ceiling to floor - If you normally have curtains that start at the top of the frame and end where the frame ends, consider going ceiling to floor with your curtains. The result is a sleek, modern look with panels pushed to the corners to allow plenty of light into the room. Add sheers or roller shades if privacy is a concern.

The sky's the limit when it comes to what you can do to modernize your decor with window treatments. You can even soften the look of a room with curtains hung from walls with no windows for purely decorative purposes. A modern look generally means thinking outside the box by going beyond what is expected in a room. At the same time, you want to embrace light and create sleek, startling contrasts. The result is an appealing modern look that easily fits into your budget.

Author Bio
George Dennis is president of King Shade and Window, a home improvement company that supplies replacement windows for the Boston area.

Southern Decor for Your Master Bedroom

Image Via: Martha Stewart
When we think about Southern living, we usually picture ourselves living a quiet life in a large white estate in the country. Sipping a tall, cool glass of sweet tea while enjoying the song of the cicadas and watching the sunset from our comfortable, mahogany porch furniture. The South has always been known for it’s warm style, vibrant colors and old-fashioned and comfortable decor.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of Southern-style decor among urban and metropolitan areas, veering away from modernism and back to traditional home fashion.
Redecoration normally begins in the master bedroom, where Southern style can really be showcased. If you’re looking for ideas on how to Southern-ize your room, here are a few design tips to spruce up your space and transform it into your very own Georgian paradise!

Find Your Style

Each state in the South has its own definition of style, especially when it comes to differences in bedroom color schemes and style. For example, Georgian style is known for its colorful, coastal look that exudes earth tones and ocean-blue hues with touches of light colored woods and soft lit lamps.

For a more continental style, Alabama showcases dark earth tones, elegant and old-fashioned fabrics and furniture and open spaces lit with sunlight pouring from french-style window.
Before you begin revamping your bedroom, its best to research which style appeals to you most in order to give you a sense of foundational decor.

Shades of Color

The first thing to consider when reinventing your bedroom is how to embody the South’s decor. First, try balancing shades of color with fabrics. Usually, pastels and white-hued colors are dominant in this style, however, neo-classical interior decorators like to add splashes of dark colors to contrast colors. An example of light and dark contrasts in fabrics would be pillows with prints that have light base (background) colors and darker patterns.

Implement stencils and bold colors

Don’t be afraid to be bold! One of the most popular Southern style in the past few years has been the use of stencils to accent wall colors. Wall stenciling allows for the contrasts of color in your bedroom that can brighten up your space.

Plain and Simple: Cottage White

If you’re a little hesitant to apply strong colors to your bedroom scheme, why not go for “cottage white”? This means keeping a calm color scheme throughout your room and introducing antique furniture and home accessories that’ll make your room look just like the style implies, a comfy, Southern cottage.

Balance Light and Dark

What separates the modern living with Southern living the most? That would be light control. Normally, modern living decor has uncontrolled sunlight (lack of blinds or curtains) or even harsh, LED light bulbs.

In Southern decor, we see a lot more control in light, having soft, textured blinds and curtains to keep light in or out and softly lit light lamps that channel light throughout the room. The downside to this is that sometimes, blinds can cost you a pretty penny. Fortunately, there are a variety of low-cost Bed n Bath curtains that can save you money on your window furnishings.

Southern living is not too hard to implement into your home life. You don't even have to live in the South. Try this style out and see if you like it! If you do, you may end up redecorating your entire home in the Southern fashion!

Jessica Renee

Home Décor Review: Making a House a Home with Natural Life Peace Scatter Rug

 

Rugs are an amazing way to accessorize any home, apartment, or condo. A rug is an easy way to make your home look stylish without having to redo carpet or spend a ton of money.

It’s easy to make a house look homey, comfortable, and inviting just by choosing a rug that fits your “style”. When I got a chance to work with Natural Life, I was excited.

Looking through their website, I was truly excited about every single product, They have such modern, chic, sharp items that draw attention to themselves just by the way the items are designed. It is TRULY MY style.

Everything on the site is trendy and just screams “JESS” to me! I was drawn to the fashionable way that every item could fit inside my home and make it look so eye catching. They have so many things house and home.

I ended up choosing the Peace Scatter Rug.  I couldn’t wait for it to come in the mail. I knew I was going to put this by my front door so that when people walked in it would be the first thing they saw.

When it came the first thing I done was lay it out. It was so bright, colorful, and pretty sitting by my front door. As soon as they walk in they look down and see that rug. It’s amazing how many people have complimented me on that rug!

It’s just so different than a regular “rug”. You see this and you don’t think “rug”. You think “decoration” because it’s so beautifully made. I love how it entwines flowers of different colors and layers it over the peace sign.

If you’re looking for something that says “I Love You” on Mother’s Day, you should definitely look at the collection of Mother’s Day Gifts. Whether it’s your sister and you’d like to get her the rug I got, your mom and you’d like to get her cooking utensils or a picture frame with declarations of love on it, or you could get your grandma a decorative pillow… they have it all.

 

Buy It: Peace Scatter Rug $22

 

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Jessica Renee