New year, new resolutions. For 2017, why not focus on where you live? These five rental resolutions will make your apartment feel like home.
Apartments in New Orleans
It’s easier said than done — but carving out time to make your bed each and every day makes a big difference in making your space feel like home! It’s meditative time for you in the morning, and when you get home from work, imagine how nice it will feel to come home to a made-up bed. Purchase fun throw pillows or linen spray to really amp up the homey feel.
At some point every day, make it a point to put away or clean up ten items. That could mean stacking up your magazines on the coffee table, loading a few lingering items into the dishwasher, or wiping down the counter. Don’t plan to spend more than 20 minutes doing this: the idea is to clean day by day and help mitigate time-consuming deep cleans on your Saturday.
Renters often feel like it doesn’t make sense to invest in their space since they’re only renting. We firmly disagree! If you move, you take your decor with you, just like you would clothes and personal items. So why not allocate a little bit of money toward home decor?
Curtains add instant polish to your space and help define windows, which are natural light sources and a focal point for the eye. Go for full-length curtains to help create a sense of height. Whether you opt for a bold color or simple neutral is up to you!
Pantone named “greenery” the 2017 color of the year! Our suggestion for getting green? House plants. They add life to your space while also offering added health benefits. Take a look at our guide to indoor plants here.
A touch of greenery added to our Fox Run Apartment!
We have so many different properties at 1st Lake that no matter what you’re looking for, chances are we have a community suited to your needs. Take a look at some of our properties in Metairie, Kenner, River Ridge, and Jefferson below. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss more about your future home!
Breakers — This property is great for pet owners, since it’s just a short distance from Lafreniere Park.
Canterbury Square — Fancy yourself a swim? Choose Canterbury Square: it has two pools on the premises, plus a grilling area, playground, and more.
Crossings — This community’s incredible location and updated floor plans make you feel at home instantly, and details like expansive windows with plantation blinds mean you’ll never want to leave.
Fox Run — Tranquil landscaping sets the tone for this peaceful community, with select units featuring details like vaulted ceilings, sunrooms, and fenced patios.
Frenchman’s Creek — Like Canterbury Square, this Metairie property features two tropical-inspired pools. The location is just minutes from both downtown New Orleans and Louis Armstrong International airport, placing you right in the middle of so much to do.
Lemon Tree — If you like the look and feel of a small apartment community, Lemon Tree is perfect, clocking in at just 12 units. Get to know your neighbors all within the convenient setting of Metairie.
Lost Bayou — Consider Lost Bayou a hidden oasis. With plenty of off-street parking and a sparkling pool, this small community is the perfect place to relax.
Lanai — Tucked into a residential neighborhood, Lanai retains a homelike feel with its French Quarter-style courtyard and private pool.
Northbridge — With studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartment homes, Northbridge has plenty of comfortable options within its beautifully landscaped grounds.
Orange Park — Walk to Lafreniere Park from your spacious apartment home at Orange Park. These double homes feature your own private driveway and free lawn service each week.
Park Oaks — Included off-street parking means maximum convenience at this park-like apartment community studded with oak trees.
Premises 2 — Cathedral ceilings and skylights are unique architectural details at this comfortable and charming community.
Registry — If you’re seeking a loft or town home, this convenient community beckons with details like brick accent walls and a private patio within every unit.
Rosedale — Rosedale apartment homes boast nearly 2,000 square feet of living space, plus the added comfort of features like a great room, breakfast bar, and a fenced, private yard.
Sandpiper — Natural light is a huge plus in any apartment home, and Sandpiper has it in spades. This small, gated community features skylights and sunrooms plus a sparkling pool to really soak up the sun.
Severn Pointe — Posh interiors define this Metairie community, featuring granite countertops, large windows, and plantation-style blinds.
Surf Rider I — With select apartment homes that are completely renovated, Surf Rider offers plenty of space and lush grounds.
Wildflower — This community backs up to Lafreniere Park and is located just two minutes from I-10. Find both tranquility and ease of travel in this prime location.
Windmill Creek North — Creeks and fountains add a touch of nature to this apartment community, featuring comfortable and spacious units.
Windmill Creek South — Winding pathways take you through creeks, fountains, and a pristine pool at this recently updated apartment community.
Cherrywood — Relax at the pool within a French Quarter-style courtyard at this conveniently located community within walking distance to restaurants and stores. Free off-street parking makes it easy if you decide to drive to the shops instead!
Sugar Mill West — These energy-efficient apartment homes feature large closets, sunrooms, and wood-tone flooring. Comfortable and smart.
The Villas at Laketown — Exquisitely appointed townhome in Gabriel Estates at The Villas feature granite in the kitchen and bath, a jetted tub, wet bar, office space, and a two-car garage.
Chestnut Creek — A traditional gatehouse entrance sets the tone for life at Chestnut Creek, where select apartments feature wood-burning fire places, Roman tubs with marble alcoves, and cathedral ceilings.
Walnut Creek — The convenience of River Ridge can’t be beat — especially in a comfortable and stylish community like Walnut Creek. Furnished corporate apartments are also available.
Willow Creek — Details like wood-burning fire places, large tubs, and sunrooms make Willow Creek hard to leave. It’s the perfect place to call home in River Ridge.
Riverwood — A private patio/balcony allows you to enjoy the peaceful scenery at Riverwood, which includes a tranquil pool and gazebo.
This time of year, it’s not uncommon to have several parties or get-togethers to attend. Here are a few ideas on hostess gifts or home gifts you can bring along with you to show your gratitude. These beauties aren’t confined to the holiday season — bookmark this post for future parties, too!
An herb bouquet. Head to the grocery store and pick up an array of fresh herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme. Then, bundle them together and tie with an elegant ribbon for a rustic-chic bouquet that’s also quite functional: your host can use it as fragrant decor or incorporate it into his or her cooking routine!
A bouquet of tapered candles. We’ve got another non-floral bouquet idea: candles! Tapered candles are a must-have for creating dinner party ambience, so your host will be grateful to have them. Remember — scent is a matter of personal taste, so opt for unscented. Plain white is classic, but if you know their color scheme, you can choose a hue that works with their decor.
Specialty chocolates. Pick up a few bars of dark chocolate at the store, and tie them together with a ribbon. Who doesn’t like chocolate?!
A magazine… with a subscription. Grab a copy of your favorite home magazine, like Real Simple or Better Homes and Gardens, and wrap it up for your host. Order them a subscription online and let them know you’ve just gifted them a full year’s worth of great reading when they unwrap their first issue.
Pretty paper napkins. Search for packages of paper napkins at stores like T.J. Maxx or even grocery stores like The Fresh Market. Choose a few complementary packages, and bundle them together with twine. Fabulous and functional.
A steel water bottle. Brands like Swell (and Sip by Swell at Target) offer high-quality, steel water bottles that retain both hot and cold temperatures. Find them in a variety of cute prints!
Pet treats. If your host has four-legged friends, why not bring them a gift instead? Create a simple basket stocked with pet treats and toys as a fun hostess gift alternative.
You’ve just scored an amazing piece of artwork… but now you have to hang it. Making sure your art is level and at the right height can be intimidating and requires a little bit of math, but check out our infographic below for a step-by-step guide on how to hang artwork. Whether you opt for a single, show-stopping piece or a detailed gallery wall, artwork can give your home a museum-like feel. Let’s hang!
How to hang wall art.
It’s not hard to find best practices for apartment hunting online, but what if you’re looking for apartment hunting tips for couples? We’ve got everything you need to know to find the perfect apartment space for you and your significant other.
Apartment hunting individually or as a couple can be similar in many ways. But there are certain factors to consider that are unique to approaching the process as a pair – just like deciding how to spend the holidays or making big purchases.
If you’re launching into an apartment hunt with that special someone, check out these 3 things that’ll make the process faster, easier and more enjoyable for both of you.
This is a largely ignored step that can save couples a ton of hassle and disagreements. Before launching into your couple apartment search, make sure to write separate lists of each of your apartment negotiables and non-negotiables. Then, combine all your non-negotiables into one list and make this your starting point.
If the list seems too long, cut it down by eliminating items that both of you don’t feel strongly about. Be sure to completing this exercise before going into the process. This will be instrumental in avoiding nasty surprises later on.
For example, are there certain locations that won’t work for one of you? Is a community pool a necessity or are both of you willing to forgo that amenity? Questions like these help both partners get on the same page and narrow down the apartment search criteria.
Separating the necessities from the “icing on the cake” items will help speed up the apartment search process tremendously.
Okay, we get it, you do everything together. But when it comes to apartment hunting as a couple, this isn’t the most efficient strategy.
We suggest maximizing the fact that there are two of you. You can cover twice as many locations, online resources and showings if you split the search process between you both. There will be times when you need to research a listings site or attend an apartment appointment as a pair. But tackling some of the legwork separately can make your apartment search twice as effective.
To avoid any miscommunication or confusion, make sure to keep each other in the loop through cc’d emails, pictures and regular touch bases. As far as visiting apartments solo, that’s what FaceTime is for.
When you decide to rent, you’ve most likely discussed a timeline for research, appointments, the application process, etc. However, it’s best not to place a hard deadline on when to make a decision.
Unless there are factors like a new job or the birth of a child to consider, it’s best to leave plenty of room for research, discussion and changes of heart. Renting an apartment as a couple shouldn’t be rushed, and if one person isn’t 100% on board with a particular place, it’s best to wait rather than try to convince them otherwise.
Apartment hunting with a significant other can be an exciting time. But it can turn ugly if both parties aren’t open to reaching common ground. It’s important to consider your partner’s point of view and be clear about your own needs and non-negotiables.
As long as you know what to stand firm on and what to let go, you’ll be moving into both of your dream apartment in no time!
Finding the ideal apartment is a big part of the puzzle when moving as a couple but there are many other moving-related tasks to consider as well. If you’re moving in the near future, check out CableMover’s Custom Moving Guide for personalized tips, tools & timelines for your move – your way.
Guest blog by CableMover
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
