In this post, we’ll give you some tips on how to create a warm atmosphere in your apartment. Soon enough, your home will be the coziest place around.
You can look forward to game nights, large dinners, or relaxing movie nights with friends and family.
There are several ways to use light to your advantage when creating a warm atmosphere in your apartment.
Flameless candles, stringed lights or wax burners are great alternatives for creating a warm ambiance because they provide a sense of calm and a source of indirect light. Still want a cozy winter scent? Essential oil and stick diffusers can also add to the atmosphere — think lavender, pine, or other smells that evoke a warm haven from the cold weather.
Purchase window curtains that are slightly transparent, allowing some natural light to seep in and brighten your living area.
If you have a fireplace, use it when you have guests over. Fireplaces are especially useful during the coldest days of the year — you and your guests can bond by warming your hands and feet in the warm glow of the fire.
Finally, try to use lamps rather than overhead lights as much as possible. Lamps radiate soft light while overhead lighting can be harsh and uncomfortable for intimate gatherings.
Keeping lots of cozy, soft blankets around your living room will give your guests easy access to quick warmth, and will make people feel at home. Plus, you can choose blankets that visually complement your apartment’s interior.
Well-placed, warmly-colored flowers and other plants add feelings of life and vitality to your living space. Reds, yellows, and oranges make your space seem vibrant and lived-in, rather than sterile and dull.
In addition to blankets, use other fabrics and textures to your advantage. Cover cold wood floors and bathroom tiles with plush rugs.
According to Kenmore Development, rugs help rooms look larger while also providing texture and color to your living areas.
If there are any parts of your apartment that get drafty or particularly cold, strategically place space heaters. A small, portable heater will work just fine — there’s no need for anything large and difficult to move.
Make sure you use a space heater that will automatically shut off if it gets too hot.
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This year, designers everywhere are calling 2019 the “year of maximalism.” But before we go out and buy anything, we thought we’d ask our own 1st Lake interior designer what trends she thinks we should take on! Here are her thoughts on the year ahead!
It’s definitely the year of color, but we don’t need to go overboard. The rule: 90% white and 10% color. By keeping your walls and ceilings neutral, you have more versatility with how you want to accent your space. Think of your white walls as a blank canvas that you can recreate over and over again. When choosing color, think rich. Rich color palettes with deep hues will add pleasantly unexpected pops in your room. We’ll talk more about what pieces you can use to pull that color into your home.
Canopy four poster beds are coming back home. This style bed creates a sensation of being protected and elevated from the rest of the world. The four posts can feel like comfy walls beckoning you back to the safety of your cozy bed. “To make one [a canopy bed] work in your bedroom, follow suit and source a canopy bed that is quiet and slim to ensure that it won’t take up too much space or ever go out of style”-Decoraid.com.
Now back to our pops of color: there’s no stronger way to make a statement than with a brightly colored sofa. Bold, rich hues are in for 2019, and many of these loud sofas come in velvet and satin finishes, which gives them an extra level of shine. But if you don’t want to make such a bold purchase, opt for an inexpensive rug or pillows that contain the color spectrum you desire!
Image via Murals Wallpaper
Patterns are another way to accent your space! Take a look at our accent rug in our Bella Ridge model. The multi-color, crushed triangular slices add interest and flare to the room, plus it complements the velvet blue couch.
If shape patterns aren’t really your thing, floral patterns are here to stay. You can incorporate any pattern you want in small ways like on your shower curtain or your headboard, or even your place mats!
For more funky finds, visit one of these local furniture thrift stores on our blog to find inexpensive pieces for your space.
This year’s spotlight plants: Mother in Law’s Tongue and Money Tree! Plants are a great way to bring nature inside, and their air purifying capabilities create a healthy living environment without the need for unsightly equipment. To learn more about what plants are just right for you, read our Ultimate Guide for Indoor Plants! Tips for Herb gardens are also great to incorporate into your home-cooked meals.
Check out our recipe blogs for ways to incorporate your herb garden’s bounty this year.
Did we miss a trend you’ve embraced for the new year? Have you already decorated with some of these trends and tips? Share your tips and interior looks with us on Instagram so we can see how you’ve transitioned in 2019!
You might have heard a bit about Mardi Gras history – mainly that it is a pretty big deal in New Orleans. It’s been called the biggest free party on the planet.
Mardi Gras takes place on the day before Ash Wednesday, but don’t be fooled, Mardi Gras festivities take place on more than just one day. Carnival season begins weeks before Fat Tuesday.
Mardi Gras has a rich and storied past that has resulted in lots of fun, elaborate traditions. It has played a huge role in shaping Louisiana culture. So, in the spirit of the season, we’re sharing a few fun facts about Mardi Gras history.
Read on to learn more about the biggest free party on the planet.
photo by Eric Wagner via Flickr
The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated on March 3, 1699, by French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville near what eventually became present-day New Orleans. They named the location Point du Mardi Gras.
Since the 1870s, Twelfth Night has been recognized as the official start of Carnival Season. Twelfth Night is always on January 6, and is known as the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
In New Orleans, it’s common to wait until Twelfth Night to have the first slice of king cake of the year. In fact, local superstition states that if king cake is eaten before Twelfth Night, it will rain on Mardi Gras day.
The bright and festive medley of colors – purple, green, and gold – is inescapable during Carnival season. It is believed that the Krewe of Rex chose these colors as their color scheme in 1872 for the first daytime parade.
Purple, known as being a royal color, represents Justice. Green represents Faith. And gold represents Power.
Originally, beads of these colors were intended to be tossed to individuals that best reflected these characteristics.
Mask wearing is one of the most iconic Mardi Gras traditions. Originally, masks were worn so that people of all classes could mingle freely with one another, which wasn’t common in everyday life.
Did You Know: New Orleans float riders are required to wear masks by law.
The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club is one of the most popular Mardi Gras Krewes in existence, as well as one of the oldest traditionally black krewes.
The Krewe of Zulu has become known for handing out coconuts during their parades. They are beautifully decorated and heavily sought after by Mardi Gras parade goers.
The first mention of a Zulu coconut dates back to 1910!
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Bella Ridge Apartments installed its art sculpture to kick off the start of construction on its second phase, Bella Ridge South Apartments. When completed, Bella Ridge South will be another 240-unit luxurious community with high-end apartments and must-have amenities in River Ridge.
This metal sculpture was created by local artist Luis Colmenares, also known as “The Picasso of Chalmette.” The towering sculpture is topped with three large, metal “birds of paradise.” Each bird weighs 60 pounds and was created to move in the wind.
The entire installation process was completed on December 5th. Landscaping and further beautification around the area are still underway. Colmenares mentioned he couldn’t have completed this work of art without the assistance of fellow sculptors. The sculpture’s name has not yet been decided.
Placed directly in the middle of Bella Ridge’s roundabout, this artwork divides Bella Ridge North and the future Bella Ridge South Apartments. Bella Ridge South, which has already broken ground, will feature exclusive amenities including bike rentals, a Lifestyle Center with a kitchenette, TV, hang out space, a serenity fountain, and a dog park. Residents will also enjoy package lockers, a resort-style pool, a fitness center, a dog wash area, rideshare pick up, bike storage and a free, direct multi-level parking garage.
The community is minutes from local dining, shopping and entertainment spots like the Elmwood Shopping Center, Zea’s, DSW, AMC Palace Theater, Theo’s Pizza, Zoe’s Kitchen, Hour Blast, District Donuts, and more.
It’s that time of year again — when the weather gets colder and family and friends become a priority, and the feeling of togetherness with loved ones warms your heart.
Have you started making your shopping list for the year? For us, making sure we’ve checked off every name is a fun pursuit, even if it’s difficult.
Shopping for your friends and family is a personal journey that is different for everyone. However, every gift must get wrapped.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of unique gift-wrapping ideas for the holiday season.
Read on for a few ways to make sure your gift is a memorable one, even before it’s opened!
While wrapping paper may be the most noticeable thing about how you present your gift — and we’ll get to that — including a few natural elements that reflect the season is a great way to add some fresh flair to your present. According to Good Housekeeping, “kumquats, holly sprigs, and other seasonal decor attached with floral wire add a burst of color” to an otherwise plain wrapping.
A way to add a personalized touch to your gift is to wrap it in the traditional Japanese “furoshiki” style. A furoshiki wrapping technique uses only a single cloth or square piece of fabric and was created centuries ago in ancient Japanese culture. It is a convenient, economical, and eco-friendly way to wrap gifts.
Below is Wellness Mama’s 2 step instruction manual for furoshiki gift wrapping:
As far as patterns go, plaid is the go-to for holiday gifts. But it’s important to differ from the norm if you want your wrapping to stand out.
Just use a different, but extremely recognizable, pattern. Polka dots!
Repurposing old dress clothes can be a quirky, fun way to wrap your gifts. In fact, it serves as two gifts in one! Using a button-down shirt to wrap a small gift makes it ready-to-wear.
Check out Country Living’s tutorial on reusing patterned clothing for gift wrapping here.
This is the most personalized wrapping idea on our list. And all it takes is a few markers, or acrylic paint, and a brush.
By painting minimal, simple patterns on several 24 inches x 36 inches or 18 inches x 24 inches poster boards, you will create plenty of wrapping paper for your gifts.
Check out these instructions by Camille Styles to make beautiful, personalized wrapping paper for your loved ones:
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1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
