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Top 10 Pools at 1st Lake Properties Apartments

At 1st Lake Properties, you don’t have to join a club, pay a membership fee or book a flight to the beach to have access to luxurious swimming pools. There are many apartments with great pools that are perfect for laying out and swimming during the warm spring and summer! Though there are many excellent pools to choose from, these are the top 10 at 1st Lake Properties’ apartments in metro New Orleans and Mississippi!

Grand Palms Pool

Grand Palms – The Grand Palms apartments in Mandeville on the Northshore have a nice sized swimming pool with a built-in hot tub, the perfect way to relax right at home.

Registry – The Registry apartments in Metairie has a stylish and modern shaped swimming pool in the middle of a floral oasis.

Windmill Creek North – Enjoy an evening dip at the lighted swimming pool at the Windmill Creek North apartments in Metairie or weekend barbecues by the pool in the grilling area.

Canterbury Square – The Canterbury Square apartments in Metairie has not one, but two glistening swimming pools, in addition to a playground, gazebos and a grilling area.

Lakes of Chateau Estates South – This luxury apartment community in Kenner not only offers residents a private lake and putting green but a large swimming pool for lounging in the summer.

Park Oaks – Park Oaks apartments in Metairie has beautifully landscaped grounds and outdoor amenities including a swimming pool surrounded by lush plants and greenery.

Walnut Creek – One of the great amenities that make this River Ridge apartment community unique is two swimming pools with their own grilling areas that are located along the large community courtyard.

Palmetto Creek – Nestled in the center of this resort-like apartment community in River Ridge is a swimming pool surrounded by bubbling creeks and fountains, bridges, gazebos and more lovely outdoor features.

Brewster Commons – Brewster Commons apartments in Covington offer the best in luxury style living in Covington, including a large swimming pool with a sheltered lounge area.

Arbor Gate – Enjoy a large swimming area with plenty of lawn chairs and umbrellas for the ultimate comfort right in your backyard at these apartments in Picayune, Mississippi.


Let There Be Light: Apartment Lighting Solutions

One home essential that makes the difference between being able to cook, clean and find things easily and efficiently is the lighting situation in your apartment. When you move in to your apartment, you will most likely need to bring in your own light sources in addition the fixtures that already come with your apartment. Check out these tips for making your apartment lighter and brighter that are rental and property manager-friendly!

apartment lighting

Stick-on cabinet lights

Task Lamps – If you need more light in your kitchen, bathroom, closet, or pretty much any room in your apartment, the easiest solution is to set up a task lamp. These flexible and portable lamps are convenient and can be plugged in a safe spot to add some more light where you need it in common work areas or go-to places to find household items you need.

Stick on lights – “Stick and click” LED lights are so convenient. These stick-on lights are battery operated, so no cords or plugs necessary, and they are inexpensive. Put them wherever you need more light in your apartment, including pantries, cabinets, closets or any dark corner in any room.

Under cabinet lights – Especially useful for smaller kitchens, overhead lights can be placed under cabinets which create dim areas in common food prep locations. Consider LED “tape lighting” which is an affordable strip of LED lighting which can be adhered to surfaces for extra light where you need it. These lights can range from as cheap as $15 and go up to $30 – $40 with enhanced quality.

Looking for a new apartment? We have over 9,500 apartments throughout the greater New Orleans area!


April 2014 Apartment Specials From 1st Lake Properties

April is a busy time in the New Orleans area. It is officially festival season with French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest on the horizon, and plenty of new deals and specials on 1st Lake apartments! If you’re looking for a great new apartment to move in to, consider one of these communities with offers you won’t want to resist!

new orleans apartments

Metro New Orleans Apartment Deals

Turtle Creek – The Turtle Creek apartments in Metairie not only offer a lighted swimming pool area and private patios and balconies on select apartments, but for April, one week of free rent and reduced move-in costs on select apartment homes!

Hickory Creek – This peaceful River Ridge apartment community is making offers that prospective residents simply can’t refuse. Sign a 17 month lease and receive two weeks free rent or one week free rent on a 12 month lease! On top of that, Hickory Creek is offering half off deposits on two bedrooms.

Clearwater Creek – Clearwater Creek offers beautiful apartment homes featuring full size washer and dryers, fireplaces, split level floor plans in a tranquil setting. This River Ridge community is offering a $99 deposit and waived administrative fees with a long term lease.

Sugar Mill West – Not only does Sugar Mill West feature immaculate landscaping with fountains, creeks, paths and bridges, but the Kenner apartments are offeing up to $175 off move-in costs on select apartments and reduced rental rates on select apartments.

Breakers – At the Breakers apartments in Metairie, enjoy great community features like a courtyard, access gates and gazebo, plus special rental rates on select apartments.

Magnolia Creek – One of the pristine apartment communities located in the Creeks of River Ridge, Magnolia Creek has unbeatable amenities and a special rental rate on one bedroom apartments for a limited time.


Celebrate Spring at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Other than Mardi Gras, to many, Jazz Fest is the biggest and best annual event in New Orleans, and with good reason. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is a whopping seven full days of music, food and art. If you’re looking to experience a huge amount of New Orleans culture condensed into one day, Jazz Fest would be the place to do it. Use these tips for how to have a great Jazz Fest experience, which is easily and conveniently accessed by 1st Lake Properties residents of New Orleans area apartments!jazz fest

Music – You really can’t go wrong with any music selection at Jazz Fest because it’s always going to be an excellent choice, even if you’ve never heard of the performer. The lineup this year features major headliners like Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Phish and Arcade Fire. In addition to the big name, as always the fest features some of the best established New Orleans artists and some very talented newcomers. Check out the full Jazz Fest music schedule online.

Food – For some people, Jazz Fest is more about the food than the music. There are nine food areas, each with an amazing sampling of New Orleans food and some ethnic offerings for something different. Some festival favorites not to miss include crawfish bread, cochon de lait po-boy, the iced teas from Sunshine Concessions, Ms. Linda’s Ya Ka Mein, the fried softshell crab po-boy from Galley Seafood Restaurant, the Phesant, Quail and Andouille Gumbo from Prejean’s Restaurant, and of course the Crawfish Monica.

Crafts – If you want to bring a tangible piece of Jazz Fest home with you, there are three art markets throughout the festival grounds where you can find some amazing, hand-made crafts. In addition to the coveted Jazz Fest posters from years past, including the 2014 poster, you can find African art and wares at the Congo Square African Marketplace; paintings, pottery and more at the Contemporary Crafts in Heritage Square; and regional crafts including photography and jewelry at the Louisiana Marketplace.

Family – Jazz Fest is one festival where kids can have as much fun as the adults. There is a section just for kids that includes a kids’ tent and a food area with favorites like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and mac and cheese.

Transportation – It’s important to have a game-plan for how to get to Jazz Fest. It can be difficult to find a parking space if you are driving, but if you find a parking space within walking distance, you can take the Canal Street streetcar that drops you right off at City Park just a few blocks away, or take a pedicab or the Esplanade bus.


Apartment Color Decorating Ideas: Interior Color Palette

Moving into a new place? Feeling stuck on how to decorate and personalize your apartment color? A good way to start is by choosing a color palette.

One of the great things about color is you can change the motif from room to room depending on what works best in your apartment.

Here are the interior design color combinations that are safe bets for decorating. Consider incorporating them into your apartment’s aesthetic for a hip, current and striking interior design you’ll love!

Interior Design Trends: Using ColorChoosing an apartment color palette is an essential step for decorating your apartment just the way you like it.

All the design blogs and magazines agree that purple, blue and neutral hues are great design choices for apartment colors. If you need new or updated furniture or apartment accessories, this is a great opportunity to purchase with these colors in mind.

Purple and blue hues make a great complement to white or beige colored walls. Adding these hues make those accent pieces pop in your apartment. Try purchasing rugs, throw pillows, blankets, ottomans or chairs in these rich colors.

Looking for a fun project? Try painting dining room chairs, trunks or a chest of drawers in these colors to customize the furniture you already have.

For neutral hues, use the white walls in your apartment to your advantage with statement pieces, bold prints and wooden furniture. These will offset the white tones for a balance of natural and bright qualities. Indoor plants will also add that pop of color to a neutral toned room.

Choosing the Right Color Scheme For You

Choosing a color scheme to decorate your home isn’t as simple as black and white. Elements such as hue, saturation, and tint each contribute to the overall look of a color.

Mood is a consideration, too – many psychologists believe certain hues encourage certain feelings. Colors can make you feel things like happiness, excitement, or tranquility.

To be clear, the majority of renters are not permitted to make permanent changes to their living space such as painting a room.* But changing the mood can be as simple as accenting with objects d’art of a particular palette.

Unsure of the hue that would be best for you? Check out our rainbow sampling below for ideas on splashing some color into your home.

Seeing Red

Seeing red isn’t always a bad thing.

PhD Psychologist Sally Augustin writes that energy levels go up as color saturation increases. “Brighter, more saturated colors improve our mood,” she explains in her book Place Advantage.

Hues like red, for example, ramp up the pituitary gland, leading to increased energy. Red accent pieces can add vitality to a room without overpowering with too much color.

Decorating Blues

Blue, one of the coolest colors in terms of temperature, is associated with the feeling of tranquility.

But, in overabundance, cool blues can give a home an aloof or unfriendly appearance. Color consultant Leatrice Eiseman suggests light pastel blues in her book, Colors for Your Every Mood. They help create a “delicate, detached, ethereal ambiance.”

Mellow Yellow

In The New Home Color Book by Anna Kasabian, yellow is the new neutral color.

According to Kasabian, yellow is “warmer and more sumptuous than white. It works well as a backdrop for dark or black furnishings and heightens the honey tones in polished wood floors.”

To add some golden warmth to your own home, try sprucing up rooms with cheerful yellow throw pillows or window treatments.

* A Word to the Wise for Renters *

As a New Orleans apartment management firm, we must add a note for renters. Decorating with color doesn’t always mean painting. But, if you are so inclined, be sure to contact your apartment manager or landlord for rules on painting rental property. No amount of color will make up for the green that you could lose if your terms are not followed out (i.e., goodbye deposit).

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Related posts: What is Eclectic Home Decor? We Explore This Design Style, Apartment Storage Ideas: Vertical Space + More, DIY Home Decor Ideas