Apartment Blog

Detroit has been the epicenter of soul music for decades.  Motown got its start in Detroit and signed artists such as s Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Four Tops, and The Jackson 5.  This made Detroit  a place for new sounds and big opportunities. According to VisitDetroit, “Detroit’s public school system, in the early 19th century, also made music accessible to all, hiring some of the best music education professors to cultivate young, artistic minds.” It is no wonder that Detroit is still the same way today.  Many genres find a safe home in Detroit and a place where they can experiment before going mainstream.

Known as the city of rhythm, Detroit keeps on moving along even during the tough time of the recession.  The music coming out of the city is reflective of the adversity they have had to overcome over the years.    You will not have a hard time finding some kind of music that you enjoy and living in Detroit may make your music selection more eclectic.  Detroit has great apartments that give you access to all the music you want.  A few are included here:

River Oaks West Apartments

Briar Cove Apartments

Independence Green Apartments

Get more information and search tips on Detroit Apartments, or view all Apartments for Rent in Detroity, MI.

Sources:

http://www.visitdetroit.com/index.php/music

I remember as a child when I asked my mother for my friend to come over, she would always state “Sure, as long as the house is cleaned up.” That exact moment would produce a frenzy of activity around the house, me racing against time to pick up everything so my mother would say yes. Ahhhh…. Those were the days. Now that I’m an adult, I don’t to have to deal with that when my friends come over. I want my apartment to already be kept up, so when a friend calls and says he/she is coming by I don’t have to worry.

Here are five foolproof ways I make sure this is accomplished for my apartment:

1. Make your bed as soon as you get up. As soon as I get out of bed, I make the bed. I feel like my room is extremely messy if the bed is. After all, the bed is usually the focal point of the bedroom; people tend to notice if that’s neat versus your vanity being kept up.

2. Unload your clean dishes from the dishwasher in the morning and make it a rule that if somebody uses a dish they are to load it into the dishwasher. If you don’t let dishes pile up, you won’t have a mess after dinner. And when the dishwasher is full, you can run it.

3. Clean up all spills immediately. That means on counter tops, on the stove, and on the floor when you are cooking. This will eliminate the hard scrubbing from food deposits sticking to the surfaces.

4. Make it a habit to take your shoes off at the front door when you come home. I have a shoe rack by the door for myself and guests to put their shoes. Doing this will keep dirt from being tracked in onto your floors or carpet, which will help them look beautiful longer! Remember, you want that security deposit back! J

5. Another thing people will notice when they come to your house is clutter. Make sure you have a spot for everything. When mail comes into the apartment, go through it immediately and throw away unnecessary items. Then, place your bills or other ‘keep’ items in their spot to go through when needed.

While I miss the good ole’ days from my youth, I certainly do not miss the frenzy of activity before a friend comes over. After all, it looks kinda bad when he/she shows up and I’m all sweaty & out of breath! J Hopefully these tips will help you whenever you are in the situation of needing a clean house on the fly.

With the current economic state many renters are looking for apartments that are ‘cheap’. While the perceived monetary gain may be tempting, it’s important to also look at the safety factors before signing a lease.You should first examine the neighborhood. You have every right to seek out information on whether or not there have been criminal activities. This includes asking the property manager or looking to local authorities. While also examining the neighborhood, you should make sure you visit the property multiples times. Plan on once during the day and at least once during the night. This will help you see how well light the area is and you’ll get a better sense of how safe you will feel when you return home from work each day.

Next, you should check the windows and doors. When you go to a model unit, chances are it’s going to be a better looking home. But check around the community when you visit. Do they tend to be in good shape? You need to also explore the locking mechanisms on the doors and windows. They should always ask when you move in, if the locks have been be changed from the previous owners. Always better to be cautious!

I would also recommend looking at the smoke detector.  This is the most valuable protection you can have-it will save your life! When you choose an apartment, be sure to check where it is located and when the batteries were replaced. Keep a schedule so you know when to change them out again.

Most apartment communities offer, as a paid service, the capability of a security system. They are a great way to protect your apartment. It scares away burglars because it increases the potential and fear of being captured and arrested by the police. But an alarm also does that without anybody getting hurt.

Lastly, protect your belongings by getting renter’s insurance! You can get quotes online by visiting the relocation page on ForRent.com.

Your apartment should be a sanctuary for you and your family, so make sure it’s a safe one.  Take these tips with you when you’re searching for apartments for rent, they’ll really be a lifesaver!

If you’re anything like me, the idea of Father’s Day is a daunting one. Not because I don’t enjoy celebrating my father, I do! He’s an unbelievable man who has taught me so much and I love him dearly. But, because I am always at a loss of what to get him. What to get a man that has loved me and cared for me all these years? What to get someone who has truly been there for me whenever I needed someone? Those are the questions that always creep up when Father’s Day rolls around and I rack my brain trying to think of something. 

And of course, I want it to be something creative. Something I’ve not done before to really show him how much I appreciate him. Well after racking my brain for hours, I’ve come up with a list of five ingenious ideas (if I do say so myself).

1. Go the sentimental route. A video montage or collage of photos with you and your father (or the whole family) would really be something special for your father to receive. It’s something he can truly cherish for many years to come.
2. Make an afternoon date with him! If he would enjoy activities such as miniature golf, ice cream, lunch, then why not take him out? He deserves to have a bit of fun doing child-like things for a day!
3. Splurge for some hobby supplies. Every father has a hobby he enjoys! Whether it’s a sport like soccer, racing or maybe just fixing up cars, give him something that he would benefit from. Be careful though, you don’t want to overuse this tip as it could become predictable.
4. Bring him humor! There are a plethora of items that would fit the bill, books, trinkets, etc. In fact, I was on Barnes & Nobles web site and saw quite a few books that poke fun at ‘Dadisms’ or have cartoons to depict father-like situations. Guaranteed to make every dad grin, chuckle and laugh out loud.
5. And finally, time is all your father really wants. He enjoys spending time with you, his child. So be sure to spend good quality time, even if it’s not doing anything special, just to be with him.

This photo is something my father and I did when we were in Key West….father-daughter bonding! J

Continuing our weekly trend, here is an article with some fantastic tips on how to refresh your home using the color blue! Bring the outdoors inside with a splash of sophisticated and refreshing blue!

Make a bold statement by using deep blue. If you can’t paint, curtains are a great effect for your walls (especially if they are floor to ceiling length).

For added excitement in a bathroom, replace the knobs on your vanity and/or medicine cabinet with blue ones (just make sure you keep all the screws and original knobs when it’s time to move out). White and blue bath accessories, artwork and towels would really complete the look.

Blue checkered details really add a lot of fun as well as a retro twist to any space. You can use this idea for pillows on a bench in your apartment or for cushions around your dinning room table.

Silvery gray and pale aqua is a perfectly glamorous combination for a vanity table. An ornate mirror makes an elegant topper, however if you can’t take down your mirror, removable stickers to adjourn your mirror will work.

For a beach themed apartment, you can use removable cushion covers from an outdoor patio set. A blue stripped rug and an antiqued painted coffee table add dimension to the space; as would blue stripes and fun accents like a nautical star or chandelier.

Also, don’t be afraid to mix a variety of patterns - just stick within the same color palette. A delicate blue-and-white curtain blends beautifully with a shag rug, toile quilt, and boldly striped cushions. My favorite pattern, besides the classic stripes, is damask. Having a piece in the room using blue damask instantly makes it trendy and chic.

Paint and furniture aren’t the only ways to bring color into a room; fun knickknacks in the same hue will do the trick also!

What’s the next color on the menu? Yellow! Soon we will post ideas for decorating in the powerful color of the sun!

Source: Country Living and Better Homes & Gardens

Ready for more decorating tips? This time we’re listing ideas with the chosen color red. The color red seems to be noticed more than other colors. Red cars have a notorious reputation for being pulled over more by cops because of the vibrant color. A small dose of a bold and vibrant red adds energy and impact to many things, including any room in your apartment. Here are a few tips to decorate your apartment space that will sure accommodate most limitations for apartment renters have!

If you’re ready to fully embrace red, go all out with a fire engine shade. Try it in a small room, like an office and pick up accent pieces that really add an impact. Rug, curtains, a big canvas painting, etc. Even choose office supplies and/or organization tools in the vibrant color.

Red doesn’t have to be flashy, certain shades, like a rich tomato red, add rustic warmth to a space.

Do you have an all white kitchen or bathroom? Apple red curtains, along with coordinating collectibles and dish/hand towels, add a splash of color to a pristine space.

A single distinctive piece, like a vintage dresser with ornate hardware (or a refurbished dresser you did yourself), in the color red can add just a touch of drama to a neutral room.

A symphony of red shades and patterns can play off each other nicely. Rather than clashing like you might expect, different patterns actually add depth and interest because they are within the same color family.

Give your dinner table a refreshingly simple update by painting your chairs candy apple red.

A boldly painted dresser, drapes and throw pillows add strength and focus to help to move the eye around the room.

Source: Country Living and Better Homes & Gardens