Bold hues are popping up everywhere-from the runways to handheld gadgets.  Now is the perfect time to experiment with the trend and bring some color into your home life.

Here are a few ways to experiment with bold hues in your apartment residence.

Accent Wall:  One of the hottest design trends are accent walls and what better way to incorporate a bold splash of color into your otherwise neutral space?  Pick one focal wall to incorporate a bold red, purple or turquoise hue.   You can even get a little creative and add in stripes or bold wall decals to draw in the eye even more.

Colorful gadgets:  There are plenty of home appliances that come in bold, bright colors.  Instead of the traditional white or black, accent your kitchen space with a splash of color that you can choose to display, or stow away in your cabinets.  A bright orange stand mixer will help you incorporate one of today’s hottest hues into a functional kitchen gadget.

Accent Pieces:  Rather than buying new furniture, you can repurpose your neutral couches or chairs by purchasing bright slip covers that seamlessly conform to existing pieces.  Try mixing up furniture colors, like purple and yellow or red and
orange, to create a more vibrant space with colorful elements.  You can also take advantage of colored accent pillows and throws against your neutral furniture to add touches or bold
colors.

Bold Artwork:  One of the simplest ways to incorporate lively colors into your space is artwork.  Modern or abstract art that is painted with rich hues can draw in the eye and give space a pop of color.  If you aren’t sure what type of artwork to buy, you can even try creating your own with some blank canvas, bright paints and an endless imagination.

More and more people, known as “snowbirds,” are escaping the cold winter conditions up north for the warmer temperatures of the southern states.  But, as the cold weather drags on, snowbirds are spending even less time up north, finding that their permanent residences lie in the south.

So, instead of owning two homes and dealing with the costly expenses (repairs, taxes and more), many snowbirds are choosing to own their homes in the south, and rent while up north.  But, finding the right place to rent can be hard.  Many apartment communities lack flexible leasing options and need a minimum lease of one year. 

AVE offers flexible-stay options in our furnished and unfurnished rental residences that are perfect for people looking for convenient homes while up north for the spring and summer months.  Our furnished suites offer everything you need and more- with fine furniture, gourmet kitchens and well-appointed décor, you’ll find everything you need for your time up north.  We provide all the comforts of home in our furnished accommodations, including bed & bath linens and kitchen accessory packages.   Plus, our residents enjoy an architecturally designed swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, weekday club breakfasts in our café, and unparalleled resident social activities including monthly dinners, weekly pilates in the tranquility garden, and seasonal events such as movies under the stars. 

Whether snowbirds are looking for flexible-stays or a permanent home, AVE offers everything they need for convenient, comfortable living. 

Sometimes we like to decorate not only for the holidays but for the seasons as well! In Fall, we transform our homes in warm colors of browns, oranges and reds. Now that winter is upon us, we can cool our home down a bit and reflect the blue and white hues of the season.

This season, you can add home accents that reflect the wintery weather without doing a complete decoration overhaul on your home.

Whites: White floral arrangements are a simple way to give your home a pristine look of elegance reminiscent of snowy winter days. Combine fresh white roses with plain accent twigs, or paint twigs silver to create a unique centerpiece.

Blues: Cool, opalescent blues are another great way to reflect the season. Try adding accent pillows in blue satin or silk fabrics to your existing décor in the living room or bedroom. Pillows with silver adornments, such as beads or mirrored accents, will further enhance the look of winter.

Warmth: One of the best winter activities is sitting by a warm fireplace with friends and family. Not all of us are lucky enough to have a fireplace but that doesn’t mean you still can’t achieve the feeling of warmth in your home. Try placing votive candles in groups throughout your space to evoke the feeling of a warm fireplace.

5, 4, 3, 2…Happy New Year!  Planning on hosting New Years Eve festivities in your apartment home this year?  Sometimes, plans can get a bit overwhelming, especially when your guest list continues to grow.  But, there are a few simple ways to make sure your party is seamless and your guests walk away recognizing your party as one of the greats. 

The food:  One of the most important factors in any party is the food.  Usually, the New Years Eve party starts after dinner, so smaller bites will keep hungers satisfied.  Try thinking outside of the box and create gourmet-style fingerlings like Kobe beef sliders  or cream cheese stuffed new potatoes.  You can even serve soups, like tomato and basil or lobster bisque, in shot glasses.

The Drinks: Instead of buying a full bar worth of alcohol for your guests to enjoy, stick to the champagne for the midnight toast and a signature cocktail for the evening.  You can create your own concoction and name it with a New Year’s twist – like a Lemon Ball Drop Martini or Sour Pucker Up at Midnight Cocktail.  Making bulk pitchers of a signature drink before the party starts will allow your guests to enjoy your mixing skills at their leisure. 

The Activities:  Good food, good conversation and good music can be all your need to have a great party.  But, as you are sitting down watching Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve there are many activities that you can do keep everyone entertained.   Try a game of charades or classic board games like Pictionary, Gestures or Taboo.

Skip the Confetti:  Throwing confetti around when the clock strikes twelve has always been a New Years Eve tradition, but when you’re the one cleaning it up it isn’t so fun.  Instead of confetti, hand your guests noisemakers – cheerful horns and hand clappers can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes and levels of loudness.  Maracas are also a great choice as they make just enough noise to add to the festivities, but not too much noise where they would annoy your neighbors. 

So go ahead and host the best New Years Eve party yet to ring in 2012!

‘Tis the season for family and friends to gather in homes and celebrate the holidays with good food, great drinks and plenty of conversation.   But, hosting the holidays when you live in a rental environment can sometimes be challenging.  Apartment-dwellers have to deal with stricter space constraints, but that doesn’t mean that your holiday get-together still can’t be a blast!

At AVE, we know just how important family and friends can be- and there is nothing better than spending time with your loved ones during the holiday season.  Here are our tips for hosting the holidays in your rental residence!

Maximize Your Space:  Even if you have a large apartment with an open floor plan, as family members pile in your home, space can start to get a bit tight.  The trick is to utilize space effectively to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and the flow of the party stays intact.  Instead of keeping everyone centrally located at the dining table, which could get a bit cramped, spread them out throughout your home when it’s time to sit down and eat.  Place accent chairs near coffee tables and side tables to give guests comfortable seating options and utilize high counter space with bar stools for more seating choices. 

Décor:  When hosting the holidays in your apartment, remember that less can sometimes be more.  Avoid overly large standing or hanging decorations, which can make a space feel smaller.  Instead, opt for tabletop décor like a lone centerpiece and festive napkin rings.  You can even decorate dining chairs with colorful sashes and ribbons to create a festive ambiance. Holiday wall art will also help you stay in the holiday mood without enclosing your space.

Experiment with Food:  With a gourmet kitchen, there are hundreds of meal options that you can make for the holidays.  But, when thinking of holiday meals, many concentrate on main course dishes and forget the power of appetizers.  Smaller portions are key, especially in an apartment environment.  Delicious and small finger foods are perfect for passing to guests, which allows them to stay dispersed throughout your home instead of gathered around the kitchen! 

Offer sleeping options:  Sometimes friends and family can go overboard at holiday get-togethers.  So, always make sure you have your guest room made up for any last minute overnight guests.  Make them feel even more taken care of by placing a bottle of water near their bed and fresh towels in the bathroom.  With hotel-inspired hospitality, you just may have trouble getting them to leave!