Let’s start with Alta 1900 Lofts. The Design District apartment complex, which opened in late 2009, was recognized by the National Apartment Association (NAA) as a PARAGON award winner. The annual awards program recognizes the multifamily housing industry’s top communities. Alta 1900 Lofts was selected from hundreds of communities across the nation as a top project less than five years old and with over 150 units.

Alta 1900 Lofts is truly a great place to live. Beyond the amenities, the staff (hi Blake!) is super friendly, and they’re always hosting fun resident events, like their happy hour at The Meddlesome Moth on Tuesday evening. I’ve enjoyed many an evening with friends, lounging by their awesome outdoor fireplace, roasting marshmallows for smores and enjoying the company of neighbors!

Not to be outdone, the yet to opened 1400 Hi Line just down the street was honored by the Dallas Business Journal as Dallas’s Multifamily Residential Deal of the Year in 2012. The awards committee was impressed with “posh upgrades and spectacular views of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and Trinity River.” It’s true. The views at 1400 are some of the best I’ve seen. Check out the awesome shot of a 1400 view taken by photographer Steve Hinds.

Though the building is not quite ready for move-in, they have a marketing office open around the corner that is ready to sign leases. The office is set up as a model unit reflecting what a one bedroom in the tower will look like, finishes and all! You can swing by 1635 N Stemmons Fwy. to check it out or schedule a tour by visiting www.1400hiline.com.

I think that is enough bragging for this Friday; just one last congratulations to our outstanding apartment buildings! Other design District business, please send me your accolades so I can brag on you too!

Last week the developers gave an in-depth interview about the project on the D Magazine RealPoints blog. Instead of recapping the article, I decided to have a little fun and throw all the juicy details into an infographic.

While this is jam packed with fun insights, it is just the tip of the iceberg of the coolness that is 1400 Hi Line. Stay tuned to LowerOakLawn.com for the latest amenity reveals and leasing deets!

[View Larger]

Sources: D Magazine RealPoints,  PMRG Execs Provide Details on 1400 Hi Line

The 1900 Lofts staff, Jennifer, Kelly and Nate, joined the crew for happy hour.

Guests enjoyed hummus, zucchini chips and other yummy appetizers from The Moth.

There was plenty of laughing!

And lots of good conversation!

To see more pictures from the evening’s festivities, check out the Lower Oak Lawn Facebook Page.

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Yesterday in our first green week installment we dove headfirst into the world of organic gardening. Now that you have the basics down, it’s time to have a little fun! Today we focus on apartment gardening since, well, I live in an apartment!

Just walk around the apartments of the Design District these days and you will see many of the patios sporting planters. Urban gardening has become more popular of late and container gardens on balconies around Dallas have become more and more frequent.

Striving for the perfect balcony garden? Start small and build up!

The most important thing to consider when planning a small-space garden is plant size. Plants that might seem small at the nursery often grow quickly and need to be replanted in only a few months. If possible, it’s best to stick to herbs and small vegetables, which grow well in limited space. Herb choices for a patio or balcony garden include basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, and rosemary. These herbs are nice to have around the house for cooking and they also grow well in a small space. Many of these you can even plant in the same pot!

Considering an herb garden of my own, Jin at Green Living helped me choose a handful of outdoor accessories and gardening products that would make gardening less of a chore!

I love the outdoor “mad mat”, pictured above which could add a great splash of color to a balcony or back porch. It’s made out of 100% recycled plastic and fairly traded.

{NOURISH} Coconut potting soil, Green Living

{PLANT} Pallina Women’s Gardening Gloves, Green Living

{LEARN} Apartment Gardening by Amy Pennington, Amazon.com

{HYDRATE} Rain barrel for water harvesting, Green Living // Green Watering Can, Crate & Barrel

Jin also educated me on the benefits of rainwater harvesting — a concept I found really cool. Harvesting rain water is all about water conservation and is a very convenient tool in organic gardening. People usually think going green involves going out and buying products, but in reality, the best way to be more eco-friendly is to use what is around you.

Instead of running your faucet, you can use rainwater to water indoor plants and as water for pets.

Basically all you need to harvest rainwater is a container to capture it in. The big blue container (pictured above) seemed unsightly at first but with a little creativity you could turn it into a cool patio accessory. Adding a cute rain related vinyl decal would definitely add a touch of personality!

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By now, you’ve surely gotten the dish on what’s going on over at 1400 Hi Line. PM Realty’s 23 story high rise has broken ground and is well under construction. Those interested in checking out the progress can check out their construction camera, which snaps photos every few minutes. And for those not interested in the construction, it’s a great way to check out the weather in the Design District!

Looking for a good excuse to get outside and enjoy this fabulous fall weather? Join Alta 1900 Lofts tonight at their amphitheater tonight for a performance from the amazing Euforia Live!

Euforia Live is a unique live theater performance of two art forms coming together – music and art. While pianist Seth Simmons performs his original music compositions, fine artist Rolando Diaz creates original works of art with oil on canvas.

The show will get started at 7:00 pm, but 1900 Lofts residents are invited to meet up for cocktails before hand in the club room at six.

After the show, the party will move to The Meddlesome Moth where everyone can enjoy some food and drinks! It should be a great time, so come on out!

Alta 1900 Lofts
1900 Hi Line Drive
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 749-1500
www.alta1900lofts.com

Remember a few months back when I announced that one lucky Camden Design District Resident had been chosen for a free apartment makeover, courtesy of ApartmentTherapy.com and Valspar Paint? Well, the transformation is finally complete! And boy, what an upgrade!

The new wall color and furnishings, paired with several pieces Michael already had, mesh to create a fresh, old world feel which is polished but still decidedly masculine.

Remember Michael’s old space? I think we can definitely all agree this is a change for the better!

(See more before photos here.)

What did Michael think? “I’m inspired by my new room, and I learned that anything is possible when decorating without fear or reservations. Thanks so much to everyone who participated in this project — I had so much fun!”

To follow Michael’s living room makeover from the beginning, check out these posts from Apartment Therapy which take you through the entire process, from design inspiration and initial consultations to color selection and the final product!

• The Big Reveal! Michael’s Design District Home
• Michae’s Design District Home: Phase 3 – The Progress Report
• Michael’s Design District Home: Phase 2 – The Prescription
• Michael’s Design District Home: Phase 1 – Local Inspiration

{Photos via Apartment Therapy.com}

{Photo by: Melanie Acevedo}

For a woman, a closet is much more than just another room in the house. So much so, that it’s becoming a trend to dedicate a whole room to use as a closet! Upgrading to a two bedroom apartment provides ample opportunity to give your clothing collection a little breathing room and provide yourself with the necessary space to get dressed and paper yourself in style.

Though all of the two-bedroom floor plans include sizable closets in each bedroom space, expanding a closet to an entire room is actually more practical than you might think. Just think, if every last shoe, purse and hat had a place and room to spread out…I’m positive that things would stay much more organized!

Here are six must-have items to turn your extra bedroom into a well organized and designed dressing room!

1. Hanging Clothes Rack – The first and most obvious requirement for a dressing room is a place to hang your clothes. While a second bedroom will also provide you with a second closet with proper shelving for hanging clothes, you may choose to display a garment rack with a selection of overcoats, basics, or your season favorites. Not only does a visible rack give you quick access to your favorite pieces, it also adds design interest to the room!

These stainless steel garment racks & shelves give a utilitarian feel to this closet/home office. Target has a great selection of garment racks in a wide selection of sizes, styles and prices.

{Photo via: Unplggd}

I also love this creative, DIY clothing hanger created from chain and a branch pictured on Apartment Therapy.

{Photo via: Apartment Therapy}

2. Dresser - Another important item to have in your closet room is a dresser. A dresser is a necessary storage unit for basics such as socks and undergarments. It can also be a good home for accessories like scarves and gloves.

{Photos via: Living, Creating Yourself}

If you have a large enough room, I love the idea of putting matching dressers back to back to create a storage “island.” The top gives you a great place to throw clothing and accessories as you are assembling outfits.

{Photo via: Well Appointed House}

If you’re short on space, alternatives to a full dresser are a tall, skinny lingerie chest or a funky vintage trunk like the one below!

{Photo via: Style Hive}

3. Shoe Storage - To be honest, I could have easily dedicated this post to a whole room for shoes! But I’ll just stick to a few photos of my favorite shoe storage ideas.

This picture (a la Miley Cyrus) shows an ideal solution for shoe storage in an apartment space where built in shelving isn’t an option. Twin ladder bookcases are easy and effective way to store and display your favorite kicks without tearing up your walls. These ladders are available almost anywhere, from Crate & Barrel and West Elm to Amazon and even Walmart.

{Photo Courtesy of: In Style Magazine}

Hanging shoes is another easy and beautiful solution for high heels. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t work well for the flats and boots that are part of every lady’s shoe collection.

{Photos via: Deliciously Organized}

Another great option is shoe boxes. I love these two (above right and below) creative shoe storage solutions!

{Photos via: Deliciously Organized}

4. Full Length Mirror - After making homes for clothes and shoes, the single most important accessory in a home dressing room is a full length mirror. A full length mirror helps a lady ensure her look is complete, from head to toe. For an entire space dedicated to clothing, I love the idea of including a large and interesting statement mirror. The one pictured below is super fun and functional!

{Photo via: House to Home}

5. Vanity – Maybe not quite a must-have, but including a vanity in your closet room is definitely a smart idea. A place to sit down and do your makeup fits perfectly with the primping theme of the dressing room and helps consolidate your “getting ready” mess to one room.

{Photo by: Aimee Herring via Real Simple}

And there you have it! Five must-have storage solutions for a home dressing room. Do you have any more must-haves? Or maybe a few “nice to haves”? Share your ideas and thoughts in the comments below!

{Photo by: Kirsty Legg Photography}

Today’s idea for a second bedroom comes from a LOL twitter follower @beekalove, who also happens to be my cousin! Becca, a travel blogger and photography enthusiast, suggested that if she were to have an extra bedroom it would be used for a home photography studio.

A home photo studio is more than just a fun idea –  it could also be a great way to generate some additional income. Just think, a couple of portrait or product shoots and the extra space would pay for itself!

Far from a photography expert, I reached out to Kirsty Legg, a Scotland-based photographer whose lovely home studio I found on Flickr. She was kind enough to provide these six tips for turning a blank bedroom into a functional, stylish and professional photography room!

1. Space – Try not to get frustrated by the limited space you have; make the most of it. My room isn’t large — around 11 x 12 feet. Also, my home photo studio changes often to accommodate different shoots or to cope with storing the things I accumulate as a photographer.

2. Backgrounds – For backgrounds I find paper easier to work with than cloth. If you are trying to get a very high-key look with a white out, background, paper is the way to go. Trying to accomplish this look with cloth requires back lighting, which requires more space for lights behind the cloth.

{Photo by: Mark William}

3. More on Backgrounds – I use wall brackets from Interfit to support my paper rolls, which can be rolled up or down by using a chain, just like a roller-blind. If drilling through walls is not an option (as is often the case in apartments), stands are a great alternative.

To support a heavy paper roll, it’s best not to cut corners. Opt for a good, sturdy background support rig. The downside to stands are they can take up a lot of space. Pins and tape can also be used to mount paper to the wall if stands won’t fit in your space.

{Photo Courtesy of: TrustedReviews.com}

4. Storage – Photographers seem to pick up a lot of random props, so having plenty of storage space is ideal for throwing things into drawers until you need them again. I mounted a curtain rod to my wall as a makeshift clothing rail. Having a safe place to store your cameras and lenses is also very important.

5. Safety & Insurance - Don’t forget, safety is always important, and you should have your rental insurance reviewed along with getting some personal insurance such as public liability just in case an accident happens. You don’t want a client falling over a light, breaking a wrist and suing you!

{Photo by: Anton Zhukov}

6. Taxes - Lastly, remember that working from home does not mean you can escape the taxman!

Do you have a home photo studio or aspire to have one? Share your tips and insight in the comments below!

Kirsty Legg is a 25-year-old photographer based in Dundee, Scotland, who offers a range of bespoke photography services from wedding coverage and family portraits to fashion and product photography. Her purpose-built home studio is a short walk from Dundee city centre and is equipped with professional backdrops, lighting and accessories. {website} {blog}

After almost a year of attending yoga classes at the Alexan Design District, I have to say I’m a big fan. But attending yoga once a week just isn’t enough to reap the full benefits it has proven to provide. Home exercise rooms have been around for a while, but lately a new trend has emerged with in-home yoga studios, allowing dedicated yogis to practice their flexibility and meditative skills without having to leave home.

Yoga rooms requires little to no equipment and are generally very organized and uncluttered. All you really need is a yoga mat, but some nice subdued lighting, a music player and even a TV (used to play yoga DVDs) are good extras to include.

The simplicity of this space demonstrates how easy a yoga room is to set up.

{Photo courtesy of: Beauty That Moves}

A bit less minimalistic is this Asian-inspired home yoga retreat. I love the zen feeling of this room. A cool blue paint gives a relaxing and meditative calm to the space.

{Photo via Rate my Space}

Lastly, this stylish home yoga room ties in live plants, adding an earthy, feng shui element. Also, the wicker baskets with towels are a nice addition and always good to have on hand after an invigorating yoga session.

{Photo courtesy of: Lowes.com Project Center}

A yoga room is also a good idea for a placeholder space. While I’d eventually love to turn a second bedroom into a guest room or office, buying all that furniture at once can get pricey. A yoga space is a good excuse for a close-to-empty room. (Because, let’s be honest, the main reason I’d upgrade to a second bedroom is to have the second closet!)

Do you or any of your friends have home yoga rooms? Or is it something you would even consider? Share your thoughts in the comments below or pictures of your home yoga space on the Lower Oak Lawn facebook wall.