Your Place at the Table
Isn’t it funny how a chore we all tried to get out of when we were growing up is now almost a hobby? From basic place settings to trendy tableware, our Idea Specialists™ at Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia, are here with recommendations on how to set your table for spring! HARMONIOUS WHITES There’s no better way to start than with a set of strong white dishes—the potential for mixing and matching them with other elements of your table settings is almost limitless. An always reliable go-to is the Gibson brand, and its Noble Court timeless rim shape 12-piece set is a value buy at Target. If you’re in the mood for something a little more funky, check out Mikasa’s Coronado Pearl 4-piece place setting (part of its Portugal Dinnerware Collection) offered by Macy’s. Unique shapes and rich pearlescence turn everyday soup bowls and salad plates into works of art in their own right. GLAMOROUS GLASSWARES Pair your new dishes with a mix of goblets and glasses in all hues of the rainbow. We could (and do!) spend a lot of time looking at Lulu and Georgia’s Insta, so it just makes sense that we would be drawn to their Estelle Stemware, which comes in a variety of colors. We’re partial to smoke as we head into spring. But if you’re already ready for brighter and lighter, Pottery Barn’s Happy Hour Goblets might be just the ticket! FUN WITH FLATWARE We will always be a fan of Oneida and its classic Louisiana flatware. What’s not to love about the luster and the details, not to mention the balance of the pieces? Plus, it’s always easy to find, just in case your youngest accidentally gets the butter knife caught in the disposal. Again. A 45-piece set now available online at Bed Bath & Beyond includes dinner forks and knives, salad forks, dinner spoons, teaspoons, and more. For something a little more casual, there’s the West Elm Color Pop Caddy—four place settings in Easter egg colors stored in a clever handled carrier, which means it’s easy to take back and forth from the dining table to the porch if you want to dine al fresco! GET IT TOGETHER Whether you’re serving a serious Sunday dinner or just enjoy seeing your table nicely set, a table runner is a little piece of magic you can use to draw everything together. No matter your style, from contemporary to Victorian with Southwestern and Scandinavian in between, the Houzz collection features almost any option you can imagine, and at almost that many price points! We decided on the Metallic Glam one in rose for our first one. Placemats are another way to coordinate, and it’s really hard to have too many. From holiday happies to patterns and solids, again, options abound—it’s all about what makes you happy. The Spruce featured SHACOS round braided placemats as one of its 14 Best of 2021, and we can see why: They’re easy to wipe clean and come in everything from canary yellow to plain ol’ beige. We can work with that! And, if you’re looking for inspiration for how to set your family’s Easter table this year, our Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ recommend visiting the HomeGoods blog, then heading over to the store in Mansell Crossing Shopping Center on North Point Parkway. There is sure to be something there for every bunny!
The Healing Power of Plants
Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia—with its beautifully landscaped walkable spaces, grill areas and proximity to the Big Creek Greenway Trail—affords the residents of our luxury apartment homes ample opportunity to get outside and enjoy some of the beauty and benefits that nature brings in Alpharetta. And Belmont’s balconies, porches and bright, open interiors are just the right spaces for letting nature indoors and the pleasant and practical placement of plants. There’s a healing power to them, both for body and soul: a lush pot of variegated arrowhead vine to round out a corner and serve as an organic air purifier, lavender to help you relax and get to sleep, and that reliable stalwart, aloe vera—it’s not just for sunburns anymore. Ready to step into the spirit of spring by bringing some greenery into your home? Belmont at Park Bridge’s Idea Specialists ™ say it’s hard to go wrong with these popular and hardy indoor specimens: Aloe Vera Snake Plants Philodendron Lavender Spider Plants Note: When deciding which types of plants to have in your home, do your research. Know which plants are best if you share your abode with pets: Plants and Pets They also say you just can’t go wrong with two “home-grown” Georgia-based sources for almost all things green: Pikes Nurseries, located about 15 minutes from Belmont at Park Bridge, is perfect for a Saturday morning outing with its own “Play in the Dirt Club” (just imagine how cathartic!). And of course, The Home Depot is right around the corner, with everything from decorative containers to dirt and fertilizer and, yes, the plants themselves. You can do your one-stop shopping at any of those stores’ numerous and convenient locations in the area. No time for that sort of field trip? Another easy way to get started is to buy fresh herb plants when you’re making your regular run to Publix. If you’re looking for a fun project, you can make yourself a hanging herb garden with their guidance. You also can find all manner of indoor garden starter kits on Amazon, including this cute and low-maintenance mason jar set of hydroponic rosemary, lavender, and oregano. (Remember, lavender has been shown to help with anxiety and insomnia. And, speaking of science, check out this study conducted with Texas A&M that showed that being around plants helps with memory retention and concentration!) Whether you’re new to the greatness of greenery or just feel like you need a little refresher course on care and feeding, a reliable source for guidance is MarthaStewart.com. Martha always offers up great tips and techniques to help navigate plants, both the indoor and outdoor types. And some aloe vera. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it a great vitamin-rich and decidedly wallet- and eco-friendly skin serum. So, with spring right around the corner, March 20, to be exact, plan now to bring the outdoors inside your apartment home at Belmont Park Bridge, and enjoy all the benefits plants have to offer!
