Whether you’re new in town or a long-time resident at our luxury apartments in South Austin, you may know of a few places where Austinites and tourists alike love to take photos. With murals and street art throughout the city, plus scenic greenbelts, riverside views, and iconic architecture, there’s no end to the Instagrammable spots in our city. Here are just a few of our favorite places in the city for a photo op. Have you visited them all?

I Love You So Much Mural

Perhaps the most famous mural in the city and also one of the most simple, the “I Love You So Much” mural is a popular spot for engagement photos, fashion shoots, and run-of-the-mill selfies too. We’re not sure what it is about this understated bit of wall art, but it certainly is one of the most charming spots for a photo op in South Austin. You’ll find it along South Congress on one side of the Jo’s Coffee building.

You’re My Butter Half Mural

Austin has many Instagrammable murals to choose from, and the “You’re My Butter Half” mural has become popular for many of the same reasons as the “I Love You So Much” mural. You’ll find it in East Austin along MLK across from Bennu Coffee. Stop by for a photo with your pet, your partner, or bestie, because this photo op is best experienced with your butter half.

Greetings From Austin Mural

The last mural on our list, “Greetings from Austin” is just begging to be made into a postcard (and of course, it has been many times). It’s located at the corner of South 1st and Annie St. and it’s a great opportunity to snap a photo to show off your Austin trip or get a picture to send to out-of-town family and friends.

Ladybird Lake Hike & Bike Trail

The Hike & Bike Trail along Ladybird Lake is the perfect place to capture a scenic photo of the river with the Austin skyline in the background. The entire stretch of this miles-long trail is full of picturesque views perfect for the ‘gram. Plus, you’ll get a wonderful walk in and you can easily bring your dog with you too.

Pennybacker Bridge Overlook

The Pennybacker Bridge is one of the most iconic Austin sights and the 360-overlook is a great place to snap a photo of it for Instagram. You’ll get there by locating the unassuming trailhead along 360, just north of the river as you’re driving south. A steep, narrow trail leads from the side of the road to a scenic overlook with incredible views of Pennybacker Bridge. Just be sure you wear sensible shoes!

Those are our top five Instagrammable spots near our luxury apartments in South Austin! If you found this post useful or interesting, we encourage you to share it with your friends and colleagues! If you want to shop our luxury apartments in South Austin and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.

There are lots of simple tricks you can use to keep our luxury apartments in River Oaks, Houston feeling stylish, spacious, and totally your own. These four tips can help you add personal flare to your ideal apartment without adding clutter to your living space. Know a friend, coworker, or neighbor who could use these tips? Go ahead and share this post with them! Now without further adieu, let’s talk design tips.

Make Use of Vertical Space

Floating shelves, stackable storage, and wall hooks are just a few of the tools to take full advantage of vertical space at our luxury apartments in River Oaks. Removable wall hooks and other mounting tools on the market can provide an easy way to display jewelry, mount pictures, hang bags, and more. Plus, an over-the-door shoe organizer can provide a convenient way to store toiletries, tools, and other odds and ends. Making use of vertical space will keep things from feeling cluttered or cramped while still offering plenty of space for you to show off what makes you you.

Embrace Mirrors

Mirrors instantly make a room feel larger. Decorating with mirrors can bring extra light and the illusion of more space to a room. A large mirror in the living room or several artfully-arranged smaller mirrors can emphasize your style while providing a practical function whenever you need them to. Plus, you can easily mount them on the wall so they don’t take up floor space.

Get Creative With Corners

When it comes to any home, including your luxury apartment in Houston, corners are likely to be your most underutilized space. Getting creative with how you use your corners can turn low-traffic areas into convenient design accents. For example, you can easily find corner desks, console tables, and shelves that will add storage and provide opportunities to express your interior design style. A tall potted plant like a fern or tree also makes a great addition to your underused corners.

Opt For Furniture With Built-In Storage

Whenever possible, opt for furniture that offers additional storage space. After all, if it’s going to take up space on your floor, why shouldn’t it do double duty? Coffee tables, entertainment centers, and ottomans are common items that offer additional storage space, whether you use that to keep cozy blankets in the living room or to organize your board games.

That’s all the design tips we have for maximizing space at our luxury apartments in Houston! If you want to shop our luxury apartments in Texas and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.

Working from home at your luxury apartment in North Austin or another Texas community managed by RPM Living? Many of our residents across Texas are still working remotely during the pandemic, not to mention those who already worked from home for other reasons. Luckily, our apartments in North Austin and across Texas provide an excellent remote work environment, with many having high ceilings that keep you from feeling cramped, high-speed internet to help you avoid connectivity hiccups, and a high-tech business center on-site when you need access to a board room or private conference room.

But even with these perks, having the ideal home office may not be easy. Home has become the center of everything, and it can feel hard to carve out a space that’s strictly devoted to work. But these helpful tips can give you a great space to focus, get comfy, and be productive.

A Place to Shift Your Perspective

Working in the same spot all day long can put us in a haze and drain us of energy. Having a place to go to change things up, even if it’s just a comfy chair on the other side of the room or a yoga mat in the corner that you can roll out for some midday stretches can make all the difference. We encourage you to use this spot to take a break. Even if you are unable to take a break, moving your laptop to another room of your Austin luxury apartment can reenergize you and literally shift your perspective on a challenging task.

Aromatherapy Options

Smell has a massive impact mood, so surrounding yourself with scents to help you feel focused and uplifted can really help your workday. There are lots of aromatherapy options that can easily sit on your desk or a table nearby like incense, essential oil diffusers, or sage and palo santo sticks.

A Pair of Bluetooth Headphones

When you need to use headphones for work, corded headphones can sometimes be a nuisance. While many over-ear headphones have great sound quality and added comfort, a pair of reliable Bluetooth headphones will free you up from cords, allowing you to be more mobile during your workday and make your desk setup feel that much less cluttered. You don’t have to find an expensive set either; there are many affordable reliable options.

An Ergonomic Computer Chair

Working from home often means spending hours in the same chair, so it should be a comfortable one! Computer chairs with poor support can lead to back and pelvic strain resulting in sore muscles, pain, or joint issues.

A Better Webcam & Microphone

We all know the trials and tribulations of a bad video call experience. Buying a higher quality webcam and microphone can eliminate the stress and miscommunication caused by poor sound or video quality. High-quality external webcams can be very affordable; finding one between $40 and $75 should suit you just fine. High-quality external microphones can run a little more expensive, usually between $75 and $150. We recommend a Blue Yeti or Blue Snowball for affordable and reliable options.

That’s it for our home office must-haves! We hope you found this post informative and helpful! If you want to shop our luxury apartments in North Austin and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.

As a Dallas multifamily development and property management partner, we’ve become very well-versed in renter’s insurance. It’s standard in the industry these days to require residents to hold a renter’s insurance policy and our communities are no exception. But if you’re new to renting or have never shopped for renter’s insurance before, there’s a lot you may not know about renter’s insurance policies! Here’s what to expect from a renter’s insurance policy and what you need to know to get the right coverage for your apartment.

Renter’s Insurance Doesn’t Cover Everything

It’s important to that renter’s insurance typically covers damages from issues like theft, fire, or wind, but it may not cover damage from flooding, earthquakes, and other natural disasters.

Pay Special Attention to Your Personal Liability Coverage

Generally speaking, your property manager will ask you to provide proof of a renter’s insurance policy with greater than or equal to a specific amount of Personal Liability coverage. A common amount in the industry is $100,000. Personal Liability coverage is what pays for loss settlement and legal fees in the event an insured party causes bodily injury and/or property damage to others.

You Can Take Your Policy With You If You Move

In many cases, your renter’s insurance provider can help transfer your existing policy to a new location if ever you choose to move. This process is easier when moving in-state but can also apply to out-of-state moves as well. Transferring your policy helps you avoid wasting money and keeps things simple by maintaining the same policy number, login info.

List Your Property Manager as an Interested Party

Listing your property manager as an “Interested Party” or “Additional Interest” helps ensure your property manager has access to your insurance information when they need it. It also helps streamline the process of notifying them of your Proof of Insurance when starting a new lease or when your insurance policy renews. To list us as an Interested party, you’ll usually just need the name of your community, address, and the office’s contact email.

Those are the top things you should know about renter’s insurance! If you found this post useful or interesting, we encourage you to share it with your friends and colleagues! If you want to shop the best luxury apartments in Dallas and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.

Private patio/balconies are a feature of many of the communities we manage at RPM Living, adding great views and sunny spaces to apartments across the city. But not everyone knows how to turn these sunny spaces into a beautiful extension of their apartment. Not only that, but patio furniture can be expensive, so it’s not always easy to create the perfect patio/balcony on a budget! However, these ideas can spark inspiration for those who are still waffling over how best to use this awesome amenity. Read on to discover our top 4 ideas for awesome patio/balconies!

Start a Plant Collection

Your patio/balcony is the perfect place to start an herb garden or create your own urban oasis full of thriving plants. Choosing some hardy herbs or other plants that thrive in direct sunlight is the best option, so consider cacti, succulents, snake plants, certain varieties of palms, or a variety of wildflowers.

Opt for a Thrifted Furniture Set

Patio furniture sets are great, but buying online sometimes means paying a lot of money for a set that is less comfortable or stylish than you thought. Thrifted patio furniture can be a great workaround to save time and money. Wicker, wooden, and metal furniture tends to hold up well even when it’s secondhand. Best of all, you can reduce waste and make your set completely your own by upcycling a simple bench or chair with a colorful cushion, new upholstery, or other DIY project. Just make sure anything you put outside is weather-proof.

Lay Down an Outdoor Rug

If you thought rugs were only for indoor use, think again! A durable, washable rug is key, but not hard to find. Popular rug vendors like Ruggable often allow you to filter by outdoor rugs, making shopping easier. A simple rug can enhance any patio or balcony space and make it feel like an extension of your home.

Set Up A Mini Pet Park

We all love our pets, but sometimes it’s inconvenient to take your dog outside (say, at 4 am when you’re trying to sleep)! Setting up a dog-friendly space can be the perfect way to make the most of your patio/balcony. Include a washable bed, water bowl, and even disposable synthetic or natural turf where your pup can do their business when they need a quick potty break. It’s also easy to find rail guards for those with smaller pups who might otherwise poke their heads through the balcony railings.

Those are all our top ideas for decorating your patio/balconies at the our apartment communites! We hope you found this post informative and helpful! If you want to shop our luxury apartments and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.

We love to see how the residents of our luxury apartments in the Houston Galleria decorate their apartments to make them their own! But even though Houston has a thriving art scene, finding great art for your apartment can be challenging and expensive! These simple tips can help you find apartment decor that fits your style while ensuring you don’t waste money on art you’re not completely in love with.

Find a Fun DIY

Depending on the style of art you enjoy, you might be surprised at how easy it can be to create something beautiful yourself. Whether it’s a fun acrylic pour, a simple stenciled piece, or a handmade macrame project, DIY art pieces can be a particularly satisfying way to decorate your apartment because not only are they beautiful, but they can become a source of pride and a reminder of a fun experience.

Visit a Thrift Store

Thrift stores are a great place to find unique art pieces for your luxury apartment in the Houston Galleria. Not only can you find great art pieces to display as-is, but they make unique canvases for you to upcycle. You can also add visual interest and a touch of your unique style by reframing and adding matting.

Find Frameless Artwork

Oftentimes, a quality frame is more expensive than the artwork inside it—plus, you may have to work harder to find a frame that fits your existing decor aesthetic. So choosing frameless pieces like prints, posters, and removable wall decals can help save you money while offering a more casual, funky decor style. Additionally, there are practical alternatives to frames that provide an attractive way to display your art, like poster hangers, magnetic mounts, or clips.

Make Art Out of Everyday Objects

Similar to a DIY project, making art out of everyday objects can be a more affordable alternative that still allows you to show off your unique style. Finding pieces of patterned fabric to hang can be just as impactful as a painting, while mirrors can be a decorative way to make your apartment feel even more spacious. Likewise, displaying a collection of your favorite books in strategic spots around your apartment can be an aesthetic choice that provides a glimpse into your personality.

Buy Digital Artwork You Can Print Yourself

Digital artwork is often a fraction of the price of physical artwork, which can be a great way to cut down on the price of art you really love. Printing art from a digital file at a local print shop gets you the same product for less money and very little effort. Not only that, but you can avoid waiting for your artwork to ship and fast-tracks your path to enjoying your new decor.

That’s all our tips for finding affordable art for your luxury apartment in the Houston Galleria! If you want to shop our luxury apartments in Houston and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.

It’s no secret that different colors can instill different emotional and mental states in those with the ability to see them, and people have been taking advantage of that fact in home decor for many years. Although the science behind this phenomenon is still lagging, there is early evidence to corroborate what people have been experimenting with for ages, leading to concepts like Color Therapy. This theory suggests that color can be used strategically to regulate mood as you move through your environment. And there are many ways you can incorporate Color Therapy concepts into your apartment.

As we discuss these tips, it’s worth keeping in mind that how color influences our mental and emotional state can vary from person to person based on factors like cultural significance, biological factors, and personal experience. We’ll discuss some broadly applicable ideas, but it’s up to the individual to explore what colors make them feel best in each context.

Add Some Blue To Your Home Office

Judging by the number of blue light canceling lenses on the market, most people know by now that blue light influences your circadian rhythm, sending signals to your body that it’s time to be awake. Simultaneously, many associate blue tones with calm and tranquility. These factors combined make blue a great choice for home office decor, or anywhere you want to feel alert while also reducing stress. Consider blue throw pillows, artwork, or even computer gear like your mouse, keyboard, and speakers.

Add Warm Tones To the Bedroom

On the opposite end of the light spectrum, red light and other warm tones can help your body realize that it’s time to wind down and relax. However, colors like red, orange, and yellow are also sometimes associated with energy, vigor, or even anger. Finding a warm-toned color that avoids these connotations can help you inject relaxing vibes into rooms where rest is a priority, so consider pink bed linens, burnt orange wall art, or even a warm-toned beige or gray for your bedroom furniture.

Use Energizing Colors in Social Spaces

Many colors can signal energy, so this is based on personal preference. In general, though, lighter and more saturated colors tend to be perceived as the most energizing options. Consider incorporating these hues into your living room and dining room decor through throw pillows, rugs, tablecloths, wall art, and so on.

Use Greens and Earth Tones For a Natural Vibe

It’s little wonder that greens and browns remind us of nature—specifically the types of nature we tend to find most rejuvenating and hospitable, like forests, meadows, and gardens. Adding some of that life-giving vibe to your apartment can be as simple as incorporating earth tones and rich natural greens to your decor. For bonus points, add these colors in the form of actual plants, which can have additional benefits for your mood and your health.

That’s it for our color therapy tips! We hope you found this post informative and helpful! If you want to shop our apartments and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.

There’s seemingly no end to the amazing pizza places in San Antonio, but that’s no surprise. The amazing eats nearby are just one of the things that makes our communities some of the best luxury apartments in San Antonio. In this awesome city, it’s easy to find a pizza place you’re obsessed with, whether you’re a fan of deep dish or New York-style, classic pies or novel ingredients. San Antonio has it all, so we’re rounding up just a few of our favorite pizzerias near our luxury apartments in San Antonio!

Dough Pizzeria Napoletana

Dough Pizzeria focuses on the classic Neapolitan pizza style made with local ingredients and a traditional wood-fired oven. So popular they’ve expanded to three locations (two in San Antonio and one in Plano), this pizzeria also features Italian classics like pasta and tiramisu. We highly recommend the Fontina pizza (caramelized onions, oak roasted mushrooms, thyme, and a rosemary balsamic reduction) and the Prosciutto Crudo (topped with arugula dressed with a lemon-truffle vinaigrette).

Main Street Pizza & Pasta

This mom-and-pop pizzeria is one of the best known in San Antonio. Located in Midtown, this pizzeria is one of the best choices in town for casual, classic pies at a reasonable price. Additionally, they offer delicious pasta classics, stromboli, and salads as well as other Italian-American staples, so it’s easy to visit with friends or family and have everyone find something they love.

Pizza Classics

Similar to Main Street, Pizza Classics is a relaxed, family-owned mainstay with a menu of other eats in addition to classic pizzas done well. It also features interesting specialty pies like BBQ Chicken, Buffalo Chicken, and White Pizza with basil and artichoke.

Stella Public House

Stella Public House is located in Southtown along the river and offers a hip, farm-to-table style experience that focuses on local ingredients and community. Their menu features more adventurous choices perfect for those looking for something out of the ordinary, though it also has classics sure to satisfy traditionalists too. We recommend the Mr. Southtown, featuring chipotle marinara, jalapeno cheddar pepperoni, caramelized onions, and black olives. The Poached Pear + Gorgonzola is also delicious, with poached pear, blue cheese, caramelized onion, serranos, and honey.

Barbaro

In Midtown, Barbaro reigns as another of San Antonio’s favorite pizzerias. It focuses on “off-beat” pies like the Hashbrown (featuring taleggio cheese, kale, and honey) and the Benton’s Country Hams (featuring smoked mozzarella, red onion, Cholula, and cilantro). Plus, you’ll also find Sicilian pizza, gluten-free pies, and make-your-own pizza options.

That’s it for our top pizzerias near our luxury apartments in San Antonio! If you found this post useful or interesting, we encourage you to share it with your friends and colleagues! If you want to shop the best luxury apartments in San Antonio and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.

Since we are a regional property management company in Houston, TX, and other Texas hubs like Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas, we get a lot of residents who are first-time gardeners looking for low-hassle houseplants that can stand up to hot summers and variable humidity. If you live in one of our luxury apartments in Midtown Houston, North Austin, Downtown San Antonio, or really anywhere else in Texas, these beginner-friendly houseplants are great options for your Texas apartment.

Spider Plant

Spider plants bear lots of skinny, ribbon-like leaves that will make your apartment feel like a place of abundance, without the need for a lot of light. Its arcing green leaves look great in a hanging planter or on a tabletop, and its roots can handle being a little crowded, so you don’t need a huge pot to accommodate them. Spider plants do need to be watered a little more often than some other plants on this list, though—around once a week for best results. It’s not the end of the world if you’re a little late with watering, this plant will tolerate a belated watering every so often.

Snake Plant

A snake plant sprouts several stiff, ribbon-like leaves that grow upward with a variegated pattern akin to reptilian scales, which is how the plant gets its name. This hardy indoor plant can survive in any light, including low light, and does not need frequent watering, nor does it require pruning. Bear in mind that very low light conditions may reduce the colorful variegation on its leaves; nevertheless, this plant provides a vibrant addition to any room.

ZZ Plant

If you’d prefer a fern-like plant, the ZZ plant is a perfect choice. Yielding waxy green leaves across a number of stalks, the ZZ plant also tolerates low light and infrequent watering. It’s a resilient little plant that can spring back to life even after some neglect. Don’t worry if it drops some leaves while you’ve been a less-than-perfect gardener. Just water it as normal and it should be revitalized before too long.

Pothos

Pothos plants are another popular low-light option for apartments. In fact, pothos plants don’t do well in direct sunlight, so they’re well-suited to an indoor environment. Their trailing, ivy-like vines bear spade-shaped leaves that can be variegated with white or silver, depending on the variety (though plants variegated in this way usually need a bit more sunlight than their all-green counterparts). They won’t naturally cling to walls or trellises like ivy, but their vines can grow very long if left unpruned.

Succulents

Finally, the obvious choice: succulents. Succulents have become very popular lately due to their need for infrequent watering and ability to thrive in minimal space. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, and all of them do best in partial to bright light (typically, the more light, the better). Make sure they’ve got a spot by the window or can spend most of the day under bright artificial light if natural light is unavailable.

That’s it for our Texas-friendly houseplant suggestions! We hope you found this post informative and helpful! If you want to shop our luxury apartments in Midtown, Houston and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.

As a property management company in Houston, TX, and other Texas hubs like Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas, we’ve had our fair share of Texas barbecue. In fact, we’ve got a short list of favorites in all these Texas cities that are beloved by staff and residents alike, so we thought we’d share our recommendations here! Today, we’re starting with our top picks near our luxury apartments in Museum District, Houston.

The Pit Room

Located in Montrose, just a few minutes from our luxury apartments in Museum District, The Pit Room is well known among Houstonians—and for good reason. Their menu includes all the classics (the brisket and beef ribs are must-tries, of course) as well as offbeat offerings like venison sausage. They also offer tacos and breakfast tacos as well as a delicious variety of sides like loaded Frito pie, elote, and mustard potato salad.

Good Co. Barbecue

Located on Kirby Drive, Good Co. Barbecue features cozy interiors, shaded picnic tables, and delicious bbq in a converted barn. In addition to the classics like brisket and ribs, you’ll also find Czech sausage bbq po-boys and unique sides like Jambalaya Texana. Their Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie is also delicious if you can manage to save room. Plus, Good Co. will even mesquite smoke your own meat for you if you drop off at least 10 pounds. How cool is that?

Pinkerton’s BBQ

If you’re up for a drive to The Heights, Pinkerton’s BBQ is well worth a visit. Here, the brisket is tender and the ribs fall right off the bone. But you’re also missing out if you don’t get a blueberry cobbler to finish it all off! Plus, the service is wonderful and the sides are just as good as the meats (well...almost). This is definitely a must-try in Houston.

Ray’s Real Pit BBQ Shack

Located in South Side, just minutes from our Museum District apartments, Ray’s Real Pit BBQ Shack specializes in hickory-smoked meats, but you’ll also find po-boys, fish and shrimp dinners, burgers, sides, and desserts. We highly recommend the peach cobbler, banana pudding, and Jake Fries to go with your sliced brisket, Chicago-style Rib Tips, and Smoked Oxtails.

Houston Sauce Pit

If the words “vegan barbecue” fill you with intrigue, you’ll be happy to know there’s an incredible vegan BBQ spot right here in the Museum District. This food truck is gaining notoriety as one of the only vegan BBQ spots around and takes its name from its founders, Jarrett Milton and Courtney Lindsey, owners of the popular Houston Sauce Co. (so you know their sauce is one of the best parts)!

That’s it for our local Houston barbecue recommendations! If you found this post useful or interesting, we encourage you to share it with your friends and colleagues! If you want to shop our luxury apartments in Museum District, Houston and other RPM communities across the US, check out our Communities page.