Our Doggie Date Ideas Are Cuter Than Kittens
If you have a dog you know you’re one of the luckiest people in the world! Dogs give and give waiting for your affection – a rub behind the ears, a pat on the head, and a little praise. They patiently (most of them) wait for you to get dressed and politely let you put their bling (leash) on for a morning potty break. Afterwards they’re eager for some morning “num-nums” and with all the dog-etiquette they can muster, gobble them down. Then, they watch as you dart between rooms getting ready for work while you run 15 minutes behind. Of course they don’t care, they sit there with unjudging eyes of adoration and a sense of joy just to be near you. After you’ve gone they eagerly wait for your return from a long day at work, and there is no question about how much you were missed. They don’t care if you messed up a huge presentation or spilled coffee. No, they want nothing more than to cuddle up with you and let your presence completely delight them. Spending a few weekday hours together can be unfulfilling, that’s why you need a “doggie date!” It’s your way of telling Brute, Pebble, Fifi or Treat that you really love them! We’ve scoured the Birmingham area to bring you the cutest spots to visit in order to truly bond with “man and woman’s best friend.” Start with the Park. Before you even leave the Retreat at Mountain Brook, kick off your date with a quick stop at our very own dog park located right behind our community garden off Sharpsburg Drive. As you head on your way there are quite a few other Birmingham bark parks that are well worth the visit. Close to The Retreat at Mountain Brook you two will find the Grants Mill Station Dog Park in the City of Irondale. This fenced 4-acre dog park, a favorite for area pet owners, is where you’ll enjoy designated areas for small and large pets, picnic tables and dog training equipment. Another great spot is the Loch Haven Dog Park. This well-kept park in Hoover boasts large separate areas for your cuddly buddies. One Yelp reviewer said “we cannot wait to go back….best thing yet: your fur baby is exhausted by the time you return home.” The downtown Railroad Park is a fantastic choice as well, with over 19 acres of open space covered with trails to help you get your exercise on! For extreme bark parkers, according to a forum post on Reddit, there’s a “secret” dog group that meets at Caldwell Park on Highland Ave every evening. This is not an official dog park, but rumor has it the dogs are well behaved and fun to play with. Eat some Treats. Once you’ve finished unleashing all that pent up love it’s time for both of you to grab some “din-din.” Whether you’re in the mood for burgers, tacos or pizza, there are many incredible pet friendly restaurants dotted around the city and ready to serve! Among local pet lovers the top pics are Chez LuLu & Black Market Bar who have both received a rating of 5 out of 5 bones by dog owners on BringFido. Click here to find the full list of eats for any appetite, but don’t forget to bring their kibble and a dish to serve it in. Want to connect with other like-minded dog lovers? Get social & document your “doggie date” by tagging #dogsofbham; a local group created by dog lovers for dog lovers of Birmingham, Alabama! Shop and Sniff. Leashed dogs of all sizes are welcome at The Market at Pepper Place every Saturday from April through December, rain or shine. This farmers market features local fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and other edibles along with items from local artisans. The market welcomes dogs of all sizes and several vendors even place complimentary water bowls at their stand. We recommend outdoor enthusiasts bring their pup to The Mountain High Outfitters in Birmingham to scope out your gear for this year. While dog size isn’t a worry, make sure your leashed dog is well behaved before entering. Primp those Paws. Another stop on your doggy date must be to get your bestie groomed! Everyone loves that fresh cut feeling when getting up from the styling chair, dogs do too. A local favorite is Rub-a-Dub Dog Bath House & Spa based on their ability to literally take the stress out of grooming for both you and your dog! Cozy up. Cozy up in the car or on the couch while you watch a heartwarming, pet friendly movie. If you aren’t quite ready to head home, the Coyote Drive-in (located in Leeds) is very dog friendly. Both you and Fido will love the January 27 release of A Dog’s Purpose. Watch the official trailer HERE. For those who are worn out by all the running around, we totally understand that cozying up in your spacious apartment at The Retreat at Mountain Brook, in front of the fire, to classics like Turner and Hooch, Homeward Bound, or Benji may be more up your alley. As a pet friendly apartment community we always welcome you to stop by the leasing office for a treat anytime you and your pup would like!
5 New Year’s Resolutions We Can Help You Keep
Welcome to 2017! We love the New Year, just as much as we love Mondays. It’s the ultimate refresh button that anyone can push for a renewed chance at tackling that list of tasks that have been put off for far too long. In a recent survey BusinessWire discovered the most desirable resolutions in 2016. And its no surprise, but in 2017 the same top 5 are still very high on most people’s list. On the top of that list…”Enjoying life to the fullest!” Once we discovered the survey, we just had to see what else was on America’s list for most desirable resolutions, and we quickly learned that life here at The Retreat at Mountain Brook sets the perfect stage for you to accomplish this year’s most sought after goals. #5. Eating Healthy. It is no secret that healthy eating leads to a healthy life and if you’re looking to make the change, boy do we have a surprise for you! As you enter The Retreat at Mountain Brook on Sharpsburg Drive, you can’t miss our conveniently located large & accommodating community garden. Residents are encouraged to join in on the planting in our raised garden-beds, available year round, encouraging changes to eat more nutritiously. #4. Get Fit. For those planning to lose that pesky winter coat we’d like to point out that we have two community fitness centers equipped with the latest workout gear and machinery to ensure the best results! Want to switch your workout up? Residents also have direct access to two professionally rated tennis courts and three saltwater pools. #3. Spend more time with Family. We’ve got great amenities for your gatherings! Not only do we have the largest apartment homes in town (read SIZE MATTERS for details) with ample room to entertain, we have three resort-style saltwater pools with sundecks and cabanas, outdoor kitchens with stone wrapped grilling stations and a dining terrace available for resident use. Want something a bit more private? No problem. Choose between two clubhouses, each with a resident lounge and accessibility to free Wi-Fi so you can stream all the music you want! For families still growing, a walk over to one of our playgrounds is always a family favorite. #2. Save more, spend less. If you want an urban living experience in a beautifully appointed dwelling, with manicured tree-filled grounds, and a luxurious lifestyle, but want to stay within budget, then you’ll be glad to know there are no “gotcha’s” here! We offer the greatest return on your investment leaving you with more jingle in your pocket. Check out this blog about our sweet deals that include all the following community amenities. Gated Entry Community Garden 3 Saltwater Pools with Sundeck/Cabana Pool Side Outdoor Kitchen Grilling Stations with Dining Terrace 2 Tennis Courts 2 Clubhouses with Resident Lounge, Fitness Center and Balcony with Pool View Wi-Fi Available in Clubhouse and Pool Areas Play Ground Pet Park Electric Vehicle Charging Stations 24/7 Anytime, Anywhere Online Customer Service; Pay Rent, Submit Service Request or Email an Associate in the Business Center. #1. Live Life to the Fullest. As we evaluate time spent over the past year, most of us come to the realization that we are way too busy. We need to look for more ways to develop meaningful connections with those in our circles. To each of us, living life to the fullest looks very different; but it always comes back to improving relations. The best way to do that is by being a part of a community. We are so proud to learn our monthly community meals foster this year’s most desired goals. According to one of our residents: “As a lawyer, I work long hours – so when I come home, I want to enjoy the community. The Retreat at Mountain Brook offers social networking events like Taco Tuesday’s – all I have to do is show up. They do the rest.” We believe if you live here and implement the following resolutions, you will be on your way to enjoying life to the fullest! Contact Us to start fulfilling you 2017 resolutions, today!
see how we’ve been rockin’ around our community Christmas tree
We know how hectic the holidays can be, so we’d like to take a moment to update you on all the joyful festivities we’ve been having at The Retreat at Mountain Brook in celebration of this most beloved season! The month was kicked off when one of our creative residents started his annual tradition of making Alton Brown’s aged eggnog. This decadent nog takes nearly a month to make and from what Lee has told us, it’s well worth the wait! We can’t wait to try it! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to get notified when it’s ready to drink! On December 13th we hosted our inaugural Gingerbread House Decorating Contest & Hot Cocoa Bar from 5-7PM at our comfortable community clubhouse. With quite a few community challengers it was a close call, but someone had to win the $25.00 gift card. Shout out to Lee Furnahn for the win! Go ahead and sharpen your decorating skills in 2017 and join us again next year! On December 14th we had another winner, Stephen Moore was the first to answer our holiday movie trivia quiz, bragging rights are all yours! Please stay tuned cinephiles, more trivia on the way! December isn’t the only month we have fun! We pride ourselves in how we spoil our residents with community events, outreach programs and special ways to say thanks all year round. Just check out what 2016 was like! Don’t miss out on all the fun in 2017! Subscribe to our Facebook Page & stay in the know!
12 Reasons You’ll want to live at our Birmingham Alabama Apartments
Although we can pretty much guarantee there are way more than 12 reasons to make our exceptional apartment community in Birmingham, Alabama your home, we decided to narrow it down to the top 12 most notable moments, that we adored experiencing with our residents. Without our residents, we could not have had the incredibly successful 2016 that we had! So, from the bottom of our heart…thank you, and enjoy! January: Putting on the final touches before opening our doors. February: Please join us in Congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Newton! Our first lease at The Retreat at Mountain Brook! We can’t wait to hear what you love most about living here! #birminghamliving March: The community garden is underway as we finalize this eco friendly addition to our grounds. We are eternally grateful to the artist, Lydia Randolph Fine Art and Portraiture, who is persistently working on bringing this corner of the Retreat at Mountain Brook to life with a larger than life mural. #homegrown April: Thank you for seizing the day with us: to all our #GardenParty volunteers! Our community garden is well on its way and we are looking forward to enjoying the fruits of our labor this summer! May: Many thanks to the UAB School of Optometry students for joining us at the spring apartment fair. The team here at The Retreat at Mountain Brook enjoyed letting our hair down and having some fun with all the incoming students. We hope you have a fabulous school year! June: Lots of time by the pool. What is happiness to you? #SummerIsHere July: Thanks so much to everyone who joined the launch of our newest community amenity, the #BarkPark, last week! We jumped, played and snacked with our new friends thanks to doggie treats from Fetch – A Treat Truck for Dogs #DogDaysOfSummer August: We had a great time at our #TacoTuesday Happy Hour this week! Everyone enjoyed the tacos and conversations while cheering on the USA in the 2016 Olympics! September: Rise & Shine! We were just thinking about how much fun we had when we got the chance to serve our residents breakfast today. October: A proud sponsor of The Greater Irondale Chamber of Commerce National Night Out 2016, with the Irondale Police and Fire Departments in historic downtown Irondale. November: Join us at the Pine Tree Country Club with the Greater Irondale Chamber of Commerce for our monthly networking luncheon. We’d love to see you here! Danielle & Koty. December: Meet The Retreat Leasing Team, looking ultra-professional and ready to conquer another awesome year. These are the friendly faces you’ll be greeted with when you visit our leasing office during your apartment search. Looking forward to seeing you here! If there is anything we can do to make your 2017 fabulous, we’d love to hear your thoughts. A heartfelt Happy Holiday’s, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year from Brandon, Natausha, Danielle, Cheryl and Koty!
See why our location ROCKS!
If there is one thing history has taught us about real-estate, it is that location is still just as important now as it’s ever been. “Location, Location, Location” is a term credited to British real estate tycoon Lord Harold Samuel (1912-1987) however, it was used as early as 1926 by real-estate magazines in Chicago. Fast forward to 2017 and as the most beautifully situated apartment development in Birmingham, Alabama we are very proud of our “location, location, location.” We are so delightfully located on the outer edge of the Birmingham that you don’t quite feel like you’re in the city, but still close enough to participate in the town’s modern amenities. Our close proximity makes commute times to local hot spots one of the most compelling considerations for residents who choose to make The Retreat at Mountain Brook their apartment home. “Did you know this coming year the average American will spend 4.4 days commuting to work!” This figure is predicated on a study conducted by IndexMundi back in 2013, which calculated an average commute time of 25.5 minutes for US workers. The IndexMundi has “Sweet Home Alabama” 23rd on the list at 24.2 minutes commute time to work. When polling our current tenants, we discovered the average commute time from The Retreat is 14.7 minutes! That’s a nine & half minute difference lower than the state average, putting us at number 1 on the IndexMundi average commute time compared to national standards. Now it’s becoming clear why location truly is everything! Aside from the work commute times we’ve also charted driving times to some of the most notable destinations around the city. With so many great attractions found in The Magic City, we made an easy to reference infographic depicting the top locations local’s love to frequent based on drive time. Convinced now that The Retreat at Mountain Brook is an outstanding place to live? If so, click below to schedule a tour of the premier “location, location, location” because we know you’ll want to call it home the minute you do. CLICK NOW TO BOOK A TOUR!
In Birmingham Alabama, Apartment Size Matters!
If you’re looking to live in a large, luxurious apartment nestled within the community of Mountain Brook, Alabama; surrounded by beautifully wooded grounds close to exclusive neighborhoods, then our apartment floor plans will impress even the most well informed consumer. You’ll hear us talking a lot about Large, Luxury, Living for Less at The Retreat at Mountain Brook, and we want you to know we’ve done the math and have statistically proven we are by far the best value when it comes to apartment living in Birmingham, Alabama. The largest apartment home at The Retreat at Mountain Brook is The Augustine; a 3 BR/2B, is nearly 2000 sq. ft. That’s 445 sq. ft. more than our closest competitor. Our price per sq. ft. for that apartment home comes in at $0.81 per sq. ft., while our competitor’s average price per sq. ft. for a 3 BR/2B is $1.66 Next, The Lawrence: 2 Bedrooms and Loves to Entertain at roughly 1,448 sq. ft. That’s 297 sq. ft. more than our closest competitor. Our price per sq. ft. for that apartment home comes in at $0.81 per sq. ft., while our competitor’s average price per sq. ft. for a 2BR/2B is $1.53 Last, our economy size apartment, The Kent is 1 BR | 1.5 Baths and loves to get cozy at 1,100 – 1,300 sq. ft. That’s 606 sq. ft. more than our closest competitor; which is almost double the size! Our price per sq. ft. for that apartment home comes in at $0.81 per sq. ft., while our competitor’s average price per sq. ft. for a 1BR/1B is $1.41 You do the math. For a quick snapshot, just take a look at the following competitive analysis to illustrate our value: Of course, that’s not all we have to offer. We have a complimentary latte café, resident lounge with large screen TV, fitness center, gated entry, nearby hiking trails, wooded views, dog park, saltwater pools, outdoor kitchens, tennis courts, playground, valet trash pick-up, community wi-fi, AT & T UVerse, 24/7 online customer & an electric vehicle charging station. That’s quite a list. We also love to entertain our residents with dinners, wine tastings, breakfast to go, tailgate parties and lots, lots more. We’re open late and on weekends – so come let us show you around The Retreat at Mountain Brook. Long story short, the spaciousness of our floor plans are legendary. First time visitors are amazed with the size of our walk in closets, sun rooms, master bedrooms and living areas, so we welcome you to come experience it for yourself.
9 Ways to make the most of your Halloween weekend in Birmingham Alabama
With phenomenal fall weather and a Holiday weekend ahead there are just so many reasons to be excited about all the fun opportunities popping up in around the city between now & October 31st. We totally get that it can be overwhelming deciding which activities will result in the best memories, so we’ve made it really easy. We want the incredible memories you create with friends and family to last a lifetime, so we’ve come up with a simplified list of options to help you build the most incredible memories in and around Birmingham, Alabama during this upcoming Halloween weekend. With the following mix of comforting traditions & exceptional culture we’ve planned a weekend filled with an Spooktacular experience that is family album worthy. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28TH Join us for our inaugural Halloween Party tonight from 6-8PM at the Retreat at Mountain Brook, clubhouse. We will be showing Hocus Pocus, serving complimentary food & drinks, and there will be a Halloween Costume contest! The contest will start early and everyone that enters the office anytime from (9AM-6PM) on the 28th will have a picture taken as your entry to the contest. The winner will receive a $50 gift card & announced during tonight’s party. Tonight’s Cirque De La Symphonie Spooktacular performance will be accompanied by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra starting at 7PM. Tickets start at $10 each. They will “welcome back our favorite cirque performers to dazzle the audience all set to a backdrop of haunting orchestral favorites. Presented by Alabama Symphony Orchestra at Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center – Samford University, Birmingham.” SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29TH Barks & Biscuits. Pet Vet Express presents a Pet Halloween Costume Contest for “Barks & Biscuits” from 9:30-10:30AM, located across the street from the Emmet ONeal public library. Don your pets in their finest costume for the cutest Halloween contest around. Prizes will be awarded for the most original costume, the scariest costume, the cutest costume, and the best child and pet combo. How about an Owl-O-ween? Enjoy a fun-filled family day at AWC where you’ll enjoy games and crafts, meet Alabama’s owls up close (including the world’s largest owl species), thrill to the release of a rehabilitated bird back into the wild, and more! Cost: Free with Oak Mountain State Park admission (adults $5, children 6-11 and seniors 62+ $2, children under 6 free). Scheduled Activities will take place between 11AM-2PM The Great Pumpkin Patch. Join the area’s favorite Pumpkin Patch for their Halloween Festival happening all weekend long in Hayden. Entry is free, but there is a charge to participate in games and activities. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30TH Silent Film Sunday! Let’s watch “Phantom of the Opera” accompanied by a live musical performance by the Alabama Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society. Doors open at 1:00PM, be sure to stay for the 2:00PM Costume Contest! Tickets: $14 Adults, $7 Children (12 and under) Fall Festival 2016 Presented by Hillview Baptist Church from 5-7PM. This is free and open to the public! They will have plenty of games and candy! Plus the famous cake walk, where everyone’s a winner! The costume contest is a new favorite! (Please no scary costumes) They will have food trucks, two of the best barbers in town and Birmingham vendors selling all sorts of goodies. MONDAY, OCTOBER 31ST. Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade. The 13th annual Mystics of Mountain Brook will take place on Halloween at 4:00pm in Crestline Village. Families and friends atop participating floats will toss out Mystics of Mountain Brook t-shirts, beads, candy, stuffed animals and footballs. To register your float and for additional information please contact Trent Wright at Tdub47@hotmail.com or 205-515-6416. Trick-Or-Treating. Happy Halloween from Cahaba Village! Stop by the businesses of Cahaba Village for Trick-or-Treating all day long! We will also be giving out candy to residents who come by the clubhouse any time from 9-6 to pick up some very special treats! With so many events this weekend it’s hard to imagine it spend in doors! Get creepy, be spooky, or play tricks and give treats! From all of us here The Retreat at Mountain Brook, Happy Halloween!
Could you be a Look & Lease Gift Box Winner?
Remember the days when your most delightful joys came from the sight of a Cracker Jack box? It was so much more than the caramel crunchy goodness that gave you a delight in the depths of our soul, but the anticipation for the prize at the bottom. We’re bringing Cracker Jacks back, in the form of a community tour. Yes, our community is sure to delight your senses in all sorts of ways, but this month you’ll also get a chance to anticipate a prize at the end of all the charming delights we have in store for you. For the month of October, when you tour our community & complete an application we will give you a chance to open a surprise gift box at the conclusion of your tour! See…its Cracker Jacks all over again, but even better! We’ve already started! Will you be joining us? Congratulations to the Powell’s for winning a $500 Visa Gift Card when they opened their Look & Lease Gift Box Now it’s your turn to tour our community and complete an application for a chance to open a surprise gift box of your own. Fill out our online application to schedule your tour, today!
October Events in Birmingham that Benefit Breast Cancer Research
Its October and there’s something more important going on than Halloween. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and during the month you’ll see lots of pink around Birmingham, reminding people there is hope for a good diagnosis, thanks to dedicated research teams around the world, and right here in our own backyard. One of those research organizations is the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA) at the University of Alabama Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center – a 15- minute drive from The Retreat at Mountain Brook. If you’ve seen a specialty license tag on a car, truck or motorcycle from Alabama, with a big pink ribbon, that person has spent an extra $50, of which proceeds go to fund BCRFA research. If you’re looking for something to do, and want to take advantage of specials and events celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month, here’s some people, places, and things, you might want on your radar Foodie Events. Que for a Cause Nothing like BBQ in the south – and some of the best can be found at Full Moon BBQ at its Southside location. Wed., Oct. 3 from 10 am until 5 pm. 25% of all purchases will go directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation at UAB. Just a 15-min drive from The Retreat at Mountain Brook. Directions Also on the BBQ scene…. Jim ‘N Nick’s The UAB Hospital Auxiliary Angel Squad is selling $10 Jim ‘N Nick’s gift cards. In exchange, Jim ‘N Nick’s has pledged to give 50 percent of these gift card sales back to the Angels. To buy gift cards, please contact the Angel Squad at uabangelsquad@gmail.com or call 205-801-8266. The Trussville Jim N Nicks Directions will be the closest to The Retreat at Mountain Brook, once you have your card from Urban Angels Squad. What’s BBQ without beer? Kick Off: Cahaba Brewing Company goes Pink for BCRFA October 5, 2016 All month long, stop by Cahaba Brewing Company and support BCRFA by ordering a pink beer or purchasing a CBC tee with a pink BCRFA logo! Cahaba Brewing will have a Belgium Cherry beer specially brewed for October, and a limited quantity of special edition pink and navy Cahaba Brewing t-shirts. Event Details People. Real Men Wear Pink Campaign Read about Dr. Jeff Dugas, one of two dozen men in the Birmingham area participating in this year’s Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Participants wear something pink throughout October and commit to raising at least $2,500. At the conclusion of the campaign, the top fundraiser will be recognized and named Pink Man of the Year. Sports. And if golf is your thing, you might want to check out Calera Goes Pink golf tournament at the at the Timberline Golf Club benefitting BCRFA. Shopping. The Summit Hop on I-459 for a quick trip to the Summit and support the cause and take advantage of these great deals. Directions Brighton – limited edition bracelets support the cause Power of Pink September 30 – October 31 Aveda Hand Treatments for a Cause! October 1 – October 31 Belk Pink Private Shopping Night Belk at the Summit Enjoy an evening of “private shopping” at Belk at the Summit to support breast cancer research. Belk is offering exclusive discounts for private shoppers for this special fundraising event. 20% off All Regular Priced Purchases Store Wide* Catering by Kathy G. & Co. Live Entertainment Complimentary Beverages and more and more… Here’s how it all started. In December of 1995, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center introduced two people who had a shared experience with breast cancer. Dolly O’Neal, an 18-month breast cancer survivor, was one of those people. The other was Bruce Sokol, whose wife D. D. was undergoing breast cancer treatment at the time. Both shared a fervent desire to do something to fight this disease. The following year, they founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, and have since raised over $5.8 million to fund research for a cure. Its Mission: “To help find a cure for breast cancer by funding promising Breast Cancer Research and to raise community awareness and funding for that research.”
The Only Fall Decorating Resources You Will Ever Need
It’s officially fall – so it’s only natural that we want to dress our homes in trends to reflect the season. We recently spoke with Suzanne Martenson, to get some decorating ideas, especially as it pertains to porches, sunrooms and entryways. Suzanne is the owner and founder of Stems and Styles in Homewood, Ala., who says that when it comes to decorating outdoor spaces, she looks for beauty in the unexpected. The event stylist and floral designer says her goal is to make outdoor spaces both inviting and practical. Here are tips she shares exclusively with The Retreat at Mountain Brook, to make the most out of an outdoor area as leaves begin to turn and weather becomes cooler— Strike a balance between style and function. Martenson recommends placing a basket against the wall of a balcony or covered patio and filling it with rolled-up throw blankets. It’s an opportunity to add color and texture to the space, and the blankets are convenient when guests are over or you’re enjoying a glass of wine outside and there’s a chill in the air. “People can grab them and wrap up,” she says. “It’s always a nice, inviting touch to have.” Consider creating a container garden of herbs or adding herbs to flower planters, Martenson says. Not only will the herbs add visual interest, but they’ll come in handy. Bring the indoors out with furniture and rugs. A wide range of comfortable furniture in a variety of styles, from sleek to rustic, is now made to last outdoors, Martenson says. “There are sectionals and loveseats that really make you feel like you’ve extended your living room,” she says. A table on a patio, balcony or in a sunroom also can extend entertaining space. Today’s outdoor rugs can barely be distinguished from their indoor counterparts. “They really warm up the space,” Martenson says. Be strategic with color. Use a neutral pallet – tans, grays and whites – for large items such as furniture, Martenson advises. Then add color with accents like pillows and other small items. This way you can inexpensively change the entire look seasonally – or when you get tired of the current one – by replacing the accents. “If you buy a full printed sofa, you’re going to be stuck with it for a while,” Martenson says. There’s so many wonderful flower shops near The Retreat at Mountain Brook, where you can be inspired and find just the right accessory for you fall makeover. Here’s a few of our favorites: Billy Angels, Oak Street Garden Shop One of our favorite places to visit for fall decor close to home, is Billy Angel’s Oak Street Garden Shop in Crestline Village. Just a quick drive to Crestline, you’ll find Oak Street Garden Shop just across from Mountain Brook City Hall. The staff is super creative and happy to help, or let you wander through the gardens to gather inspiration on your own. Another Retreat at Mountain Brook favorite, Leaf n Petal, can be found in three locations; our favorite though, is Leaf n Petal at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Talk about inspiration—and a short drive, under 15 minutes– from the community! While there, be sure and take time to walk through the garden and enjoy the season in full bloom. Lastly, if you’re the type who enjoys an early morning or after brunch stroll to pick up plants straight from the farmer—you must visit The Market at Pepper Place Open from April through December 10, it’s an ideal place to find those unusual items you won’t find elsewhere. While there, visit Richard Tubb, for some of those “neutrals” Suzanne recommended to keep you décor fresh and in season. We’d love to see what you come up with—please share! Happy Fall Y’all!
