It’s Friday at 5pm. You might be throwing it back to 2005, playing Michael Gray’s “The Weekend” on your iTunes list and playing it just that little bit louder, yes? The best thing about heading home to your new AERIS apartment in Bowden, is that the weekend can start right away, taking advantage of new and old establishments on your door step.

Here are some ideas on how to spend a weekend away, at home in Bowden!

Friday

Get home to AERIS after a long day at the office. Refresh and step out for a short 10-minute walk to The Joiners. The menu is sophisticated with hints of laid back Australiana fare. The best bit? The converted cellar which is host to The Whiskey Den, for an evening of tasting of the finest curated Gins, Whiskeys and Wines. Intimate and underground, it’s one of Adelaide’s hidden gems. Then, it’s a satisfyingly quick walk home to call it a night.

Saturday

Are you one to leave home for an early run or an early breakfast? Whichever way you like to kick-start your day, we have suggestions for both. Hawker Street Café is a ten-minute walk away and an institution for locals. Some of their recent weekend brekky specials have included pumpkin french toast with blueberries, maple syrup and ice cream, an open breakfast burrito
with salt and pepper crispy pumpkin, winter vegetable salsa, black rice, beans, avocado and aioli… need we continue? Yum! If you would rather start your Saturday closer to nature, Bonython Parks’ 5km running loop is easily accessible.

Once the morning rituals are complete, join your local community at Plant 4’s Fresh Produce & Maker Markets every Friday from 5, Saturdays 9am-3pm and Wednesdays, 4-9pm. The building sits at the heart of Bowden’s rejuvenated grounds and is host to local growers, artists and musicians.

For dinner, we suggest Enzo’s Ristorante, next to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.  Opened in 1999 by brothers Enzo and Damiano, they continue to bring celebrated fresh and authentic Italian cuisine to Adelaide.

Sunday

Sundays are for ‘brunching’, at least in our books! We have found the perfect place for it at The Loose Caboose, a 6-minute walk from your new AERIS apartment. Once Bowden’s Railway station, the building is home to this popular spot which turns five this year. The modern décor and old world charm of the building is representative of what Bowden is today, and we always go back for more.

We recommend an afternoon drink with some live music at The Gov or a show at The Adelaide Entertainment Centre to cap off a fantastic weekend around your new suburb. Events range from Elvis Tributes to the Ballet to Don Henley live, with his 15-piece band on stage.

There you have it, your weekend away at home in Bowden – and with so many other fantastic, vibrant cafes, venues and activities both established and upcoming around the area, there’ll always be new places to visit and food to try!

We know you will enjoy living in one of Adelaide’s dynamic suburbs from your home at AERIS.

You’ve narrowed your search down to the home type and location and have found the perfect building, but what should you consider when picking which individual apartment is best for you? Naturally we are often largely directed by budget, but there are a few other things worth weighing-up when the time comes to make the move and sign a contract.

1. Orientation

The way your apartment faces has a big impact on your home and energy bills. A north facing apartment will catch the sun’s rays and help keep costs down, west facing windows will fill with the direct, full beams of the afternoon sun, and east facing windows with morning rays. South facing is often cooler, slightly less bright and can be considered to be more peaceful

2. Outlook

In an apartment it’s important to consider what you will be looking out at from your living spaces and other windows. Are there tree tops and birdlife, distant city views or nearby park settings, or are you primarily staring at a neighbouring brick wall? Will people be able to see straight into your living room?

3. Level

There are a bunch of benefits to living on each different level, from better views and more light on top floors to cooler temperatures, shade, garden space and immediate street access on the bottom floor.

4. Accessibility

Another important consideration is accessibility. Are you right next to the central courtyard? Do you have to lug your things up endless flights of stairs if you don’t want to wait for the lift? How close are you to the building’s main entrance and exit?

5. Furniture

Although not usually a top consideration in picking your new location, it’s useful to consider your existing furniture and how it will fit into a new space. If your bedroom size or shape doesn’t fit your king size bed or your all-time favourite long dining table won’t work in your living space, it will mean more time shopping and more money spent on furnishing.

6. Parking space

Does your apartment come with enough parking space? In a busy, high density area, it might be hard for visitors to find parking spaces nearby. While parking space is generally matched to your number of bedrooms, you should consider whether you’ll need the extra spot if you have frequent visitors or family who stay with you.

7. Floorplan

Naturally, the layout of your new home is crucial. Imagine how you would live day to day and try to get a sense of how each space flows into the next. Are there any awkwardly laid out spaces or tight little nooks? Will your bedroom door hit the end of your bed? What will you first see when you walk in your front door?

8. Space

Last but not least, do you have enough space to accommodate everything you might want to do in the future? All the guests you might like to have round? We usually have a fair idea of what we’re looking for by the time we’re choosing which apartment to buy, but it’s always worth reviewing one last time to make sure you’re not limiting your options or going too big.

If you’d like assistance in picking the right apartment for you, contact our AERIS experts on 1300 269 336.