Freshen Up Your Kitchen

Giving your kitchen a make over can give your home a whole new feel.  If you aren't ready to completely gut it and start over, you can make some small changes to give the room a new look and feel.

Since the kitchen is the gathering place in most homes, you want it to be comfortable and it also needs to be functional.  This would typically lead to a warmer color palette coming into play, as they also tend to stimulate the appetite.  But you can go anyway you want, as you know what will suit your lifestyle best.

Grey, white, brown and neutral tones have been the traditional color schemes in the kitchen, but now splashes of color and brighter hues are becoming more prevalent. Incorporating a splash of color in key places can transform the room.  

You can also make the size of the room appear visually different than actual size by utilizing paint from floor to ceiling, which is referred to as creating the "fifth wall".  Combining different color shades in the same palate can affect the appearance visually.  To make a small kitchen appear larger to the eye paint the ceiling one or two shades lighter than the walls.  To bring tall ceilings in for a more 
cozy feel, choose a darker shade for the 
ceiling accented with lighter walls.

Not looking to re-do the whole room? Change the accessories and color scheme to compliment your appliances and cabinets.  Add a bright signature piece in the form of wall art, a centerpiece or accent furniture pieces. You can change these seasonally as well so you keep in tune with the time of year it is.


These are just a few tips that you can easily and inexpensively use to mix up the look of your kitchen.  

The acd Group, bringing fresh vision along with innovative design to residential and commercial spaces. Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn as well as our Blog. From pre-design to final interior touches.... we are your solution.

3535 Osage Beach Parkway
Suite102
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Office: 573-693-9885

www.theacdgroup.com

theacdgroup@gmail.com

The summer season has arrived and the Lake is buzzing with events and things to do.  In addition to the numerous lake side restaurants and bars, attractions and shopping opportunities, there are also many large events coming up.  Here are a few of our favorites.

June 2nd is The Osage Beach Festival of Speed which is a new event this year in conjunction with The Lake Race.  All types boats, cars, vendor booths - you name it.  The event will take place on Osage Beach Parkway between Coral Reef Seafood and Harper Chapel.

June 3rd-4th is The Lake Race is taking place off the Bagnell Dam Strip.  Friday night enjoy the street party and meet and greet.  Then Saturday watch powerboat racing at it's best down the channel from Bagnell Dam.  The awards ceremony will follow that night.

June 10th is Hot Summer Nights cruise in on the Bagnell Dam Strip. June's theme is "Rag Tops & T-Tops."  Enjoy classic cars, great food options, face painters, clowns and many unique shopping opportunities.

June 16-19 is The Canine Cannonball at Dog Days Bar & Grill.  Come watch all types of dogs compete to see which one can go the distance.  Different levels of competition exist so whether your pouch is experienced or not...why not give it a shot.

These are just a few of the events happening in and around the Lake of the Ozarks.  For a complete list click here.


The acd Group, bringing fresh vision along with innovative design to residential and commercial spaces. Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn as well as our Blog. From pre-design to final interior touches.... we are your solution.

3535 Osage Beach Parkway
Suite102
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Office: 573-693-9885

www.theacdgroup.com

theacdgroup@gmail.com

Get Your Yard Summer Ready

The key to keeping a luscious lawn summer long is properly preparing it in the spring.  Here are some simple steps you can use to become the envy of your neighborhood.

• Aerate your lawn every 2 - 3 years so the root system can breathe making it more healthy. Areas with heavy traffic may need it more often if it is matted.
• At the same time remove excess thatch or decaying plant material that may be on the ground.  Otherwise it will prevent rainfall from penetrating as well as block sunlight.  Raking effected areas will accomplish this.
  
• Fertilize based on the type of grass you have.  For best results fertilizer should be applied twice a year, but at least a month before the peak temperatures of summer.
• Water your grass with the deep roots in mind.  Rather than periodic light doses it is more effective to saturate up to about 1 inch of water at one time.  This allows the deep roots to get attention to and stay strong.
• Mow systematically and often (especially early) for the best results.  Raising the blade as it gets into summer will help shade the soil keeping it moist.  Leave any patches until the fall to reseed for best results, or very early in the spring if temperatures allow.
  

We hope these tips help you keep your grass green and growing all summer long.  

The acd Group, bringing fresh vision along with innovative design to residential and commercial spaces. Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn as well as our Blog. From pre-design to final interior touches.... we are your solution.

3535 Osage Beach Parkway
Suite102
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Office: 573-693-9885

www.theacdgroup.com

theacdgroup@gmail.com

Ideas to Celebrate Your Mom

A very important day to many is right around the corner.  Mother's Day is May 8th, just a few weeks away.  Some may struggle with how they can let Mom know just how special she is.  Here are some ideas that might help set a light bulb off for you.  

One thing all Mom's love is looking at pictures of their families, both immediate and extended.  You might consider a collage picture frame that can hold pictures of all the family for her to cherish or possibly a small photo album that chronicles a certain time frame or special event.  Since not many photos are not actually printed off anymore, it would be a thoughtful gesture.

If Mom likes to garden you might get her a few plants (that she hasn't already) to help with the landscaping. We know many who find gardening and working in the yard to be very therapeutic.  Who doesn't smile when you see pretty flowers as you come to a home.

You might also consider some appropriate wall art. Anymore you can find clever sayings that fit almost any situation.  You could go with something funny or heartfelt and provide the same thoughtful gift depending on what you know she would prefer.  Think about special things to her when picking the verse so every time she looks at it, she thinks of you and smiles.

This is your 2 week warning so don't put it off until the last minute!  We hope these ideas help.

The acd Group, bringing fresh vision along with innovative design to residential and commercial spaces. Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn as well as our Blog. From pre-design to final interior touches.... we are your solution.

3535 Osage Beach Parkway
Suite102
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Office: 573-693-9885

www.theacdgroup.com

theacdgroup@gmail.com

Tips to Maximize Spring Cleaning Time

Everything is blooming which mean spring in definitely in the air!  This is a great time of year to do some overdue cleaning and straightening up.  Here are some tips that might help save you some time in the process.

Freshen up Your Kitchen:

• Your kitchen sink actually carries as many germs as your toilet seat.  Use your favorite cleaner or use a combination of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.  Don't mix them - first wipe down the sink with soap & water and dry; then spray a mist of vinegar followed by a spray mist of hydrogen peroxide and let air dry.
• Disinfect your disposal by dropping in lemon wedges cut up followed by salt & a few ice cubes.  The ice & salt will clean the blades and the lemon will freshen.
• Clean the microwave with ease by boiling a few lemon wedges in water in the microwave.  After the water comes to a boil let it set for at least 10 minutes and the microwave will wipe right down.

Next to the Bathroom:

• Clean the shower liner by putting it in the wash with some towel which will agitate it, in turn helping to clean it.
• Keep your drains stain and hair free by using a loosening agent a couple times a month - bleach or products like Liquid Plummer work well.
• Some odd toilet bowl cleaners would be Tang or Kool Aid as the citric acid will eat away the grime. Pour in the bowl before bed and flush when you get up in the morning. The porcelain base should not absorb the color dye.

Miscellaneous Tips:

• If drapes are looking drab, remove them from hooks and put in the dryer on fluff with a wet towel for about 15 minutes or so.  The wet towel will help remove and capture dust.  Return to hooks and hang to dry.
  
• For windows with a clear view use your preferred cleaning solution with a squeegee or if you don't have one coffee filters are great for wiping down with a streak free dry.
• Declutter and lower your stress levels.  It is a proven fact that an organized living space lowers stress levels. So you don't get overwhelmed, schedule one room at a time and attack!
• Always go from top to bottom when cleaning so everything falls down. This will keep you from having to re-do the same space repeatedly.

Hopefully you found these tips helpful when trying to get a plan together for Spring Cleaning your living space!  A variety of resources were used for this article including womensday.com and hgtv.com.

The acd Group, bringing fresh vision along with innovative design to residential and commercial spaces. Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn as well as our Blog. From pre-design to final interior touches.... we are your solution.

3535 Osage Beach Parkway
Suite102
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Office: 573-693-9885

www.theacdgroup.com

theacdgroup@gmail.com

Spring has Sprung at Lake of the Ozarks

Spring has sprung at Lake of the Ozarks and that's obvious not only by the budding tree blooms but also in calendar exploding with events of all types. Here are a few we wanted to share with you. 

• Camdenton Rotary Beer Paring Dinner at Seven Springs Winery on Saturday, March 19th with leave your taste buds wanting more.  Enjoy a five course meal paired with brews from Boulevard Brewing Co.  Proceeds benefit Camdenton High School Rotary Youth Exchange.
• Easter celebrations are on every side of the Lake Easter weekend, March 26-27. From Easter egg hunts to delectable brunches, there is something for everyone. For a complete list visit www.funlake.com.  

The first weekend of April is just brimming with just about anything you could want to do.  A tradeshow, several run/walks, BBQ competition and much more!  For a complete list of all the events in the Lake Area you can visit www.funlake.com year round. These are a few that we thought you might like.

• The Kids Harbor Go Blue BBQ Bash will kick things off on Friday, April 1st at Redhead Lakeside Grill.  April is child abuse prevention month and the event is not only a fundraiser but also to help raise awareness of the cause.
• The Wicked Wine Run at Seven Springs Winery is Saturday, April 2nd.  This is probably the most unique 5k/1k run/walk you will ever witness.  For details click the link here to their website. 
• Finally come by the 2016 Home Business & Lake Living Expo at the Lodge of Four Seasons Campana Hall and say hi.  We are fortunate to have a booth at this sold out 2016 Expo and look forward to meeting new people and seeing old friends.  

The acd Group, bringing fresh vision along with innovative design to residential and commercial spaces. Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn as well as our Blog. From pre-design to final interior touches.... we are your solution.

3535 Osage Beach Parkway
Suite102
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Office: 573-693-9885

www.theacdgroup.com

theacdgroup@gmail.com

Consider Before You Remodel

Are you thinking of remodeling a room or several?  There are some things you should do before you contact a professional to make the process smoother.

1. Identify what room or rooms you are wanting to remodel.
2. Figure out what you want the final outcome to be and work backwards to determine what you need from materials to contractors.
3. Go in with an open mind by not limiting your needs or wants until you see the space and then scale it back.
4. Keep in mind how everyone in the home will be effected depending on the depth of the project... four legged family members too!
5. Set a budget of what you can afford and again work backwards to make sure your wants are within your means.
6. Contact a local realtor to get an idea of what the current values are in your area.
7. Don't limit your thinking to only contractors but consult an interior designer and/or architect, depending on the needs of your project.
8. Think to the future to ensure that what you are planning to do now will align with where your family is in 5 - 10 years.

Thinking through not only your current needs but keeping in mind your future needs is key to really achieving the space you desire.  After considering these and other things that may be particular to your families needs, you will be able to communicate more effectively with your designer and achieve the desired outcome.

The acd Group, bringing fresh vision along with innovative design to residential and commercial spaces.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn as well as our Blog. From pre-design to final interior touches.... we are your solution.

3535 Osage Beach Parkway
Suite102
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Office: 573-693-9885

theacdgroup@gmail.com

We are Excited to Make Your Dreams a Reality...Inside and Out!

Welcome to the acd group's new blog!  We are excited to share with you a fresh and innovative approach to architecture and interior design. We are passionate about what we do which makes us passionate about the space that surrounds you.

We are a full service design firm from pre-design to final construction and interior finishing, started by owner Heather Imler. We begin with a conceptual vision after meeting with our client to determine the unique needs and values of each.  We embrace both new builds as well as remodeling projects.

The process is straightforward and complete leaving you with a final product which is true to its purpose, functional and visually appealing.

• The pre-design phase begins the project identifying scope and budget along with  preliminary evaluation and studies
• Schematic Design is the next phase which will identify an initial design scheme that seeks to define the general scope and conceptual design of the project, including scale and relationships between building components. At the end of the schematic design phase the designer will present some very rough sketches to the owner for approval.
  
• Design development follows which is when we establish the building’s relationships, forms, size and overall appearance through further development of the floor plans, sections, elevations, typical construction details, and equipment layouts.  We work closely with the contractors and engineers involved through this process.
• Construction documents complete the design process. These include all building plans, specifications, and supporting documents used during the completion of a construction project, which serve several purposes.  
  

Going a step further we can also help you create the interior atmosphere you seek with professional interior design services.  We truly can be your one stop shop for all of the design needs, inside and out!

Our goal is to deliver exceptional design ideas and solutions for our clients through creative blending of needs, creation and durability.  We look forward to sharing ideas that are trending in the design world as well as keeping up with what is happening in the Lake Area!

The acd Group, bringing fresh vision along with innovative design to residential and commercial spaces.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn as well as our Blog. From pre-design to final interior touches.... we are your solution.

3535 Osage Beach Parkway
Suite102
Osage Beach, MO 65065

Office: 573-693-9885

theacdgroup@gmail.com