8 S I G N S I T ' S T I M E F O R A N U P D A T E

C H O O S I N G T H E R I G H T C O U N T E R T O P

9 S E C R E T S T O G R E A T L I G H T I N GElevate.

Style Guide for Lakeside Living

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8 S I G N S

8 unmistakable signs it's time for an

update

R E S T Y L E W I T H C O L O U R

Rejuvenate your space with colour

A G I N G G R A C E F U L L Y

Can your home age as gracefully as you?

L I G H T I N G S E C R E T S

9 secrets to great lighting

T H E R I G H T O N E

How to chose the right countertop

P R O V S . A M A T E U R

The benefits of hiring a professional designer

6 R E A S O N S

If you've never worked with a professional designer before, here's what we will bring to your project

R E T H I N K F A B R I C S

New fabric technology has changed the way we select fabric for sun-drenched and high traffic rooms

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A Look Inside

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EDITOR'S MESSAGE

Hello from the team here at ACM Designs!

We’ve put together this magazine to give you

some ideas and inspiration for designing your

space.

Whether you’ve got a renovation on the

horizon or are looking to spruce up a room with

new decor, we hope you find some useful tips

within these pages.

A N D R I A C O W A N M O L Y N E A U X

P R I N C I P A L D E S I G N E R

A C M D E S I G N S

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CRACKS OR CHIPS IN WALLS, FLOORS OR TILES

AWKWARD LAYOUT

DAMAGED, SCRATCHED OR PERMANENTLY DIRTY FIXTURES & FURNITURE

SIGNS OF MOULD AND DECOMPOSITION

STAINED, WORN OR DAMAGED FLOORING

LACK OF STORAGE

DARK ROOMS WITH INADEQUATE LIGHTING

DATED DECOR

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the lighting and feel of the room. Finally, plan how you will change

the room easily and inexpensively from season to season.

If your furniture is a neutral colour like taupe, grey or cream,

simply change your throws, pillow shams and decorative objects.

This will completely change the look of your room and keep the

decor looking new.

Restyle with Colour

Nothing changes the mood in a room better than colour. From

paint and wallpaper to window treatments and pillows, there are

many ways to inject colour into a room.

Choose a palette that complements your overall property as well

as your personal aesthetic. Next, consider the effect it’ll have on

8 Unmistakable Signs It’s Time For An Update

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However diligent we may be, we will never be able to stop the

steady march of time. We can try to slow its approach with

exercise and healthful eating habits, but we can also look to our

home to help us gracefully defy the aging process.

According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation,

approximately 85 percent of Canadians over the age of 55 plan

to remain in their present home as they age. In design, we call

this "aging in place". This requires home-owners to plan ahead

and modify their home so that they can retain their

independence.

Aging in place is a lifestyle choice. For some it means remaining

in a cherished family home. For others, it means downsizing to a

home that is more manageable in size or to a cottage. Any

option requires design changes to increase safety and livability.

Whether you’re planning your home for the future or consid-

ering a much-needed renovation today, it's a good time to

consider your plans for the future. Why? Because planning

ahead can save you a lot of time and inconvenience.

Say you are renovating a bathroom. The cost to add support

blocks for grab bars (to be installed in future) is negligible when

the walls are down. If you wait to do it later, the cost and

disruption will be significantly greater.

There are many aging-in-place design features that make a

home easier and safer, like enhanced door lever handles, rocker

light switches, and non-slip floors. People relying on mobility

devices will require wider doorways and hallways. Improved

lighting is also important. The aging in place design philosophy is

that it is unobtrusive, meaning that it does not interfere with

your enjoyment of the home today. In fact, in most cases

features designed for aging are invisible to visitors unless

pointed out.

If your goal is to remain in your home into your golden years,

then let's discuss your plans before you make any changes to

your home. Our team are certified in aging in place design (we're

one of only a handful of Canadian design teams with this

designation). Our training means we are uniquely familiar with

the techniques for designing and building aesthetically-pleasing

barrier-free living environments to help you grow old gracefully

in your home.

Can Your Home Age As Gracefully As You?

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NATURAL LIGHTIf you are building or renovating, consider

adding skylights or larger windows to bring in

more natural light. Natural light—and lots of

it—is the best way to illuminate a space during

the day. Of course, window treatments play

a key role in managing your natural light. They

prevent glare and heat from bright sunlight and

give you privacy when you want it.

LAYERED LIGHTINGWhen it comes to lighting, think in layers. You

want to illuminate the floor, furniture, surfaces,

walls, and ceiling. Different fixtures are designed

for these different surfaces. For example, task

lighting brightens work spaces while table lamps

and wall sconces create ambient lighting.

Layered lighting isn't just attractive, it also

reduces glare and eye strain.

UNIFORM LIGHTINGPlan a uniform lighting design throughout the

home so that when you go from one room to

the next there are no extreme changes in light.

This is particularly important for the elderly

because as we age our eyes take longer to

adjust from light to dark.

BATHROOM LIGHTINGA combination of ambient and task lighting in

the bathroom makes it more functional and

safer. Add wall sconces to the mirror to give

great lighting for makeup application or

shaving. Use under-cabinet lights for ambient

lighting, and hang task lights from the ceiling

for ample light in working areas. Don’t forget

the shower: water-rated lights brighten what

can be a dark space.

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9 Secrets to Great Lighting Having a well-lit space not only makes it more functional—especially for people with aging eyes—it also makes it more beautiful. Here are nine lighting techniques we employ to create highly functional, gorgeous homes.

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STAIRCASE LIGHTINGMinimize the potential for tripping and falling

down stairs by adding lights. Use a

combination of pinhole LED lighting on the

staircase risers, wall sconces and overhead

(ceiling-mounted) lights. Good lighting has

been proven to decrease falls—and it looks

great too.

FLICKERING & HUMMING LIGHTSBe careful what you buy! We avoid fluorescent

lights that use magnetic ballasts because of

the flickering effect they have. But if you really

must use this type of lighting, look for fixtures

with high-frequency electronic ballasts. Also,

avoid cheap ceiling pot light fixtures, bulbs,

and dimmer switches because they often emit

a hum noise when the lights are dimmed.

PAINT COLOURS & FINISHESLight paint colours on the walls and ceilings

reflect more light than dark walls. Keep away

from dark colours such as blues and greens, as

they absorb the light. Make sure you choose a

matte or flat paint finish on the walls and

ceilings to prevent glare and bouncing light.

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KITCHEN LIGHTINGGreat kitchen lighting has three ingredients:

under-cabinet lighting, above-cabinet lighting,

and directional task lighting. Task lighting

should be positioned over the areas where

food preparation, cooking and cleaning are

done. We sometimes use dimmers on the task

lights to provide flexibility in how they're

employed.

LIGHTING CONTROLIt’s much safer to enter a lit room than a dark

one. New internet of things (IOT) devices make

hands-free lighting control inexpensive and

easy (“Alexa, turn on the bedroom lights”). If

new technology isn’t for you, rocker switches

are a good option as they are motion

activated. Remember, your lighting control

plan is just as important as the light fixtures

you choose.

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How To Choose The Right Countertop One of the questions clients ask us most often is “What material

should we use for our countertop?” This a very good question

because the choice is dictated by both function and personal

preferences.

If you’ve ever gone countertop shopping, you’ll know there are a

ton of options available. For kitchens, most of our clients

gravitate toward Cambria's quartz countertops because of their

durability, quality and beautiful designs. For other rooms and

applications like fireplace surrounds or bar tops, we often

discuss other surface materials like metal, wood, stone, silicate

minerals and manufactured materials.

Here are some questions we walk clients through in order to

figure out which material is best for their space.

WHAT’S YOUR AESTHETIC?The quickest way to narrow down the options is to follow your

aesthetic preference. People who love natural stone gravitate

toward marble and granite. Others like the warmth that comes

from wood, or the sleekness of metal.

If you are leaning toward natural stone, it may help you to know

that granite is more popular because there are more options for

granite finishes. It also tends to be more durable and less

expensive than marble.

While aesthetic preference isn't the only consideration it's a

great starting point because you'll be more likely to love it once

it's installed. Plus, it'll likely fit well with the rest of your decor.

WHAT IS THE DAY-TO-DAY USAGE?It’s important to consider durability and performance. Some

surface material scratch easily or they will crack if something hot

is rested on it. For kitchens, we strongly recommend quartz

because it is non-porous, which is ideal for food preparation.

Quartz also does the best job at resisting stains from common

culprits like red wine and drink crystals.

For bathrooms, marble and other natural stones are lovely,

though you might avoid using them in a child’s bathroom where

scratches are more likely. Be sure to research durability of the

brands you are considering.

DO MANUFACTURING STANDARDS MATTER TO YOU?You may also want to consider the manufacturer’s certifications

and standards. If the manufacturing process and sourcing are

important to you, this will narrow down your options. At ACM

Designs we pay particular attention to emissions, so we look for

Greenguard certification, which is third-party emissions testing

for products and materials. This is one of the reasons we are

such strong proponents of Cambria.

WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?Price is often the number one deciding factor—particularly if you

have a large space and small budget. When it comes to low price,

laminate is the least expensive and comes in a multitude of

colours and patterns. Combining a second material such as

stainless or butcher’s block can be very striking and is a creative

way to moderate your countertop budget. This said, we strongly

advise that you not rule out entire categories of countertop too

early in the process. If you break down the cost of the

countertop to cost per usage over 10 years, it may be easier to

justify investing more. Once you have your kitchen layout

solidified, take your drawings to a dealer to discuss options and

prices.

Few other surfaces elevate the look of a room as much as a

beautiful countertop. This is why many realtors and professional

designers consider a good countertop to be a wise investment. If

you consider the day-to-day use of the countertop, and stay true

to your personal preferences regarding sourcing, design and

style, you won’t go wrong.

ACM Designs is proud to be the Cambria Premier Dealer for Haliburton County, Muskoka & the Kawarthas.

W O R K I N G W I T H A

D E S I G N E R I S Y O U R

B E S T B E T F O R

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The Benefits of Hiring a Professional Designer

SAVINGSRenovations are costly. Mistakes that prolong a ren-

ovation make them much more so. Our job, as your

designer, is to coordinate your project from start to

finish, ensuring it is as efficient as possible. If anything

unexpected arises, we rearrange the plan to avoid

costly downtime.

QUALITY Unlike managing your own project and having to

research each individual tradesperson you plan

to hire, when you hire a designer you get an entire

team. Each tradesperson will have already been

vetted, so you know they'll deliver quality

workmanship in a timely fashion.

TIME MANAGEMENTOverseeing a design project requires a substantial

amount of time—more if it is new territory for you. An

important part of our role as designer is to keep the

project organized, on time and on budget. We'll also

minimize the impact on your life as best we can.

WISER SPENDINGEvery project has a budget. We'll advise you on where

to spend, and where and how to save, so you get the

result you are envisioning at the budget you have set.

For example, we might suggest simply replacing the

bathroom countertop, sink and tiling rather than

undertaking a full renovation. Our assessment is your

best bet for ensuring this investment in your property

provides the maximum value.

EXPERTISEAs designers we are artistic by nature, but we also

have formal training and methodology for enhancing

the aesthetics and function of spaces. We will work

closely with you to bring your vision to life and create a

truly wonderful space.

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WATER DOES NOT STAND IN OUR WAYIf your property is water-access-only, that is no

problem for us. We are one of the only local

design practices that service properties accessible

only by boat.

EXPERIENCE Few firms understand functional space like we do

—we are one of Canada’s foremost experts on

design for aging-in-place and barrier-free design.

WE ARE SAFEROur investment in health and safety certification

means no work stoppages, fines or liability due to

worker injury.

LOCAL KNOW-HOWAs locals ourselves, our knowledge of permits

and suppliers in the county will save you time

and connect you with the most talented local

tradespeople and professionals.

LEADERS IN DESIGNWe’re a leader in the design community. Andria

is the national chair of the Decorators &

Designers Association of Canada and Katie is on

the National Kitchen & Bath Association's 30

Under 30 list of designers.

AWARD-WINNING FIRM The proof's on the award shelf: we've received

multiple awards for our designs and for our

customer service.

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6 Reasons to Hire ACM DesignsWe use local tradespeople whenever possible, and have won several awards and accolades.

LONGER LIFETIME You may not think of fabric as a technology, but it is. The way fibers and yarns are treated affects their colour fastness, hand (how they feel), stain resistance and water resistance. In the last 15 years, manufacturers have started producing fabric that has the look and hand of indoor fabric and the durability of outdoor fabric. This new category is simply called indoor/outdoor fabric.

We often select this fabric for sunny rooms and high traffic areas. Why? Exposed to lots of light, coloured indoor fabric can begin fading within a year. Outdoor fabrics, on the other hand, are developed to withstand sun and moisture so they look great for a long time.

The most popular type of indoor/outdoor fabric is solution-dyed acrylic. It is made by dyeing the fibers before they are woven into yarns, which are in turn used to create fabric. Synthetic polyester and viscose, which is made from wood pulp cellulose, are two other popular options.

The advent of indoor/outdoor fabric is a revelation—particularly for Haliburton homes and cottages with their large windows to take in the picturesque surroundings. Now our expensive drapery, furniture, pillows and rugs can sunbathe like it’s 1985. Plus, popular design brands like Ralph Lauren are partnering with distributors like us, so there are endless patterns and colours to choose from.

BE CREATIVE! Because this type of fabric boasts soft hand, colour fastness and water resistance, consider using it for your large pieces like sofas and upholstered chairs. Earlier this year we were looking for a soft white fabric for one of our clients. She was worried about how easily a white couch would stain, so together we did an experiment on a swatch: we poured a glass of red wine on beautiful white indoor/outdoor fabric. When it beaded right off a new white couch was born.

Indoor/outdoor fabric is great for pillows too. Our trick is to specify traditional fabrics for one side of the pillow, and a solid coordinate for the other side. The side with the indoor/outdoor fabric can be exposed to the sun during the daytime. In the evening they can be flipped over for entertaining or for a change of colour or pattern.

While just one of many aspects of decorating a room, fabrics tend to be one of the most fun and creative parts of the entire design process.

Rethink Your Fabrics Often overlooked and devalued, fabrics are one of the most important parts of your decor. They introduce colour, texture and pattern. And they visually unite the entire space.

Selecting fabrics seems simple, but there’s a lot of knowledge that goes into getting it right. One of our tricks is using outdoor fabric for interior use. Here’s why we do this and why you should consider doing the same in your home.

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A W A R D - W I N N I N G F I R M

C E R T I F I E D I N A G I N G - I N - P L A C E D E S I G N

L I C E N S E D T O S E R V E W A T E R - A C C E S S - O N L Y P R O P E R T I E S

P H O N E

1-844-414-LAKE705-457-LAKE (5253)

E M A I L hello@acm-designs.com

L O C A T I O N

5167 Haliburton County Rd 21, Haliburton

W E B S I T E

www.acm-designs.com