Home-Design - Let's Go Back to the Beginning

The first human buildings were very much a matter of trial and error - using whatever materials were available, people built shelters, and then other people copied the ones that worked. You might not realise it, but most of the world is still full of these kinds of buildings, especially outside urban areas in less developed countries.

Ancient cultures like the Egyptians and the Romans made home-building from oral traditions into written practices, and were able to formalise architecture to build incredibly complex buildings, like the pyramids and the Coliseum. They also built many more everyday buildings, such as universities, hospitals and the Roman baths. It was from this that architecture evolved through the centuries.

Twentieth-century architecture built on these centuries of building experience, but wanted to simplify and mass-produce buildings as technology got better and populations rapidly grew. This gave rise to modernist architecture, a very minimalist style where every unnecessary detail and adornment was removed, leaving only the building itself - basically, a big box. These buildings can still be seen (and lived in) today, and are perfectly functional, but many people consider them to be incredibly ugly.

In the later part of the century, post-modern architecture reacted against this, putting back the flowery touches and drawing on all of history to find different ways to design interesting buildings. Much postmodernist building is still being done, but mainly big towers in large cities or buildings like museums and galleries that want to be a little more distinctive than the average building.

When you're considering how to design your home, you have to consider that where we are today in house building is a kind of post-post-modern period, focused on designing for people. The newest houses are built with the people living there in mind above all else - all sorts of studies on people's behaviour and preferences are constantly being done, and used in the design.

Hiring a Home Designer

It is finally the time you have been looking forward to. You have given it quite a bit of thought and planning, made all the sketches and gathered photos and are now are ready to build your new home. The problem is that most builders will not work from sketches and photos. And to aggravate the matter, not only does your local building inspector require specific technical working drawings, but so does the subdivision planning review board.

The solution is to hire a home designer. These professionals are trained to take your ideas and hopes and put them to a working drawing. Not only drawing the plan, but also helping you to put the right design elements into your home to give it a beauty and charm that reflects your personality and taste. A home designer, also known as an architectural designer, is trained with the skills needed to make sure your home meets codes and is functional.

Once you have found a designer, there are several things you will want to discuss with him or her. The first is your budget. An experienced designer will know how to keep you within your spending limits. I personally have met with clients that had elaborate kitchen designs which went well beyond the expected amount of money allowed for its construction. The solution was that we found a cabinet builder who made the same type of cabinets the clients were wanting at a fraction of the cost that the national brand asked for theirs.

Another thing would be your sketches of the proposed layout of the home. Some people do not realize that the single line drawings they made of their plan will loose four inches or better when the wall thicknesses are properly drawn. Space, among many other things is sometimes misunderstood or improperly account for.

For instance, you may be expecting a ten foot by ten foot room but after the wall thickness is added, the room ends up something like nine feet four inches by nine feet eight inches. The designer will posses the skill to gain this lost area back to the planned size but rest assured, it will be at the cost of some other room or area of the home. Make sure to spend time discussing the layout so that you are happy with the finished product and its dimensions.

There are many other things that will be involved in the final design of your home that I am sure your designer will mention. Always try to be available to your designer should they have questions as this will make things flow more smoothly to a finished product.

Top 5 Green Home Design Tips

A green home design combines environmental decisions and resource efficiency into each step of building and development of an entire home to lower environmental impact. For a home to be considered 'green' it must focus on energy and water efficiency in the design, building and operation of the home. A green home design has to take into account the kind of impact the home has on the environment.

1. Build a home that is just the right size.

There is not necessary for a home to be any larger than what a family needs. Smaller designs use fewer materials, are easier on the environment and less expensive. It also costs much less to heat and cool a smaller house.

2. Use solar energy for heating water and electricity.

Both photovoltaic panels and solar water heating panels can be used for these. This is renewable energy that is effective, saves money and is better for greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

3. Design a roof that will collect rain water to be used around the home.

It is very easy to design a roof that gutters the runoff to a central location to be collected. This water can be used for irrigation, washing clothes and flushing toilets.

4. Consider the type of building materials used in the design of the home.

Find local sources for materials and choose materials that are natural and gone through less industrial processing. The more natural the material, the less toxic it will be.

5. Use sunlight to provide light into the home.

Money can be saved if skylights, windows and light tunnels are used to provide lig

A Guide to the Basics of Home Design

Any person who is lucky enough to own a home nowadays can consider such home as his castle. The present state of the economy has made home ownership a rarity indeed especially if a person is a wage earner.

People who have had their homes for a long time are definitely thankful that they have something they can call their own. However, the wear and tear as well as the abuses of nature can take its toll on the inside and outside look of any home. Thus, most homeowners have plans of redesigning their homes depending on the available resources.

Redesigning a home that has been in existence for a long time can be difficult and expensive. However, a person who is creative and industrious enough will find the time and the energy to redesign his home using the basic and affordable guide in home design.

Redesigning a home need not be expensive because there are techniques that can be applied to make an old home as good as new. A person can work on a minimum budget and introduce basic changes in his home which would result to a more aesthetic abode.

The people living in a home will certainly have developed a new style or preference after so many years. It is advisable that a person looks into his preferences, the way of life of the family and of course the available budget before making any change.

It would help to browse architectural or interior magazines to have an idea of what is new is home redesigning. More often, less is best so make sure that the design would be simple and would fit the personality of the people living in the house.

There are several designs to choose from like country, modern, traditional or pop art. It will depend on the taste of the designer and of course, the people who will be living in the home that will be redesigned.

A person can make amazing changes in any home just by changing the color scheme of the home. It can be a change in the paint of the rooms, or a change in the colors scheme of the draperies. No matter what, the color should match the size and the location of the rooms to be redesigned.

Also take a look at the appliances, furniture and trinkets that are available inside or outside the home. These factors can affect the design and can even have a great impact in the choice of colors.

To make the home more airy and relaxing, it would be a good idea to bring in some plants. The plants should however be of little maintenance so that the homeowner would not have a hard time taking care of the plants.

Also take note of the lighting scheme of the home. Placing the right kind of light at the right place can make a difference in making the home spacious or narrow, cheerful or dreary.

A nice chandelier with a classic can make a room sophisticated so it might be a good decision to buy one. As a general rule, plan ahead of time before purchasing the items that needed to be added into the newly redesigned home so as to make sure that the items are essential to the design and they would not look misplaced in the new design of the home.

Home Design Services

To own a home that you actually designed and created according to your taste is virtually everybody's ambition. Rather than just renting or buying a house was designed by someone else, you of course would want a place that you have planned yourself to fit your likes. But designing a house could be a very difficult endeavor. Chances are you do not have a background in architecture and could probably only draw stick figures. How then can you put into paper what you have in mind about the house of your dreams?

Fortunately, this problem may easily be solved by availing of home design services that could make the job so easy and convenient for you.

Here are among the many reasons you should avail of home design services:

-Home design services could boost your ideas and help you create beautiful house designs that you find difficult to translate into an actual plan.

-Home design serves may also work according to you budget so that you do not overspend nor would you be too stingy about your dream home.

-You can still add your personal touches because the home design service would cater to your needs and preferences.

-Home design services would do the actual sketching and drafting job for you, plus many more services that would help you build a home.

-You would not be wasting your paper and pencil because the plans that home design services make are very efficient and cost effective. They would know how best to fit the cabinets and furniture you would want to have in your house.

-Home design services could go beyond the floor plan of your house, they could also help you plan your landscape and other elements included in your dream home.

-You can get sound advice regarding technical matters such as the plumbing and the electrical wiring system of the house because they know a lot of such details. Home design services may even tell you the kinds of cooling, water, heating, and power systems you might need.

-You can ask home design services different materials to visualize your dream house such as blue prints, computer aided graphics, prospective sketches and even scale models.

-It is also better to be able to talk to someone as you plan your dream home. When you avail of home design services, you would be working other human beings and be able to share with them the joys of planning your home.

What to look for when availing of home design services:

1. Service package inclusions - the home design service provider you choose should go beyond just drawing floor plans and making blue prints. They should be able to give you different perspectives and useful suggestions regarding the house you are dreaming about. They should be able to listen to your wants and follow them as much as possible given the constraints of your resources.

2. Good Communication Channels - you would want the home design service company to be easy to deal with. The main reason you are availing of their service is that you need help to design your house, and thus you should be able to have an effective means of communication to do this.

3. Good Service - the service provider should be able to assist you with all your needs. Designing a house is a complex matter, and they should be very knowledgeable about issues of building a house.

Designing your house can be very fun and exciting and it can definitely be made easier with the help of home design services. So why not look through your local directory or search the web to check for home design services near you.

Craftsman Home Design Enjoys a Renaissance

Off with the old and on with the...Old? Absolutely. Consider the new architectural trends. Nostalgic styles complete, with wrap-around front porches, exposed rafters and "craftsman" details are the cutting edge now.

The craftsman or prairie style homes made popular in the early 1900s are taking the home design trends by storm. Designed by architect Gustav Stickley and actually sold through mail order kits from Sears and Roebuck, these homes were originally built to be affordable and more casual than the ornate Victorian styles of the wealthy. They were meant to be homes for the masses. Frank Lloyd Wright added his own variations with his prairie style in the Midwest.

You can find these homes in virtually every metropolitan area of the country. Many are found in neighborhoods built in the early 20th century and are now located in trendy areas adjacent to major cities. And many of these areas are experiencing a rebirth and transformation.

But rehabbing a century old home is not the only avenue to acquiring a craftsman home. Many new homes are now being designed to mimic the craftsman style complete with smaller footprints, dormers, porches supported with stocky tapered columns, wide overhangs, etc.

There are several reasons this trends is happening now. For one, there's a yearning for a sense of home and safety associated with the past. People are longing for simpler times. The nostalgia of the past is a big draw now. For another, these homes are typically smaller and more economical to build. The trend in new home construction now is towards downsizing and scaling back.

Following are the major features of new Craftsman architecture:

• Large front porches with chunky tapered columns
• Horizontal bands in siding with differing finishes above and below.
• Bracket roof supports.
• Generous woodwork and trim inside and out.
• Dark stain finishes
• The use of triple windows or pairs of windows
• The lack of halls (a more open design)
• Built-in cabinetry in the dining rooms or as room dividers
• Materials local to the area

Minimalist Architecture For New Home Designs

If you are looking for modern house designs especially designed for style and functionality, then choosing Minimalist house designs and plans is right for you. It makes use of clean, geometric lines to create a sleek look. This is great for house design with limited area space. You will be able to make full use of all the space. It is simple, stylish and effective. To achieve a full minimalist effect, most houses use multiple function elements. The heater, for example, could be directly installed in the floors or walls.

Lighting is also very important when it comes to minimalist architecture. It makes use of only high quality lights, because the idea is to create a simple effect. Also, the colours black and white are very common. They are usually the basic colour of minimalist design houses. Sometimes, dark wood is also used for the floors. The roofs are usually flat, unlike regular houses. This is to further create a simple effect. It pays attention to the cleanliness of the joints of the walls as well. This is another reason why minimalist design makes use of flat roofs.

Pops of colour brighten the minimalist designed house. Bright colours like red, yellow and orange provide an interesting and aesthetically pleasing contrast to the overall design of the house. They usually take the form of vases, artworks, or simple pieces of display furniture.

If you want to know more about the latest in home design, it would be best to consult new home builders. They can design homes for you in any style you want. They can easily make use of the minimalist design. You can look at their various house designs and plans to see which one works for you. You can also look at a few house design and plan, for some inspiration. You can easily get your dream minimalist house and land package with the help of a good, reliable home builder.

Finding Inputs For Your New Home Design

You might have the concept in mind. You might have even laid out the concept in the form of drawings. The drawing must materialize into a house. There lie the entire intricacies associated with new home designs. Although you have partial concepts materializing within the mind, the reality is far from it. If you want to see your ideas camouflaging itself into a house, you will have to seek the necessary advice from experts. Do not worry, we are here to help; please consider these tips and strategies the next time you visit the neighbor architect.

The design of your new home might occur to you as a spontaneous process. You will have to note down the various ideas as it crosses your mind. This is beneficial because you will be able to consult them at a later date. While talking with the chief architect, you will be able to relay your ideas comfortably; with the aid of these notes. We should proceed with a smaller pace because the niche is vast and mistakes are bound to occur. Here is an insider tip - the next time if you find that you are running out of ideas, please consult the internet.

This might sound really silly, but you can find some ingenious new home design ideas from the internet. Some of the renowned architects maintain websites and blogs. Please visit them regularly so that you will be able to harness some ideas that are prevalent in the niche. Combine those ideas with the ones already present in your mind and you will have that perfect new home design. Take your time, do not hasten the process because you have all the time in this world. This is going to be your dream project and dream projects will take their own sweet time to materialize in real life.

While visualizing the new home design, please consider the budget. Anyone can sit and dream all day long. Budget is an important consideration, and you will have to accumulate the necessary funds by all possible means. The cost of construction materials are rising, and you can expect it to rise in the coming months. Unless you have the necessary cash flow, you will have to wind up the project sooner than you had initially realized. If your spouse is working, please ask her to chip in. It is better not to opt for loans from financial institutions.

If you would like to spice it up, you can always seek innovative ideas like green architecture. The trend is fast catching up in our country too with many new home designs involving environmental architects and suitable architectural plans. By reducing the effective carbon footprint of your home, you are doing a great favor to mother earth. We can only wish for such thoughts to occur in the minds of many others who are looking for newer home designs. Did you know that with the aid of suitable computer simulation programs, you will be able to design your house virtually?

Guide to Living Room Home Design Ideas

Living room home design ideas allow you to create a space that shows off your personality. This may be your only grown up room in the entire house where the kids still have free reign. It might also serve double duty as a family room so it needs to work for a lot of different purposes. Here are a few living room home design ideas that will really get you in touch with the style that you want while meeting the your current budget and space restraints.

Accent your architectural elements. The living room is usually a more formal and grand space. It's for entertaining guests and as such it should be a little more formal than the rest of your house. You can easily accomplish this just by adding more formal details. You might want to focus in on the fireplace if you have one just by adding a mantle or building out your current mantle so it's a little grander. You can try painting it a dark black color or you can just add a few wood appliques. This gives a little more intricate detail to it.

If you don't have a lot of architectural elements in your room then you should really add them in. They don't take up a lot of space to really give your room a high end look. You can do this with paint or actual molding. You can make your doorway seem grander just by adding a large molding around it or using ornate rosettes around your windows and doorways. You can also mimic the look of crown molding with paint. For more of a country look try wainscoting. You can also create a French feeling just by adding a few molding rectangles throughout your space. You can either paint it out a bright white, fancy gold, or just use the same wall color for texture, but not a lot of contrast.

You need to balance the architecture of your home with the style that you want. If you find yourself living in a log cabin and you really don't know what to do with it try a cottage style. Being a lot more feminine can help reduce some of the harshness of this kind space. You can make several odes to your home with your accents but go with an overall style that you really love so you can live with it. This creates an eclectic look while giving you everything you want in a living room.

Home Design Floor Plan - How To Purchase A Home Design Floor Plan?

Regardless of whether you are building a new home, adding to an existing home, or remodeling your current home; you will need to have a home design plan. If you have experience in architectural design, you can easily design your home design floor plan. However, if you are like most, you will need to hire an architect to plan your home design or purchase home design floor plans from a reputable organization.

Home design plans are available in hundreds of designs. You can find everything from Beach House plans to Victorian House plans. Homes range in size from 900 square feet to more than 10,000 square feet and most plans can be customized to further suit your needs.

Some companies offer full-service packages, which include home design floor plans, cost estimating services, and referral service to quality home builders in your area. Other companies provide discount services or bundle packages, which allow you to purchase a set of three or more home design plans at a reduced rate.

When purchasing home design plans, make certain they are designed by professional architects who are NCARB certified. Home design floor plans need to meet nationally recognized building codes and should include the following elements:

1) Exterior elevations of the front, rear, and sides of the house

2) Interior elevations showing details of fireplaces, cabinets, built-in units, and other special interior features.

3) Detailed floor plans showing the placement of interior walls and dimensions for rooms, doors, windows and stairways.

4) Cross section detail, which show construction details of the home, insulation, flooring and roofing.

5) Roof plans showing details of the layout.

6) Foundation drawings for a crawlspace or basement.

7) Schematic electrical layouts showing the detail of light fixtures, outlets, and switches.

8) General specifications plan which outlines details of the home and property where it will be built.

Home design magazines such as Architectural Digest and Interior Design, provide many time- and money-saving resources. Oftentimes, you can locate unique home design plans by perusing the classified section of home design magazines.

Your local library can also provide you with information on every aspect of designing your own home. Oftentimes, libraries offer "Do-It-Yourself" videos on a wide range of topics, which can be exceptionally helpful if you plan on building your own home.

Plan to spend a considerable amount of time researching home design floor plans before investing any money. The Internet provides easy access to hundreds of unique ideas and beneficial information that can make your home building experience easier.

Architects Can Help Get Your Home Design Approved

The general consensus about Oxford architects is that you only need to hire one when you are going to build a brand new home or building from scratch. However there are many more times that a good quality Oxford architecture company would be a real hand to aid you in your home design and save you time and money by using their expert knowledge. You should really have an architect you use and that will be on hand to help you out with your various projects.

If you're looking to redesign the layout of your downstairs living room, have a loft conversion, turn a bedroom into a bathroom, turn you garage into a living space or simply redesign the whole interior of your home then you really should seek the help of a Oxford architect. They'll be able to clearly see what could be done with the space you have and how to best break it down into rooms and kitchens etc.

They will take your ideas and put them into an actual design, without accurate designs it will be both hard to show these to local councils to approve and to brief builders on what kind of work you want doing on your home. Architects have expert knowledge and can come up with genius ideas as how to best utilize your living area that you would never had thought of.

Once your architects has drawn up the designs for your house they will present them to local councils and as discussed before the likelihood if they will be approved because the Oxford architecture agency would have designed the plans with local building regulations in mind. They will have dealt with local councils before and are experienced in this area.

Having your Oxford architects draw up the designs and present to local councils can save you a lot of time. This is because if you were to do your own amateur designs they could include elements that are not allowed by local councils. Some people do not even know there are local building regulations and proceed with a building projects that does not abide to them; this means that the build will be stopped once the local council find out. The build will have to be knocked down. This can waste a LOT of peoples money and time! Also if you are going to do a design that abides by local regulations you will have to trawl through loads of paperwork to see what you can and cannot do, it's much quicker to allow an Oxford architect to do them.

Ecofriendly Design & Construction - Improving Home Design

The way that buildings are designed and constructed has much to do with how much water and energy they use. Thus, utilizing ecofriendly design & construction can minimize a house's effect on the environment and can make it eco-friendly. Designing homes to be sustainable can significantly help the environment. Proper architectural drawings are needed.

The way that a building is shaded can significantly affect its energy usage. If a house is faced north, it can have maximum shading during summer and more sunlight during winter. Also, utilizing shades over windows can help keep heat and glare from coming into a home. This can reduce the energy used for heating and cooling a house, as the home will have a more stable temperature. Drafting can help reduce temperatures during summer.

If you use solar panels for your home's energy source you can significantly reduce your impact on the environment. Solar power does not create harmful emissions and it is entirely sustainable. There are ways to utilize both solar power and other forms of energy so that a home has power throughout the year.

There are new types of windows that help to trap heat within a building. Heat-trapping windows often utilize a special type of glazing that reduces the heat of a home in the summer and increases it in the winter. These windows, when sealed properly, help to reduce your home's energy costs indirectly by making it so that you do not need to utilize your heater or air conditioning as much.

An eco-friendly home is always designed to have water-efficient appliances. Many people have negative opinions of water conservation appliances because they have been faulty in the past. However, today water-efficient appliances are very effective; shower heads have good pressure and toilets do not need to be flushed twice.

In a house, insulation serves a purpose similar to heat-trapping windows. It keeps a house warm in the winter and cool in the summer by keeping outdoor weather from seeping into the house. Without insulation a home is prone to the elements, which can significantly drive up energy costs for heating and cooling. Thus, insulation is a great investment for an eco-friendly development.

Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping that should be used for every new, eco-friendly garden. It utilizes plants that are appropriate for the region. This means that they work well with their natural surroundings. Also, plants used for xeriscaping are often plants that do not need much water. Traditional lawns are rarely part of xeriscaped gardens, as they are very "thirsty." If a home must have a lawn, native grasses that require less water should be chosen above non-native grasses.

One last tip is to utilize rainwater harvesting, which basically captures rainwater. It can then be used for gardening. Because landscapes do not need filtered, pure water, the use of rainwater is perfectly fine for gardens. Thus, harvesting rainwater instead of using hose water can help to save a significant amount of water. The water collected in rainwater tanks is both convenient and free; the tanks are thus a wise investment for any serious landscaper.

Architectural Home Designer Software - Home Designer Suite

As a home design software developer, Chief Architect has always had the reputation of publishing programs that are not only highly effective, but also easy to use. Over the years they have come out with a number of home design software, each having its unique twist. Some target the more advanced users such as professional builders or serious designers.

On the other hand, they also have programs that are a bit on the lighter side as they hope to bring out the fun in designing. Among the latter is the Home Designer Suite - a complete home design software package that aims to make the entire design process as easy and as fun as possible. At only $99, it also comes with a fair price tag to pay considering its comprehensive feature set.

Powerful Yet Easy

The trademark of Chief Architect programs is that aside from bringing powerful design tools to the hands of their users, these programs are also very easy to use and quick to learn. Home Designer Suite is no different. It is an excellent tool for those who wish to create the perfect landscaping, remodeling, or home design plans. There are a variety of wizards that will make things a lot easier for users; among them is the House Wizard which holds numerous built-in templates for users to choose from. There's even over a thousand sample plans available which should help users visualize their new home designs.

For those who may encounter any problems using Home Designer Suite, there is a variety of support mechanisms available. Loads of training videos and "how to" tutorials should provide more than enough help and support for any type of problem.

Great for Kitchens and Bathrooms

Home Designer Suite is also an excellent program for designing or remodeling one's kitchen and bathroom. One can end up designing the kitchen of his or her dreams by adding new appliances and moving walls with ease. The same goes with bathroom designs as Home Designer Suite lets its users visualize their ideas in full 3D. One of the best features of Home Designer Suite is the addition of the Cabinet Designer Tool. Here, users can construct custom cabinets in a matter of a few minutes. Almost every part of the cabinets are customizable including door styles, countertops, and colors. With this new feature on board, users can be sure to come up with the most unique cabinets that will suit their overall theme without a hitch.

Virtual Tours Abound

Users need not worry about ending up with a designs that they're not 100% satisfied with. Thanks to the various preview modes made available by Home Designer Suite, users will surely have the designs that they actually want. Designing in 3D is an option through the program's virtual camera that enables a point-and-click feature.

Once the projects are finished, users will have an option to view their new designs through a variety of different views. Among them include the Glass House and the Doll House view which provide a translucent and roof-less, bird's eye view of the home, respectively. If this isn't enough then users can also opt for the 3D virtual tour which will make it seem that they're actually walking inside their new dream home.

Chief Architect Architectural Home Designer 9.0

Being one of the newest software around, it is definitely more advanced. It provides leverage for designers, builders and architect in coming up with designs and other projects such as decking, home remodeling, landscaping, outdoor living and designing.

It will be safe to assume that like its earlier counterpart, this software has user friendly options as well except that it has more additional features and exciting applications.

Features and System requirements

It can operate on Windows Vista, Windows 7 and XP operating systems. This powerhouse software makes building and designing fun and easy. Like the earlier versions, this can arrange walls, view landscapes in a different angles, choose from a variety of colors, has an automatic roof generation, make decks, doors, windows and cabinets and so much more.

From the 1,500 plant options from other version, this takes pride in its wide selection of 3,600 plants. Interior items in this great software has elevated to an amazing number of 7,000 that includes fixtures, windows, doors, cabinets, and appliances.

Highly recommended for professionals involved in the building and designing industry, this software creates so many possibilities. It also has a cost estimator that calculates not only the cost of the project but the home's value and amount of mortgage possible.

Easy to use program

This software comes with very easy step-by-step tutorial videos. It also has a very clear user manual. There is no need for a technical support to assist you in using the program, but then again you may seek assistance to have a better grasp of the program. It also has an intuitive interface function, user-friendly options that come with many other applications.

Want to view your future home in varying modes? The program allows you to do so. It could be in different landscape angles, home views and even night/day view modes.

This software lets you design with outstanding details, plus its huge selections located in its library is an added incentive. You can also import photos, display your finished designs for other home designers to see and name the brands you plan to use on your remodeling projects.

Purchasing the software

The price ranges anywhere from $180 to $220. Of course, this program is upgradeable which allows you to add more updates when available. This program may be purchased at any Chief Architect store or downloadable from various website for a fee.

What You Cannot Do

Unfortunately, this home planning software has certain limitations. With this software, you cannot verify if such conforms to local and national building codes, the program also does not allow you to add sounds. Complicated HVAC systems cannot be done on this software as well.

Other than these limitations, this software is a great buy. You can practically create various designs with ease. Just by using your computer coupled with patience and imagination, no doubt you will be able to achieve the goal of coming up with great design without the need of spending much on contractors and interior designers.

In general, this software justifies its advertising claims and representations. Enjoy designing, building and remodeling with Chief Architect Architectural Home Designer 9.0 today!

Architectural Home Designer

For folks who are looking for a home design software that is not only easy to use, but more importantly, equipped with the best tools for all types of designing needs, then perhaps it's time to stop searching. Famed home design software producer Chief Architect has once again come out with a product that is definitely going to be there or thereabouts when talking about the best home design software in the business. With Architectural Home Designer, users can make use of a variety of designing tools for remodeling and home design that covers cost estimation, site planning, landscaping, decks, baths, kitchens, as well as entire interior designs.

Everything in One Package

What makes a good home design software is its ability to strike a balance between a user friendly interface and excellent outputs. However, aside from this combination, what makes a great home design software is its integration of all types of remodeling and design tools that will satisfy all of its users needs. It must be an all-in-one design solution which should leave users with a feeling that they could no longer ask for anything more. Architectural Home Designer is one type of software which is just that.

With this amazing piece of software, users can choose from thousands of sample plans which they can use as a basis for their designs. Also available are a myriad of different home style templates that can be used in line with either the House Wizard Feature, or customized fully to suit the user's wishes. Architectural Home Designer also features highly effective building tools such as automatic generation of foundations, framing, stairs, dormers, and roofs. This program also makes use of the most artistic rendering methods to come up with the likes of Technical, Glass House, or even Watercolor illustrations.

Excellent for Interior Design

Although Architectural Home Designer is indeed an excellent program for both deck designs and landscaping, its strength lies in its interior design capabilities. For starters, there's the Material Painter feature which allows users to easily apply all types of materials and colors on their walls and scene objects. Users can choose from thousands of different textures and colors which are brought to life by the digital photograph feature. Also on board is the Smart Design Objects feature which lets users literally drag and drop thousands of objects from the program's extensive library which has been excellently categorized by object types.

Quick and Hassle-Free Startup

What makes Architectural Home Designer even more impressive is it allows users to get started quickly and without any unwanted hassles. Aside from the Quick Startup Options Guide, there's also the very useful House Wizard feature which allows users to easily lay out rooms in a very uncomplicated manner. As mentioned earlier, the program is also loaded with hundreds of different templates that come in full color and are complete with all sorts of objects and fixtures. Also included are 40 helpful training videos that provide step-by-step instructions on how to get started on a home design project. Further support is also provided on the publisher's online help system which gives even more detailed information on all sorts of designing projects.