Buehl - I have the Home Designer Architectural - 2012? A few years back. Certainly, useful but if you know your dimensions, I'd suggest sticking with Sketch-up (free). Love, love, LOVE the program. The push pull tool - OMG. Definitely a learning curve with each but I think if you go through the Sketch-up tutorials, you'll have a great tool. I do use Photoshop Elements as well (esp. for photoshopping rugs. Less than 100$). Best of luck, oldabt2be

I have older versions of Suite and Interiors. I can't claim I know all (or maybe even 10%) of the features of the programs, but Interiors is slightly better than Suite for interior design.

Did you check this page?

Amazon prices seem to be better than the ones on their own site. I don't know how long the discounted prices will last, but you can download a trial version if you haven't already.

For me Sketch-up is a nightmare. Although I understand that you can create almost everything there and download a lot of models others created, I found drawing in 3D extremely hard. I believe you can import Sketch-up models (or whatever they're called) to Home Desñgner.

Thanks Oldbat2be. I've heard so many complaints about SketchUp that I was hesitant to use it. I seem to recall that I tried it a few years ago and had issues with it working properly and gave it up. I might give it another try.

Sena01, thanks for your experiences. On Amazon, they seemed to "rate" Interiors as "Best" for Kitchen & Bath design and Suite as "Better" - so that lines up with your opinion. It seemed strange to me that it would be the case. (Architectural is also listed as "Best".)

I did see the page you linked to, but it didn't really help much since most of the items were in all the versions and with what appear to be few differences - which surprises me given the price differences.

buehl- I use CA, not Home Designer bu many tools are similar.
I took a look at the list for you.
The things that might be important and are in Architectural but lacking or limited in the other two are: (- soso; **might be important as in I wouldn't live without them.)

-Use the Rendering Techniques tools to create artistic views of your designs like Watercolor, Technical Illustration, and Vector Views (vector views are oddly missing from interior version these are the fast cartoon looking views but it means you can't do B & W line drawn perspectives)
-Record Walkthroughs with the stylized views of Rendering Techniques
-Improved Lighting Units. Choose from common wattage/lumens values for lights or specify custom values.
**Fully editable dimension lines, and configurable dimension editing. Change where dimensions locate walls, windows, doors, and other objects, both when generating dimensions automatically or manually
**Create Elevation, Wall Elevation, and Cross Section Views for the interior and exterior of your design
**Advanced Cabinet Tools - attach moldings & hardware, angled front cabinets, and more (interiors molding only)
**Design and edit Custom Countertop shapes and styles
-some stair tools tools

My take is architectural or don't bother and use something else like learn SU. Basic is free.
(I'm not as enamored with it as some folks but I do know some builders and architects that like it and have the full ver$ion with plugin$- I already have time and $$ in a ton of software that suits so never mess with it much, just to make doors and an occasional "model" to import into something else.)

Thanks Jakuvall! I think I'm going to go with Architectural - I agree with you about the items missing from Suite and Interiors. It's around $70 more than Suite, but I think it will be worth it for me. (There is no way that I can justify paying $500 for Professional, though!)

Thank you everyone who took the time to respond - I really appreciate it!

Good luck! I'm curious about your reasons for the purchase - is this career related, for an upcoming project or projects of your own (exciting if so!), or general GW use?

Buehl-does it import from sketchup? that is one way to make plate racks-
guessing here based on CA
the other would be make a cabinet without doors- and add the verticals with polyline solids-
In CA to resize a sink (or other symbol) you usually have to hit the "Tab" key. What happens is the cabinet is selected first, tab will select the sink, then grab the handles and resize, then center to the sink.
I believe there is a forum for Home Designer same as there is for Chief- definitely worth a look.

As to certification- you need experience to (and credits) to take the test- "y" years for AKD and X for CKD. If you can get a foothold certification is not all it's cracked up to be IMO. I was going to take the test a few years ago but ran into an issue getting my credits from design school accepted. Haven't dealt with it since then, non issue, would just be "nice". The job is 10% design. Good luck.

For dish rack, would changing the face item (front tab on Wall Cabinet Specification) to door panel make a difference? My old version of interiors has just one plate rack and looks a bit odd but I think this handles the door issue.

As to sink size, if I got the problem right, try placing sink to any place as a freestanding item, then resize it and copy and paste to the cabinet and change the top drawer to a false drawer. Sink still remains free standing but looks OK.

Buehl, I got Suite two years ago to do a whole house remodel. It works but to this day I regret not getting Architect. You made the right choice.