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Chief Architect - anyone use it or something similar?

11 years ago

It's pricey software so I want to just use the trial but it won't let me save anything or print it.

Looking for something relatively easy to use that you can do a custom tile layout for floors and bathrooms.

Featured Answer

zartemis

11 years ago

If you aren't going to use it professionally, make sure you are using the Home Designer (consumer) version of Chief Architect (you may already be doing so, but since you called it "Chief Architect" instead of "Home Designer" I wasn't sure). It's much cheaper and pretty much the exact same software. You can also start out with a simpler version (for $60 or $80) and upgrade as you need features. Although, be warned, I ended up at the $200 Architectural version in the end -- you might get hooked like I did.

I use Home Designer and really like it. I tried various software before deciding that the Home Designer interface fit my working style best. As a plus, the KD we consulted used Chief Architect and the files are somewhat interchangeable (our KD could import and edit our design made on Home Designer and we could import and view in all modes including 3D and walkthrough, but not edit, the designs she sent us).

Their user forums are also great. I had a question once about how to implement a specific feature and someone on their forum asked what level of Home Designer I had and then made me a walk-through video on how to do it with the exact version I was using.

The free Google (now Trimble) Sketchup is powerful but has a steeper learning curve, IMO.

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Comments (6)

rmtdoug
11 years ago
I have the Chief Architect Suite, which is sort of the basic program. It's pretty easy to use but I could not exactly replicate my house in it. Where the stairs should be, there is a big hole because I cannot recreate them in this version. I would need the next higher version at least to get that functionality. There are many buttons and options greyed out in my version. I guess that is Chief's way of getting me to upgrade.

For the price, I can't really complain. I've enjoyed doing what I could in it and it has helped immensely in visualizing the basics of my remodel. I'm not sure about custom tile layouts, however. Someone else may know. Plan on having a fast computer with lots of memory, though. Mine's an Intel i3, 8 GB, and it works fine.
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rmtdoug
11 years ago
Zartremis,
Thanks. I meant Home Designer Suite in my post. I also have concluded that I would need to step up to Architectural to fully utilize the features I would need for my complete home remodel. But my Suite version gets me 90 percent there.

And like you say, it was a lot easier to master than the three or four other programs I looked at, including Sketchup.
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barbcollins
11 years ago
Yes, I use Chief Architect and like it a lot. I found it very easy to use, with little or no learning curve.

I only used it to do floorplans and layout the kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures etc.

I DID NOT try to use it to layout tile patterns.
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Circus Peanut
11 years ago
Do they make a Mac version of Chief Architect? I feel like an idiot but Sketchup/Trimble is really kicking my a$$. I do OK for a while, then I doubleclick one too many (or too few?) times and the whole house explodes. Sigh.
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momo7
11 years ago
I use the Home Designer Suite - I like it a lot. I've never used it for tile layout. But I'm sure it can do a lot more than I've ever done with it. I have windows bootcamp on my mac because I couldn't find anything comparable to it that I could use on a mac.
You can take a screen shot or use a snipping tool so you can print or save, if you really don't want to buy it.
Sketchup is totally beyond my capabilities.
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