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Building a Home

Any advice on tools/3d models to help visualise and design a new home?

5 years ago

My partner and I are looking at new home designs for a recently bought block. Has anyone found a good tool for helping visualise the facade and floorplans? We saw lifesizeplans.com on shark tank and wondered if they were worth trying. Has anyone used them or any other tools?

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User

5 years ago

Your architect is your best choice for that. Not what smells like a stealth SPAM insert into the forum.

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Comments (25)

PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
Being able to clearly and accurately visualize architectural design in 3D is an acquired skill of architects. Few others are able to do so, or at least do so with more than a simple box shape.

Google "free 3D modeling software" for a list. Sketchup is a popular free application.

Good luck!
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New here -- just getting started -- anyone use plan3d.com?
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Comments (4)
I used plan3d for my kitchen design. I had previously bought a copy of 3D home Architect (version 5) and was bitterly disappointed in how truly awful it was. It would crash frequently, it would corrupt the save file necessitating starting over from scratch, and there were many things it just couldn't do. But my biggest complaint was that the entire program was driven by the overhead 2d design, and to actually see the design in 3d you had to select a menu entry after which the machine would work for about 10 seconds and then display a rendering from your selected viewpoint. Want a different view? select a different viewpoint and wait another 10 seconds. However having worked as the graphics engine programmer at a small game company, I knew that the computer could display the entire view 60 times a second. After discarding that program I tried plan3d, and at least by comparison with the previous software, its wonderful. :-) On the whole plan3d is easy to get started with and easy to get a fairly reasonable representation of your kitchen. The interface is much more geared towards working in 3d, you can do all of the placing of cabinets and items in the 3d view. Other features of Plan3d that I liked: - If the program doesn't have a texture that looks like what you want, it is easy to take any other texture and apply it to the models in the program. For instance I planned on having quarter sawn oak cabinets, but none of their wood grain patterns had the look of QS Oak. So I downloaded an image of quarter sawn oak from a website, and simply dragged it onto the cabinet models. - The layouts are precise enough that you can rely on then. My kitchen is oddly shaped, with entry to the living room at an angle. I planned on tiling the kitchen, but wanted to avoid tiny little tile pieces along the angled edge. By getting the dimensions of the room _exactly_ right and using a 12x12 tile pattern in the program I was able to figure out how exactly to lay the tile to avoid tiny pieces around the edge. (The program was worth its price just for this.) - Lastly although it was mostly gimmicky, you can click on the cabinets, or appliances or door in the view and see how the door will swing as it opens, which can help figure out things like "will the fridge door block the entryway when its open?" or "will the dishwasher block the aisle too much when it is open?" Of course that is not to say there weren't things I disliked about the program. - I wasn't thrilled about their subscription-based pricing model, but I suppose that that is a big part of what allows them to keep the price low. - Given that the program downloads models, and textures over the internet, if you have a slow internet connection (like I do) the program will be slow, and if your internet goes out (like mine often did) you can't select any new models or stock textures until the internet comes back. - They have a relatively small set of models, if ou want to see the difference between a side by side fridge vs a freezer on the bottom fridge. Fine, you can. If you want to see Bosch model X wall oven vs the GE Monogram wall oven, too bad. - For floors and countertops, you can make them in non-rectangular shapes, but the interface for doing so is hard to figure out, hard to use, and even caused the program to crash a few times. - Lastly and most annoying, often times I would click away from the item I had been editing, too see it without the large red and blue ball-shaped item adjustment handles, and would inadvertantly drag the floor or move a wall. After finishing my remodel I took a bunch of pictures and then for laughs decided to move my plan3d viewpoint to the same location and take a snapshot to compare the plan3d to the real thing:
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New home construction exterior design advice
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"I like every single thing about this plan." That opinion may be based upon lack of understanding of what the drawings show. I avoid: Designs that do not relate to the site. Closets where hanging clothes turn corners. Windowless walk-in closets. Kitchens with overly large work triangle. Large expanses of exterior wall without windows. Walk-in closets that will be difficult to walk into. Hallways less than four feet wide. Stairs less than 3'-6" wide. Freestanding tubs that do not have sufficient space to clean around. Powder room off main entry A powder room where you can sit in and carry on a conversation with someone in the living room and have visual contact with. Powder room window that opens to a front entry porch. Master bathrooms with little counter space. Bathtub/shower with a window. Closets with doors that insufficiently provide full access to the closet's content. Dimension that go to the center line of walls. to name a few.
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Comments (18)
Sorry, but none of the above. What about taking #3 and moving your Cleanup Zone to the right wall and putting a prep sink in the island? The DW would go to the right of the cleanup sink. Cleanup Zone in the island...Personally, I would not want my dirty dishes front and center and on display for all to see. In addition, sitting at an island with dirty dishes "in your face" is not pleasant. Maybe if the island was very deep (like 54" to 60" deep). With the Cleanup Zone in the island and across from the range, you are cramming all three primary work zones (Prep, Cooking, Cleanup) into one small space. The counters on the perimeter with no water access are essentially wasted space b/c they are not situated such that they would be useful for anything other than as a junk/clutter collector. Corner ranges (2nd layout) take up a lot of room and limit access to them. While it's not as bad as a sink in a corner (at least in my opinion), it can still create access issues. . Your aisles look very tight in all three layouts. Is your island at least 41.5" deep? That's what's needed for seating: 1.5" counter overhang in the front + 24"D cabinets + 1" decorative door/end panel + 15" seating overhang (the minimum recommended) = 41.5" There should be 44" b/w the island counter edge and the wall. Since all three work zones are in one place, the aisles should be 48" wide b/w the range/refrigerator and the island's counter edge. If you make the changes I suggest and only one person will ever be working in the Kitchen at once, then 42" would work. Remember, though, that aisle widths are measured to/from the items that stick out into the aisle the farthest -- appliance handles, counter edges, etc.
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Advice needed on this new house design
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Comments (71)
@Jennifer Hogan agree with what you say in general. I would guess that the OP could get a basic 2400sf-2800sf house built, that is layed out pretty similar to this one, for ~$650K. Room sizes starting 12x10, J&J, truss roof, 2 story Family Room, we all know that plan. The OP is a step or two above that. Larger rooms, 3rd floor, ensuites, full Master sitting. So having a 1950's house worth $400K, tearing it down, and building just a $650K house doesn't seem to move the needle, regardless if this is being built for 1 person or 5. And I would guess the OP can afford much more, and that they have already seen this higher value supported in their HCOL area near Boston. My point was that advice should recognize what the house is conceived as. The data points on a 7000sf house are different than an 1100sf off-grid house review. The OP had to set the course at the beginning of the project, dictating the size, amenities, and budget. Whether the inspiration came from other houses on the block, the builder's portfolio, new subdivisions in the next town, an internet plan, whatever, the architect was directed by something. Many of the comments say to eliminate the ensuites. Maybe the formal Dining or Living. Have a guest share a hall bath thus eliminating flexibility for a lower-level Master. Mostly reasons being the commenter doesn't need those amenities. All that makes this house into the $650K house plan we all know. That flies in the face of what this project is presented as. If the OP chooses to go in that direction, then the whole project has to be reconceived.
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PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Contact a local architect. There is more to visualizing design than tools.
dan1888
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
For interior areas like a kitchen layout, full scale cardboard modelling is very valuable. You can use free space like in a basement or garage.

Chief Architect software-

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/products/samples.html
Buzz Solo in northeast MI
5 years ago
DH and I used Sweet Home 3D when we designed our house and floor plan. Of course, our house is a simple L-shaped ranch/barn house but the s/w certainly has helped us in ensuring our furniture would fit in every room. And you can see the 3D image of it, and rotate it, walk through it virtually. Colors are simplistic but I think many of those who use it are just more adept at the nuances.

I use a PC, it also runs on Mac, Linux and Solaris. And it's free. And I found it pretty easy to learn quickly. I downloaded Sketchup a few weeks later and found it too confusing.
onobed
5 years ago
For sure an architect is best. That said , I found that using Home Designer by Chief Architect let me try a number of options without having to use my architect.

It’s not cheap - I think it’s $500. But well worth it to learn to use. There are less expensive versions, but over the years I have upgraded. If you avoid one mistake, the program pays for itself.

I am also a big fan of sketch up, but sketch up is really only useful for doing one room at a time. To do a house or a floor I wouldn’t recommend sketchup.
David Johnson
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for the ideas! I'll have a look at Sweet Home 3d this week. I gave home.by.me a go over the weekend and it was pretty straightforward and an easy enough way to work through different ideas.

We're looking at builders like GJ Gardner and Stroud so we don't have an architect. We have brochures with a few pics and the floorplan at the moment. So just using something to work out ideas for changing different elements of the design like room size.
Dave Bundrick
5 years ago
Home Designer Suite by Chief Architect is $100. I've really enjoyed it. They have a higher-end version that is $500 but the added features at that level don't seem like they would be worth it to me.

The basic advice you get on these forums is:

1. Hire a professional, and

2. Hire a professional.

When in doubt, go back to step one.

I personally found playing with the software fun and I think it helps you visualize what you want. However, I've recognized that I don't have the skills necessary to do this by myself. So, I hired a professional. Even then, the software has also helped me provide feedback.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
"...We're looking at builders like GJ Gardner and Stroud so we don't have an architect..."

Have you checked with these production builders to see if they will even consider customizing or rearranging their standard plans?
lindavana
5 years ago
I also purchased Home Designer Suite by Chief Architect for < $100. Agree with Dave B. above - but I was able to do it myself so didn't need to hire anybody. Helps that I have a technical background and time to learn. I was able to import/trace the floor plan provided by our architect - so it can be very close to scale. Nice to see different finishes, possible furniture arrangement and overall feel of the space. It's one thing to have a 2D plan and quite another to "see" in 3D color software - really helps! FYI: Roof lines can be difficult in the software; thankfully ours wasn't too bad but keep this in mind.
adkbml
5 years ago
Another fan of Home Designer by Chief Architect for the purpose of visualizing a design in 3D. It allows you to see the design from many angles, place furniture, play with different materials and colors (it even imports many manufacturer objects/color palettes).
Robin Morris
5 years ago
Another vote for sketchup. We put our entire house in the program and were able to simulate furniture placement and walking around. It was very helpful.
PRO
Summit Studio Architects
5 years ago
There is so much more to good design than the ability to operate a CAD program.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
Well...is it time to suggest a 2B pencil and a roll of bumwad?
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
5 years ago
It is always time to suggest a 2B pencil and a roll of bumwad.
Buzz Solo in northeast MI
5 years ago
I have a 2B pencil, but alas, no bumwad. I do have a T-square though. ;-)
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
T-squares are not needed for sketching and visualizing, unless one is a civil engineer. :-)
Buzz Solo in northeast MI
5 years ago
But they're handy for drafting. One of the things I had to learn in college to get my degree in mechanical engineering.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
Just making a little joke...:-)
Buzz Solo in northeast MI
5 years ago
Oh I know. I should have put in a little emoticon.
marjen
5 years ago
I agree, Home Designer Suite by Chief Architect. I did work with an architect but he did not do any 3D designs. I took the plans and input them myself. It was a HUGE help to work out some things. Really helped visualize the spaces and let to some small changes. Also really helped my wife who has a much harder time visualizing spaces from blueprints.
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I got SketchUp when it was introduced in 2000. It was a simple program then but it has gotten much more powerful. Nothing can match it for exterior modeling. Interiors get a little more difficult but you can cut sections through the model to see the spaces and slide the position of the cut back and forth vertically and horizontally. You can see more projects if you click my name.
User
5 years ago
SketchUp free with a free renderer and you can do some amazing things
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
SketchUp Free is an online, low-resolution, reduced feature version of SketchUp Pro with a logo on the drawings. SketchUp Shop is a subscription version with all but a few of the Pro features.
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Other than the annoying nested tool palette, scattered menus and company logo, the most serious limitation of SketchUp Free is that it can only export a 2D floor plan in .png format (a bitmap format like .gif) so the file doesn't retain the scale of the original drawing. In other words, if you send it to a designer/draftsman, a print of it will not be to scale and only the written dimensions will be known. That forces the designer/draftsman to waste time redrawing the plan to scale which is expensive unless they work for free.

This should not be surprising. SketchUp makes it clear from the beginning that the Free app is for personal visualization rather than professional communication.

In Shop or Pro a plan can be exported in .pdf, .dwg & .dxf formats that retain the scale of the original drawing. Those files can also be imported and used as the base of a 3D model. When you select one of those export file options in Free, you are asked if you want to upgrade. It would be great if the designer could open a Free file in Pro but it cannot.

So, if you intend to communicate with design professionals, $119 is a bargain for Shop since you are unlikely to need it for more than a year.

It might be possible to export a Free model and open it in Pro and then work on the plan in scale but it apparently requires the 2017 or 2018 version of SketchUp Pro so I haven't tried it, but if it works, it reduces the number of designers you could use.

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