OK guys, I know. Just seems that sometimes a simple question sets off a firestorm. I enjoy trying to visualize projects before I bring out the shovels. I use Showoff, Photoshop, and even Paint to take a photo of the area I am fooling around with and trying different combinations of things until something clicks. It doesn't even have to be a true representation of the specific plants- sometimes just drawing out some bones and different shapes to balance things can be incredibly helpful to me. I choose my exterior colors this way, my roof color, bed placement, plants groupings, hardscapes, and so on. So while such novice timewasting might be useless to someone trained in the art of landscape design it can be incredibly useful to someone who is not. I know what I like but can't always call it right up- I need to finagle things on paper/screen before I commit. If we want to play with it what's the harm? Some of us enjoy the process of learning what works and what doesn't work and while of course not every eventual problem will show up on a simple program, some things do work this way. I don't want to hire someone to make decisions for me, and them bam do an installation and it's done. I want to continue to work the area and improve it in a way that pleases me and satisfies my own needs while at the same time providing me a fun hobby. I want it to look great, too, but I want it to be my creation. I'm way off course and apologize for butting in. But I still say it's fun to play around with the programs available even if they aren't 100% accurate or fluent in teaching design.

This plan is called Tealwood Estate. My build has some changes. Added second garage and breezeway to mudroom Added back porch(will be screened) Increased 3 car garage in length and width Added 2' to the whole depth of house(to make kitchen bigger-wanted a 36" cooktop-island is now 7') Shoved bath #3 into a void between plan location and closet at the top of the stairs. Created 4' makeup space for 16 year old DD and a walkin closet to the right. We took out the reach in closet which made her room bigger. Builder also pushed upper bedroom walls out 18" Added windows to both attic storage areas Added HVAC, cable etc to storage over garage(so if we ever decide to finish it's there.) Doing 5' tub in master instead of 6' to give the shower another 1' and 2 shower heads.(We are more shower people and I'm only 5'3". Don't need to swim in the tub. DH-shower only person. We ended up with 3525 sq.ft heated and cooled and about 6600 sq ft under roof. If you like the plan I can post some more inside pics

Below is a link on the software we used on our kitchen remodel. We area also using it for the whole house. Here is a link that might be useful: Design Software Info on My Blog

Does anyone know of some easy to use software that will allow me to see what some changes to our exterior will look like before we make those changes? Currently our house has board-and-batten siding. We plan to cover it with stucco and use some synthetic stone trim. I've been debating the amount and placement of that trim. I think it could be simply stunning -- or overdone and gaudy. If I could scan in a photograph of the different facades of the house and out the new siding on them I would be in a better position to decide. So, does such software exist? Is it easy to learn how to use? Rosefolly