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In this article, we will walk you step-by-step through creating the countertop shape in the image above.  This will help you to learn the basic tools available for editing custom countertops, to create the various shapes that may be necessary for your plans.

Before we begin, let's also take a look at what our reshaped custom countertop will look like in plan view. 

Now that we know what our goal is, we are ready to begin.

1. First, launch Chief Architect and choose File> New Plan  to create a new, blank plan using the default template.
   
   
   
2. Select Build> Cabinet> Base Cabinet  and click in your floor plan view to place two sets of 3 back to back cabinets, so that the cabinets create an island as in the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Once the Base Cabinets are placed, with the Base Cabinet tool still selected, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and drag a marquee around the cabinets to group select them.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Once the Base Cabinets are group-selected, click on the Generate Custom Countertop  edit tool.
   
   
   

Now that we have created our Custom Countertop, we are ready to begin editing it.

To add edges to the countertop perimeter

1. Use the Select Objects  tool to select the Custom Countertop.
   
   Note that because we generated this custom countertop from existing cabinets, it already has diamond Reshape edit handles at the positions of the cabinet edges, with small square Move Line Segment edit handles in between each Reshape diamond edit handle.
   
   
   
   
   Tip: If you accidently select one of the base cabinets first, click on the Next  edit button, or the Tab key on your keyboard.
   
   
   
   
2. Click on the Break Line  edit tool to activate it, and move the cursor to the lower portion of the left side of the Custom Countertop.
   
   With your Snap Settings enabled, you will see the blue circle Center Object Snap, as well as thered triangular Midpoint snap.
   
   
   
   
   To quickly enable all of the Snap Settings, if they are not already turned on, select Edit> Preferences> Edit> Snap Properties, and place checkmarks next to the items in the Object Snaps category, and click OK.
   
   
   
3. Once you have placed the break at this point in the Custom Countertop, you will see that an additional diamond reshape edit handle has been added at this location.
   
   
   
4. You may find it helpful to use the Zoom  tool to drag a marquee around just this section of the Custom Counterop.
   
   Then, follow this same procedure to place a second break, halfway between the one that we just placed and the bottom of the custom countertop on the left side.
   
   
   

To reshape the countertop

Once our breaks are placed, we are ready to begin actually editing the shape of our custom countertop.

1. Now, use the square edit handle to select the upper of the two segments that we have created, and drag it 5" to the left.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Next, create this same extension along the upper part of the left side of the Custom Countertop, so that it matches the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
3. To eliminate the center diamond Reshape edit handle in between the two custom countertop bump outs, select it, and drag it over to either the upper, or lower, diamond edit handle to merge them, leaving a single square edit handle between them.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Select that remaining square Move Line Segment edit handle, and drag this portion of the custom countertop out 10" from it's current location, leaving it 5" past our other two bumpouts.
   
    
   
   
   
5. With that edge still selected, click on the Change Line/Arc  edit tool to convert the selected segement from a line to an arc.
   
    
   
   Now that we have changed this line segment into an arc, we can see several new edit handles displayed, the small circular Resize Arc edit handle, and the small triangular Reshape Arc edit handle. 
   
   
   
6. Click and drag the triangular Reshape Arc edit handle to create a more rounded appearance for this side.
   
    
   
   
   

To fillet and chamfer the countertop corners

Now that we have created the basic shape for one of the sides of our Custom Countertop, we are ready to fine tune some of the edges of the corners that we have created.  To do this, we will use the Fillet   and Chamfer  edit tools.

You may find it helpful to use the Zoom  tool to drag a marquee around just this section of the Custom Counterop.

1. Double click on the Fillet Two Lines  tool to display the Fillet / Chamfer dialog, set both the Fillet Radius, and Chamfer Distance to 2" and click OK.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Select the bottom left vertical edge of the Custom Countertop, single click on the Fillet Two Lines  tool, then click on the horizontal line above it it to Fillet these two lines.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Next, we will follow almost this same procedure in the corner above this, except that will will select the vertical line, click on the Chamfer Two Lines  edit tool, and click on the horizontal line above it to Chamfer those two lines.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Mirror this procedure on the upper part of the left side of the Custom Countertop, so that the upper angle is curved, and the lower is straight, as in the image below.
   
    
   
   
   

Now we have completed editing the left side of our Custom Countertop.  Follow the steps listed above to create a matching side on the right.



 

To reshape the countertop

Once you have the right siding matching the left, all we have left to do for editing the shape of our cabinet is to adjust the top and bottom.

1. First, we will eliminate the extra diamond Reshape edit handles on the top, and bottom, of the Custom Countertop, as we did previously on the sides.
   
   Select the top middle right diamond, click and drag it over to the upper right corner diamond edit handle, then do the same on the left side, leaving a single square Move Line Segment edit handle.
   
   
   
   
   Note that the square edit handle on the selected size is larger than those on non-selected edges.
   
   
   
2. Now, select the Change Line/Arc  edit tool to curve the top portion of our Custom Countertop.
   
   
   
   Now we have completed both sides, and the top, of our Custom Countertop, and only the bottom needs to be edited.
   
   
   
3. On the bottom of the Custom Countertop, select the middle left diamond edit handle, and move it over to the midpoint of the end cabinet.  Follow this same procedure on the right side, so that we only move these diamond edit handles, not eliminate them, as in the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Select the middle section's square Move Line Segment edit handle, and drag it back 2".
   
   
   
   
   
5. As we learned earlier, use the Fillet Two Lines  edit tool to curve the edges we just created on both the left and right bottom sides.
   
   
   
   
   

To add a molding to the countertop edge

Finally, let's apply a molding to the edges of our Custom Countertop to round off those sharp edges.

1. Use the Select Objects  tool to select the custom countertop, if it is not still selected.
   
   
   
2. Click on the Open Object  edit tool to display the Custom Countertop Specification dialog.
   
   
   
3. On the General tab, place a checkmark in the Display Molding Edges option.
   
   
   
4. Next, select the Moldings tab, and click the Add New button to display the Select Library Object dialog.
   
   
   
5. In the Select Library Object dialog, browse to an appropriate molding that you would like applied to the edges of your countertop, select it, and click OK.
   
   For the purposes of this example, we browsed to Chief Architect Libraries> Architectural> Molding> Edge Molding> CA-35
   
   
   If you cannot locate a suitable molding profile already in the Library Browser to apply to your Custom Countertop edges, consider either modifying an existing one from the Library Browser, or create your own from scratch.
   
    Article Number 824: How to edit a molding profile
   
   
   
6. While still on the Moldings tab, set the Height and desired Width for the Molding.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Select the Materials tab to set the material for both the Custom Countertop, as well as the Molding.
   
   For the purposes of this example, we browsed to and selected a material from the CaesarStone® section of the Manufacturer Libraries.
   
   
   
   
8. After you have set the materials, click OK to apply the changes.
   
   You are ready to edit your cabinets materials, sizes, panels, add millwork, etc as necessary to suit the newly edited custom countertop.
   
   

Now that you have completed the steps in this article, you should have a good grasp of the basic tools available for editing custom countertops, to create the various shapes that may be necessary for your plans.