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Chief & News

Harnessing the Power of Chief Architect Software to Create a Pet-Friendly Home Design


Built in pet space with bed and additional storage for treats and other essentials.

Profile image of Danielle Schroeder By Danielle Schroeder

As pets become integral members of our families, designing homes that accommodate their needs and well-being has gained significant importance. Home design software offers a powerful toolset for envisioning, planning, and executing pet-friendly design solutions. By leveraging the capabilities of these software tools, homeowners and designers can create aesthetically pleasing, functional, and safe living spaces that cater to the needs of both humans and their beloved pets.

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Creating a Functional Home Using Chief Architect Software for Efficient Space Planning


Dollhouse floor plan view using Chief Architect

Profile image of Danielle Schroeder By Danielle Schroeder

We spend a significant portion of our lives in our homes. Our living spaces should be designed to be comfortable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. Residential space planning can help you achieve an organized and well-planned living space.

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8 Tips to Improve Your Productivity in Chief Architect


An elevation of the Silverton plan designed in Chief Architect.

by Phillip Gibney

Do you periodically take the time to evaluate your use of Chief Architect and improve your productivity and skills in the program? Doing so can streamline your workflow, reduce the time it takes to complete a project, and provide you with higher-quality renders and construction documents. This may entail breaking bad habits and forming good new habits, updating various aspects of the program, or simply learning about unfamiliar tools.

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What AI is Saying about Chief Architect


The front exterior elevation of a modern home with a shed roofs

Author, Kerry Hansen by Kerry Hansen & Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere right now and being in the tech industry, we wanted to see what it had to say about Chief Architect Software so we asked ChatGPT, “Why should I buy Chief Architect Software?” and these results which came up in a matter of minutes.

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Design Options in Chief Architect


A house designed in Chief Architect Premer with design options.

Phillip Gibney Profile Image by Phillip Gibney

Design options are choices provided to the client that offers variations in design concepts. Design options can range from design styles, floor plan layouts, and elevations, to material finishes, interior selections, and more. Using the tools in Chief Architect Premier, you can help clients visualize design options to ensure they are satisfied with a home design and provide upsell opportunities.

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How to Plan for a Finished Basement


A finished basement designed in Chief Architect.

Phillip Gibney Profile Image by Phillip Gibney

You may have outgrown your current space in the house and have an unfinished basement that is not utilized. Finishing a basement is an efficient way to increase your living space. Finished Basements can be fitted with plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems and provide a blank canvas for utilizing the space.  From home theater and rec. rooms to bedrooms and kitchenettes, the options are virtually endless for providing comfortable living quarters for an evolving household. Whatever your needs require, you can finish your basement to fit your lifestyle.

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Must See Design Trends for 2023


Outdoor seating with pool and fireplace

Trending Technology in the Home


Kitchen space with neutral tones and triangle tile back splash

Profile image of Danielle Schroeder By Danielle Schroeder

Throughout the years, homes have become spaces with intelligent technology. Complete with thermostats that can be adjusted on a phone to virtual assistants making the grocery list, these innovations can be helpful with gadgets for nearly every room of a house.

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Best Practices for Entering to Win a Home Design Contest


Grandview watercolor rendering with line drawing

Author's Portrait by Kendra Dorosh

Each month we receive a great selection of renderings created by our users for the Chief Architect Design Contests. We’d like to share some ideas and suggestions for how you can craft a great design contest entry that Facebook voters respond positively to. These techniques can be applied when entering a Chief Architect Design Contest, or any other home design contest you might be considering. Let’s get started!

One of the best, and most obvious, aspects of a great design contest entry is a nice rendering. However, it’s also important to supplement the rendering with a well-written description along with your contact information; this is a perfect chance to show off your skills and share your story! We then recommend sharing the post on your own social media channels for the best exposure, we’ll get to this part in a bit.

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Comparing Chief Architect Premier and Chief Architect Interiors


Phillip Gibney Profile Image By Phillip Gibney

Update January 10th, 2023: Chief Architect Interiors has been discontinued. All of the features in Chief Architect Interiors are available in Chief Architect Premier. The main differences between the two programs were that the Interiors version didn’t include features for framing, decks, outdoor living, terrain, and landscaping. If you have a legacy license of Chief Architect Interiors and are interested in upgrading to Chief Architect Premier, this blog article covers the features gained in Chief Architect Premier.

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