Tag

kitchen

Top Home Improvement Projects to Build Equity and Increase Value


A render of the silverton sample plan designed in Chief Architect Software.

Phillip Gibney Profile Image By Phillip Gibney

For many, a home is not just a place to live, it’s also a way to build wealth and financial security. A common strategy for millions of homeowners looking to increase their home’s value is to complete home improvement projects. When considering which projects to pursue, estimating the project’s return on investment (ROI) early in the planning process is essential.  The ROI for a given home improvement project helps predict how much your home value might increase based on how much money you spend on the project. This is important because it can help you prioritize which home improvement projects to undertake based on your goals.  For example, if you spend $30,000 on a home project and this project increases the long-term value of your home by $30,000, then the ROI is 100%; however, if it increases the value of your home by $15,000, the ROI will only be 50% and may have you reprioritizing your list of home improvement projects. In this article, we will discuss home improvement projects that consistently have the best ROI and learn how 3D home design software can help ensure your next project is a success.

(more…)

Winning Designs – February /March Kitchen, Bath, and Interior Design Contest


A kitchen rendering with neutral colors and gold accents.

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.

(more…)

2021 Chief Architect Design of the Year Contest Finalists


Exterior rear rendering view of a modern farmhouse.

Profile image of Danielle Schroeder By Danielle Schroeder

Every year Chief Architect has monthly design contests where customers can show off their work. People with various backgrounds and design styles can compete in the Kitchen, Bath, and Interiors, Remodel and Additions, and Residential categories.

(more…)

Designing with a Purpose


Bedroom Rendering

Profile image of Danielle Schroeder by Danielle Schroeder

Savanna’s purpose is not only to create beautiful designs but to also promote independence in the workplace while giving a portion of her proceeds to the Down Syndrome Association.

(more…)

Bringing European Design and Craftsmanship to America


For us, there is nothing quite like a beautiful kitchen adorned with big windows and a walk-in pantry.

Abe Neufeld’s Winning Design Showcases Kitchen and Bath Industry Trends


Portrait of Abe Neufeld, second place winner in the Chief Architect Kitchen, Bath, and Interior Design Contest.

Abe Neufeld of Abe Neufeld Design


Author, Kerry Hansen By Kerry Hansen

A sleek, on-trend kitchen wins 2nd place in the Chief Architect Kitchen, Bath & Interiors design contest.

Drawing and painting from a young age, Abe Neufeld, of Abe Neufeld Design from Bow Island, Alberta, Canada has always been fascinated by the creative arts. Like most creatives, he relies on his talent to draw or draft up an idea in the beginning phase of his projects. “Whenever I begin a project I draw or draft it up first.” This foundation is likely one of the reasons Abe has secured the runner up title in the March 2020, Chief Architect, Kitchen, Baths, and Interiors contest.

(more…)

The Value of Hiring a Certified Living in Place Professional (CLIPP) for your Next Design


Kitchen Elevation showing accessible grab bars.

Author's Portrait By Kendra Dorosh

Did you know that a person aged 60 needs three times the light as a 20-year-old?

That may seem like a drastic amount, but Certified Living in Place Professional (CLIPP) Adam Gibson explains the reasoning behind this statement: people over 60, “need more light, and everyone needs a high Color Rendering Index (CRI) to best reveal the colors of various objects. It’s no fun going outside in your black socks only to realize they’re blue. One solution? Light-colored walls washed in light provide more ambient light than the same quantity of recessed lights pointing toward the floor.”

(more…)

Two-Time Design of the Year Contest Winner, Nathan Ensminger!


Nathan's 2018 Remodel/Addition Design of the Year Contest Entry.

By Jake Murray

Congratulations to Nathan, who has won the Chief Architect Design of the Year Contest for two years running! What will he design next?

In 2018, Nathan placed 2nd in the Chief Architect Remodel/Addition Design Contest in September and won the 2018 Design of the Year Contest in December with his backyard getaway. Nathan wasted no time and entered into the Kitchen/Bath and Interior Design Contest in June of 2019 where he took 1st place with his Kitchen design. Nathan then went on to win the 2020 Design of the Year Contest in December. He’s certainly on a roll and we look forward to seeing what he’ll submit next year!

(more…)

Jim Shallman Wins 3rd Place with His Story and a Half Log Home


By Emily Black

Jim places third in the Chief Architect Residential Design Contest. His log home design maximizes space with a light and spacious feel.

“This is the home my wife and I built in Crosslake, Minnesota, which is the second home I have designed for our family. We have lived in Crosslake for most of late spring, summer, and fall. We also have a townhome in Maple Grove, Minnesota that we stay in for most of the winter.

(more…)