By Phillip Gibney

Creating an accurate as-built floor plan can be a time consuming step in a remodeling project. The Chief Architect As-Built mobile app available for LiDAR equipped iPhones and iPads helps make this process fast, efficient, and accurate. Using room-scanning technology, the app detects structural elements (walls, windows, and doors) and generates the as-built floor plan and 3D model of the spaces, which can be seamlessly imported into our desktop app Chief Architect Premier.

Chief Architect Design Contests are a fun way to share your designs, build credibility and expose your brand.  Share one of your Remodel or Addition Designs for a chance to win Chief Gear. Use any Chief Architect or Home Designer software product to create your original design.

by Kerry Hansen

Interior Designers understand the client’s needs, lifestyle, and design style. They are architects for interiors, designing all aspects of additions and renovations in addition to creating a cohesive look through the fabric, furniture, and color selections. Is there something about your space that makes life difficult? Designers can bring functionality to an otherwise clumsy or problematic area of the home.

Deciding to update your interior is an exciting time! It can also be overwhelming. Finding the right interior designer is the key to enjoying the process and its outcome. Here are five tips for finding a designer perfect for you, your home, and your style.

By Adrean Stephenson

Chief Academy has come and gone, and we are left with the notes from the information we shared. I was tasked with the opportunity to provide some thoughts on the rendering functions of Chief Architect and how to go about the process. I’ve condensed my PowerPoint slides and reformulated them for reference in this post. I hope you find some helpful pieces in your rendering journey!

This will be a high-level topic that explores a lot of moving parts. Follow the embedded links throughout to learn more about different topics.

by Kerry Hansen

Join us in congratulating the April-May Remodel & Addition Design Contest winners!

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.

By Danielle Taylor

Congratulations to the Chief Architect Design of the Year Winners!

by Kerry Hansen

Dan and his family wanted to remodel their kitchen. They turned to Chief Architect to visualize the design and help with material selection.

When the time came for a kitchen upgrade, Dan Absalonson, a 3D artist on the Chief Architect content team, used Chief Architect’s flexible cabinetry features and the wide range of objects and materials available in the 3D Library. Together with his wife Kadi, they set their sights on a kitchen remodel. The tile and grout countertop on the island is what brought them to remodel. “My wife was not a fan.” With a budget set, the couple brainstormed all of the updates they could make to enhance the look and usability of their kitchen. “We got excited about replacing the laminate countertops and adding some new full height cabinets at the end of the kitchen as a pantry.” The previous owners had a large desk there, and as it was, the kitchen ended abruptly. The space felt empty and awkward. Dan and Kadi decided to paint the cabinets, replace the countertops, expand the island, add full-height cabinets, install new fixtures, and incorporate a few other touches.

By Danielle Taylor

There were many great designs in the August Remodel/Additions Design Contest. Help us in congratulating the winners!

By Danielle Taylor

Congratulations to our Chief Architect Design of the Year winners!