Design software?

[RyGuy]

The wife and I are doing a remodel/addition to the home this spring/summer, and a renovated mancave is under consideration. Actually it's further along than that, but will come down to how pricey the rest of the project is.

I'd like to share my ideas with you guys and get some input, but need help finding something to show my design.

I've tried Google sketchup with, uhm, less than satisfactory results.

Any other free, web-based, floor-plan type or similar programs out there you'd recommend to me?

[Quads]

Post 6
http://perfectmancave.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7345&highlight=floor+plan

[Trann]

I used Illustrator for my first plans -- accurate scale and object layers keep separation of various ideas -- but even Photoshop will do.

But, honestly, I had found drawing with paper most versatile. After creating the base plan, I copied it so I could draw separate plans for electrical, lighting, HVAC, etc.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/PokerTrann/Reno/RenoPlan.jpg

If sharing is an issue, just take a picture of it. 8)

[Slev]

I used a designer software by Better Homes & Gardens (http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/)

This is a great program that allows you to layout walls, windows, fixtures, furniture, you name it. The great thing about this is that it gives you a doll house view where you can see your entire design including wall colors, stone/wood finishes, etc allowing you to make quick changes & complete your entire design before you purchase any material. It also has a glass-house view where you see the space from the inside and you can see through everything...a great help when laying things out. The Home Designer Suite 8.0 is what I used and it is still $99...even if I spent $300 it would have been worth it with all the time it saved me. You can play around with different layouts easily and quickly. It has a tutorial on how to use and is very user friendly.

[BTSyndrome]

I also have Better Homes & Gardens software. The same exact one Slev has.
Little projects it's probably not worth all the detail this can provided. But I got it to use on my last house where I gutted a bath and removed walls and closets to expand the master bath. The program calculated how many studs and sheetrock and the rest of the materials I would need. Put in your local price of everything and it will calculate totals individually and for the entire project. For a $3,400 project I was only off about $200 when done. There forum is helpfull too. http://hometalk.homedesignersoftware.com/index.php

[Blake]

I used a designer software by Better Homes & Gardens (http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/)

I "aquired" this last night, hopefully I'll get a chance to play with it tonight when I get home. it looks cool as hell, hopefully it will help me with my back deck/patio design.

[zathras]

I used excel for my basement project. Rather rudimentary but it worked fine.

Recently started planning a bathroom/laundry room remodel and I used visio. I thought it worked very well as it had a lot of architectural tools and fixtures in it.
Obviously neither of these are free, so they may not suit you- but a lot of people already have them.

[Blake]

I used a designer software by Better Homes & Gardens (http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/).

I've been passivly playing around with this for the last couple days and WOW...this thing is cool. I love all the extras you can download for it such as furniture, fabrics, flooring and paint swatches. Once things calm down and I have some free time I'm going to put my whole house in it so I can plan all my future projects.

The paint swatches will be really handy as my wife always has some weird ideas for painting. WIth this we'll be able to "paint" the room to see how it looks before we go paint it.

[Slev]

For my basement project, the doll house & glass house views were invaluable. Don't like the way something looks, you can move it umpteen times until you like it, THEN bust out the hammer/nails

[chuckerin]

I just ordered that Better Homes & Gardens software through Amazon for $59.
Thanks for the recommendations.

[Directional]

I actually quite like Sketchup. I threw down some preliminary designs for the house we plan on building in not that much time.

[Wedge Rock]

MSPaint?

[chuckerin]

I just ordered that Better Homes & Gardens software through Amazon for $59.
Thanks for the recommendations.

Been playing with this for a couple of weeks now and I love it.
It comes with a tutorial DVD that is gold!

[Trann]

New find: Icovia Space Planner (http://roomfulexpress.icovia.com/)

Flash driven web app. Looks pretty nice.