Category

3D Library

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.

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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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Designing with Color in Chief Architect


A collage of photos of a house with various color options.

Phillip Gibney Profile Image By Phillip Gibney

The color and material selections of a space is about more than how it looks. It reflects the charisma of the occupant and how we feel in the room. Whether the occupant is serious and formal or loose and relaxed, crafting a design to the client’s desires while maintaining functionality is an art. In a world with an endless and ever-changing selection of colors, materials, fixtures, furnishings, and more, perfecting a design requires high attention to detail. Design trends are constantly evolving. The fundamental concepts of color theory and how material and color selections affect our emotions have stood the test of time. This serves as a guide for crafting the perfect space. 

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Catalog Partner Program Brings Brands to your Fingertips


a grid of brand logos indicating those that are downloadable from Chief Architect's 3D Library

Author's portraitBy Adrean Stephenson

At some point, your ideas and designs will become a reality. When things get real, you’ll be collecting part numbers and prices, then putting in orders, and finally seeing all of your visions come to fruition.

Life can be a lot easier when the goods you plan to purchase are plucked directly from your favorite brands’ digital catalogs and then placed into your Chief Architect and Home Designer projects.

One goal of our Content Development team is to make this process easy and accessible. We work with many brand partners to curate digital catalogs that are specifically compatible with the Chief Architect family of software. Our hosting tool for these brand catalogs, and an array of other downloadable content for enhancing your work, is the 3D Library.

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Mercury Mosaics Handmade Tiles – Now Available in the 3D Library!


Kitchen design featuring handmade tile from Mercury Mosaics.

Author, Kerry Hansen By Kerry Hansen

The addition of these handcrafted gems within the Chief Architect Platform bring design-dreams to life.

Mercury Mosaics’ Tile selections are now available in the Chief Architect 3D Library. Their addition to the Chief Architect platform benefits clients by showcasing how the tile will look in their space. The collection will be released in three phases, the first represent tiles available in Mercury Mosaics Fall 2020 Look Book! This collection embraces the simplicity of shape and pattern in order to focus on the soul of their work: exquisite, hand-painted color. Each piece is unique, created by hand-applying glaze that reveals stunning variation and depth.

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Keeping up with the Latest Home Design Trends


Luxurious shower with three shower heads and no-barrier entry.

Author's Portrait By Kendra Dorosh

Each year, I’m intrigued by all of the blogs, social media posts and emails that flood my feed featuring the hottest trends for home design. We’ve seen it all, from floral everywhere to gray everything. Are these trends something that most designers track and incorporate into their latest work? Are we driving ourselves crazy trying to stay on top of the latest trends, or is it a necessary component of keeping a competitive edge in the market?

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Using Advanced Custom Materials to Improve Your Renderings


How to create and use custom materials to improve your renderings.

By Dustin Cruz

“But what will it look like?”

In the Home Design Game, this may be the paramount question, and one of the best ways to capture your clients’ hearts and loyalty. Show them what it will look like and they will become committed to the vision.

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Wine Storage Solutions with WineRacks.com


Actual image of a wine cellar filled with wine

By Emily Black

 

Chief Architect has been working with WineRacks.com since 2012 to offer their wine storage product line. Their USA made wine storage solutions provide a unique design for any small or large project.

WineRacks.com is located in New York’s Hudson Valley and has been serving their customers since 1992.  Over the years, their product selections have expanded to include a wide range of small capacity wine racks, wine accessories, cooling units and lighting for wine cellars.

With the goal of providing the very best customer service and product quality, WineRacks.com is manufacturing their own wooden wine storage units within the US with environmentally responsible raw materials.

I had the chance to speak with Jeremy of WineRacks.com to dive deeper into what makes a great wine cellar.

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Caesarstone Custom Furniture Design with Chief Architect


Caeserstone coffee Table with multiple stone materials.

Author's portrait By Adrean Stephenson

 

Custom furniture pieces like this coffee table are easy to create with Chief Architect’s modeling tools.

Additionally, 3D models from other sites can be imported into the program to create an endless selection of furnishings, accessories, and fixtures for your design projects. (more…)