By Kendra Dorosh

Alexandra DuBois places 2nd in the Chief Architect Remodel/Addition Design Contest. Her experience with color, tile patterns, and materials is evident in her custom design.

“I am originally from Des Moines, Iowa and moved to San Diego to attend design school ten years ago. I have been around design and remodeling my whole life with my family, my dad always being one to complete all of his own remodeling projects and having my sister and I help all along the way. I graduated from the Art Institute of California – San Diego with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interior Design.  My first few jobs in the industry were a color specialist at a paint store, furniture sales, and tile design before I settled at Lars Remodeling and Design. (more…)

By Kendra Dorosh

Vianney Baltazar wins 1st place in the Chief Architect Kitchen/Bath & Interior Design Contest. She has a skill for bringing her clients’ visions to life, as seen in this bachelor’s kitchen remodel.

“Personal touches make our design process incredibly moving for clients and create excitement for the next steps in their home remodel” – Vianney Baltazar

“A career in home design has been an obvious choice for me from my childhood. My parents immigrated from Mexico to the United States, and I grew up in the small border town of Calexico, California. Growing up, my father worked full-time while my mother and I planned our dream home. We would watch design shows together, completely fascinated by all the details contributing to the showcased design. Eventually, my parents purchased our own home, where all my sketches, boards, and space planning was put into use! As time passed, I realized first-hand how much I enjoyed the design process and the effect an interior space can have on a homeowner.

“I then moved to the closest city near me and graduated from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) accredited Interior Design program at the Design Institute of San Diego. I have been working in the interior design industry for almost five years now, and as technology progressed, so did my yearning for knowledge of the best way to communicate a design. I’ve previously worked with other 3D building modeling programs, but by far, Chief Architect is the most user-friendly I have come across. Chief Architect has all the tools to help you succeed in creating the most personalized design. The program has challenged me to get as creative as possible when bringing a client’s vision to life. Chief Architect has been the perfect fit for what our company stands for. (more…)

By Emily Black

A team of five students earns first place in the Residential Construction Management Competition.

The NAHB student competition was held at the 2018 International Builders’ Show in Orland, FL. The opportunity to apply the lessons from the classroom to the real world of residential design drew 56 teams from across the country to participate. Each team had to follow strict guidelines from the design criteria through to the final working drawings and estimates. The residential design projects were presented in front of a panel of judges who were residential building industry professionals.

“Chief Architect gave us the competitive advantage that we were looking for and we were crowned National Champions,” says Alan Smith, the associate professor/program director for the State University of New York at Delhi‘s Residential Construction program. (more…)

By Kendra Dorosh

Jennifer Allen won 3rd place for her kitchen design at the 2017 NKBA Student Design Competition. Jennifer studied Computer Aided Drafting and Design at Front Range Community College and used the Chief Architect Student License to complete her design.

Jennifer was born and raised in the town of Boulder, the heart of Colorado’s Front Range. For much of the 2000’s, she lived in Arizona where she raised three amazing stepchildren and had a daughter of her own. After moving back to Colorado in 2012 she decided to go back to school while continuing to raise her children. She graduated in December 2017 with an Associates of Applied Science in Computer Aided Drafting & Design, a Certificate in Kitchen and Bath Design, a Certificate in Fundamentals of Interior Design, and a 3.8 GPA.  She also took several architecture classes and was able to participate in a design and build class constructing a tiny house which was auctioned off with proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association recently awarded her 3^rd place kitchen for the 2017 Student Design Competition awarded at the 2018 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Orlando, Florida. Her winning design is showcased below.

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Havier is a 15-year-old student from Sheboygan, Wisconsin and placed 1st in our Remodel-Addition Design Contest! It’s an honor to be a part of bringing his passion to life.

“My parents bought my first Chief Architect Home Designer Suite software for Christmas in 2013.  I started learning how to use the software and my first designs were pretty simple.  I’ve since designed countless homes and buildings.  The Chief Architect software began my passion for exterior and interior home design and I always look forward to software updates.  I am planning to go to college and obtain a degree in architecture and design.” (more…)

Corey won gold at Kansas SkillsUSA! His passion for architecture began at an early age and has developed through college and now into a full-time career.

“My dad is a land surveyor and I was always interested in architecture. In fact, when I was young my mother would take me to the library and instead of checking out normal young adult/children’s books I would get a few copies of Architectural Digest and look at all the house designs. My interest was always there, it just took me a bit after high school to get settled and figure out what I was going to do. (more…)

By Emily Black

Rachel won third place in the 2015/2016 NKBA Student Design Competition – Bath Design. She has been using Chief Architect in her design courses at Front Range Community College and plans to graduate after the 2017 fall semester with an Associate’s Degree in Interior Design and a certificate in Kitchen and Bath.

“I was adopted from Vietnam when I was 4 months old. I love art: painting, drawing, creating, etc and dreamed of just taking art classes in college. However, my wise mother directed me back to reality and said I needed to be able to get a job out of it. I am now studying Interior Design and utilizing Chief Architect at Front Range Community College. My favorite class is Kitchen and Bath taught by the inspiring Nowell Vincent. I look to graduate next fall semester and become a successful Interior Designer. (more…)