Binding: CD-ROM
Brand: Chief Architect
EAN: 0750839012100
Format: CD-ROM
Weight: 400 hundredths-pounds
Label: Chief Architect
Manufacturer: Chief Architect
Model: 045500
Packaged Height: 220 hundredths-inches
Packaged Length: 960 hundredths-inches
Packaged Weight: 105 hundredths-pounds
Packaged Width: 820 hundredths-inches
Platform: Windows Me
Platform: Windows 98
Platform: Windows NT
Platform: Windows XP
Platform: Windows 2000
Publisher: Chief Architect
Release Date: 2004-11-01
Studio: Chief Architect
Feature:
- Software for home remodeling, design, landscaping, and decking projects
- 500 sample home plans; House Wizard for a customized design
- Library of over 3,000 items to create a 3D Model in minutes
- Automatically generate a materials list for project-cost estimating
- Getting Started tutorial; 30+ videos for step-by-step instructions
Product Description:
Better Homes & Gardens Home Designer makes it easy to concieve and design the dream home you've always wanted. Powerful building tools like automatic roof generation, stairs, decks, framing, CAD, dimensioning, realistic 3D models, and Plan Check makes it easy for anyone. Now you can handle all your remodeling, building and decorating and needs from one simple program. Materials List for project cost estimating Plan Check tool validates the design against standard building principles
Customer Reviews:
8 of 8 customers found the following review helpful:
 You get what you pay for!, 2006-06-14
The good news is if you are wanting to design basic ranch type homes or simple two stories with no interior balconies, then this program is for you. It's pretty easy to use if you are patient enough to listen to the tutorials. It gave me a good idea of what my ranch home is going to look like inside.
But it definitely has it's drawbacks. The color palette and furniture is very limited, so don't think you are going to be doing a lot of decorating. The "3-D" views are impossible to control and often give a distorted view of the home. Recording a 3-D walkthrough was a joke. It won't even go through doorways or turn corners without distorting the look of the home. Furthermore, there is not a lot of advice from the help section on this subject. You can't do vaulted ceilings or two story homes with the upstairs looking down over a balcony to the floor below.
The landscaping component of the program is severely limited. There are less than 500 plants to choose from, mostly from the East and mid-West. You cannot customize plant beds, but have to choose from their oval or kidney shaped templates. The fences have no gates and there is no way to create curved walkways.
The exterior of the home looks nothing like what I was trying to achieve. It won't do wainscoating brick or stone and it was hard to create covered porches or decks. The roof is auto generated and does not allow room for modifications.
But the program is only 40 bucks, so you can't really complain too much. If it was a really powerful program, I suspect it would cost a lot more. Bottom line: it's great for simple projects, a good value for the money and it's pretty easy to use. Just don't expect too much out of it.
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