Kitchen Design Software: 3D Kitchen Design, Cabinets And Free Downloads

In the advent of McMansions and cookie-cutter, ticky-tacky neighborhoods, neighbors tour each other's homes to find the exact same layout and design as their own. Mass-produced design of cabinetry, appliances, and floor layout leave the homeowners wanting more. Homeowners may be yearning to either increase the functionality of the design in their kitchen, to update the quality of appliances or cabinetry, or add their own design flourishes. Those looking to renovate can take personal control by seeking kitchen design software online.

There are myriad websites that offer kitchen design software for around $100. Most also offer free software trials that the homeowner can explore. More expensive kitchen design software will offer a broader range of design options, but sometimes the trial version is all the homeowner needs to gain a clear picture of the desired layout. By using this 3d design software, homeowners can become the architect and easily experiment with different styles to get a good idea visually of their dream kitchen before they commit to a costly renovation.

Many websites offer free trial versions of their kitchen design software, such as Smartdraw.com. SmartDraw claims to be extremely user friendly and offers free tech support. This kitchen design software automatically aligns the plan, so the designer can be completely amateur and still produce a professional looking layout by simply clicking and dragging. SmartDraw also offers a multitude of kitchen design examples from which to draw inspiration. This software requires Windows XP, 2000, or Vista.

Another form of kitchen design software Windows users can try is the Ikea Download Planner Tool, which lets the homeowner plan their kitchen by dragging and dropping appliances and kitchen units into their design. Homeowners can save the plan to the Ikea server and then access it at any Ikea store and reference it for their purchases. Macintosh users have fewer programs available, but free software for classic Macintosh can be found at Artifice.com.

Expensive but highly recommended kitchen design software is Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Pro 7.0. This program is considered to be the ultimate for options, and offers many details for kitchen cabinet design. It includes over 8,000 design tools and 9,000 name brand items to take kitchen design to the next level.

Kitchen design software is 3d design software that works like a simplified AutoCADD program. Some offer tutorials, which give helpful instructions to get the most out of the software. Depending on the quality of the kitchen design software, there can be a few or several hundred templates for the homeowner to modify and tailor to his or her own desires. There are different views to toggle between; a blank canvas like screen in which to create the actual "blueprint" and 3d elevations. There is a large menu at the top of the screen with a variety of tools to help create the design. Users can click and drag a cabinet, wall, window, or dishwasher and the program aligns it into the design. There is also an option for adding measurements and text. The tutorial provides helpful information about rotating and deleting objects. Some kitchen design software will also give a virtual tour of the design.

When a homeowner decides to dream up a new kitchen using kitchen design software, there are many design facets to consider. The work triangle is a valuable guide to maximize function and form: the stove, the sink, and the refrigerator should form a triangle and the lines between each of these three points added together should total to 23 to 26 feet. Kitchen design software will be able to measure these distances and the user can simply click and drag to make changes.

A large part of a dream kitchen is the kitchen cabinet design. The designer must consider carefully the materials, finish, hardware, and door style. The kitchen design software will likely be using standard cabinet measurements used for modular cabinetry, unless custom and expensive cabinets are being built. Homeowners will want to be sure the kitchen design software they select allows for custom measurements if this is the case. Kitchen cabinet design can include space for a lazy susan, garages for appliances, or built in wine racks and tracks for hanging glassware.

3d design software is a wonderful way for homeowners to personalize and visualize their dream kitchen. Homeowners should always have a professional review their plan before beginning work; of course, many of the websites that offer kitchen design software also promote a contractor to check a design and carry it out.


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Kitchen Cabinets Designing. Kitchen Cabinet Depot. 30 July 2007. http://www.kitchencabinetdepot.com/kitchen-design. html

Download Planner Tool. Ikea.com 1999-2007. Inter IKEA Systems B.V. 1 Aug. 2007.
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Kitchen Design Software. Smartdraw.com. 1 Aug. 2007.
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Design Workshop Lite. Artifice.com. 1997-2005. 1 Aug. 2007.
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Chief Architect. “Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Pro 7.0.” Amazon.com.1996-2007. 1 Aug. 2007. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BI7V0I/ b4ubuildcom/