Creating 3D Floor Plans: A Must for Visual People!

Hi friends!  So glad it’s Friday.  After a marathon prove-my-point cabinet painting week (tutorial coming soon!), I’m ready for some much needed chill time with the fam this weekend.  Today I’m sharing a super fun project that I just worked on for a builder here in Jacksonville.  Not only was this project so fun, but it also was a great reminder that being able to see your plans come to life in 3D before you even break ground or start your project is invaluable!  Creating floor plans in 3D helps you get the feel of the flow of a space, and provides a checklist for choosing finishes like wall color, flooring, cabinetry, and countertops.  Plus it’s just cool and basically a necessity for us visual people!

 

This project was for a builder working on a custom home quote for some potential buyers.  The builder recruited me to provide some 3D renderings and camera views as an added value to his potential clients.  How cool is that?  Imagine you were building a custom home and your builder said, “oh p.s. look at what I had done for you…

you can walk through your house before it’s even built.”

I don’t know about you, but I’d sign on the dotted line right then and there, ’cause that’s a builder who’s going above and beyond!

To create these 3D camera and dollhouse views, I first drew out the builder’s preliminary floor plan in my Chief Architect software.  I started using this software back in the day, before SketchUp was even a thing, and I still love it.  There have been lots of updates and fun features added along the way.  The learning curve was a little lengthy, but I love what this tool can do, not only for the “pretty” side, but also the ability to export drawings to CAD for ease of use and communication with architects.  For someone who swoons over floor plans and gets a little obsessed with layouts and spatial relationships (THIS GIRL), it does not feel like “work” at all.

Next, I added the structural features like doors, windows, toilets, showers, sinks, and the fireplace.  Then I started with the fun and pretty stuff like flooring, cabinets, countertops and lighting.  I imported some tile selections to create my own custom finishes for the kitchen backsplash, bathroom floor tile, and the wood flooring throughout the house.  It makes a huge difference in the “dollhouse views” when you can actually see all of the flooring finishes next to each other.

Another part that I especially like is adding the lighting, because when you pop up each area in a 3D rendering you can see how light streams in from the windows, and how light fixture placement affects the light in the space.

Then it was on to furniture.  The best part about “concept” drawings is that you can do whatever you want when it comes to colors, style, and placement.  I’ve met these potential buyers, and I know a bit about their style, so I tried to reflect that in my selections.

I kinda wish that these buyers would end up and follow this design plan exactly, because I love the way that it turned out.  What do you think about creating 3D floor plans?

Wouldn’t it be cool to see your space complete before you even begin?

I’ve drawn out every house that we’ve purchased and renovated, and it has been such a luxury to have these visuals to keep us going to the finish line!  I live for floor plans and remodeling, so if you need help with a project of your own, check out the e-design options at http://www.jshdesigncompany.com/jsh-design-company/, or shoot me a note at hello{at}jonessweethomes{dot}com, I’d love to be a part of your project!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and as always, THANK YOU for coming along on our adventures!