ᐅ Software or Tool for Home and Property Planning?

Created on: 2 Jul 2019 10:44
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AnSe2019
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AnSe2019
2 Jul 2019 10:44
Hello dear forum,

As the title suggests, I am looking for free or low-cost software or an online tool that allows me to experiment with the visual design of the house and/or the garden or the paving of the terrace. For example, to see how gray brickwork with plaster might look in gray, red, white, or other colors. Simply to have a clear picture in mind among the many decisions without having to call the architect for every idea.

The floor plan is basically finalized; I am interested purely in the visual representation and making it look a bit more realistic. Our architect’s drawings only allow choosing “plaster” or “brickwork,” but not the color combinations. I have seen some house design images that looked like photographs, which impressed me. Unfortunately, our architect does not have this. I understand that I cannot capture the exact brick type we will get, but maybe something more than just a black-and-white print. Kitchen design studios often have nice programs that give you a very clear idea of the result.

As mentioned, I don’t need professional software, but something a bit more advanced than The Sims or ruler and colored pencils.

Best regards
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Grobmutant
3 Jul 2019 09:58
Hello,

so far, I have only experimented with Sweet Home 3D, as it is free. I can’t say yet if it meets your requirements, since I haven’t used it extensively. Otherwise, I came across the paid software "Cadvilla." It looked quite promising, but I haven’t tested it myself yet.
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AnSe2019
9 Jul 2019 18:59
Hello Grobmutant ;-D
Thank you for your reply. I will give that a try.
Regards
G
Grantlhaua
10 Jul 2019 14:16
Just google "homebyme." I found it to be the best, and it’s a browser-based application.
debaser10 Jul 2019 15:07
SketchUp could also be an option.
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Grobmutant
11 Jul 2019 09:24
Home.by.me looks interesting. I will take a closer look at it.

I already use SketchUp, for example, to simulate the movement of shadows. It works quite well for that. However, I don’t find SketchUp very suitable for interior views and realistic exterior renderings, or perhaps I lack the necessary knowledge for that.