I have been searching for software that I can use to design kitchens and
baths for a few different properties that I own. I have posted this
question here and elsewhere in the past under a different user name. The
problem that I have been having is that the software that I did end up
buying before is just plain too hard to use (in my opinion).

I found something online called Plan3D, and I bought it a few days ago. So
far, I like it and I am learning to use it. I am finding it much easier to
use than everything else that I have seen.

When I went to the Plan3D website to read about it, it seemed like the only
option was to go ahead and buy it, and I ended up doing that. Their website
says that it costs $15.95 to buy it and use it for one month, or $35.40 for
unlimited use of the software for one year. I took a chance and did the
one-year option.

After I signed up, I realized that there is a way to try out the software
for free. The free version allows you to do everything that the paid
version does, but you can't save your work. So, in case anyone wants to try
it out and play with the software for free, here is a link to do that:

http://www.plan3d.com/plan3d.msi

You download and install the software, and then instead of logging in
as a registered user, you just log in as a guest. Just remember that you
cannot save any of your work.

One drawback that I do not like about the Plan3D software (as a paid
user) is that there does not appear to be any user group or forum where
users of the software can post questions and help each other in figuring out
and using the software. That's unfortunate, and I hope that at some point
to company that created the software will set something like that up. I
think that would be a huge improvement.

Since there is no Plan3D user group that I could find, I decided to
set up a Plan3D Yahoo Group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Plan3D

So, if anyone out there happens to be using the Plan3D software and
wants to join the Plan3D Yahoo Group, please feel free to do so.

NOTE: I don't work for the company and I don't get anything out of
this whether people buy or use the software or not. I'm just passing on
this information.

Also, if anyone knows of other kitchen and bath design software that
they would recommend or suggest, please post that here.

On Jan 5, 2:50*pm, "RonABC" wrote:
* * * Also, if anyone knows of other kitchen and bath design software that
they would recommend or suggest, please post that here.

20 20 is pretty much the kitchen industry standard.
http://www.2020technologies.com/home.aspx

I used something, don't remember what, and don't care to, when I was
planning major work on this hovel. I recreated the house as it exists
first, took me about a month, then discovered I couldn't add anything
above the third floor.

The major planned portion was to finish the spacious attic and add a
dormer and deck off the roof.

If you're going above 3 floors, check the capabilities of the app
first.
-----

- gpsman

gpsman wrote:

20 20 is pretty much the kitchen industry standard.
http://www.2020technologies.com/home.aspx


Interesting. Looks like it could be very easy to use, but expensive.

Everything is in millimeters instead of inches (I am in the U.S.). Is there
a way to switch that option to inches?

Also, I guess it only does one room at a time, and I don't see a way to draw
more walls than just the ones on the sample room shapes. I don't see where
there is an option to add or delete walls.

For example, I have a house with a living room, dining room, and kitchen
lined up in a row. In the far right corner of the kitchen, there is a
former cupboard that I will be making into a powder room. I am thinking
about taking out the wall between the dining room and the kitchen so the
kitchen will open up into the dining room area. And, I want to be able to
view what that will look like from the living room and dining room area.
There must be a way to do that with the 20 20 software, but I don't see how
yet.

On Jan 5, 3:47*pm, "RonABC" wrote:
gpsman wrote:

20 20 is pretty much the kitchen industry standard.
http://www.2020technologies.com/home.aspx

Interesting. *Looks like it could be very easy to use, but expensive.

The company I worked for not as a designer paid, IIRC, $1500/yr/per
license (5-6) for support, but the app itself was free.

But it seems like I remember it was $2500 for the first single
license. I played with it for about 5 minutes once, I was busy
elsewhere.

Everything is in millimeters instead of inches (I am in the U.S.). *Is there
a way to switch that option to inches?

Oh, I'd bet there is.
-----

- gpsman

RonABC wrote:

I have been searching for software that I can use to design kitchens and
baths for a few different properties that I own. I have posted this
question here and elsewhere in the past under a different user name. The
problem that I have been having is that the software that I did end up
buying before is just plain too hard to use (in my opinion).

I found something online called Plan3D, and I bought it a few days ago.
So
far, I like it and I am learning to use it. I am finding it much easier
to use than everything else that I have seen.

When I went to the Plan3D website to read about it, it seemed like the
only
option was to go ahead and buy it, and I ended up doing that. Their
website says that it costs $15.95 to buy it and use it for one month, or
$35.40 for
unlimited use of the software for one year. I took a chance and did the
one-year option.

After I signed up, I realized that there is a way to try out the software
for free. The free version allows you to do everything that the paid
version does, but you can't save your work. So, in case anyone wants to
try it out and play with the software for free, here is a link to do that:

http://www.plan3d.com/plan3d.msi

You download and install the software, and then instead of logging
in
as a registered user, you just log in as a guest. Just remember that you
cannot save any of your work.

One drawback that I do not like about the Plan3D software (as a paid
user) is that there does not appear to be any user group or forum where
users of the software can post questions and help each other in figuring
out
and using the software. That's unfortunate, and I hope that at some point
to company that created the software will set something like that up. I
think that would be a huge improvement.

Since there is no Plan3D user group that I could find, I decided to
set up a Plan3D Yahoo Group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Plan3D

So, if anyone out there happens to be using the Plan3D software and
wants to join the Plan3D Yahoo Group, please feel free to do so.

NOTE: I don't work for the company and I don't get anything out of
this whether people buy or use the software or not. I'm just passing on
this information.

Also, if anyone knows of other kitchen and bath design software that
they would recommend or suggest, please post that here.

Google Sketchup sketchup.google.com/

--
"You can lead them to LINUX
but you can't make them THINK"
Running Mandriva release 2008.0 free-i586 using KDE on i586
Website Address http://rentmyhusband.co.nr/

It does seem to be very easy to use, and I would bet that it has all of the
features that I would want or need.

The funny thing is that I thought it was expensive when it said the cost was
$394, but I just went back and realized that the cost is $394 PER MONTH,
with a total of 13 monthly payments. Oops.

gpsman wrote:
On Jan 5, 3:47 pm, "RonABC" wrote:
gpsman wrote:

20 20 is pretty much the kitchen industry standard.
http://www.2020technologies.com/home.aspx

Interesting. Looks like it could be very easy to use, but expensive.

The company I worked for not as a designer paid, IIRC, $1500/yr/per
license (5-6) for support, but the app itself was free.

But it seems like I remember it was $2500 for the first single
license. I played with it for about 5 minutes once, I was busy
elsewhere.

Everything is in millimeters instead of inches (I am in the U.S.).
Is there a way to switch that option to inches?

Oh, I'd bet there is.
-----

- gpsman

evodawg wrote:
Also, if anyone knows of other kitchen and bath design
software that they would recommend or suggest, please post that here.

Google Sketchup sketchup.google.com/

Thanks. I downloaded it, but I can't figure out where or how to begin in
terms of designing a kitchen layout.

"RonABC" wrote in message ...
evodawg wrote:
Also, if anyone knows of other kitchen and bath design
software that they would recommend or suggest, please post that here.

Google Sketchup sketchup.google.com/

Thanks. I downloaded it, but I can't figure out where or how to begin in
terms of designing a kitchen layout.

The free version of Sketchup is severely crippled. A simpler (and better)
alternative is SweetHome 3D:

http://www.sweethome3d.eu/

http://sourceforge.net/projects/sweethome3d/

Be sure to also download and install the premade 3D models for this software.

lid wrote:

"RonABC" wrote in message
...
evodawg wrote:
Also, if anyone knows of other kitchen and bath design
software that they would recommend or suggest, please post that here.

Google Sketchup sketchup.google.com/

Thanks. I downloaded it, but I can't figure out where or how to begin in
terms of designing a kitchen layout.

The free version of Sketchup is severely crippled. A simpler (and better)
alternative is SweetHome 3D:

http://www.sweethome3d.eu/

http://sourceforge.net/projects/sweethome3d/

Be sure to also download and install the premade 3D models for this
software.
Sweethome is another good one, I forgot about that one and its the one I use
the most. I can't use sketchup because it doesn't support linux. But heard
good things about it.
--
"You can lead them to LINUX
but you can't make them THINK"
Running Mandriva release 2008.0 free-i586 using KDE on i586
Website Address http://rentmyhusband.co.nr/

On Tue, 6 Jan 2009 12:38:19 -0500, "RonABC" wrote:

evodawg wrote:
Also, if anyone knows of other kitchen and bath design
software that they would recommend or suggest, please post that here.

Google Sketchup sketchup.google.com/

Thanks. I downloaded it, but I can't figure out where or how to begin in
terms of designing a kitchen layout.

This is how and why architects and their associates earn their keep.

If you are good at Photoshop, you could work around some of this. But
if it's not your forte, why not contact a local community college and
see if you can find a professor there teaching a class in this kind of
concept who'd take on your project, gratis?