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Thank you for your time.
1 posted on 08/29/2011 2:44:48 PM PDT by Yosemitest
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To: Yosemitest

Honestly, I just faced this very question with designing my new shop. The answer I came up with was to hire a local architect to do it for me.

It simply was not worth my time or the frustration involved to teach myself how to use any of the many different design software programs that are out there, and for $200 I found a local grad doing work on the side and hired him to give me a complete set of plans, 5 sheets, ready to go to Codes with and pull my permits.

It was a good way to directly stimulate the local economy too...the right way!


2 posted on 08/29/2011 2:51:35 PM PDT by Bean Counter (Obama got mostly Ds and Fs all through college and law school. Keep saying it.....)
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To: Yosemitest

...and you’ll never want to buy another or bigger piece of furniture.... [I expect almost any design package will do what you want..but sometimes you just have to actually RTFM.]


3 posted on 08/29/2011 2:51:50 PM PDT by gemoftheocean (...geez, this all seems so straight forward and logical to me...)
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To: Yosemitest

...and you’ll never want to buy another or bigger piece of furniture.... [I expect almost any design package will do what you want..but sometimes you just have to actually RTFM.]


4 posted on 08/29/2011 2:52:00 PM PDT by gemoftheocean (...geez, this all seems so straight forward and logical to me...)
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To: Yosemitest

IMHO - and I realise this doesn’t answer your questions directly — If you do not know how to use, or do not want to teach yourself to use, Autocad, then hire an architect. Rhino-3D is also extremely user friendly, thought not geared specifically for home design.


5 posted on 08/29/2011 2:53:08 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand
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To: Yosemitest

http://www.homestyler.com/designer


6 posted on 08/29/2011 3:05:59 PM PDT by glorgau
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To: Yosemitest
Google Sketchup is free and available online. It's the equal of software I've used that costs hundreds of dollars. As mentioned above, though, you will have to learn how to use it.

Well worth the time, in my opinion.

9 posted on 08/29/2011 3:09:34 PM PDT by BfloGuy (In old fashioned language, Keynes proposed cheating the workers.)
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To: Yosemitest

Home Designer Architectural can do that and more.


16 posted on 08/29/2011 3:21:52 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: Yosemitest

I just used Photoshop and a measuring tape. It wasn’t fancy but I was able to move things around and get ready for when the delivery people came.


17 posted on 08/29/2011 3:44:31 PM PDT by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: Yosemitest
eTeks Sweet Home 3D - free, open source, and it's great. I've used it to design a couple of cabins I built and it worked perfectly. Simple to use, easy 2D and 3D views that are linked, and quick to learn.
18 posted on 08/29/2011 4:46:00 PM PDT by FromTheSidelines ("everything that deceives, also enchants" - Plato)
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To: Yosemitest

Chief Architect X4 is awesome.
Check out chiefarchitect.com and watch their demos. It gives you an idea of what’s possible with the high-end software out there and could inform you as you search for a more affordable piece of software.
Plus, it’s just cool to watch what this program can do.


19 posted on 08/29/2011 6:11:36 PM PDT by ggrrrrr23456
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