Customer Reviews

Home Designer Suite 2014

Having been (and still am) a DIY enthusiast for decades, I began using Broderbund's Interior Design software way back in 1995, loved it, and a couple of years later I came across Punch design software. It did an admirable job, and I continued with their software up until my very recent download of Chief Architect Suite 2014. (As an aside, I also want to state here that I have used AutoCad/Mechanical Desktop for mechanical engineering design work for years too, but obviously that software could only be used at work!)

Back to this product: It took a bit of getting used to in creating 3-D views (which reminded me of the Broderbund product in that regard). However, my biggest problem was that I was unable to get 90% of the textures to SHOW in my 3-D rendered views. I browsed their forum, and noticed that many others were having the same "white furniture/objects" problem, and the blame went to "graphics card problem". I wrote to the company and they suggested a refund. I "sat on it" for a day or so, and went back on in to the program. I did NOT want to give it up as I "liked it too much".

The reason for my review's title of five stars and the refund comment is this: I SOLVED the "white furniture/object" problem quite accidentally. I was using the render option to view my finished room layout, and noticed in the drop down menu the last option to 'toggle textures'. Hmm, I wonder... and YES, *that* was my problem all along. I kick myself for not having seen it sooner, as I wasted hours of frustrated tinkering - wavering from "get a refund" to "I wish it would work". Sigh.

I wanted it to work because what I "could" see of the rendering in 3-D was superb - baseboards and crown moldings, EXCELLENT cabinet placement, whereby corner cabinet counter tops "automagically" fill in the missing space when two corner cabinets are properly aligned either side by side or angled - and the counter top is still editable for a different choice of granite, or say, marble (and the cabinets color/material can be changed too).

Another very nice feature (over Punch) is when you do a door cut-out - i.e. a "doorway" with no casing. The baseboard ACTUALLY WRAPS around the wall's thickness. In Punch, there's nothing there to cover the wall's thickness... just sharp cut-off baseboard edges at the back and the front of the wall... so KUDOS to Chief Architect for giving me properly wrapped baseboards!

Also, I love the accuracy of the wall's thicknesses - and choices - anywhere from standard 2x4 studs, to 2x6 - all the way to CBS or poured concrete walls! WOW!

I also like the choice of "style" when you first start a new plan. I have used "cottage" theme, and "traditional" already. In both cases, the doors and baseboards are styled to fit the theme. Cottage gave me bead board cabinets and such, painted in white. In Traditional, the doors were of dark wood. Why is this good? Back in my Punch days, the baseboards and doors and windows were always of a light wood, and if you wanted them to be painted white, you had to painstakingly select them and add the styling. That's not to say you can't or won't change the colors of window frames/doors etc in your chosen theme using this software, but it's very handy when baseboards/crown/window frames are already the color you want! I spend too much time using these programs as it is (ask my husband!!! he says it's a sickness with me) - so any time I can save NOT having to do tedious painting of baseboards throughout, is just FINE with me!

Their texture/color library is excellent too (plus you can download "brand name" furniture groupings and the like, for free. (Some you have to pay for IF you have a more expensive version of this software). I actually can put LEATHER on my couches now! And there's an abundance of different types of glass: block, stained, opaque, clear - for instance. I also love the smoothness of their rendered bathtubs! The Punch version was awful compared to this software (but then again, I'm running this on a brand new Win8 PC with upgraded memory etc. but with the standard video card).

The program seems to be smart enough to know that when you paint one wall a certain color, you don't have to fiddle around "breaking" a long (interior or exterior) wall, so that you can have different wall colors and/or tile/textures in rooms on either side of the perpendicular wall.

Another reason I chose this software was due to my having a newly purchased Win8 PC, as mentioned. Also - THE PRICE of this software is unbeatable.

There's much much much more about this program that I like, but right now this review is turning into a book. Sorry about that. If you've never used house design software before, I hope my review will help you in your purchasing decision. I won't say it's been the easiest to learn (as many other reviewers have stated) but then again, neither was Mechanical Desktop a walk in the park either, learning-wise!

As another reviewer stated, it's GREAT for furniture arranging - no more aching backs "seeing if something looks right" and then changing your mind... do it on the PC screen first, then call in your buddies for a furniture-moving party!

If you're as bad as me, (some 400+ plans created over the past 17 years) then I highly recommend using this product to get those designs out of your head and into 3-D form.

Cheers,
Susan Gast

After reading reviews of alternative home-design software packages, I quickly settled on Home Designer Suite 2014. I was not disappointed. In a word, the application is phenomenal. I used it to develop a design for a significant remodel to a home I was considering for purchase. If the cost of a suitable remodel was too high, I wouldn't be interested in buying the property. So, I wanted a fairly detailed plan to present to my contractor for his estimate.

Some reviewers have noted a steep learning curve for this application. Here's my experience: I received the software on a Wednesday; spent 3 days (about 4 hr/d) exploring it; and then 3 days using it for design. Thus, in less than a week, I had input the design of the complete, existing structure, and completed design for the remodel! And my structure involved complicated split levels and several interior stairwells.

I am impressed with the number of options (materials, colors, textures, styles, etc.) for customizing a design. Sure, there are a few limitations (e.g. occasionally there are some gaps in the siding of 3D views above decorative windows placed below gables), but considering its modest cost, I rate this software as having the highest value-to-cost ratio of any software I've ever purchased.

I have a background in construction, I do some graphics at work, and I am a software engineer by trade. I bought this to use on my gut-remodel of a home, and my expectations were pretty low. I knew there would be bugs and limitations, like not being able to freely rotate furniture. Hey its only $100.

Others have praised it, so I'll just lay out the Really Bad Limitations you need to be aware of.

1) Printing is crippled by limiting your output to 12x18. Yes I am not kidding psuedo-architectural software cannot print to normal architectural sizes. And worse its obviously an intentional crippling to force users up to the more expensive edition.

workaround:
1) download-install a Windows to PDF print driver - HA recommends CutePDF and thats what I am using.
2) print from HA to PDF file at 12x18 size, set to the scale you want and DO NOT scale-to-fit
3) open pdf in Acrobat, Illustrator, or what I use, free-open-source Inkscape. ( There are many other apps that will probably do this too, but I am going to do drawing on top of the pdf)
4) Use your tool to draw and re-scale to appropriate sizes they will accept at the building department. Draw on top of the pdf to augment your HA drawing.
5) Save as PDF and get it printed at Staples, Kinkos, etc.

conclusion of #1 - a big dope slap for the marketing people at HA

2) The roof builder is totally worthless. There is no way I can find to change the default layouts, and I have a very simple gable roof.

workaround:
Use your real drawing software to draw your own, its not that hard.

conclusion of #2: - about what I expected

Buy recommendation - its still looks like the best buy for the price, and I am using it for floor plans.

I am a professional kitchen designer for 15 years and have worked on pro design programs that cost thousands of dollars.( Three different ones). If you don't have a background in these types of programs it will take a LONG time to learn how it works...and to get it to do what you want it to. I am free lancing right now and needed a way to present my ideas. This program produces impressive pictures. GREAT bang for the buck.

I am considered a software guru by my friends, but I found this software challenging to learn. I am not patient enough to wade through the tedious youtube tutorials, and wish there were an easier way to learn it.

However, I rated this a '5' for stars, because the software is extremely robust, and once you spend the time to learn how to use it, it will render your ideas into realistic looking images that you can share with others before you begin work on a project.

I've owned several different home design programs over the years and this one has them all beat for features and ease of use. Much easier to learn then the actual CAD programs I've used in the past and it's material/cost functions are great. The couple of times I've used their customer service staff have left me very pleased. Overall this software is an excellent value!

I use a Mac and wanted to find good Mac software. I saw the free Autodesk app that runs in a web browser, but it did not do roofs and could not show a house from the outside - so it did not help me visualize the project or show it to others who have to give approval. I decided that if I was going to spend a tons of money on a renovation, it is better to buy $100 software than so something free but lacking.

The paid Mac programs - I saw some poor reviews and there were no free trials, so I decided not to buy any.

I got this PC program and it runs fine on my Mac in VMware Fusion. I am experienced with 3D design software, and it did not take me very long to see that this is a good program - not hard to learn but also very comprehensive. It is well worth the price.

I have drawn house diagrams for years the old fashioned way with pencils, rulers and squares... A few years ago I learned to use a very simple CAD program for insurance work. Recently, I have been tasked with a consulting job that requires I once again draw house diagrams and in detail. It is a one time job and I didn't want anything expensive or something that would take me weeks to learn. Upon the recommendation of a professional cabinet maker I gave the Home Designer Suite 2014 program a try. It is EXCELLENT. I quickly learned the basics, it is allowing me to draw great detail into my plan, and customize portions that are unique. You DO want to make sure you have a computer with the processing speed to review and check your work in 3-D. I didn't. When I purchased a better computer to provide the specifications recommended by Chief Architects in the first place, I had need to contact Chief Architect and ask their assistance in moving the application from the old to the new computer. Their customer service representative went way above and beyond "good" service to get me up and running rapidly on the new computer. Great product, great customer service. I am very happy with my choice and investment.

The $99 Home Designer Suite version doesn't have many of the tools to allow you to document or modify the plans for an existing home. This product is only useful if you want to experiment with new home designs or are a novice student of home architecture.

I am very dissappointed. I gave it 1 star, not because 'I hate it' but because it lacks too many important tools required to creat plans for an existing home. It doesn't seem capable of producing accurate framing blueprints at the detail level needed by builders or by some local code enforcement officials.

In order to creat accurate layouts for an existing structure, especially if it has non-standard features or framing, I discovered that you need some of the tools only available in the full PRO version which is 5 times as expensive ($495).

Don't make my mistake. Before you think of buying this product, read all the details and the fine print on the Cheif Architect website.

Too bad we can't get an amazon.com refund for software products.

I'm completely obsessed with this piece of software! I bought it to try to visualize our future house by inputting the floor plans and it's really great! I have no experience using the super sophisticated CAD programs that architects use, but I got the hang of this pretty quickly. I had the quick start guide open just in case I couldn't figure something out, and for the most part it made it pretty easy. I had a hard time with some of the more in depth features like Terrain and Elevation, but other than that it's fairly easy to just pick up and play with for simple designs!
Great amateur software!