HomeByMe, Free online software to design and decorate your home in 3D. Create your plan in 3D and find interior design and decorating ideas to furnish your home. Get inspired by other HomeByMe community projects, then create your own. Project created by ElenaSi.
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What You'll Need
Construction documents (drawn manually or with a computerized drafting program)
Access to qualified consultants
List of reputable contractors and subcontractors
What You'll Need
Construction documents (drawn manually or with a computerized drafting program)
Access to qualified consultants
List of reputable contractors and subcontractors
Designing your own home addition can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, but one that requires extensive planning, preparation and a little research. There are many important things to think about before getting started. This article will cover the basics and offer a few suggestions about how to get through the design process.
Step 1 - The Conceptual Phase
First, decide in what direction you want to build—upward or sideways. You can avoid the considerable expense of building a concrete foundation by expanding on your existing attic. It is often possible to convert attic space into a comfortable living space without any major structural alterations. Adequate headroom can be provided simply by installing one or more dormers.
There are a few important design issues that will need to be addressed in the conceptual phase of the design process. What type of roof will the addition have? Gabled, hip, shed or another kind? What type of exterior cladding and trim? Choose design style and building materials that will allow the new addition to seamlessly merge with the existing building.
Step 2 - Critical Issues to be Resolved
If you are installing a new foundation, inquire at the building department about set back restrictions, floor area ratio and lot coverage ratio (if applicable). Will the new foundation be a slab on grade or a full basement? Determine how the new foundation will join to the existing foundation and if any underpinning is required.
If you are building up, there may be height limitations in the local building code. Also, an increase in inhabitable space may require an expansion of the septic system.
Step 3 - Come Up with a Plan
Your primary focus should be on occupancy and usage. Consider traffic flow, accessibility and convenience within the new space. You can likely get new ideas and inspiration from reference guides and publications at the local library that contain sample floor plans and home designs.
Remember to provide sufficient glazed (window) surface area to ensure that the new space has ample natural daylighting. The design of a one-story addition should be undertaken with an eye toward future expansion.
Step 4 - Get Help If You Need It
You might want to do as much as you can on your own, but you’ll probably need help in one or more of the following areas:
- If you do not have the required computer skills or drafting ability, a draftsman can produce the necessary construction documents from rough sketches. You may find that a licensed architect can provide you with invaluable assistance throughout the entire process from conception to completion.
- In addition to supplying construction documents, an architect can resolve design issues, expedite the filing process, obtain the required permits and approvals, and ensure that the addition will be in compliance with state and local building codes.
- If any load bearing walls, beams or columns are to be removed, altered or affected in any way, you will need to consult with a professional engineer.
Finally, you will want to hire reputable and experienced contractors and subcontractors to build the addition.
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With Home Design 3D, designing and remodeling your house in 3D has never been so quick and intuitive!
Accessible to everyone, Home Design 3D is the reference interior design application for a professional result at your fingertips!
Build your multi-story house now!
Unlimited number of floors with GOLD PLUS version (depends on your device's capacity).
CREATE, DESIGN, FURNISH AND DECORATE EASILY YOUR HOME AND SHARE IT WITH A COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN 35 MILLION OF USERS WORLDWIDE!
Whether you want to decorate, design or create the house of your dreams, Home Design 3D is the perfect app for you:
1.DESIGN YOUR FLOORPLAN
- In 2D and 3D, draw your plot, rooms, dividers
- Change the height or the thickness of the walls, create corners
- Add doors and windows with fully-resizable pieces of joinery
2. FURNISH AND DECORATE
- Design and decorate both the interior and outdoor of your home
- Make your choice from over a thousand of pieces of furniture and accessories, customize your decoration and express your style, from the most classical to the trendiest!
- Edit any object, by changing its size, color, position and altitude on the walls
- Duplicate your favorite items thanks to the copy/paste function
- Use the undo/redo feature at anytime if you want to go back
- Use the eye dropper to find an existing color in the plan
- You can also import picture as texture and apply them everywhere
3. VISUALIZE AND VISIT YOUR CREATION
- Visit your creation in real-time 3D as if you were inside it thanks to our brand new photo-realistic 3D rendering
- Discover your home, your outdoor and even your neighborhood
- Admire the result day and night, the compass function will show you where exactly the light will fall at different times of the day
4. IMPORT/EXPORT AND SHARE
- Import any plan and display it on the background of the project
- Export and continue your projects on your other devices thanks to the cross-platform compatibility
- Share your projects via e-mail, Dropbox, OneDrive and many more file hosting services!
- Share your best creations with the Home Design 3D community on www.homedesign3d.net!
No internet connection required
Illustrated tutorial available
Calling all professionals! We can make it possible to see your products in Home Design 3D, or develop a unique version of the app for your needs. Contact us at [email protected]
_________________________________________
Follow us on Twitter @homedesign3d
Join us on facebook.com/homedesign3d
Get inspired on our Pinterest boards/homedesign3d/
Follow us on Instagram @homedesign3d_off
Accessible to everyone, Home Design 3D is the reference interior design application for a professional result at your fingertips!
Build your multi-story house now!
Unlimited number of floors with GOLD PLUS version (depends on your device's capacity).
CREATE, DESIGN, FURNISH AND DECORATE EASILY YOUR HOME AND SHARE IT WITH A COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN 35 MILLION OF USERS WORLDWIDE!
Whether you want to decorate, design or create the house of your dreams, Home Design 3D is the perfect app for you:
1.DESIGN YOUR FLOORPLAN
- In 2D and 3D, draw your plot, rooms, dividers
- Change the height or the thickness of the walls, create corners
- Add doors and windows with fully-resizable pieces of joinery
2. FURNISH AND DECORATE
- Design and decorate both the interior and outdoor of your home
- Make your choice from over a thousand of pieces of furniture and accessories, customize your decoration and express your style, from the most classical to the trendiest!
- Edit any object, by changing its size, color, position and altitude on the walls
- Duplicate your favorite items thanks to the copy/paste function
- Use the undo/redo feature at anytime if you want to go back
- Use the eye dropper to find an existing color in the plan
- You can also import picture as texture and apply them everywhere
3. VISUALIZE AND VISIT YOUR CREATION
- Visit your creation in real-time 3D as if you were inside it thanks to our brand new photo-realistic 3D rendering
- Discover your home, your outdoor and even your neighborhood
- Admire the result day and night, the compass function will show you where exactly the light will fall at different times of the day
4. IMPORT/EXPORT AND SHARE
- Import any plan and display it on the background of the project
- Export and continue your projects on your other devices thanks to the cross-platform compatibility
- Share your projects via e-mail, Dropbox, OneDrive and many more file hosting services!
- Share your best creations with the Home Design 3D community on www.homedesign3d.net!
No internet connection required
Illustrated tutorial available
Calling all professionals! We can make it possible to see your products in Home Design 3D, or develop a unique version of the app for your needs. Contact us at [email protected]
_________________________________________
Follow us on Twitter @homedesign3d
Join us on facebook.com/homedesign3d
Get inspired on our Pinterest boards/homedesign3d/
Follow us on Instagram @homedesign3d_off
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