Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Pro 8 0

Designing like a professional has never been so easy! Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Pro 8.0 is professional home design software for the serious home enthusiast. Enjoy the same tools that the professionals use for home design, remodeling, interior design, decks, landscaping and cost estimation. Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Pro has all the same great features as Architectural Home Designer, Interior Designer, Landscaping and Deck Designer plus advanced CAD tools, advanced building tools, the ability to create blueprints, manual framing and roofing and much more.
Integrated Design Tools Home Designer Pro makes it easy to design and visualize your ideas on your next home or remodeling project with over 8,000 powerful integrated tools. In addition, the Design Planning Center provides advice, decorating guidelines, tips and techniques from the editors of the Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Create accurately scaled floor plans that automatically generate 3D models in minutes. Create any detailed view of your design using advanced 3D camera tools like Glass House, Doll House, Framing, Elevation and Cross-Sections Quick Startup Options Guide will help you begin with How-To tutorials based on your type of project Use the House Wizard for quick and easy layout of your rooms Select from the pre-designed Home Design and Landscaping Style Templates complete with colors, cabinets, decks and more Exclusive Design Planning Center for up-to-date How-To and Design Tips from the experts to help in your design process Includes Step-by-Step Tutorial DVD Packed with over 70 easy step-by-step tutorial training videos Generate shadows from the sun for realistic 3D views Point-and-click to remove wall surfaces, or use 3D Cross-Section Elevation Slider to quickly create a 3D slice of your desired view Create any custom roof or ceiling plan with the Roof Design Tools

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great Product
Product is great - much better and more powerful tool than 7.0 or Designer Suite.

5 Stars Finally
The Home Designer Pro software is a cut-down version of the full Chief Architect product (allowing a building to be drawn that is less than 4 stories tall). It is a good product for professionals in the residential construction field — WAY better than the others available. If you have version 7.0, Chief Architect’s website would be a good visit — they update to version 8.0 for products purchased between certain dates.

5 Stars Feature filled and easy to use
I recently got the BHG Designer Pro 8 version and started by watching the video tutorials and skimming through the extremely thorough manual. This was adequate to get me started on using the software even though I had no previous design or CAD experience. In very little time I had reproduced my architect’s plan and was looking at it in 3D. This helped us identify changes to our architect’s plans (and getting my wife’s agreement) and no doubt we saved a lot of money than making these changes after the work starts. I have not yet developed my roof building skills to where I can match my architect’s drawings but I am working on this.

I also experimented with importing my architect’s plans into Pro and using the CAD to Walls features and amazingly in a matter of seconds my architect’s plan was in my system. As it turned out, I reverted to the manually drawn plan since I was having some problems (probably me rather than the software) with the doors and windows in the CAD to walls drawing and doing it from scratch was easy enough anyway.

This is a fantastically powerful, feature laden program and the many things I have tried actually work !!! I have not used any competitors’ design products so I cannot compare across these. However, if you have basic computer skills, this program is easy to use even for complex items of a plan. Important thing is to do the homework of watching the tutorials / skimming the manuals before using this immensely powerful system. Also they have a very active user forum and lots of great info there too.

5 Stars Pro 8 is a very good deal
I have been an avid user/teacher of Chief Architect Inc software since 1995 (I mainly use Chief Architect X1 in my /drafting and design business) but the line of consumer software like Home Designer Pro 8 is a great way to introduce yourself to professional level output. Yes it is a cut-down version in terms of choices and productivity tools that are available in its “Big Brother” (Chief X1) but at 1/5 th the price it makes up for the extra steps its economy warrants. The only thing that is more difficult to do in Pro than Chief X1 is curved roof planes, other than that it can easily do what programs costing many thousands more can do.

David J. Potter

5 Stars Forgett Autocad !!!!!
I’ve been using Autocad for +20 years, and taught Autocad for 4 years. I JUST PUT IT TO SLEEP after using Home Designer Pro 8.0 !!!!!! If you are into designing Custom Homes, the software pays for itself on the preliminary design phases. Designing in 3D is a wonderful experience!!! However I did purchase it considering it as a full trial before purchasing (+2000 dlls) the full blown version Chief Architect for detailing the design. Once I buy it I will still use HD 8.0 for designing interiors, remodeling or landscape jobs.

IT IS THE BEST SOFTWARE I HAVE EXPERIENCED.

After so many years, Autocad is too big and complicated rocket science tool, expensive, 2D process, time consuming, if you are designing Custom Homes. With HD 8.0 I feel liberated and enjoy designing, with Autocad, you never finish feeding the beast!!!

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Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer 8 0

Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer 8.0 can help you with the basics to design, remodel or add landscaping to your home. With the Design Planning Center’s expert design tips and a library of over 4,000 items you can create your perfect design. There are 500 sample plans all of which allow you to create a virtual walk-through of your home. The program enables you to easily visualize your project in 3D.

The basics for designing, remodeling or adding landscaping to your home.

Home Designer makes it easy to see and visualize your design ideas on your next remodeling project.

Create and take a Virtual Tour of your design.

Fun & Easy Home Design Software

Home Design Software

• Floor and space planning–use to size and visualize rooms for remodeling or redecorating
• Quickly place and arrange walls, windows, doors, furniture, create decks and landscaping
• Easy to use automated building tools for roofs, stairs, framing, cabinets and more
• Generate various styles of Automatic roofs for your home
• Automatically generate a complete spreadsheet for your project costs, broken down by category. Calculate the amount of lumber for your deck or concrete required for your new patio.
• Use House Wizard to choose your rooms and then drag them to your design layout configuration to generate a floor plan
• Choose from over 500 sample floor plans to help generate ideas

Remodeling Software

• Move a wall, change a color, add a room, redesign a kitchen and estimate the costs–all before you build. Home Designer makes it easy to see and visualize your design ideas on your next remodeling project.
• Material Painter–point-and-click colors for walls, floors, countertops and more
• Use the Color Chooser to create the perfect color for your walls, floors and more
• Insert doors, windows and skylights with One-Click
• Design Planning Center–expert design tips from the editors of Better Homes and Gardens? magazines
• Create the Virtual Look and Feel Before You Remodel!
• Automatically generate a cost estimation and material list for your project
• Assign costs for materials: descriptions, quantities, unit costs and more
• Materials automatically update as you design

Interior Design Software

• Material Eyedropper–choose your own or manufacturer colors and textures
• Material Painter? lets you apply colors and materials quickly and easily
• Choose from thousands of colors and textures or create your own materials using a digital photograph
• Generate new floors automatically based on your current floor plan design
• Drag and drop thousands of items from the Library Browser. Choose great looking furnishings including tables, chairs, sofas and more. Easily change the size, color or material.
• Use the Better Homes and Gardens Design Planning Center to help guide your designs with guidelines, tips and expert advice
• Create and take a Virtual Tour of your design
• Cabinet Designer Tools–choose from over 1,000 cabinets–customize using unlimited styles and colors

Over 500 realistic landscaping plants in the library to choose from.

Use House Wizard to choose your rooms and then drag them to your design layout configuration to generate a floor plan.

Deck and Landscaping Software

• Create custom landscaping plans in 2D and 3D
• Over 500 realistic landscaping plants in the library to choose from
• Use the Deck Designer tools to quickly design the layout of your deck
• Design single or multi-level decks including free-standing, tiered and post-and-beam
• Create driveways, sidewalks and pathways
• Use the automatic tools for adding stairs, deck railings and roofs
• Define decking materials, place and arrange outdoor furniture to correctly size your deck or patio

Get Started Quickly and Easily

• The Quick Startup Options Guide will help you begin with “How-To” tutorials based on the type of your project
• Better Homes and Gardens Design Style Templates
• Exclusive Design Planning Center for up-to-date How-To and Design Tips from the experts to help in your design process
• Includes Step-by-Step Tutorial DVD Packed with over 25 easy “step-by-step” tutorial training videos that will quickly get you started on your next outdoor design project

Design Tools

• Advanced 3D camera tools: Glass House, Doll House and Final View for truly photo-realistic 3D images
• Choose from several home style of templates–Colonial, Arts & Crafts, Traditional and more to start your next home project
• Design in 2D and 3D. 3D Views are automatic–just point-and-click with the camera tool–you can even use Glass House view to see through surfaces.
• Create a Virtual Tour–by recording your camera movements
• Visualize designs with day and night views
• Generate shadows from the sun for realistic 3D views

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great!!
This program was delivered directly to our daughter for her birthday. She was absolutely delighted to upgrade her home designs while retaining her previous ones. She was especially thrilled with some of the features she didn’t expect it to have. It arrived on her birthday, even though we ordered it on short notice. Thanks for making her birthday special!

4 Stars Easy To Use
I purchased this product as a replacement for my old, OLD 3D Home Architect. Having used software of this type before, it was very easy to use right out of the box.

It comes with a tutorial which may be helpful to someone who is not familiar with how to use different features, but I was more impressed with the online Home Talk user forums. If there is a question as to how to accomplish something, chances are it has been discussed there.

Overall, I find that Home Designer software is a much more stable program than my old 3D Home Architect; (it hasn’t ‘crashed’ yet) and gives me plenty of options to play with.

Although this version is nowhere close to the Pro version, it its ease of use and attractive pricing make this a good choice for anyone who wants to “play” with changes to a structure or landscape.

4 Stars its ok for a house design program
it not as nice as autocadd but the price is right

easy to use so far.

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Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 8 0

For a fun and advanced, yet easy-to-use set of tools for Home Design, Better Homes And Gardens Home Designer Suite 8 is the perfect solution. Use it for remodeling, interior design, kitchens, baths, decks, landscaping and cost estimation. Powerful, Fun and Easy Home Design Software

Custom cabinets, sinks, showers and garden tubs in 3D Inspirational photos by room or type Thousands of colors and textures or create your own materials with a digital picture Deck and patio tools Design single or multi-level decks with automatic deck framing Deck foundations automatically generate to match sloped lots Plant Encyclopedia - Over 1,500 plants Pathway tool - design curb-appealing landscaping using stone, pavers or sidewalks Design in 2D & 3D Glass House View - a translucent view of your design Doll House View - a 3D overview without the roof Create a Virtual Tour Day and night views Assemble a scale model of your design Generate shadows from the sun for realistic 3D Automatic Build Terrain and Terrain Perimeter tools - create flat, irregular shaped or sloped lots - use a GPS to import or enter elevation data Create plot and perimeter plans; automatically generate a 3D model of your actual terrain Easy-to-use terrain and landscaping tools - Add a pool or pond and visualize in 3D Fencing tools - a variety of fencing styles, custom gates, driveways, sidewalks and curbing tools Hill and Valley tools - add gardens, beds and slopes that automatically appear in 3D Cost EstimatingMinimum System Requirements Windows XP/Vista 1.2 GHz processor 2 GB of available disk space 512 MB of Memory on XP 1 GB of Memory on Vista DVD drive

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Joe S.
I purchased this product to design an addition on my house, and to help my wife understand what I wanted to do. The product is well worth its money compaired to other products I tried. Most of it is fairly easy to use, I am very happy with it.

2 Stars Frustrating experience, precision problems
I tried out this tool in hopes of mocking up my current home to plan for a potential addition. I had paper blueprints and lot diagram with exact angles and dimensions in front of me. This tool may work well for sketching and quick designs where precision is not important. For me it failed even to create a 25′ x 46′ exterior wall. After drawing a simple rectangle I double clicked on lines to change the dimensions. After entering 25′ for one wall it would still be displayed as 24′11″! I also could not recreate my lot even though I had the exact dimensions in front of me. Now you are probably thinking that I must have zero technical ability. In fact, I have a degree in engineering and have extensive use of complex software packages including AutoCAD. If you have a technical mind like me, this program will not behave as you expect and leads to frustration. I’m currently shopping for an alternative.

4 Stars A Powerfull software
This is a very elaborate,detailed and powerfull software. I was very impressed by its capabilities. You can prepare a house plan and decorate it down to minor details such as the pillow case type and color. You can also download paint color, appliances etc, from the manufactureres web site and use it in your design. Most of the function are fairly easy to learn and I think they did a great job with the DVD tutorial. However with so many detailes involved in designing and decorating a house, you should not expect to master this software, in one afternoon, or one day. It would be more reasonable to expect about two or three weeks of practice to be comfortable with the software. Some Autocad drafting experience would certainly be helpfull but not neccessary. I would suggest printing the sample house design tutorial that is provided with the software and start working on the house project. It will walk you through most of the futures of the software. I gave it four stars because once you draw the house, adjusting the wall lenghts to thier final sizes can be frustrating.

4 Stars This is an old favorite.
I think this program beats any home design program out there. It is based on the old Home Architect program, and I have always thought it was the simplest, best program. Roof design is tricky, granted, but I think it is in any program. I give it a four because it is not perfect, but I highly recommend it.

5 Stars Best Software I Think I’ve Ever Used
I think this is the first 5 star review I’ve ever given. I am so impressed with this product, I believe it may be the best piece of software I’ve ever used.

I started with another program by IMSI that got me through a rough sketch of what I wanted for our new home. Bug after bug and limit after limit got me to give up after a few weeks. This program was highly recommended on Amazon, so I purchased it with moderate hope. Nearly everything was intuitive and easy to do. Most importantly, I have yet to find a bug anywhere. It simply does what I want it to do quickly.

Between the two programs (both similar in layout) it took me about a week to get pretty comfortable to do just about anything I wanted. I do learn applications quickly, but it is by no means a complicated thing to learn. That and the numerous videos make this a pretty nifty package for quick education.

The company also has a website (inside the help section is a link) that has answers to everything you could imagine - either through the online help, or via the forums.

Great product, and not too expensive.

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