Kitchen Design Software: Free & Paid Versions

Remodeling a kitchen is no easy task, but kitchen design software is making design more accessible to homeowners. Although there isn’t kitchen-specific design software that is free or affordable for a one-time use, you do have some apps that feature a good kitchen design component. Otherwise, your only other option is professional-quality design software, which can cost $1,000 or more. Let’s take a look some of the programs available to homeowners:

Paid Software

1. Encore 3D Home Architect Design Suite

This software costs between $35 and $70. It’s easy to use, which is one of its pros, but it’s not effective enough to hand off to your contractor to use. It’s also not limited to your kitchen, so you can use it for other rooms in your home.

2. Custom Cabinet Software

Cabinets account for about 75 percent of your new kitchen costs, but high-end custom kitchen cabinetry design software can run upwards of $400 per year. If you make cabinets, this software does the job, but for many homeowners, it’s too specialized.

3. Punch! Software Home Design Studio Pro

This almost-professional design software is one of the best on the market, but it does cost $250 or more to use. It does have a learning curve, but most people master it within a weekend of using. With this software, you can almost hand over your design to your contractor and be ready to move forward.

Free Software

1. SketchUp

This design tool is food for all rooms in your home and is truly free. Many home remodelers use this tool. (It does have a Pro version that costs around $700.) You’ll find a lot of support for use, but only peer support.

2. IKEA Home Planner

Home Planner used to be a tool only for kitchen design, but it has expanded its scope. Make sure to set up an account before creating a plan, because it’s been known to delete plans that were set up without an account. This software is great for cabinet placement.

3. Prodboard

Prodboard is Ukraine-based, but it does have a lot of nice functions. There is a dedicated closet planner, which is uncommon in most 3d home design software tools. You have to use Prodboard on the company site, and you cannot purchase products. However, it is completely free to use.

As with most products, you get what you pay for. Even with kitchen design software, it’s still a good idea to work with a kitchen designer in North Jersey to make sure you’re staying within good design parameters that may not be addressed by the software tools for home users. We recommend you work with a kitchen designer for quality custom kitchen cabinetry design that is familiar with the kitchen design software you have been playing around with. Perhaps together you can craft a kitchen you will love.

Kitchen Flooring – When to Use Wood vs. Ceramic Tile

Some homeowners want to renovate a kitchen immediately after moving into a new home. Others want to remodel after getting tired of the same old kitchen for years. Either way, there are numerous options, and you should seriously consider what your kitchen designer recommends. Often just changing the flooring if it is old and worn is enough to revitalize your kitchen. So this post discussed the benefits of either hard wood floors or ceramic tile floors in the kitchen.

Wood

Hardwood flooring has been used in kitchens for as long as they have been building homes for its durability and availability. It maintains its high-quality appearance for years as long as you maintain it with some deep cleaning every few months and a urethane coating for protection. It also maintains an almost timeless quality provided you select the right materials initially. When you renovate a kitchen, you may want to think about resale value and what other buyers are going to like. Hardwood is a solid option that stands up to the test of time. However, it does cost a little more than option flooring options with some reports averaging it costs between $5 and $8 per square foot plus the installation costs.

Ceramic

Ceramic is highly resistant against water due to the protective glaze the tiles receive following installation. Similar to hardwood, it is extremely durable, and tends to lasts over 20 years after installation or longer depending upon the quality of the tile and how well it is installed. One huge advantage is that there are many options in regards to color, style, motif that you can select from where hardwood is limited to the shades of wood stain you can select from. You can decide how big you want the tiles to be and what shape they come in. One consideration is that they do tend to get a little cold around winter if you choose not to have radiant heat under the tiles.

When Is Each One Best?

While you should follow the advice of your kitchen designer in North Jersey, you ultimately want to pick flooring for that can repel stains when a glass of red wine falls and can hold up to heavy traffic. It may help to look at photos of kitchen flooring to help you make up your mind. Sometimes photos can suggest what you should not do.

If you want to remodel your kitchen to make your house easier to sell, then hardwood is a good choice because it does raise the resale value in most cases. However, if you plan on living in your house for a while and want something that captures your spirit and personality, then ceramic tiles may be the way to go. Listen to what your kitchen designer recommends, and then follow your own intuition so that you get the most out of your next renovation.

White Kitchen Cabinets Are Still Trendy

For homeowner’s looking to increase resale value, remodeling a kitchen makes sense. Still, swapping out old appliances, bad cabinets, and worn flooring requires a huge commitment. Unless you are planning to put your house on the market for sale immediately, you must live with the design choices you make. How are you to choose which cabinets to use? For virtually any space, white kitchen cabinets designed to fit your décor are still trendy. Here are a few reasons you can’t go wrong when you install white kitchen cabinetry.

Increase Visual Space

In many homes, kitchens seem dark and uninviting. When you look at most designer kitchen designs, by contrast, each room appears larger and brighter than they actually are. There is a reason designer kitchens look so great. In those rooms, white cabinets increase the perception of the visual space of the area. Since your eye doesn’t get caught up looking at dark wood or shadows, it focuses on other design elements in the room.

Promote Cleanliness

Whether you are a neat freak or not, you want your kitchen to look and feel clean. Since white is the color of cleanliness, white kitchen cabinets designed to fit help give your food preparation space a sanitary feel. Despite scrubbing, darker stained wood cabinets can often seem dull. Don’t let your guests think your kitchen is unclean. Instead, choose white cabinets to set a tidy tone for your home’s nerve center.

Complement Other Elements

If you’ve found the perfect slab of granite or the right refrigerator for your new kitchen, you may be concerned about cabinets clashing. That’s for good reason. If you choose too many bold elements for your new room, you risk getting a kitchen that looks busy and cluttered. When you opt for white cabinets, you can complement other design elements much better. Rather than having cabinets that contrast greatly with flooring, countertops, appliances, and other things, choose white and remove some of the clutter from your remodeled kitchen.

Invest in the Future

With a fresh coat of paint, white kitchen cabinets don’t show their age like other types of cabinets. Whether you plan to sell your house soon or own it forever, you can be certain your designer kitchen designs that include white cabinets will retain their designer, high-end look. Even better, if you decide to change design elements in the future, you will find that your white cabinets will be much more flexible with your new décor.

If you are considering remodeling your kitchen, you don’t have to be afraid of design commitments. By working with the right kitchen designer in Hamilton, NJ, invite the designer to suggest a few options of white kitchen cabinet designs. Two great minds work better than one.

Custom Panels for Modern Kitchen Upgrades

There is a huge cover-up going on in chic, stylish kitchens across the land. The cover-up was thought to be a trend fueled by modern manufacturers, but hiding kitchen appliances with custom appliance panels may be one of the biggest design successes in the last decade. Dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, and even televisions have become sight-unseen workhorses as they meld into the surrounding cabinetry. Because of this design change, kitchens are beginning to look sleeker and more streamlined.

How Did Hiding Appliances Begin?

With an eye for hiding what can be the biggest unsightly appliance in the kitchen, designers found that by applying custom appliance panels to the fridge, not only did it hide the fridge’s mass, it made the wall of panels more eye-catching and appealing. As cabinetry expanded over the whole area, kitchen appliances that blend into their surroundings became more the norm in upscale kitchens. Integration is more sophisticated with its clean lines than the outdated older appliances that drew attention away from the rest of the kitchen with their dull white appearance.

Why Hide Kitchen Appliances?

Consumers may choose to update and renovate to an ultra modern, contemporary, country, or old-world kitchen and fill it with shaker, inset, distressed, or beadboard style cabinet doors. Hiding the appliances with custom appliance panels often provides an elegant, yet artsy vibe so loved by kitchen designers in Hamilton NJ. The beautiful lines of the stylish panels expand the kitchen because the cloaked appliances don’t chop the room into pieces as the eye wanders over it. Besides making the kitchen appear much larger, the panels also allow the countertops and floors to become participants of the kitchen’s show.

What Else Can Appliance Panels Do?

For homeowners renovating guest houses, summer cottages, or luxury apartments, thinking outside the box with cloaking panels may allow chic design without requiring a sacrifice of style. Small appliances such as refrigerators or wine coolers can be hidden under cabinets, double as an island, or even cloak themselves into waist-high room dividers. They can also be concealed as end tables and mystery boxes in bedroom suites, finished basements, man caves, and exercise rooms.

Are Appliance Panels Another Trend?

Choosing to upgrade and modernize kitchens with kitchen appliances that blend is a trend that has been around since 2005, it is a design feature that allows for sleek, classic lines to extend from the rest of the house into the kitchen. For consumers looking to leverage custom appliance panels, look for designer kitchen design ideas to help create a showplace kitchen.

Installing Kitchen Countertops Requires an Accurate Template

When it comes to getting new granite countertops for kitchens, homeowners need to get the sizes and edges just right. Many homeowners try to do this on their own, but the only way to ensure perfection is to hire a professional to do it. Have a professional create your countertop template so that you are happy with your new kitchen design for years to come.

Select the Material

The first thing a professional will assist you with is picking out the materials. There are hundreds of possibilities out there, and it is tough to narrow down the choices on your own. However, you can tell a professional what you need out of a countertop, and he or she will recommend the best substance for your needs and often show you samples and swatches.

Map Out Previous Countertop

Often a kitchen designer will work with a professional installer to map out your current kitchen countertops. This will serve as the base guideline for what the new countertops’ dimensions need to be. If there are changes to the equipment, cabinetry and appliances, the kitchen designer for new kitchens will develop the template after the big decisions are made. In the event your old countertop does not have the dimensions you want, then adjustments will be required.

Shape and Cut

Once the template is drawn out and you are happy with the results, the professional will cut the slab of material to the desired dimensions. This is done with a laser-guided saw that comes with a diamond-tipped blade. This ensures the material is cut smoothly and to very exacting specifications.

Remove Sink and Appliances

Prior to the installation, the professional will remove the kitchen sink and all appliances. You will want to leave this deconstruction work to professionals because you can do serious damage if you do not know what you are doing. The professional will use the proper equipment to get the structures out of place, minimizing any damage to your appliances.

Detach Old Countertop and Backsplash

Professional contractors understand how countertops are assembled to cabinetry and walls. Experts in the industry will also know how to properly discard the countertop material, ceramics from a backsplash and adhesives. Some materials can be recycled while caustic adhesives may present a danger to landfills where your normal trash is deposited.

Install New Countertop

Make sure that your professional is bonded and insured before you hire him to install your new kitchen countertop. This way, if there are errors made in the cutting and installation process, you are not on the hook for replacement costs. The goal at this installation stage is to ensure it is installed correctly so that it does not have to be altered in any way for several decades to come.

Talk to a kitchen designer in NJ when you are in need of new granite countertops for kitchens. The new countertops often improve the appearance dramatically while raising resale value. Take your time with countertop design, and review all your options before committing to anything.

Automating Millwork for Semi-Custom Kitchen Cabinets

When you think of robotics, probably something along the lines of the Jetsons or Stark Industries comes to mind. It may seem futuristic or only relevant to businesses in the technology sector. But did you know you can also find robotics in the cabinet-making industry? Cabinet companies use robots to improve the manufacturing process, meaning a more consistent, higher-quality product for you.

Millwork Automation

Cabinetry manufacturing requires CNC machining, which involves a computer controlling mechanical tools used in the manufacturing process. One such tool is as a milling machine that carves out designs in solid materials, specifically wood in this case. Robots come into play by quickly loading and unloading CNC machines for faster production times because robots don’t need to take breaks. Other advantages of automating a factory that makes cabinets:

• Lower costs in all areas of manufacturing
• Better utilization of materials
• Improved safety for workers, resulting in reduced workers compensation costs
• Consistency in final product appearance and durability
• More floor space available for other operations
• Increased competitiveness with offshore companies

Contrary to what you may believe, implementing robotics doesn’t necessarily mean less jobs for humans. In fact, it opens more jobs in programming, engineering, equipment maintenance, and management, all of which are more relevant to today’s tech-geared society. The greater productivity also leads to more business, increasing the need for employees.

What This Means for Customers

You may think all of this is fascinating but not important to you as a customer. However, the benefits of automating the milling process trickles down to you, too. When you order new kitchen cabinets, your cost should be lower, and you should receive a precision crafted product in a shorter amount of time. You may also have a better selection of designs to choose from since the design process can also be automated.

What about for custom cabinetry? Does robotics matter when you order a customizedset of kitchen cabinets? The answer is yes. Even though your cabinets may be unique, they require the same fundamental programming, materials and workmanship. Robots are involved in the basic manufacturing and still give you the benefits of a better price than having a carpenter make your cabinets by hand. Computer Aided Design (CAD) has been used for years in the cabinet making industry but plant automation is still a novel concept for smaller and mid-sized production facilities. A kitchen designer is your best resource for a new kitchen cabinet design since most work with cabinet makers in New Jersey that are automated. Robotic technology is applicable to almost every industry, including cabinetry and home improvement products. As you look for a kitchen designer in Monmouth County, ask each company if it uses automated millwork so you can ensure you get the best price and product.

Kitchen Designs That Seniors Appreciate Most

While everyone has their own unique style when it comes to interior decorating, special considerations have to be made when it comes to designing an interior spaces for senior citizens that may struggle with tasks once considered easy. Not only should the home be visually appealing, it should be functional and made according to the unique needs of an aging body. Kitchens, in particular, often have to undergo the most alterations to adequately provide senior citizens with a comfortable and safe space. Learn the basics of a solid age in place kitchen design.

Counterspace

Individuals in wheelchairs need lower counters to feel comfortable while in the kitchen. Additionally, cabinets, appliances and everything else on the counters needs to be positioned so that someone in a wheelchair can easily reach everything without overexerting themselves. There are also special cabinet handles that can be installed to help those who have trouble with arthritis.

Sinks

Just like counters, sinks might need to be lowered for senior citizens. Those in wheelchairs are sure to appreciate sinks with a roll-under design that makes it easier for them to be used while a person is in a wheelchair. Besides roll-under sinks, installing a motorized sink is another good idea. Such sinks allow a person to adjust the height of the sink to one that suits them best.

Appliances

Appliances included in an age in place kitchen design should have a universal design. They should also be easy to use and understand and include convenient features. For instance, refrigerators with side-by-side doors are commonly easier for senior citizens to use. It’s also best to go with a model with the ice and water dispensers on the outside of the door. Also, it’s a good idea to aim for energy efficient kitchen designs to save money, which is great for everyone involved.

Floors

Floor material in kitchens frequently used by seniors should be slip- and skid-resistant. While it’s often easier to simply add a rug or two to the kitchen floors, senior citizens can easily trip over them, which can lead to the very accidents you want to prevent. It’s best to simply opt for slip-resistant flooring.

Lighting

It’s especially important to have proper lighting in a kitchen design for seniors. High light output LED bulbs are the way to go to keep elderly individuals from squinting and straining their eyes. Accent lights could be added over the sink and under cabinet kitchen lighting is helpful to keep seniors from having to turn on all the lights when it’s not necessary to do so.

A well-thought out age in place kitchen design makes life easier for senior citizens, and it’s great for their sense of independence. Let us know if you need help implementing these ideas.

Faucets & Fixtures That Liven Up a New Kitchen

Whether you are building a new home or remodeling your current one, you have the opportunity to incorporate popular trends to suit your lifestyle and your aesthetic pleasure. More fixtures used throughout the home these days are geared towards new technology that offer better function, while at the same time giving you choices for the look you want. Take kitchen faucets, for example; you have more options than ever to add beauty while taking away a bit of the work. These kitchen hardware ideas may spark your creativity when you select fixtures for your new kitchen.

Fabulous Features

It’s time to make your kitchen faucet earn its keep! Today’s fixtures can do more than let water flow. These faucet ideas may appeal to you:

• Pot fillers: tall faucets extended 8 inches higher than most faucets or an additional wall mount can make filling a large stock pot easier.
• Pull-out faucets: these can be used in place like a regular faucet or pulled away from the main hardware to be used as a sprayer for rinsing..
• Aeration faucets: you can reduce your water usage with faucets that add air flow to a reduced water flow to keep water pressure the same. This idea is great from our eco-friendly kitchen designer.
• Motion sensors-faucets with a hands-free motion detector will only activate when it detects hands or objects under the faucet. This wastes less water for hand washing sinks.

Fancy Finishes

Remember when kitchen faucets were only chrome? Today you have a slew of other finishes to consider as well. Brushed nickel and bronze continue to be popular, but some of the newer finishes offer more than just looks. Stainless steel and matte black mask both water spots and fingerprints. You can also look for different textures, such as smooth, shiny, or oil-rubbed for a more unique touch in your new kitchen.

Fresh Fittings

What if you want a more custom look for your home? A new kitchen hardware idea incorporates a pop of color in the faucet trim. Look for a white, red, or black inset against a metal finish for a bold statement. Very popular for 10+ years is the single handle design over separate hot and cold handles for more simplicity and easier use. A kitchen designer with creativity can show you all the latest styles at various price points to make your kitchen more appealing to you and your guests.

How do you know if any of these features in kitchen faucets for new kitchens are right for you? Consumer reports and sites like Best Reviews takes the guess work out of fixtures by testing products and sharing the results with consumers to keep you informed before you buy.

Kitchen Lighting Gets Risqué for Gen X’ers

Deep within all of us is the deep love for that traditional Rockwellian home setting that offers warmth and comfort due to its perpetual association with family. Yet there is a reason why such nostalgia is buried deep. While such a setting is often longed for during holidays and special occasions, it isn’t one that typically jives with the lifestyles and personalities of today’s Gen X’ers.

Take your kitchen, for example. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking only of the space’s function, and then designing around it accordingly. However, if you truly stop to analyze things for a second, you’ll come to the realization that the kitchen is the epicenter of your home. Almost all activity originates from there. Thus, given the amount of time that you as well as your family and friends will spend in there, should you not then plan on putting a little bit of yourself into the space with your lighting?

Successfully Combining Style and Function

Is this possible without sacrificing function? Believe it or not, style and function are not mutually exclusive. In fact, when it comes to kitchen lighting, one can enhance the other. If you’re like most plugged-in people, then you’ve likely designed your kitchen in a contemporary style. You owe it to the space not to stop that style pattern once you start installing your lights.

How can you apply the level of sophistication assigned to your generation in your kitchen lighting while still seeing to the space’s optimal function? Consider the following tips:

• Mixed recessed lights with stylish fixtures: Many feel as though recessed lights and hanging fixtures don’t mix, yet the truth is quite the opposite. Stylish hanging fixtures are typically used for task lighting, while recessed lights provide ambient lighting. Yet it’s important to know where to place canned lights. Putting them under cabinets or in over sinks ensures that they won’t take away from your hanging fixtures.
• Get creative with your pendants: Hanging pendant lighting over kitchen islands and prep areas offers you a wealth of possibilities when it comes to design. Keep in mind that these fixtures will figure prominently in your design, so don’t be afraid to get a little crazy and creative, like choosing colors contrasting your cabinetry or hanging lights unevenly.
• Incorporate sculpture: If you’re looking to go really bold and risqué with your lighting, any kitchen designer with creativity will tell you to consider a sleek, monorail style fixture that snakes its way over your surfaces from which you can hang fixtures at differing intervals.

Who says that your kitchen lighting ideas have to be boring and bland? Your home is the canvas on which you imprint your personality. Why, then, would that same principle not also apply to your lighting? Find yourself a lighting designer with creativity and fresh new design concepts. Add under counter kitchen lighting to illuminate the floor and lower storage spaces. Go ahead and make a bold, risqué statement to your kitchen with your own personal style.

Bath & Shower Trends for 2016

Bathroom designs change every year, with older designs falling by the wayside and newer trends taking prominence. In 2016, popular designs include metals, tiles and heated floors. There is also an increased focus on technology, and perhaps to balance out the tech-centric effect, many homeowners are incorporating Zen elements into their bathrooms.

Going Zen

For some people, the bathroom is an oasis of calm. To this end, you may enjoy Zen-themed design elements such as standalone tubs, sliding glass doors, fresh tropical plants and stone sinks that lack true corners.

“Smart” Bathrooms

Perhaps you grew up with technology and love the idea of incorporating it into your bathroom whenever possible. On the other hand, if you do not have a lot of technology experience, learning the ins and outs of bathroom technology is a breeze. Do you hate cleaning your toilet bowl? Take advantage of new flush tech that adds powerful and clean oomphs to your flushes. Do you love music? You can connect your smartphone to a bathroom audio system for even more relaxation or for a jazzy start to your day.

Heated floors are another aspect of technology that more and more homeowners want in their bathrooms. If you live in cold regions of the country, you will the spring put back into your step after you get heated floors.

Metallic Appearances

If you are looking for bathroom renovation ideas that help refresh your bathroom’s look for a minimal expense, then metal may be the way to go. For example, just replacing your faucets and shower hardware with trendy metal accents made of nickel or bronze can give your bathroom a great new look. And how about that mirror? A metallic frame could give your bathroom a contemporary look and serve as a focal point. Other ideas include the use of oil brushed metals for chandeliers and light fixtures.

Hello There, Tile

Bathroom tile is, in a way, retro, but trends in 2016 are leading to tile that is anything but retro. Whether you prefer classic, upbeat, creative, quirky or even black & white, you can find tile that is more than up to the job. Be sure to choose dependable tile such as subway tile where water will not hurt or damage the wall you are using as a foundation. If you want tile that is capable of letting other elements of the bathroom take center stage, experiment with slate gray or winter white.

As with any room, you can bring your bathroom designs to a new level by using a focal point. A tub, a mirror or a vanity are examples of focal points as you contemplate your bathroom renovation ideas. Visit a fewbathroom remodeling showrooms in NJ for ideas and stop by a home goods store for a piece of art that stands out. A stylish sculpture or painting you fall in love with may fit the bill as a focal point.

Custom Cabinetry for Kitchens Should Be Designed

If you’re planning a new kitchen, custom cabinetry is a smart investment that will add significant value, efficiency and beauty to your home. These custom kitchen cabinets in NJ are made from scratch, and designed to your exact specifications. Working with a designer, you will pick the kind of wood, doors, millwork style, decorative treatment, color and finish, hardware and storage options. The designer will measure your space, draw a plan, and have a cabinetmaker construct the cabinetry, supervising the installation to ensure that it fits your room like a glove.

To build a successful custom kitchen, it is important that you work with a kitchen designer in New Jersey that is experienced and communicates ideas well. A good custom cabinetry designer understands how a kitchen works in totality. They bring knowledge, ideas and inspiration to the table, helping you create the most functional and efficient layout; pick the right fixtures, appliances and fittings; determine the right position of lighting and electrical outlets; and suggest the best storage solutions. And when it comes to aesthetics, the experienced planner is familiar with the latest design trends, materials and innovations. Hiring a design expert is the only way to ensure that your cabinetry perfectly fits you and your kitchen.

Start with a little research, obtaining literature from cabinet, appliance and countertop manufacturers. Visit relevant websites, browse showrooms and stores to get a feel for materials, and read home design and decorating magazines, websites or blogs, taking note of designs and products that appeal to you. This collection of information that appeals to you will help you and your kitchen designer define a style. Think how your family will use your kitchen. Know what attracts attention, what does not and what makes for a comfortable, congenial and convenient space.

·       Traditional Work Triangle. The kitchen ‘work triangle’ is formed by the refrigerator, sink and cooktop. They have to be a few steps from each other to ensure the most efficient food preparation area. Remember this triangle when planning your kitchen. Remember that this is not just an ideal, but should be an unbreakable rule.

·       Compartmental Design. Dinnerware, glassware and cutlery do not belong where you cook; cookware and spices do. Designate storage space for tabletop items away from the cooking area so the cook does not collide with people setting the table or preparing drinks.

·       The Pantry. Dry goods require a cool and dry place, which is a pantry. Remember to include good lighting, wire baskets and adjustable shelves for any special organization ideas you may choose to go with after the pantry is built.

·       Kitchen Lighting. Well thought out ambient and integrated task lighting is essential. Some of the things that you can discuss with your designer include the popular use of track lighting, conventional spot lighting, environment-friendly fluorescent and the new LED solutions for a kitchen.

Think of your wall cabinets for the kitchen as a permanent piece of furniture in your home. The use of painted kitchen cabinets has gone beyond the color white in many homes. Consider your cabinetry color options when looking at flooring and countertops. Get a designer involved early n the remodeling process. You won’t be sorry.