Floorplanning the easy way

Floorplanner is the easiest and best-looking way to create and share interactive floorplans online. Whether you're moving into a new house, planning a wedding or reorganizing your living room, Floorplanner has the right tools for you. With Floorplanner you can recreate your home, garden or office in just a few clicks and furnish your plans with our huge library of objects.

As a real estate professional, you work with floorplans every day. Therefore you know how much time and effort it can take to make a great floorplan. Not with Floorplanner.

Nothing beats a floorplan in giving a clear view on a property. And with Floorplanner, drawing floorplans becomes a breeze! With our intuitive editor you can have your first floorplan ready within minutes.

Now your floorplan is ready, you can play around with the interior. We have the world's biggest library of all kinds of furniture and items. Give your interior a makeover or check whether that bed fits or not.

Whether you need images of your floorplan for marketing purposes, building work or just because you love to hang your floorplan design to your wall, with Floorplanner you can easily create stunning images!

Wallstreet Journal

"I had a great time playing with it. Should our project ever pan out, I think the time I spent with it will prove useful."

Lifehacker

"We've suggested a few layout tools for floor planning in the past, but Floorplanner is by far the most robust."

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Create floor plans, house plans and home plans online with ...

RoomClip is an app that allows you to create your own album of photos of your room. There are already over500,000 photos from people throughout Japan who have posted their photos to show off their own individual room styles.Wont you try saving as photos the little things you do to make a room your own special place, such as photos of the rooms interior decorations, DIY and handmade items, hobby-based collections, memories, miscellaneous goods, lighting fixtures, and more?----------------------- *Easily download the app and register your account (10 sec) You can use your email address, twitter, or Facebook account to easily register for free.*Follow other usersFirst enjoy the app simply by looking at other users rooms! If you find a room that interests you, just follow it to be updated with new photos posted by that user from the New Photos tab.*Tag your photosBy tagging your photos with information like the theme of the photo and what's being shown, you can later look back on photos of your room based on tags. You might even be followed by people who have photos showing the same things (tables, chairs, fans, etc.) or brands (IKEA, Muji, Eames, etc.), or the same hobbies as you.*Add items to your photosYou can add items to your photos. And also you can see and buy items in other peoples photos.*The app also has a lot of other fun and convenient functionsFavorite Function:If you want to see photos tagged with certain tags, try using the favorite function.You can find photos that match what you're looking for through photos on RoomClip.Like Button:When you look at a photo, dont you ever wish you could see a certain part more up close, or from a different angle? The like button makes these wishes come true. Try liking as many photos as you're interested in.Clip Button:This button lets you save photos that you want to look at for later.Try clipping photos that pique your interests.*The app is great for the following kinds of people!-People who like DIY tasks.-People who collect accessories, action figures, toys, etc.-Interior designers and coordinators.-Architects and people who work in the field of architecture.-People who work in real estate.-People who work in remodeling.-Housewives and househusbands who like to take special care of their rooms.-People who want to take before/after shots when moving.-People who want to take before/after shots when rearranging.-People who want to take before/after shots when remodeling.*Compatible DevicesiPhone4, 4S, iOS 6.0 or higheriPhone5, 5s, iOS 6.0 or higheriPhone6, 6 Plus, iOS 8.0 or higheriPod Touch 4th Generation iOS 6.0 or higher*Contact We want to hear your opinions to make the app even better. Please let us know how you feel by contacting us through the following email address.support@tunn-el.com

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RoomClip - Share your best shots of room interiors

AFTER: Exterior remodels and curb appeal upgrades can enhance the house with new colors, facade and landscaping.

Kevin Bunnell, Renovation Design Group

Real estate professionals say it time and time again: Curb appeal (or the lack thereof) can make or break a deal. They say potential buyers form their opinions about a given property within the first 15 seconds of viewing a house. Whether you are selling your house or not, curb appeal is important and can be a source of pride and satisfaction for a homeowner.

Many clients who come into our residential architectural firm are seeking help in the curb appeal department. Exterior remodels can be undertaken as stand-alone projects, but they are also often included as part of an interior remodel or addition. Interior remodeling projects can affect the exterior of a home if doors and windows are added or relocated. Obviously, additions will significantly alter the exterior appearance of a house on at least three sides, though some may be in the rear and not affect the front elevation.

Analyzing changes in your homes exterior requires thinking/visualizing in three dimensions. A floor plan can be understood in terms of the width and depth of a space; elevations (interior or exterior) need consideration in terms of width, depth and height. It sounds rather obvious to say that it is a useful exercise to study design options on paper before they are built, but in looking at many remodeled houses, people often skip this essential step. Whether the study is made on actual or virtual paper, attention to the massing (shape) of the new exterior, along with material selection and details, is critical to a successful outcome.

One of the keys to a good remodeling project is to create a roofline that successfully blends the old and new portions together. This can be challenging, but ignoring this aspect of a remodel will result either in roofs that dont work (dont drain well) or additions that look like they accidentally bumped into the original house or both.

A common remodeling mistake is to only think of a remodel from the inside. If you would like a bigger window in the living room, you must consider if the size, shape and placement is right when viewed from the outside of the house. If you dont have curb appeal in mind when you are remodeling the interior of your home, then you could end up with a house that is seriously lacking in exterior aesthetics.

While exterior upgrades can be involved projects, updating curb appeal doesnt always have to be a major construction project. New hardware for front doors, new house numbers and a fresh coat of paint can go a long way to freshening up your homes appearance.

Symmetry is a design concept that is easily understood and often appreciated. Its effect can be added without a significant remodel, for example, by implementing a balanced landscape plan or by symmetrically placing potted plants along the front of the house.

A great house with a terrible yard will never have terrific curb appeal. Spending some time and money keeping up the yard, flower beds and planters is a surefire way to improve both the appearance and value of your home. Weeds and overgrown landscaping will obviously have the opposite effect.

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Ways to add curb appeal

Updated: 02/12/2015 3:17 PM Created: 02/12/2015 2:51 PM KSTP.com By: Jennie Olson

The Anoka County Board is moving forward with a remodeling project to enhance security at the Anoka County Courthouse.

The Anoka County Board voted on Jan. 27 to move forward with the four-phase remodeling project by issuing contracts to both architecture and construction management companies.

The project comes after an 18-month study to address security concerns in courtrooms that handle felony arraignments, hearings and trials. A group of judges, court staff, county commissioners and others presented their recommendations to the Anoka County Board back in July 2014.

I think it gives judges security, County Commissioner Matt Look said about the project. Theyve been raising concerns for quite a few years actually, and so weve finally come to the point where plans were acceptable to all parties and everyone is reasonably happy.

Look said there have been no security instances so far, but they are looking to be proactive.

There are times when especially in child custody hearings when people get emotional in the courtroom thankfully theres a bailiff there and there hasnt been any issue, but our court reporters are sometimes within close reach, and if there are issues where someone would want to retaliate against the system, thats obviously something we want to deal with as a county board, Look said.

Look says defendants being brought into the courtrooms from the Anoka County Jail often have close proximity to members of the public and court staff members. The remodeling project would create private corridors and an elevator to transport inmates so they arent in such a mainstream area.

At the Jan. 27 meeting, a contract of up to $468,500 was awarded to Wold Architects and Engineering in St. Paul for the architectural and engineering services. Another contract of up to $499,990 was awarded to ICS in Blaine for the construction management services. The board acted on the recommendation of the Finance and Capital Improvements Committee, and funding comes from the building asset preservation fund.

The county board is fully supportive of this project, Look said. There have been some concerns, and we really dont want to put people in harms way.

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Anoka County Courthouse Remodeling Project Aims to Enhance Security

Home owners love their pets and they also love great design with modern function.

So its no surprise that home builders and designers increasingly are being asked to consider pets when developing floor plans and custom amenities.

Builders are responding to this demand by offering homes with pet-friendly design in the kitchen, laundry room/mud room and even outdoor spaces. Condos and apartment buildings now feature amenities like rooftop dog parks and self-serve grooming stations.

Whether youre in the market for a new home, will soon be remodeling or just need some inspiration for how to use your current space, here are a few ideas to get started.

Kitchen: If you have a small- or medium-sized pet, consider finding a spot in your kitchen to create a built-in eating area. It can be as simple as using free floor space under an island to create a stylish spot for the food and water bowls.

Or, declutter a large lower eeeeeee cabinet, remove the door and create a convenient feeding spot. You also can add a comfortable cushion instead of a pet bed.

If a bottom drawer is all you can spare, put a built-in food bowl that easily slides in and out.

The water bowl should be accessible to your pet all the time though.

If your pet is a messy eater, keep the feeding station away from most of the foot traffic. Water spills can be especially hazardous in the kitchen. Thats why feeding bowls for larger pets may be better suited for the laundry room or mud room.

Laundry room/mud room: If you have a separate laundry room and/or mud room, there are many ways to utilize this space for your pets. A feeding station for your larger pet can be conveniently located beneath a boot bench. This also makes a great spot for a pet bed.

Link:
Pet features get more attention in home designs

Living room remodeling part 4

By: Baytowncowboy85

Excerpt from:
Living room remodeling part 4 - Video

I've got nothing that pretty to show you at the end of this post, just a blank slate and a demonstration that DIY can be a slippery slope. Once you begin it can be hard to stop and it's probably best to have at least an idea of where you are going! I think I do.

It started with this one single cabinet hanging up there all alone on the wall. I have a thing about single cabinets somewhat randomly placed in a kitchen, they bug me. So I took it down. It was a bit tricky at first figuring out exactly how it was hung and how to take it down without damaging it, (perhaps it can be used elsewhere, in the garage or even sold or donated) but once I got the hang of it (no pun intended) the job was pretty easy!

And I was crushing on the after. The kitchen felt immediately more open and light.

So naturally, over the next couple of days I kept eyeing this one in the corner every time I passed through the kitchen.

So down it went.

Okay. That was easy. I like it. I'm just going for it!

(And for a little background info so this doesn't seem completely random and crazy stupid, when we moved in I purposely put nothing in all the upper cabinets just to see if we needed them or not, exploring the idea that maybe the uppers could go. So there is a plan. This is the upside of getting rid of so much junk. In the previous house, when I packed up the kitchen, I can't tell you how much stuff I came across tucked into all those cabinets that hadn't even been touched since placing it into the recesses when moving in 6 years prior. All that went bye, bye. And when you don't have extra stuff... you have design options!)

First I took off the doors. Yep, I can see this... they are coming down!

The only hiccup I ran into was some 20 plus feet of wiring tucked behind and running along the top of this wall of cabinetry. Obviously not installed when the house was built, apparently the previous owner had tied in additional wiring to two existing outlets and tucked it away to add under cabinet lighting. It was easy to remove; all I did was turn off the power, open up two switch plates and remove the extensions, afterwards pulling yard upon yard of wiring out from behind the walls. Actually I felt relieved having that wiring gone, who knows if this was even up to code, right?!

Once the wiring was gone it was breeze to remove the remaining cabinets, with the exception of the microwave and cabinet above hiding venting to the outside. I had intended to leave these up until I found the wall hood that would be installed in its place. Oh, what the heck. That looks silly. They're gone too.

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Isabella & Max Rooms

In this March 9, 2013 file photo, people walk through the booths at the annual Home & Garden Show at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville. The show returns this weekend.

After months of cold weather, Gainesville is finally getting a hint of spring. With the new season comes a recovering economy and rebounding housing market.

Local residents eyeing ways to improve their homes and gardens can get some ideas at this weekend's 16th annual North Central Florida Home & Garden Show.

Organized by The Gainesville Sun and the Builders Association of North Central Florida, the event will highlight home improvement, landscaping, remodeling, and decorating ideas from vendors across 180 booths.

The theme of this year's Home Show is contemporary design, according to local home designer Lory Willis. The director of sales at Robinshore Inc., Willis says that homeowners are looking to break down room divisions in their homes, and opting to create more interactive spaces.

People want a break from their busy lifestyles, and they want spaces in which they interact with and entertain each other, Willis said.

Many homeowners aren't even having a formal dining space anymore. Homeowners want to close in those spaces, and they no longer want the formal or traditional styles.

Willis also says to look out for white cabinets, quartz countertops, flat island kitchens, porcelain tile and outdoor living spaces as hot items and concepts in the current housing market.

In addition to the booths, the Home Show will host three community seminars each day. Speakers from the Alachua Community Emergency Management team will present Preparing Your Home For Disasters, a seminar on preparing for hurricanes, tornadoes and other storms.

The second seminar, Florida-Friendly Landscaping: Saving Money in the Landscape, will be presented by Wendy Wilburn, an environmental horticulture agent for UF-IFAS. According to Margie Krpan, deputy executive vice president of the Builders Association, Wilburn will give tips on saving money using natural Florida landscaping.

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Home improvement ideas abound at Gainesville's Home & Garden Show

Roast House is remodeling its warehouse to accommodate an ultra-modern brewingsystem.

Its the same technology used in the new Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room, which opened late last year in Seattle. Thats the closest Modbar has come to Spokane untilnow.

We are it. Nobody has it here, said Roast House owner Deborah Di Bernardo. The wow factor is going to be huge. This is what a high-end coffee bar lookslike.

Roast House is installing the only Modbar in Eastern Washington. The award-winning boutique coffee roaster and wholesaler will showcase as well as sell the

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Artist rendition of Roast Houses new tasting bar, featuring its new customizable, modular, high-tech Modbar brewingsystem. (Full-size photo)

Roast House is remodeling its warehouse to accommodate an ultra-modern brewingsystem.

Its the same technology used in the new Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room, which opened late last year in Seattle. Thats the closest Modbar has come to Spokane untilnow.

We are it. Nobody has it here, said Roast House owner Deborah Di Bernardo. The wow factor is going to be huge. This is what a high-end coffee bar lookslike.

Continued here:
Roast House to unveil Modbar - Wed, 04 Mar 2015 PST

TOPEKA The transformation of the homes for the annual Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas Designers Showhouse has involved many moving parts, including the budget that is set for the design of the house.

Reva Wywadis, executive director of Child Care Aware, has been involved in the annual grassroots fundraiser for several years and said its a continuous process to educate the public about how the designer showhouse comes about each year. She said its a common misconception that the homeowners get their house remodeled a no cost to them.

We work with the homeowner and they give the designer an allowance for each space, said Reva Wywadis, executive director of Child Care Aware. The homeowner is responsible for any plumbing, heating, electrical changes, etc. That investment is always made by the homeowner.

Another myth, Wywadis said, is that the designers have free reign who redecorate each room any way they want to and that the homeowner gets very little input in the design process.

The designer still has to get their plan (for each room) approved, she said. The homeowner is always in control of the designers plan. They approve or might ask for some changes but the homeowner is always in control of this process.

The homeowner will set a budget for each room that will be remodeled or redecorated, Wywadis said. From there, each designer then figures out what he or she can do in that space with the money they are given by the homeowner.

Because each rooms budget is usually lower than what the designer ends up doing with the space, the designer will ask other vendors to donate additional labor and materials and will often be recognized in the showhouses publicity pieces.

The goal is to stretch their budget, Wywadis said. They often do to a fabulous job of stretching that budget.

Wywadis said coordinating the design of the showhouse, including this years home, the Washburn University presidents residence, takes someone with knowledge and connections in the design community. She said for the past six years, Topeka interior designer Jan Hutt has filled that role so that Wywadis doesnt have to be as hands-on during the busy showhouse season each spring.

It was just so necessary because the showhouse took me out of my area of expertise, Wywadis said. Jan is on-site a lot, making sure everyone is on schedule. Shes our liaison between our agency and all of the designers.

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At Home Living: Showhouse makeover must meet owner's budget, vision