3D Modeling and the Design Process

Are you a person who has trouble visualizing a space when looking at a flat plan drawing? If so, you are not alone. I encounter quite a few people in my travels who just have a bit of trouble seeing what a space might look like when shown a standard house plan.

The answer: A 3D computer model that helps you to visualize your new Wisconsin kitchen before it becomes a reality. Computers are amazing, and the software that allows us to create a virtual version of your home is nothing short of a miracle for those challenged by standard 2D communication. A 3D computer model can help you look into the future and see what the possibilities for your remodeling project are. It is possible to hand-draw perspectives and other types of flat drawings that communicate space, but none can match the speed of a computer in changing views, offering virtual walk-throughs, and making changes to a design.

With a 3D model, we can design just about anything in the home, to nearly any level of detail. Everything from broad concepts and exterior massing models all the way down to specific cabinet and trim details can be shown with incredible detail and a fair amount of realism. It is a great help in designing and communicating complex roof structures and ensures that the new design will complement and enhance your existing home. Designing in 3D can also help with color selection for cabinets, walls, floors, and other design elements. Different cabinet layouts can be shown for the same space, allowing communication regarding the functional usage of space and determining traffic patterns in a home.

Look at the drawings below. The first is a 2D representation of an object. Below it is a 3D representation of the same object. Think about the different ideas each drawing conjures, and the verbal communication necessary to describe each representation of the same object.

This concept applies to kitchens, additions, basements, cabinets, decks, fireplaces, or anything else you can imagine! So much more information travels when the third dimension is added to the mix. With a 3D model of a kitchen, much more about the proposed project can be communicated in a shorter period of time. This helps the design process move ahead more swiftly, and with more confidence.

I think an image like this conveys a lot of ideas, and can help stimulate conversation about the possible solutions.

Not every single detail is needed to provide a comprehensive feel for the design. Including essential information and omitting details that will obscure the clarity of the design is often preferable to including too much that is unimportant.

This vanity study was used to help plan the possibilities for a powder room.

Envision adding a dormer to an existing part of your home.

See how an addition would affect the shape of a roof.