Visualization software?

[k3am]

Any suggestions? 

We have a kitchen renovation on the horizon, and we're trying to figure it out/visualize it. It will involve a decent amount of structural work closing in two sliding glass doors, creating a new one, and adding 5-10 feet of length to the kitchen area, so the whole footprint would change. Trying to get an idea of stuff like how flow of the area would work with various options is daunting. (We obviously would need to involve an architect once we get serious about stuff, but we're honestly trying to figure out how much we even want to do before we start spending the big bucks - we may realize it's not worth it and live with what we have.)

[sandandsea]

Can you hire a designer and use their software? It’s an extra expense but will help define the plan.

Or does the Ikea planner software do that?

[k3am]

sandandsea, we could. We are still a couple years out from even making a decision - it's a project that will get really expensive, really fast. So for now, I'd like to low key / cheaply play around with ideas and see how much we actually would want to spend the money, if that makes sense? Like maybe a year down the road, we could meet with a designer, say "here's what we were thinking, and do you have any other ideas?

We've had 3 contractors look at the space and give us 3 very different suggestions, two of which were terrible and didn't make any sense. The one who made sense was an actual designer, who I absolutely love her and her style, but we will never, ever, ever, ever work with her again because of the piece of shit company she's attached to.

[winecat]

That's free? SketchUp looks promising. I tried another one that made me want to poke my eyes out. Of course, I can't remember the name. #helpful

[k3am]

winecat, I actually looked at the free version today.. it is.. not intuitive (to me) to say the least. Im' going to try to spend some time fiddling with it.

I'd be willing to pay for something that's a little more user friendly for a novice.

[winecat]

k3am- Bummer. That's the one that I've seen recommended in a FB group that I'm in. I haven't found one that has great reviews across the board. This is the other one I'm looking at: apps.apple.com/us/app/sweet-home-3d/id669289700?mt=12 But some of the reviews on Amazon are what annoyed me with the other app I tried.

[lightbulbsun]

The Ikea kitchen planner is really easy and fun to play around with. You obviously have to go with their cabinets and appliances in app, but there are a lot of color and finish options and it would at least give you a feel for the space. I'm kind of in the same boat where I'm planning for a kitchen reno in the next 2-3 years, and the Ikea app has been great with playing around with different layouts and options.

[k3am]

lightbulbsun, I'll give the Ikea planner a go when I get a chance. It doesn't matter what kind of cabinets I can throw in there, but it's really just getting an idea for how the rooms would flow.. like can we fit an island, or should we stick with a peninsula? How much of my workout area can I keep?