House & Garden Supplies

Does anyone know any FREE software online to download that I’m able to create my own home and see it 3D?

Here http://sketchup.google.com/

I have a 3/4 bathroom that I have gutted to the studs that only measures 3 1/2′ x 8′ and would like to get ideas on how to design and decorate it.

Depends on what’s going back in that bathroom – shower, toilet, sink, or just toilet and sink ? If you are doing the remodel yourself, electrical and plumbing will be your biggest hits if you move things around from their original location. To get started, go to your local home improvement store ( Lowes’, Home Depot, etc…) and look at items you intend to use. Then go to the manufacturers website, and get the installation guide for each item. This will give you item footprint dimensions, and show any special things you need to consider when installing ( clearances). Once you have that, and want to play with layout – get a sheet of 1/2" foam insulation board ( with the foil covering) and cut out the shapes of the items you will be installing. Then you can move these around in the room and see what plays well and what doesn’t. Pay attention to the location of windows and heights of windows when placing fixtures and cabinets.

I did a master bath remodel last year and was quoted $29,000. I did it myself ( with help of local trades that I engaged for plumbing, tile and electrical) for around $17,000. I got a better design than the remodeler was offering and for a lower price. It took me 4 months from start to finish, including time I spent waiting on the trades to show up and do their work. Using the foam templates helped me spot tight spots and fine tune the design prior to committing the layout to the trades for installation. As a result we didn’t have to re-do anything, it fit perfect the first time, and it looks great.

I was a high school grad in the early 80s. None of my friends, nor I, had TVs or computers in our bedrooms. When did TVs and computers in kids’ bedrooms become common?

Probably late 80’s early 90’s for tv but around early 2000’s for computers.

Thanks in advance.

Still water has no effect in reducing sound. Depending on the size and placement of the pond or swimming pool, the noise level can be increased. Ditto for where the water is in relation to things like paving, building walls, and any hard fencing (such as Colorbond) or masonry garden walls.

Running water increases the noise level, too, but masks a lot of random or annoying noises by producing soothing "white noise."

I love the sound of water, but don’t want any deep water in my yard. I’ve looked into pondless waterfalls, and these seem ideal for my needs (which include noise-dampening: I live near a school and playground-park). I’ve been working on the design and budget, and hope to put one in next summer.

If you want to have a look (google used to have a bunch of "images of pondless waterfalls," but I didn’t find this when I looked just now — maybe you’ll have better luck, if you’re interested):

http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/pondless-waterfall/index.html

http://www.life123.com/home-garden/landscaping/garden-ponds/how-to-build-a-pondless-waterfall.shtml

I am trying to decide between and associate of arts degree at a local community college or a bachelor’s from the state college, but my husband would prefer not to move 6 hours away to the state college. Are there any interior designers who could give me info about the type of jobs I could get with an AA in interior design?

Quite honestly, when it comes to interior design, it is less about the degree you carry and more about your talents.

The ONLY thing I would really take into consideration between the two different schools are the classes they offer. If there is something in particular you would like to specialize in that one school does not offer from the next, that would be a consideration. Otherwise, as long as you have a degree of some sort, your skills and experience will have more influence over your pay scale than anything else.

No you have to get planning permission, you have to design to fit in with the local locality, and it must conform to the relevant building regulations. I am a builder and I have designed and built quite a few houses over the years. My advise to you is before you go into the planning Application just take some sketches of the house you are thinking of building to the planning department to see what they think first of all, this would save time and money in the long run.

Thanks

HGTV.com You can search what style you like and look at plenty of designs by professionals.

I don’t want to purchase online but in-store (GTA)

I have searched and found one at Home Depot I hope that you like it , but I’m sure that they will have others in the store here is the one that I found

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100441294&N=10000003+90401+500910

If an online tool isn’t available, I’d also take software suggestions. I’d love to have it also have plant suggestions, ect.

I just bought a house and it has a lovely backyard that is all dirt at this point. When spring hits, I have to start planting!

My son gave me the Better Homes and Garden’s 3D Garden and Deck Planner several years ago that I enjoyed every winter since then. I’m sure what’s available now is even nicer, but this came with an encyclopedia of plants of all kinds, with information for each plan about how big it gets, what kind of light and water it needs, etc. You map out your yard and can put your house, fences, driveway, etc. You "drop" plants in from the overhead view, and then you get to take a virtual walk through it in a 3D view. You can also go at it another way, starting with a photo of certain areas of the yard, and then add plants to the foreground. Lots of fun.
I lovely backyard that is all dirt… Sounds like a perfect place to find a corner to compost in for starters.
Have fun.

are these the same degrees with different names? some colleges’ interior design programs are within the architecture dept. and some are within the fine arts dept. the coursework doesn’t seem that different. does anyone know which degree would be the best choice for future career income? i’m currently looking at the art institute of dallas..id degree in fine arts. help!

Architecture is what holds up the walls and the ceiling, including details like entries and windows.

Design is how the room is filled and decorated.

Of course, there are crossover elements, such as when a designer decides that exposed redwood beams need to be replaced with gothic arches. In such a case, it takes an architect to determine a safe way in which that ceiling can be redone. The designer is interested in "the look." The architect is interested in making sure the ceiling doesn’t collapse.

On the inverse, an architect has esthetic choices as well. If he wants "cathederal ceilings" and lofty staircases, he has only do design the structure in such a way that it, too, does not collapse.

The course work may have some similarities, but, an architect has more knowledge of physics and engineering principles while the designer would have more detailed knowlege of color theory, fabrics and such.