Want to create plans for my dream house as a hobby?

Question

But im not sure how to get started?
I want to try & make it professional at the same time.
I have so many ideas i just dont know how to put them on paper.

Cheers for the help :)

Answer 1

You sound like me! I have an associates in Computer-Aided Drafting. Love designing. Download DraftSight Its Free! :). Go to Office Max, Office Depot, Staples!, buy an architects scale, in order to draw out rooms on paper. Also when you save your dwg files, act like your printing and select print to pdf. You can take a jump drive to Fedex Office, and they'll print it out for you.



Keys to Remember:



Think Green! Think Modular! Think Even Measurements!



Use 4'x4' grids (Frank Lloyd Wright Method) to layout rooms at a 1/4"=1'-0" or 1/8"=1'-0" scale.



In order to save on wood make sure all studs, floor, and ceiling joist are 2' or 24" on center instead of 1'-4" or 16" on center.



Room Size to start:



20' wide by 24' long (extra space): Garage, Gathering, Great Rm, Keeping Rm, Hearth, Bonus





16' wide by 20' long (ample space): Master Bedroom, Kitchen, Living, Dining, Outdoor Living.



8' wide by 20' long: Entry Halls, Passage Halls, Porches



12' wide by 16' long (ideal space): Secondary Bedrooms, Master Bath.



8' wide by 12' long (minimal space): Laundry, Hall/Guest Bath, Pantry, Walk in Closets.



4' wide by 8' long: 1/2 bath, Bedroom/Hall Closets.



2' wide/deep by 4' long/wide: Linen Closets.





Keep me Posted!

Answer 2

Well, you had me. I was all sympathetic towards your plan and ready to help you out, till I got to the part about how you were going to live here till you got married and then leave! WHY? Why move here just to leave?!? You know, people on this site are sometimes down on people like me who moved to the City from elsewhere. (This is the only place I've encountered that attitude, btw.) While I think it's fine to move here from elsewhere if you intend on staying here and becoming part of the fabric of the City, I have no sympathy for people who come here, planning only to stay a few years. Don't bother! NYC is not a frat house, where you can come to grow up! It's a real place made up of serious people, who really want to be a part of the City. I moved here over 30 years ago and made a life for myself here. I got married here and am raising my kids here. I have an interest in what happens in this City. If you are only going to come here until your "real life" begins, why come here at all? I just don't understand this attitude!

Answer 3

I've designed many over the years, never built a one. Before it was strictly on paper now you can purchase home design problems for your computer. I don't know of any free ones on the web that would be easy to work with. The purchase ones aren't too bad and at least let you see how things would look together. Designing the nitty gritty........furnace runs, water, electrical, etc probably not on these programs. http://architecture.about.com/od/buildyourhous1/tp/designsoftware.htm

Answer 4

Google Sketchup is an easy-to-use 3D modeling software that enables you to create 3D models of houses, buildings and many other objects...etc.

Freeware.

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/sketchup.html

Answer 5

you could draw your own dream house and sketch everything that you would like on

a piece of paper then write what each part is

Answer 6

Punch Home Design is another great tool but not free.