I've been playing around with about 3 different free programs, and found this one is the best so far...
Sweet Home 3D
Some of the options are top notch for a free program, while others still need some work. The fact that it's an open source program means that it's still evolving. I imagine the program you can pay for has more of the options I'd like to see.
Anyway, I was able to draw up the first floor with exact measurements, and place all furniture within an 1/8" of where it currently sits. I was interested in this because my mom isn't able to come up here for a visit, and has never been in my home. Through this, I'm able to show her how each room is connected to the other, and how everything flows. I was also able to show her just how small the kitchen is (10X10), and how poorly it was designed.
I originally wanted to turn the dining room into a kitchen, the kitchen into a first floor bathroom, and move the laundry room into it. I'm not going to be able to do that now, unless I pay a contractor for the work...and that would cost me over $10K, according to the estimates I got a few months ago. Having a fixed income, we decided against that.
The gas line that runs to the stove in the kitchen passes under the 'fridge, and logically speaking, that's where the stove should be. I have a portable dishwasher that is a perfect fit for where the stove is currently. I can move the 'fridge to the laundry room, and add a counter/cabinet where the dishwasher sits when not in use.
I have a plumber coming over this week to give me a cost to relocate where the gas line pops into the kitchen, so I can move the stove, as well as plumb the lines for the portable dishwasher. I can't imagine it costing too much, as it's simple work...drill a hole in the floor, run the gas line, which is right under the fridge and connect the stove, then cut a hole in the cabinet under the sink, connect the lines with a converter kit (they make them for this model), and push it into place.
What do you guys think?
