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Ok DIY you've done anything and everything to show us DIY-ers how to do just about anything and everything except the most important part ... create a design plan! What is the most common difference between the successful DIY renovations and projects shown on the DIY network and all of us frustrated DIY-ers at home? Yard Crashers, House Crashers, Sweat Equity, Desperate Landscapes ... you name it, all of your shows start with a blue print or a graph or a plan of some kind that outlines the finished project. That's great! I want one so I came to DIYNetwork.com to create one for my soon-to-be-mine back yard. What I have found are a bazillion projects that look like fun and I want to do but I need help planning, sorting through projects, making sure my projects are all going to fit in one back yard, and maybe even figuring out the right order in which I should attack the overall project. So ... here is my suggestion. As a computer programmer-in-training I know that virtual design tools exist but they're always either glitchy or expensive and complicated. Since DIYNetwork.com is the hub of the DIY-nation, you should fill this gap. Give us two different features: 1) A room designer for interior projects 2) A yard designer for exterior projects The designers should let us enter the dimensions of our rooms/yards and account for odd shaped areas, paint with colors, put in some virtual furniture to preview our color selections and space allotments, and let us choose projects from DIY network to incorporate into our designs. So if I want to do a patio in the middle of my yard with a retractable shade-screen and patio furniture, and then I want a hot tub to the north, a fire put to the south, a grilling station to the east and a garden to the west, I should be able to go through all of the fire pits on DIY network, pick the one I like, and drag/drop it into my design then rinse-lather-repeat for the rest of the features. When I'm all done, let me print my design out and choose paper size if necessary because I can always take the design on a thumb drive down to kinkos and print a professional looking version. Then, even more cool would be if the design software put together a list for me that showed me which of my projects I should do first (for example: Do the desk before you put in the grass lol) and it should give me a list of the items and tools that I will need to complete each project. And I should be able to save my design and projects for later editing or review as I tackle each one. C'mon all you DIY-ers ... am I the only one who has a billion ideas but can't correctly visualize how they're all going to look and fit together? Wouldn't this tool available for free on DIY Network just be awesome?! | ||
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YES! I agree. we got a (free)program when my hubby bought his new HP computer--called PUNCH! I just know when he is working on a project on it---'cause I hear a lot of frustration noises coming from him and the 2 dogs jump in their window perch! LOL Debbers | ||||
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That would truly be helpful. I too struggle with just how things will fit together and what I should do first. I would love a virtual design tool. | ||||
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I've got a similar interest in finding a reasonable scaled drawing program. I was told that IKEA had something for interior design, but I never could find it. Do you know of any online programs that will do this? Working w/hp windows 7. Thank you, Lewis Ratliff
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I WISH YOU WOULD CONSIDER DOING A SHOW ON SMALL OLDER HOMES. FROM 1000 TO 1700 SFT. Samll bathrooms and galley styled kitchens. Love all your shows but it is hard to apply some of the beautiful work you do to such small spaces. In places like california, most often there is no place to expand (Los Angeles area)very small property with large price tags. Help< ideas please. | ||||
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big problem with production in smaller homes with smaller rooms... and that is space  you have to get 2 camerapersons in, with a minimum "take" area of four feet by four feet in the lens, a sound "boomer", fill light in another tech's hands, the host, carpenters, and often one or two homeowners. plus tools, safety zones, and all.you can't do that in a 6 x 7 foot bathroom. when you DO see, for instance, a Bath Crashers, there's one camera on one side of the wall that's going away to steal as much or more space from another room, and the second camere on the other side. that's the technical reason they can't do a show in a space smaller than 8x8, and prefer larger. I've shot news with cameras having the same capabilities as these guys use, and I know it can't be done safely or professionally. a "mini pro" unit won't have the same capability or durability.This message has been edited. Last edited by: swschrad, sig: if this is a new economy, how come they still want my old-fashioned money? | ||||
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so you want to basicly cut out a professional designer? i think you should always consult a professional before starting major work at your house i am not suggesting that a pro should be consulated to change a toilet or plant a shrub but.. if your project is big enough for a blue print it should be looked at by a pro there are code issues and things they went to school for that will save you money in the long run it costs more money to redo a snafu than to do it right in the first place. you are surley qualifed to design a yard with drainage and lighting.but there are people that are not. they want to just drag and drop a 5k barb que in the yard with no concept to drainage. then it floods and the elec zaps some body because its not proper grounded. your liable so i think a designer needs to be consulated  these rantings and ravivings are just my humble opinion and in no way are to be considered mean or arguemenative.. This message has been edited. Last edited by: Frodo, | |||
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at minimum, you have to scan for possible failures, potential high-cost utilities in the way, make a realistic drawing of what you have and what you want, take accurate measurements, and spend two minutes with a level to see if the floor is stable enough to build upon. that's inside. you just scale it up for the outside, keeping in mind that you can't see water, sewer, gas, power, telephone, or commercial communications utilities buried underground. anybody ought to be able to spot a pipeline if it crosses your area, and minimum you will be getting a postcard in the mail each year if you are near one, but you surely by God do not want to start learning how to work a rented backhoe by whaling up a natural gas or petroleum pipeline. believe me on this. and you rip anything else up, you will be taken by the lawyers to pay for it. so somebody has to trace the stuff out, your area one-call service usually. outside, you need to shoot elevations even if you think you have "the eye" for drainage. the city can come along and order you to remediate (rip out and fix) anything that moves your rain water into the neighbors' yard. so there are some things that even an avid DIY'er will eventually need to whistle up bids on.This message has been edited. Last edited by: swschrad, sig: if this is a new economy, how come they still want my old-fashioned money? | ||||
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