ChiefArchitect

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Posts posted by ChiefArchitect

    Kitchen, Bath & Interiors Design Contest - Entry Deadline March 12

    in Announcements

    Posted

    The results are in! Congratulations to our 3 winners in the Kitchen, Bath and Interiors Design Contest.


    1st Place – Leslie Ann Gali of Quest Cabinetry & Design

    2nd Place – Christine Gauthier of Custom Built Design & Remodeling

    3rd Place – Natalia Balic of Darling Concept & Design

     

    View all of the great submissions: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ChiefArchitect&set=a.1314150834082397

     

    We enjoyed viewing everyone’s design and want to thank you all for sharing with us and our community!

     

    Varying prize packages will be awarded.

    Leslie-Ann Gali.jpg

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Chief Architect Software!

    in Announcements

    Posted

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Chief Architect Software! The Holidays are a magical time of year to cherish time with family and friends. It’s a time to reflect on what’s important in life, be thankful, and treat others with kindness. We are very thankful for you, our customers, who help to make our products so successful. On behalf of Chief Architect, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a wonderful Holiday Season.

    As we look forward to 2026, we are excited to announce several new software features to assist with your home design efficiency. We will begin with the February International Builder and Kitchen & Bath Show/Training in Orlando. At this show, we will be previewing our new version of Chief Architect. In August, we will host our annual Chief Academy Training event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. This event is always a lot of fun where you can network with other users, attend training, meet our staff, and get an inside preview of upcoming products and features – I hope you can find time to join us!

    We truly appreciate your business and the time you take to help improve our products and services - thank you.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

    Greg Wells
    President and CEO
    Chief Architect Software

     

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    Residential Design Contest - Entry Deadline November 13

    in Announcements

    Posted

    The results are in! Congratulations to our 3 winners in the Residential Design Contest.


    1st Place – Scott Phillips of Phillips Design Services

    2nd Place – Chloe Cronk of Pacific Home Source

    3rd Place – Adam Gibson

     

    View all of the great submissions: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1224877609676387&type=3

     

    We enjoyed viewing everyone’s design and want to thank you all for sharing with us and our community!

     

    Varying prize packages will be awarded.

    Scott Phillips.jpg

    Curious About Pricing: Perpetual License vs. Subscription—Which Is Better Value in Long Run?

    in Sales Related Questions

    Posted

    @Robborito

    Below is the list of deprecated features and new features in Home Designer 2026.  Hopefully this will provide a quick summary of what has changed for the Home Designer 2026 release.

     

    Please feel free to reach out to sales with any questions at 208-292-3400.

     

    Kind regards

    ,

    Derek

    Chief Architect Software

     

    Deprecated in Home Designer 2026

    • Sun Shadows in 2D Plan View
    • Terrain Modifiers – Note: This set of terrain modifiers was limited in function.  The terrain Elevation Data tools are better and more accurate.  We are working on a user-friendly set of terrain modification tools for a future version.
    • Material Properties Panel - There is a Define Material dialog, but the material properties panel has been removed because most of the functionality was not applicable to Home Designer.
    • Master List Material Pricing Management
    • Watermarks
    • Depth Cue
    • Store Custom Fill Style, Text, Callouts, and Markers in the Library Browser

    New Features in Home Designer 2026

    • Plans & Layouts Pin Recent Files in Dashboard List: Use the Pin feature to keep your favorite files at the top of the Recent File List.
    • Managed Projects: Avoid file management with Chief Architect Project Management. Work is automatically organized and stored as projects you can navigate in the Project Browser.
    • Project Browser Details Panel: View information for selected projects or files, like date created, date modified, file size, and other data.
    • Search Project Browser: A search bar in the Project Browser makes it easy to filter and find what you are looking for.
    • Drag Views to Layout: Drag and drop saved views directly from the project browser to your layout page.
    • Layout View Resolution: Specify the image resolution when sending 3D views to layout pages.
    • 3D Design & Materials Physically Based Real Time Ray Tracing: Use the Real Time Ray Tracing rendering technique to create scenes with realistic lighting, shadows, reflections, and metallic effects.
    • Animated Water Materials: Choose predefined Animated Water Materials from the Library Browser and see the rippling movement in your Ray Traced Views.
    • Modeless Cross-Section Slider: Interact with the Cross Section Slider in real time to efficiently update 3D views.
    • Walkthrough Editing: Pause keyframes and use multi-select to edit many at once.
    • Auto-hide Items in Small Spaces: Use the Hide Exterior-Facing Walls feature to remove items attached to exterior walls from views.
    • Library Catalog Library Catalog Downloads: Included with subscription, access hundreds of Bonus and Manufacturer Catalogs at no additional charge.
    • Sort Library Browser Search Results: When viewing library search results in Tile Mode, right-click to access the 'Sort By' options to view the objects in the most relevant way.
    • Smart Under Counter Appliances: When placing under-counter appliances between two cabinets, like dishwashers, automatic countertops are generated.
    • Doors & Windows Display Windows Open: Show windows ajar in 2D and 3D Views.
    • Stairs & Ramps Ramp Tool: Input slope and lock ramp top or bottom to automatically create ramps that fit the space.
    • Framing Defaults: Control fill style and labels for various framing members in a centralized location.
    • Shoe Plate: Control whether to include a shoe plate for roof framing overbuilds.
    • Horizontal Wall Framing: Set up girt spacing within the wall’s properties, including distance from the ground, and sizing and spacing for top and bottom girts.

     

    Residential Design Contest - Entry Deadline November 13

    in Announcements

    Posted

    Our next contest is Residential!

     

    Share one of your designs for a chance to win Chief Gear. Use any Chief Architect software product to create your original design.

     

    You have the chance to win 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in this contest. Discover how to enter and more through our blog:

    https://www.chiefarchitect.com/blog/design-contest/

     

    The entry deadline is November 13.

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    Remodel/Addition Design Contest - Entry Deadline August 14

    in Announcements

    Posted

    The results are in! Congratulations to our 3 winners in the Remodel/Addition Design Contest.

     

    1st Place – Dylan McGill of McGill & Co. Designs

    2nd Place – Brian Friehe of VirtuActive 3D Drafting & Design

    3rd Place – Efi Vogiatzi of Extension Factory

     

    View all of the great submissions: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1142653187898830&type=3

     

    We enjoyed viewing everyone’s design and want to thank you all for sharing with us and our community!

     

    Varying prize packages will be awarded.

    Dylan McGill.jpg

    Home Designer 2026 - Now Available

    in Announcements

    Posted

    We're excited to announce Home Designer 2026!

     

    This new version brings some powerful updates our community has been asking for—including:

     

    • Real-Time Ray Trace Rendering – Instantly see stunning, photorealistic visuals as you design.
    • Free Catalog Downloads – Access 3D Library content at no extra cost, straight from the software.

     

    Home Designer 2026 will be available through a flexible subscription plan—choose monthly or annual billing, whichever works best for you.

     

    Stay tuned—we’ll post a full list of new features after the official release. We can’t wait to hear what you think!

    • Like 2
    • Downvote 1

    Residential Design Contest - Entry Deadline July 10

    in Announcements

    Posted

    The results are in! Congratulations to our 3 winners in the Residential Design Contest.

     

    1st Place – Rodrigo Duque Brito of Dubinett Architects

    2nd Place – Jimmy Parker of Elaine Roberts Drafters and Designers

    3rd Place – Hailee Kohler of Tracys Custom Homes

     

    View all of the great submissions: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1120335673463915&type=3

     

    We enjoyed viewing everyone’s design and want to thank you all for sharing with us and our community!

     

    Varying prize packages will be awarded.

    Rodrigo Duque Brito.jpg

    Kitchen/Bath and Interiors Design Contest - Entry Deadline June 12

    in Announcements

    Posted

    The results are in! Congratulations to our 3 winners in the Kitchen, Bath and Interiors Design Contest.


    1st Place – Caneisha Edwards of Master Edge Homes

    2nd Place – Tiffany Chandler of Steller Construction

    3rd Place – Karene Morgan of Soaring Phoenix Creative

     

    View all of the great submissions: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1094307769400039&type=3

     

    We enjoyed viewing everyone’s design and want to thank you all for sharing with us and our community!

    Caneisha Edwards.png

    Remodel/Addition Design Contest - Entry Deadline May 8

    in Announcements

    Posted

    The results are in! Congratulations to our 3 winners in the Remodel/Addition Design Contest.

     

    1st Place – Rebecca Langman of Revision Custom Home Design

    2nd Place – Jorge Arreola of Greymark Construction

    3rd Place – Doug Forbes of D. Forbes Design

     

    View all of the great submissions: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ChiefArchitect&set=a.1072711848226298

     

    We enjoyed viewing everyone’s design and want to thank you all for sharing with us and our community!

     

    Varying prize packages will be awarded.

    Rebecca Langman.jpg

    Residential Design Contest - Entry Deadline April 10

    in Announcements

    Posted

    The results are in! Congratulations to our 3 winners in the Residential Design Contest.

     

    1st Place – Zachary Karimipour

    2nd Place – Paul Mandrish

    3rd Place – John M. Bzdel

     

    View all of the great submissions: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=ChiefArchitect&set=a.1050785200418963

     

    We enjoyed viewing everyone’s design and want to thank you all for sharing with us and our community!

     

    Varying prize packages will be awarded.

    Zachary Karimipour.jpg

    Kitchen, Bath & Interiors Design Contest - Entry Deadline March 13

    in Announcements

    Posted

    The results are in! Congratulations to our 3 winners in the Kitchen, Bath & Interiors Design Contest.

     

    1st Place – Ksusha Olson of Titus Contracting

    2nd Place – Matt Dowell of The Dowell Agency

    3rd Place – Justin Neeley of Serenity Kitchen & Bath

    View all of the great submissions:

     

    We enjoyed viewing everyone’s design and want to thank you all for sharing with us and our community!

     

    Varying prize packages will be awarded.

    Ksusha Olson.png

    Residential Design Contest - Entry Deadline November 14

    in Announcements

    Posted

    The results are in! Congratulations to our 3 winners in the Residential Design Contest.


    1st Place – Doug Forbes of D. Forbes Design

    2nd Place – Jessica Chenier Bulman of Williams & Williams Designers

    3rd Place – Design by Rodrigo Brito of Dubinett Architects

     

    View all of the great submissions: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.939992291498255&type=3

     

    We enjoyed viewing everyone’s design and want to thank you all for sharing with us and our community!

     

    Varying prize packages will be awarded.

    Doug Forbes .png