#HGTV Ultimate Home Design Review 2015

The HGTV Ultimate Home Design allows you to design a kitchen in three-dimensions, which simulates the actual width, height and depth of the room you are creating so you get a realistic rendering. It also comes with a 3D walk-through that lets you preview your virtual kitchen so that you can see where you need to make changes. In addition, its 3D drag-and-drop tool makes it easy to remove items from the object library and place them in your room. For example, you can drag and drop virtual plants and small appliances and they automatically position themselves on your tables and countertops.

You can enter precise cabinet and appliance dimensions, which is a useful tool if you plan to use your old stove and refrigerator, and you can enter the measurements ahead of time so they fit into the new cabinet scheme. The program operates using both standard and metric measurements.

We like the floor-plan trace that allows you to import existing floor plans and blueprints. This helps with planning because you do not have to start from scratch if you use this kitchen planner.

Another standout quality this kitchen design program has is its ability to save your final plans to a PDF file. This allows you to share files, which is useful if you plan to hire a contractor to do part of the work. You can send the PDF for bids via email, and it serves as documentation for how you want the work completed. Most programs require that you install a print driver, so using this software saves you a step.

Construction Tools

Plumbing and HVAC planning tools help you determine whether your designs are feasible. This is especially helpful when remodeling an existing home that has eroded pipes or an inefficient HVAC system. If you want to move your sink from where it was, it may not be possible without spending more money than you want, so it is good to know ahead of time before you start buying costly materials.

This kitchen design program has the construction tools you need to design electrical plans. Electrical wiring and circuitry planning lets you determine where to place the required component for any type of lighting from recessed lights to pendant fixtures.

Design Object Library

Although we found a large selection of objects in the software's library, such as appliances, cabinets and hardware, the company does not specify how many selections there are. However, we did find plenty of options when browsing the library. When viewing countertops, we found materials such as granite, marble, tile and more. The database offers over 200 choices in cabinet styles, and you can choose the finish and color that you want. Flooring options are available in hardwood, slate and linoleum, and in many colors and styles.

The software has a tool called the Kitchen Builder Wizard that has a straightforward, easy-to-use interface, so if you do not have a lot of experience using design software this is a good option. You can easily drag and drop objects and place them where you want. You can even decorate rooms using your own photos.

The company lacks a free trial that you get with other kitchen-planning software programs. There is a toll-free telephone number; however, agents can only answer questions found on the website, so it is frustrating trying to get pre-sales help. Once you purchase the software, free technical support is included along with how-to video tips.