Category Archives: Drafting Software

Outdoor Kitchen Equipment

Sales in the market are projected to grow 6.3% annually through 2024. While sales for outdoor kitchen equipment are expected to stall amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Freedonia Group projects sales will rise an average of 6.3% annually through 2024. On the basis of the strong annual growth, the Cleveland-based research organization projects the outdoor kitchen market will increase to a value of $780 million in four years.

Growth in the market segment is projected to be positively impacted by new installations stemming from strong consumer interest in outdoor living. The ongoing introduction of mass-market products, including modular islands with built-in cooking fixtures, that can broaden the outdoor kitchen consumer base is also expected to contribute to the growth in the market segment. High activity in the add-on/upgrade segment of the outdoor kitchen equipment market is also predicted to have positive impacts on the overall market growth.

Outdoor Kitchen Equipment

Outdoor Kitchen Equipment and Designs

While COVID-19 is having “major near-term effects” on sales in the market segment, The Freedonia Group does not project the virus will have a significant impact on the overall long-term forecast. Sales in 2020 are expected to remain flat because of COVID-19. Government shutdowns of nonessential businesses, including outdoor specialty retailers, are limiting sales opportunities in the early months of 2020. The Freedonia Group predicts outdoor kitchen sales will return to higher levels as safety restrictions are gradually lifted.

Innovation in Outdoor Kitchen Equipment

Innovative products such as pellet and kamado grills, smokers, and pizza ovens are projected to grow at a faster rate than gas grills through 2024. Add-on fixtures such as side burners and griddle plates are expected to see the fastest growth from a smaller consumer base, according to The Freedonia Group.

The outdoor kitchen equipment market penetration will likely be aided by the rising availability of modular outdoor kitchens, which are less expensive than custom versions. The Freedonia Group projects the best growth opportunities are for products that allow custom configurations of islands to accommodate various spaces, include pre-cut compartments that support cooking fixtures and appliances, and offer aesthetic customization.

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Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive outdoor kitchen design software. Cad Pro is great for designing outdoor living projects, DIY home projects, smart home designs, technical drawings, electrical drawings, construction details, and much more. Anyone can start their new outdoor living space designs with CAD Pro.

There are many outdoor kitchen equipment manufacturing companies to choose from. Here are a few we recommend; Masterbuilt, Vicking, AJ Madison, BBQGuys and Kalamazoo.

Home Building Permit Drawings

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EPA Energy Star Homes

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) honored nearly 200 EPA Energy Star Homes and partners for their contributions to public health and the environment.

One of the key partners that won an ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence was KB Home, recognized for constructing more EPA Energy Star Homes than any other builder, with a total of more than 137,000 homes. KB Home also educated customers and real estate professionals through its Energy Performance Guide (EPG), a tool that projects estimated energy savings and utility bills for prospective home buyers.

EPA Energy Star Homes

EPA Energy Star Homes and Designs

Additional NAHB members were honored with the following awards:

Partner of the Year:

  • Jamestown – Atlanta
  • Main Street Homes – Midlothian, Va.
  • Winton & Associates – El Paso, Texas

Sustained Excellence for EPA Energy Star Homes

  • Andersen Corporation – Bayport, Minn.
  • Beazer Homes – Atlanta
  • Brighton Homes – Meridian, Idaho
  • Chinburg Properties – Newmarket, N.H.
  • Cushman & Wakefield – Chicago
  • Ivey Residential, LLC – Evans, Ga.
  • Kilroy Realty – Los Angeles
  • Mandalay Homes – Prescott, Ariz.
  • New Tradition Homes – Vancouver, Wash.
  • Providence Homes – Jacksonville, Fla.

For a full list of winners, visit energystar.gov.

For more information about EPA Energy Star Homes green building programs, visit nahb.org. And to stay current on the high-performance residential building sector, follow NAHB’s Sustainability and Green Building team on Twitter.

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Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive design software programs. Cad Pro is great for creating kitchen design plans, innovative smart home designs, custom home plans, building plans, office plans, construction details, deck plans and much more.

CAD Pro allows anyone to share their EPA Energy Star Homes with clients, colleagues or professional remodeling contractors using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® with a single click.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of Energy Star homes. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

New Construction Technology Innovations

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Advanced Smart Home Systems

Advanced smart home systems from Brilliant and Savant allow new home buyers to centralize and quickly control everything from lighting and utilities to security and entertainment. These types of new smart home designs help homeowners integrate their homes with their busy lifestyles.

Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive advanced smart home systems. Cad Pro is great for creating kitchen design plans, innovative smart home designs, custom home plans, building plans, office plans, construction details, and much more.

CAD Pro allows anyone to share their new smart home designs, ideas and plans with clients, colleagues or professional remodeling contractors using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® with a single click.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of smart home floor plans. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Advanced Smart Home Systems with New Smart Home Designs

Advanced Smart Home Systems

Builders with Advanced Smart Home Systems

The New Home Company (NEW HOME; NYSE: NWHM) has unveiled EVO Home Tech, a technology-forward program that integrates modern digital features with connectivity, ease of use, customization and efficiency.

Advanced smart home systems such as the EVO Home Tech package will include the purchase of all upcoming new smart home designs that will include the following:

  • Whole-home Wi-Fi
  • Video doorbell
  • Wi-Fi thermostat
  • Wi-Fi garage door opener
  • Smart electronic entry door lock
  • Lighting control

Home builders can also offer “White Glove” service that will ensure home buyers have the ability to operate their technology components. These options will include:

  • In-home orientation
  • Activation of all smart-home devices
  • Wi-Fi setup and connection to homeowner provided router from service provider
  • Training for homeowners on all products included in the EVOHome Tech Package

As part of the launch of these advanced smart home systems EVO Home Tech, NEW HOME has partnered with two emerging leaders in the smart-home industry: Brilliant and Savant.

Brilliant offers an in-wall touchscreen control system that makes it easy to control smart devices and experiences throughout the home: lighting, doorbells, locks, climate, music, video intercom, scenes and more. With these advanced smart home systems with Amazon Alexa built-in, Brilliant also offers the option to enable voice control in any room without the need for countertop voice appliances. Brilliant Controls install in the place of a standard light switch and include a built-in motion sensor and camera with a privacy shutter.

Brilliant is designed to evolve with the needs of a homeowner and works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Sonos, Ring, Ecobee, Honeywell, Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, August, Philips Hue, LIFX, TP-Link, Wemo and SmartThings.

Home builders are excited to partner with The New Home Company to bring the best possible smart home experience to every NEW HOME customer,” said Aaron Emigh, Co-Founder and CEO of Brilliant. “By offering new smart home designs with a pre-installed Brilliant Smart Home System and devices like a Ring doorbell, smart lock and smart thermostat, NEW HOME is setting the new industry standard for what a true integrated smart home should be.”

In May of last year, NEW HOME announced that it became the nation’s first home builder to offer Savant Breaker-Companion Modules into its energy efficient residences in California. These highly intelligent modules have been designed to enable homeowners to add energy management services and lighting control solutions to their smart home functionality and enhance their lifestyle while meeting California’s strict Title 24 energy regulations.

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Market Data Sources: National Wood Flooring Assn. (NWFA)Hardwood Floors magazineCatalina ResearchFloor Covering WeeklyU.S. Department of CommerceConlumino/Global DataStatistics CanadaHardwood FederationNorth American Laminate Flooring Assn.Statista.

Smart Home Design Software Products

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Best Kitchen Design Solutions

These are some of the best kitchen design solutions that are gaining in popularity. These popular kitchen design trends such as brass accents, mixed lighting, and custom storage solutions are among the elements projected to take off with designers and homeowners.

Design trends come and go each year, which makes designing a kitchen even more difficult. With a high cost and long timelines, kitchen remodels are major investments, and homeowners generally prefer that their new kitchen not go out of style one year after completion. Better Home & Gardens spoke with several kitchen design experts to gauge the best kitchen design solutions.

Best Kitchen Design Solutions and Popular Kitchen Design Trends

Popular Kitchen Design Trends

Five Best Kitchen Design Solutions

Smart Integrated Appliances
Designed to fit flush and coordinate with kitchen cabinetry, integrated appliances, particularly refrigerators and dishwashers, are on the rise and one of the best kitchen design solutions. Today’s options prevent utilitarian appliances from breaking up sightlines and seamlessly disappear into surrounding cabinetry to provide a more cohesive look and luxurious aesthetic.

Marketing experts and top designers all agree that integrated appliances are one of the popular kitchen design trends. Integrated appliances allow total design freedom, which is a feature that yields itself across aesthetic and style preferences. Meshing with their minimalist design philosophy, designers have added dozens of integrated offerings to their product lines in recent years, including column cooling units and under-counter cooling drawers and dishwashers.

To achieve a seamless look that brings style to the forefront, disguise a refrigerator or dishwasher with custom paneling, or opt to build wall ovens and other appliances into cabinetry for a streamlined effect.

Mix-and-Match Lighting
With an increasing focus on lighting as a decorative element, mixing different styles and types has never been bigger in kitchens, and the trend lets you celebrate multiple aesthetics. In a well-designed kitchen, lighting serves various functions. For example, an overhead fixture brightens up the overall space, while sconces illuminate specific tasks. For kitchens, there’s definitely been an uptick in pendants for use over islands. One of the best kitchen design solutions such as sconces are in demand, for lighting the washing of dishes in the sink or as an accent along a backsplash behind the stove.

Brass Accents
Appearing in cabinet hardware, drawer pulls, faucets, and light fixtures, brass finishes on decorative elements add a touch of shine to any kitchen’s design. And no matter the finish satin, unlacquered, or polished brass this metal makes a stylish statement.

Brass accents offer one of the popular kitchen design trends with classic and timeless looks while still feeling bold and contemporary. The finish blends nicely with most kitchen design styles, but we especially love the look of brass hardware against dark, moody cabinetry or a polished brass faucet that acts as a shiny focal point in a neutral kitchen.

Custom Storage Solutions
As the heart of the home, kitchens tend to serve multiple purposes. That’s why smart storage is essential for keeping kitchen clutter at bay and making the most of available space. Creative storage solutions continue to be our most recommended of the best kitchen design solutions. Popular add-ons in kitchen design, has 78% of homeowners renovating their kitchens and planning to include specialty storage in their new cabinetry, according to Houzz.

Colors Such as Beautiful Blues
Shades of blue will continue to be popular in the new year as evidenced by Pantone’s pick for color of the year. And it’s no wonder this friendly, approachable hue is great for kitchens. The blue color family is extremely versatile,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. Its varying shades from light to denim to navy have calming qualities that induce a sense of comfort at home and feel almost neutral.

Popular Kitchen Design Trends and Plans

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Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive design software. Cad Pro is great for creating the best kitchen design solutions,  kitchen design plans, innovative smart home designs, custom home plans, building plans, office plans, construction details, and much more.

CAD Pro allows anyone to share their ideas and plans with clients, colleagues or professional remodeling contractors using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® with a single click.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of kitchen plans and designs. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Patio Designs

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Wood Flooring Industry Trends

Wood flooring industry trends and projections. Despite increased publicity of these wood flooring products and laminate products on home improvement/flipping shows, sales for wood and laminate flooring both dropped in 2018. According to Catalina Research, the hardwood flooring market dipped 3.7% in 2018, to $3.52 billion. Laminate flooring, which faces greater competition from low-cost imports as well as LVT (luxury vinyl tile) and WPC (wood plastic composite), dropped 6.7% to $922 million.

The generally positive remodeling outlook should help domestic sales; more than three-quarters of laminate flooring and about half of the hardwood flooring sales in 2018 were to the residential remodeling market. Further advances for laminate flooring may come through material and technology advances, including digital printing and water-resistant products. Laminate flooring may also benefit from the diligent monitoring of imported goods to ensure they meet emission regulations. Of the roughly $11.6 billion floor coverings imported into the United States in 2018, wood flooring industry trends and hardwood flooring accounted for slightly less than $1.5 billion and laminate flooring for about $614.0 million, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Catalina Research.

Wood Flooring Industry Trends and Wood Flooring Products

Wood Flooring Products and Trends

Wood Flooring Industry Trends and Stats

Statista projects revenue in the estimated $27.011 billion U.S. floor covering market to grow annually by 0.5% (2019-2023). Revenue in the $3.153 billion Canadian market is also expected to grow annually by 1.4% during the same period. Likewise, Statista projects the $2.127 billion Mexican flooring market to grow annually by 6.6% (CAGR 2019-2023). (Revenue in USD)

In 2018 wood flooring industry trends for Canada exported $441.4 million in wood flooring products and other millwork and imported $352.7 million, according to figures from Statistics Canada.

In the National Wood Flooring Assn.’s 2020 Industry Outlook survey, more than 64% of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and contractors forecast an increase in wood flooring products, with about half predicting a rise between 3-7%, and 14% projecting growth of more than 8%. Nearly a quarter of respondents, however, were pessimistic about 2020. Published in Hardwood Floors magazine.

Why wood flooring industry trends are starting to increase. According to NWFA’s 2020 Industry Outlook survey, it’s wider, longer planks in light colors. White oak continues to be the go-to-species, in part due to its availability. Textures are still in demand, although the survey predicted a decrease in hand-scraped finishes due to their difficulty for cleaning. Gray, natural and other light colors continue to be popular.

The U.S. hardwood flooring industry employs 45,000 people, contributes $4 billion to U.S. gross domestic product, and generates $8.5 billion in U.S. economic output, according to a recent Economic Impact Study commissioned by the Hardwood Federation.

With their ability to mimic the look of real wood, LVT and WPC were named the biggest threats to wood flooring by contractors in NWFA’s 2020 Industry Outlook survey.

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Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive design software programs. Cad Pro is great for creating innovative smart home designs, custom home plans, building plans, office plans, construction details, and much more.

CAD Pro allows anyone to share their wood flooring industry trends, ideas and plans with clients, colleagues or professional remodeling contractors using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® with a single click.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of professional designs. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Market Data Sources: National Wood Flooring Assn. (NWFA)Hardwood Floors magazineCatalina ResearchFloor Covering WeeklyU.S. Department of CommerceConlumino/Global DataStatistics CanadaHardwood FederationNorth American Laminate Flooring Assn.Statista, FDMC.

Popular Home Design Trends

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New Construction Technology Innovations

New construction technology innovations such as virtual reality, augmented reality, modular construction, and robots could play a larger role in the construction industry in the coming years. The construction industry is often a late adopter of construction technology advancements and very hesitant to change. However, despite this historical reluctance, there are many technological innovations that have the potential to penetrate the industry and change how it operates.

New Construction Technology Innovations and Construction Technology Advancements

New Construction Technology Innovations and Advancements

These technologies are already making a huge impact on many industries around the world, and the construction industry is no exception. Buildings are becoming ever more complicated, and these new construction technology innovations are helping architects and construction teams improve designs and detect design errors.

To date these construction technology advancements are assisting architects and design teams greatly improve building design through interactive design and gesture interfacing. You will see these new construction technology innovations influence the industry while expanding even further advancements. This could range from errors in HVAC system design or finding missing elements that have been overlooked during the design phase.

New Construction Technology Innovations

3D Printing
Another tech trend to watch out for is the role of 3D printing in the construction industry. The benefits of it have already been explored and exploited by various construction companies around the world.

The ability to either prefabricate offsite or directly on-site has obvious labor and material cost benefits over more traditional building methods. This type of new construction technology innovations reduces waste and being automated is not restricted by construction worker shift patterns.

Robotics
In the future robotics will make a bigger impact in the construction industry. Somewhat linked to the impact of 3D printing, robotics is also seeing impressive infiltration into the industry. In fact, one report by the World Economic Forum predicted that 2020 could be the year of the robot in the construction industry.

From robotic bricklayers to laying roads, these types of new construction technology innovations are increasingly finding their place amongst the workforce on construction sites. This is interesting as traditionally the construction industry has seen very little automation, relying largely on manual labor. By adding robots to the workforce, construction companies are seeing improved construction times and improved quality of builds. Robots are also being used to help demolish buildings too.

Sustainability
For several decades now, building regulations have been placing more and more burden on building design to reduce their environmental impact and sustainability. This is a trend that will only become more strict heading into the future.

Optimized energy efficiency and a drive for low to zero carbon emissions have driven this type of new construction technology innovations in building construction and service design for years. In response, new, better thermal performance materials are being developed that promise to make the buildings of the future incredibly well insulated for a fraction of the cost of current solutions.

One example from a few years ago was the development of a concrete roof that can generate and store energy. This type of construction technology advancements should make buildings of the future cheaper to live in and reduce their impact on the environment.

Reducing waste or recycling old materials is another area where sustainability is helping drive innovation in the construction industry. For example, last year one architecture firm announced its plans for a new method of recycling construction waste into ton new reusable building materials.

Modular and Prefabricated Construction
Modular and prefabricated solutions are nothing new to the construction industry. For example, the end of the second World War saw something of a ‘Cambrian Explosion’ in prefab design in war-torn cities across the UK.

While it has fallen out of favor over the last few decades, new construction technology innovations such as prefabs have been making something of a comeback in recent years. The promise of faster on-site assembly and higher quality, standardized builds are seen by some as the solution to tackle perceived housing crises around the world.

“Advances in high-tech design and construction mean increasing numbers of components can be manufactured off-site. That means buildings can go up more quickly and quietly, with fewer materials wasted.

To accommodate modular house-building, developers are building their own factories, and architects are getting ever more ambitious in their designs.

Exoskeletons
Another popular new construction technology innovations to watch is the use of exoskeletons. The potential benefits this can afford to a construction site’s workforce are obvious.

Laborers can carry more load than their fragile human bodies would normally be able to cope with, and if it is widely adopted, it would largely increase the safety of construction sites. For construction companies, this will dramatically improve their bottom line by reducing the number of laborers needed on-site as well as reduce lost man-hours from injury.

“ABI Research predicts the robotic exoskeleton market alone will reach $1.8 billion in 2025, up from $68 million in 2014. This year, about 6,000 suits will be sold, mainly for rehabilitation. By 2025, ABI expects to see about 2.6 million on the market.”

But they may ultimately lose out to robots and 3D printing alternatives as exoskeletons still rely on a human operator at their heart. That being said, they might offer the perfect compromise between labor unions who will inevitably try to protect their member’s jobs from becoming obsolete.

Building information modeling
Construction technology advancements such as BIM Building Information Modelling, is a process of creating and managing information on a construction project from cradle to grave. This intelligent 3D model-based process has already seen wide adoption by architects, engineers, and other construction professionals.

In fact, many local authorities have made BIM the standard for many of its construction project needs. BIM allows stakeholders and suppliers to more efficiently plan, design construct and manage a building and its infrastructure.

As other new construction technology innovations already mentioned, like AR, and VR, become more popular, their integration with BIM will become ever more important.

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Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive design software programs. Cad Pro is great for creating innovative smart home designs, custom home plans, building plans, office plans, construction details, and much more.

CAD Pro allows anyone to share their new construction technology innovations and plans with clients, colleagues or professional remodeling contractors using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® with a single click.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of designs. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Sites like ESUB of great insight and notable tech trends in the construction industry.

Optimizing Net Zero Homes

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Kitchen Cabinet Design Plans

Before getting started on any kitchen cabinet design plans, you may want to create or purchase kitchen cabinet plans to determine the optimum design and layout of your kitchen cabinets. You can find a large variety popular kitchen cabinet designs and plans on the internet or at your local home improvement store.

Ideas from Top Rated Kitchen Designers
There are many resources available for creating all types of kitchen cabinet design plans. You can find these popular kitchen cabinet designs everywhere from national home improvement stores to independent design firms. Some are free, but some custom plans require purchasing. The one you use may depend on your individual ideas for your kitchen redesign (and, of course, your budget).

Kitchen Cabinet Design Plans and Popular Kitchen Cabinet Designs

Kitchen Cabinet Design Plans and Ideas

Once you have determined your design resource, you will need to determine the exact measurements of your kitchen space so the design plan can be as accurate as possible. This will ultimately save you a great deal of time and money as it can eliminate potential mistakes in the installation of your actual kitchen cabinet design plans. You will need to include any and all appliances in your kitchen cabinet plans so to ensure that the cabinets fit correctly around them when installed.

While determining the layout of your cabinets in your plan, consider a couple of key tips. Above all else, kitchens are work-spaces. Try to design your cabinet layout to provide the best work triangle between the refrigerator, the sink and the stove; this facilitates the flow that most chefs desire in their work-space. This is especially important if your kitchen is smaller. In the case of a kitchen with small square footage, knowing the shape of your kitchen—U-shaped, L-shaped, galley, or island layout—will help determine how best the most popular kitchen cabinet designs can be laid out to maximize the efficiency of your work-space.

Since many modern kitchen plans include open concept designs with no separation between the kitchen and other living spaces in the home, you may consider breaking your kitchen cabinet design plans into “zones,” separating the work spaces from the storage spaces and the gathering spaces of your kitchen.

Finally, no matter which design source your plans come from, they should reflect your own personal style and budget. Plans should include any specialty furniture or appliances that you want in your kitchen—whether it’s a built-in bookshelf to house all your favorite cookbooks, or a built-in wine fridge to house all of your favorite wines. Custom plans lead the way to custom installations, which lead the way to your own unique dream kitchen.

Kitchen Cabinet Design Plans and Ideas

Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive cabinet design software programs. Cad Pro is great for creating innovative smart home designs, custom home plans, building plans, office plans, construction details, and much more.

CAD Pro allows anyone to share their kitchen cabinet design plans and ideas with clients, colleagues or professional remodeling contractors using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® with a single click.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of floor plan designs. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

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High-Tech Smart Kitchens

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Walmart Home Improvement Tools

Everything from hedge trimmers, power drills to sanders, Walmart home improvement tools now offers great prices and availability for all of the Hart home improvement tools.

Retailer Walmart has launched a comprehensive tool line called HART, entering the home improvement space by targeting DIY enthusiast. The company touted the affordability and wide breadth of options in the new line of home improvement tools.

The complete line of Walmart home improvement tools and products that are easy to use and versatile for any project homeowners find themselves having to tackle, and available at an excellent value and amazing quality.

The HART line features power tools, hand tools, lawn & garden tools, automotive tools and several other accessories and lifestyle products. It also offers a variety of storage solutions, including a 36” 5-drawer mobile work bench.

Cad Pro is great for designing outdoor living projects, DIY home projects, smart home designs, technical drawings, electrical drawings, and much more. Anyone can start their new DIY home projects with CAD Pro.

Walmart Home Improvement Tools by Hart Tools

New Walmart Home Improvement Tools

If you ever undertake, or are planning to undertake, literally any home renovation or DIY project, we’ve got great news for you: You can now give your tool box a serious upgrade for a great price, thanks to Walmart home improvement tools. Today, the one-stop mega shop announced Hart Tools. Hart offers new in-house line of pretty much every tool you can imagine.

The line spans power tools to hand tools to outdoor appliances there’s even a lawn mower, plus places to store them, like an array of toolboxes and a seriously sturdy metal tool cabinet. Of course, given Walmart’s notoriously low prices, the tools all come at insanely great cost for their value. Take it from me, as I got to try them out myself today. As somewhat of a drill enthusiast, I was impressed by the power of each model of handheld drills, which start at $69.99.

Somehow, the best part about the Walmart home improvement tools system isn’t the prices. It’s that the Hart system runs on a common battery, meaning you can buy a reusable battery to go with your drill, and then use it on your multi-tool, sander, or leaf blower. And yes, the brand sells tools without battery packs too, so you don’t have to accrue unnecessary accessories while saving money.

Walmart home improvement tools now offer several Hart tools. Hart plans to roll out more tools over the next few months. There will be more than 300 variety of tools in all. That is to say: There couldn’t be a better time to stock your tool kit or toolbox.

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Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive home design software programs. Cad Pro is great for creating innovative smart home designs, custom home plans, building plans, office plans, construction details, and much more.

CAD Pro allows anyone to share their ideas and plans with clients, colleagues or professional remodeling contractors using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® with a single click.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of designs and blueprints with the new Walmart home improvement tools. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Smart Home Security Solutions

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High-Tech Smart Kitchens

While there’s no shortage of high-tech smart kitchens and technology options, dealers and designers report that their clients have mixed reactions to incorporating smart kitchen technology. Homeowners have expressed reservations about their own comfort with today’s hi-tech kitchen options, as reported by a KBDN survey.

Studies have shown that 81% of Americans have a smart phone and consumers average nearly 2-1/2 hours a day on social media, while many have been slower to embrace new technology in their kitchens.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of floor plan designs. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Design High-Tech Smart Kitchens

Designing High-Tech Smart Kitchens

Incorporating High-Tech Smart Kitchens

Connected appliances and products that showcase the latest tech advancements may be hot commodities on the floor at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, but dealers and designers often report less enthusiasm among their client base. This leads to questions about whether the technology being offered for high-tech smart kitchens is meeting the actual needs and desires of today’s consumers, as well as what concerns may be holding them back from fully incorporating smart kitchen technology with today’s connected products.

Additionally, dealers’ and designers’ attitudes toward technology may be coloring the picture. In a recent homeowner survey looking at bath technology trends which was conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) in conjunction with the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) – the majority of homeowners said they believed technology was “essential” in the master bath, even as the majority of bath dealers and designers said it was not. This begs the question: Is the design industry truly leading the charge when it comes to high-tech smart kitchens in the home, or is the industry following a few paces behind?

To better understand the answer to this, Kitchen & Bath Design News recently polled more than 130 kitchen and bath dealers and designers to find out more about their clients’ interest in today’s technology, the features they value most as well as their concerns about incorporating smart kitchen technology. Additionally, respondents were asked to rate their own comfort with technology and use of home tech products, since kitchen and bath professionals are so often involved in making key decisions as far as what and how much technology will be incorporated into their clients’ kitchen projects.

Driving the Hi-Tech Market
Incorporating smart kitchen technology into a kitchen project is usually a joint decision, according to those polled. Indeed, when asked who drives the initial interest in tech products, survey respondents said their clients did so (32.5%) more than they did (23.3%), though most of the time, it was a joint decision (44.2%).

The primary reason for high-tech smart kitchens was overwhelmingly seen as convenience, which was cited as the most important benefit by 56.9% of those polled (see Graph 2). This was followed by speed/time savings (15.4%), safety/home security (13.9%), remote access (6.9%) and improved cooking performance (6.9%).

The vast majority of homeowners are “very interested” or “somewhat interested” in smart kitchen technology according to dealers and designers polled, with less than a quarter saying their clients are “not very interested” or “not at all interested”.

When asked to talk about what most excites them and their clients about today’s high-tech smart kitchens, the answers ranged from the ability to use smart appliances to improve kitchen processes (i.e. detecting spoiled food, refrigerator doors left open, cooktop or oven not turned off), to being able to monitor family members from a distance (i.e. a senior with mobility or cognitive issues or children coming home to an empty house).

Others expressed excitement that kitchen technology is evolving from “a bunch of independent gadgets” to a “truly integrated smart home where everything works together to make life run more smoothly.”

One respondent cited “instant access to recipes and the ability to create shopping lists, have food delivered fresh from these lists and get more accurate cook times” as tech features that are enticing consumers today.

Another noted, “As far as excitement goes, the cleanliness, time savings and guessing factor have all been addressed in some way, shape or form when incorporating smart kitchen technology. Faucets that are touch-less for cleanliness or the option to specify an amount to fill by [spoken] word definitely add value and a time savings factor.”

Hi-Tech Consumer Concerns
While technology is slowly but surely gaining ground in the kitchen, consumers continue to voice some concerns, according to those surveyed. One of the biggest concerns among these is the worry that incorporating connected appliances will shorten the lifespan of the product due to how quickly technology becomes dated, as well as potential repair costs. In fact, of those polled, more than three quarters (76.2%) said their clients were either “very worried” (30.8%) or “somewhat worried” (45.4%) about this (see Graph 4). By contrast, only 22.3% said their clients were “not very worried” and a mere 1.5% said they were not worried at all about high-tech smart kitchens.

Privacy concerns also were cited by designers as a concern related to incorporating smart kitchen technology, with more than six in 10 saying their clients were very or somewhat worried about the impact technology in their home could have on privacy issues. Nearly a fifth (19.2%) said their clients were “very worried” about privacy issues as they relate to technology in their homes, while 44.6% said their clients were “somewhat worried.” Another 30% said their customers were “not very worried” and 6.2% said their customers were “not at all worried.”

Designers themselves, however, seemed quite concerned with this, with many expressing the belief that the dangers of privacy loss might be far beyond what their clients realize.

“It’s really not safe at all,” one stated. “We’ve been anesthetized by that truth, but there is no privacy, and the more tech you have in your home, the greater the danger.”

Another noted, when it comes to high-tech smart kitchens, I’m seeing more concerns than excitement right now. Those range from privacy issues to dangers presented by hackers. It’s common knowledge that companies eavesdrop on users to gain information on how to target advertising. However, the companies can be hacked, and malfunctions can occur. There’s also the possibility of neighbors accidentally receiving information without a homeowner’s knowledge. The designer went on to recall an incident where the family’s baby monitor picked up the neighbor’s conversation from a kitchen 100 feet away.

Other professional designers’ question whether the available technology meets their clients’ actual needs. As one stated, “Since my clients who can afford a kitchen renovation are usually in their 40s, 50s or 60s, technology isn’t as important to them. They may be impressed with incorporating smart kitchen technology and what can be done, especially when looking at appliances, but they aren’t really using it. Part of it is the thought that technology changes so rapidly that paying a premium for something that might be obsolete in a year doesn’t interest them. And many of my clients find available technology irrelevant. They don’t want to start the oven from their phone when they’re away from home. They want functionality and beauty, not bells and whistles.”

Another designer believes that clients’ biggest concerns are “reliability and the higher cost, knowing that improvements are happening all the time and tech become obsolete fast.”

Hi-Tech Kitchen Designers
While industry pros admit that high-tech smart kitchens don’t have all the answers for consumers’ concerns about kitchen technology, most will agree that knowledge and expertise are critical in educating clients and helping to guide them to the best decisions for their projects.

Yet that can present challenges when many design pros lack first-hand experience themselves. In fact, when asked to rate their comfort level with home technology, barely a quarter felt they were “very comfortable,” while another 44.6% said they were only “somewhat comfortable.” Nearly a third said they were “not very comfortable” (19.2%) or “not at all comfortable” (10%) with today’s home technology.

Likewise, when it comes to smart speaker home devices like Amazon Echo, Google Home, etc., which are often an essential component to today’s integrated homes, only a third of dealers and designers polled actually own and use these devices in their own homes. More than half (56.9%) said it’s not something they “want or need right now,” while another 9.2% said they didn’t have or use such a device but planned to in the future.

Some design professionals, recognizing that the fast-changing nature of incorporating smart kitchen technology or smart home technology might require a little help to keep up with, are partnering with technology experts or integrators on kitchen projects that incorporate advanced technology. However, barely a quarter of those surveyed (26.4%) are currently doing so, though another 43.4% reported that they are looking into this for the future.

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Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive home design software programs. Cad Pro is great for creating innovative smart home designs, custom home plans, building plans, office plans, construction details, and much more.

CAD Pro allows anyone to share their ideas for high-tech smart kitchens and plans with clients, colleagues or professional remodeling contractors using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® with a single click.

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Popular Home Design Trends

As the seasons change each year, many homeowners will start researching popular home design trends. In the home design world, things are getting very exciting. Not only are the new year’s hottest hues making their grand debut, but home design trend experts are also gearing up to make their anticipated predictions for home interiors.

Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive home design software programs. Cad Pro is great for creating innovative smart home designs, custom home plans, building plans, office plans, construction details, and much more.

CAD Pro allows anyone to share their ideas and plans with clients, colleagues or professional remodeling contractors using Dropbox®, Google Drive™, OneDrive®, and SharePoint®. Export files to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, and PowerPoint® with a single click.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of floor plans for popular home design trends. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the National Association of Landscape professionals.

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Top 8 Popular Home Design Trends

Here’s some good news for those who want to get a head start on their remodeling plans: Home remodeling site Houzz, a database where millions of professionals and homeowners go to share decorating ideas, recently pulled together a list of eight popular home design trends poised to make it big and there are more than a few ideas we’d like to share with you. Read on for a glimpse into your decorating future.

ONE: – Anything-But-White Kitchens
In the kitchen, an all-white palette has reigned supreme for a long time and for good reason. They’re timeless, classic, clean, and work well with almost any style. But today’s homeowners just may be itching for change. According to popular home design trends from Houzz white cabinets are still popular with remodelers (with 40 percent of renovating homeowners installing them), there’s also more of an uptick in those searching for alternatives. Houzz points to soft hues, like light grays and blues, as on-the-rise replacements for the all-white kitchen. Another option for those who can’t part with their white cabinets. Pops of wood, which can be introduced through open shelving, countertops, drawers, and pull-outs.

TWO: – Return of Formal Dining Rooms
Whether it’s a casual weeknight supper or a Saturday dinner party, meals these days tend to be shared over informal arrangements, often within or near the kitchen. But your formal dining room can offer much more than mere storage space for your finest china. Houzz expects these popular home design trends and homeowners to treat their dining rooms as the “wow” spaces they have the potential to be, with bold colors, patterns, eye-catching light fixtures and artwork that might not fit elsewhere within the style of the home. Talk about dressing to impress.

THREE: – Spa-Like Bathroom
With bathrooms becoming more spa-like wellness retreats in the home, benches, stools, and window seats are becoming much more common and one of the popular home design trends. Keep a stool or bench near the vanity as a place to perch during your nighttime skincare routine, or by the bath as a catch-all for towels, candles, books, and face masks.

FOUR: – Tiled Bathtub Aprons
In a bathroom, tile is often one of those tricks’ designers use for popular home design trends. Tile can yield style with big results at little cost. But while you might expect to see it covering a floor or shower surround, tile can also totally transform a bath. According to Houzz, this versatile material is increasingly being used to dress up a tub apron, which adds style in addition to giving the appearance of a fixture that’s entirely built in.

FIVE: – Double Floating Vanities
Speaking of bathrooms for popular home design trends, homeowners are also looking to spruce up their sink areas with floating vanities. Beloved for their clean, minimalistic look, these contemporary favorites are practical for their ability to free up floor space, which can create an illusion of size in a room with minimal square footage.

SIX: – Exciting and Functional Laundry Rooms
It used to be that, if a homeowner wanted to have a little design fun, the default location would be the powder room. (The pint-sized space is small enough to handle big ideas and feels separate enough to work with little cohesion from the rest of the home.) But, these days, homeowners are seeking excitement in another hardworking space: the laundry room. According to Houzz, one of designers popular home design trends are increasingly using the laundry room to experiment with cheerful colors, playful patterns, and quirky design ideas, including chalkboard walls, themed wallpapers, and creative storage solutions. Anything to make the task at hand a little more enjoyable, right?

SEVEN: – Fully Wrapped Powder Rooms
Just because homeowners are expanding their creative footprint to the laundry room doesn’t mean they’re neglecting the original statement maker. On the contrary, powder rooms seem to be going even bolder and are one of the popular home design trends. According to Houzz, wallpapers are still the stars of tiny powder rooms, with designers now opting to fully surround the small space with a single eye-catcher, be it a large-print pattern or textural grasscloth.

EIGHT: – Custom Wood Range Hoods
The bathroom isn’t the only space being taken over by texture. In the kitchen, warm woods are making their way to unconventional places, including over cooktops as decorative range hoods. Along with the ubiquitous farmhouse sink, warm wood accents are perfect accompaniments for classic farmhouse-style kitchens.

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