Designing or Remodeling a Bathroom

This tutorial will teach you how to design or remodel a bathroom. Specifically, you can learn about:

Getting Started
Adding Cabinets to your Bathroom
Customizing Cabinets
Adding Plumbing Fixtures to your Bathroom
Adding Accessories to your Bathroom
Adding Lighting Fixtures to your Bathroom
Adding Furniture to your Bathroom
Moving 3D Elements
Next Steps: Materials and Customizing

Getting Started

Before starting your bathroom plan, it's a good idea to think about the scope of your project. If you're only remodeling a bathroom, you might re-create just the space you intend to remodel -- a simple room with four walls, for example -- or you can create a rough approximation of your entire house and design your bathroom within that floor plan. Either way, you can use the House Builder Wizard to provide you a basic structure in which to work.

To get started by using the House Builder Wizard:
1. In the Startup Dialog, select Start a New Project. The House Builder will automatically appear.
2. Make choices on each page of the wizard and click Finish.

To draw additional walls, or learn how to manipulate your walls further, watch the Walls video tutorial.
For more information on the basics of inserting elements such as doors and windows, see the Getting to Know 3D Home tutorial.

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Creating a Bathroom

There are many ways to start a bathroom design, but after setting up the space and adding doors and windows, most people begin by adding fixtures. In deciding how you are going to lay out your bathroom, you may want to consider the real-world limitations of your design. For example, you should think about where your plumbing is located. If you don't want to incur additional expenses to re-route the plumbing, you should place toilets, sinks, tubs and showers in close proximity to their original position.

Adding Cabinets
Video Tutorial
If your bathroom will include a sink set into a cabinet - a vanity - you should insert the cabinet first. Cabinets can be inserted in 2D or 3D view, but precisely placing them in a 2D view is much easier. If you position cabinets near walls, they automatically attach themselves to the walls. A cabinet will also automatically attach itself to another cabinet when you are inserting a series of cabinets of the same height.

To add cabinets:
1. Click on the Interiors tab and then select the Cabinets tool.
2. Select the type and size of cabinet you want to insert from the Catalog.
3. Move the cursor to the place in your plan where you'd like to insert the cabinet. You'll know when the cabinet is snapped into place when you see its edge is flush against the wall and can't be moved further. Click in the drawing area to insert the cabinet.
4. Continue to select other cabinets and place them in your project. When you're done adding cabinets, right-click and select Finish.

Tip: When inserting multiple cabinets, you'll know that they are properly placed when the row of cabinets appears as one single unit.

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Editing Cabinets
Once you've added a cabinet, you can make changes to its size, door/drawer, appearance, behavior, or any customizable element. You can make these edits in 2D or 3D view, but you might find it easier to select the cabinet in 3D view if your design is crowded with lots of elements. Also, it's more fun to work in 3D because you can instantly see the changes you're making.

You may want to edit a number of cabinets at the same time. This can be achieved by holding down the Shift key while clicking on multiple cabinets.

To edit cabinets:
1. Select a cabinet by clicking on it, or select multiple cabinets by holding down the shift key and clicking on the cabinets you want to edit.
2. Right-click and select Properties.
3. The cabinet Properties dialog will appear. From this dialog you can change any customizable aspect of the cabinet. For example, click on the Leaf tab to change the style of the cabinet's front panel.
4. Any changes you make to the cabinet are displayed in the preview area.
5. Click OK when finished.


Example: Multiple Kitchen Cabinets Being Edited

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Adding Plumbing Fixtures
Video Tutorial
Plumbing fixtures include items such as sinks, faucets, tubs, showers and toilets. Tubs, showers, toilets, and pedestal sinks can be inserted anywhere in your bathroom space. However, sinks must be installed on top of a cabinet (see discussion on cabinets below). Note: you must make sure that the cabinet is big enough to place a sink on top of it. Otherwise, you will not be able to insert the sink.

To add plumbing fixtures:
1. Click on the Interiors tab and then select the Plumbing Fixtures tool.
2. Select a fixture type, such as Tubs and Showers, from the upper window of the catalog.
3. Select a specific fixture, such as a rectangular shower, from the middle window of the catalog.
4. Move the cursor to the place in your plan where you'd like to insert the fixture. If inserting a bathroom sink, you'll need to place it on top of a cabinet. Note: You'll know when the sink is snapped into place when you see the Snap cursor.
5. Click to insert the fixture.
6. Select other types of fixtures from the catalog and contiue to insert them until you're finished with plumbing. Right-click and select Finish when you're done.

Adding Accessories
Video Tutorial
Accessories include elements such as window treatments, mirrors, rugs, towel racks, towel rings, medicine cabinets, and shower curtains. In most cases, these elements can be added to your plan in the same way that any other 3D element is added. However, there are a few exceptions. Some elements, such as towel rings, are designed to be placed at a specific height. Occasionally it may be necessary to increase or decrease the default elevation level for an element so that it sits squarely on the countertop.

To add accessories:
1. Select the Interiors tab
2. Select the Accessories tool.
3. Pick the kind of accessory you want from the catalog on the right.
4. Click in the drawing area to add the element to your drawing.
5. Continue to add other accessories, if you wish, by picking them from the catalog.

To adjust the height of an element:
1. Insert the element anywhere into your drawing area.
2. Select the element you want to work with by clicking on it.
3. Right-click and select Elevate from the right-click menu.
4. The Elevate screen will appear.
5. Enter the number of inches above the current location you'd like the item to be placed. For example, if you want to place a picture frame on a 30-inch countertop, enter 30" and click OK.
6. You should now be able to place the picture on the countertop.

Tip: If you're having trouble getting objects to share the same space, turn off Collision Control briefly . This will allows you to position one object on top of another and adjust the height. It's a good idea to turn Collision Control back on, because it will help you place other elements in your plan correctly.

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Adding Lighting Fixtures
Video Tutorial
The program contains a selection of lighting fixtures. Interior fixtures include wall lights, lamps, and ceiling lights. These fixtures can be inserted into your plan like any other 3D element. Each lighting fixture has a light source (i.e., an incandescent 100 Watt bulb) that provides illumination for a 3DTrueView rendering of your design. You can edit any customizable aspect of the lighting fixture, including turning it's light source on and off for rendering, by accessing its Properties.

To edit lighting fixtures:
1. Double-click on an inserted lighting fixture to bring up its Properties dialog.
2. You may edit the fixture's size, light source, appearance, and behavior by selecting the appropriate tab.
3. Click OK when done.

For information on adding electrical outlets and wiring, see the tutorial on Customizing Your Interior.

Adding Furniture
Video Tutorial
You many want to add a table, chair or other furniture to your bathroom design. This can be easily accomplished by using the Furniture tool.

To add furniture:
1. Select the Interiors tab
2. Select the Furniture tool.
3. Pick the kind of furniture you want from the catalog.
4. Click in the drawing area to add the piece of furniture to your drawing.

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Moving 3D Elements

Fixtures, cabinets, accessories or any 3D element in your plan can be easily moved or rotated after you've placed them in your plan.

To move an element:
1. Click on the element to select it. It should become highlighted.
2. Move your cursor over the grip handle in the center of the element. The Move cursor appears.
3. Click and drag the element to move it to its new position.

To rotate an element:
1. Click on the element to select it. It should become highlighted.
2. Move your cursor over the triangular shaped grip handle on one side of the element. The Rotate cursor appears.
3. Click and drag your mouse in a circular motion until the element is rotated correctly.

Tip: When working in tight spaces, it's a good idea to zoom in as close as possible. To do this use the scroll mouse to zoom in or out or, if your mouse does not have a scroll wheel, use the Zoom Window Tool to highlight the area you want to zoom in on.

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Next Steps: Materials and Customizing

With everything now in place, you may want to start applying different materials to your walls, floor, and ceiling, adding trim, or customizing the fixtures you've inserted. You can find more information on these finishing touches on the tutorial on Customizing Your Interiors.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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