By Kendra Dorosh

Interior Planning and Design student Gisela Weissman-Everhard’s attention to detail and commitment to learning are driving factors in her early successes.

As a student at American River College in Sacramento, CA, Gisela seized the Chief Architect Residential Design Contest as a learning opportunity:

“I wanted to really push myself to grow. With previous projects, I had been focused on the interior structure and aesthetics of designs. The ‘Melrose Place’ design was going to be really challenging – how was I going to build an open area that overlooks the pool? I was also nervous about the complexity of the roof, with how it opens up in the middle. This is an apartment, not a house, so I had to build multiple apartment spaces. I watched many Chief Architect tutorials over and over again. I felt really good when it was completed, I learned so much in the process.”

-Gisela Weissman-Everhard

By Kerry Hansen

“Front porches are where memories are made!”

Bobby McFadden, a photographer from South Carolina, won 1^st place in the Chief Architect Residential Design Contest. His grand front porch design is truly an extension of the home, showcasing Bobby’s passion for indoor-outdoor Southern living.

Bobby McFadden of Ridgeway, South Carolina is a photographer by trade. To Bobby, residential design is a hobby that he picked up about 20 years ago when, as a teen, he bought a copy of Chief Architect’s Home Designer Software at his local hardware store. He recalls the feeling of possibility that owning this software offered him: a feeling that he carries with him today.

Congratulations to the three Chief Architect Residential Design Contest Winners!

Thank you all for sharing your designs with us and our community.

By Dani Forbush

Located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Sean Bulman uses Chief Architect to integrate a client’s inspirations into a design that suits both their needs and budget.

Congratulations to the 2019 Design of the Year winners!

Throughout 2019, Chief Architect held monthly design contests for our customers to showcase their work. Designers from all around the world, with vastly different backgrounds and design styles, competed head-to-head in the following three categories: Residential, Remodel / Additions, and Kitchen/ Bath & Interiors.

Each month our Facebook fans were asked to vote for their favorite design. The winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd) were entered into our year-end Design of the Year contest in December. Voting was open until January 9th and we are pleased to announce the winners! Discover more about the contestants through our Featured Contest Winner stories.

Grand Winners

Watch the live video for the announcement of the winners on our Facebook Page here.

By Kendra Dorosh

What are the biggest challenges your business will face over the next year? If you said finding skilled labor and completing projects on time, you aren’t alone.

With housing starts at a high and labor shortages expected to continue, we set out to identify the biggest challenges that businesses are facing in the coming year and what they’re planning to do to address them. We heard from 35 building industry professionals who provided us with a pulse on what they are preparing for in the coming year.

By Dani Forbush

We met two sisters at our yearly Chief Academy and were impressed with the business they’ve built, with family roots, just 90 miles from our headquarters.

In September Chief Architect held the 2019 Chief Academy near our headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, ID. There were over 100 attendees who came for the 2 ½ days of in-depth training, 1 on 1 support, and networking events. Throughout the event, Users were able to soak up the last few days of summer in Coeur d’Alene through morning events and evening receptions.

By Kendra Dorosh

The team at Lake + Land Studio, LLC, has won first place in the Chief Architect Residential Design Contest with their charming Walnut Cottage. The home’s quaint features like a wrap-around porch, exposed rafters, and exterior trim details conjure thoughts of rest and relaxation.

By Kendra Dorosh

Brent Julius’ 1st place modern lake house in the Chief Architect Residential Design Contest is a stunning example of turning clients dreams into reality.

“I started designing while in college as an architectural student. Shortly after, I worked at an architectural firm learning a lot about the construction and design industry. A few years later, I transitioned to a job specializing in residential design. It was there that I started using Chief Architect. Fast forward a few more years. I now own a residential design firm, 605 Drafting + Design.