Most homeowners understand how important a functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen is to their daily lives and to the overall value of their home. After all, even a minor kitchen remodel has an average ROI of 82.7%. When homeowners want to conduct a remodel but aren’t sure where to start, they’ll often rely on their contractor or interior designer to create a concept they’ll love. But even professionals who work with the best countertop manufacturers and other industry leaders often need a bit of assistance to bring their ideas to life. In the digital age, most people will rely on apps and software tools to plan out their concepts and show them to the homeowners. That way, everyone will be on the same page (or screen) before anyone calls the quartz countertop company for an order. Let’s check out three of some of the top-rated tools on the market for these purposes.
Lowe’s Virtual Room Designer
This software tool from Lowe’s isn’t specific to the kitchen. In fact, you can use it to redesign any room in a home. But it’s a free, high-quality tool that allows designers and even homeowners to start with a template or design completely from scratch. Keep in mind that this tool features only products you can purchase from Lowe’s. The upside is that you can print out your design and bring it to the store; the downside is that if you don’t see what you like, you’ll have to find products elsewhere. Still, it can serve as a great jumping-off point that’s accessible to everyone.
Prodboard Online Kitchen Planner
Prodboard focuses on licensing its software to contractors and design firms, so you might already be familiar with it. But their online 3D kitchen planner allows both professionals and homeowners alike to create incredibly detailed and lifelike kitchen designs. The software lets you configure a room, use their vast catalog of products, and choose from different colors and materials. The renderings are extremely impressive to behold, which could help set your business apart.
Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap
Once a contractor or decorator has an overall concept and layout for a project, they might need assistance deciding on a color palette for a given space. That’s where the ColorSnap Visualizer for iPad comes in. Sherwin-Williams has created a tool that can help you see how a specific color would impact a room in a whole new way. You can even use their Match a Photo feature, which allows you to upload any picture (whether it be a design inspiration photo or something from nature) and find paint colors that match. There’s even a day/night lighting feature that can help you show homeowners how their color of choice might look different depending on the light. Best of all, it makes shopping for paint colors much less overwhelming, as everything coordinates to Sherwin-Williams’ own selection. When you use this app, you’ll know instantly whether the hues in the kitchen will coordinate well with the selections from your quartz countertop company.
Undoubtedly, most design and contracting professionals already have a lot of experience with remodeling a space. But sometimes, you might need a little bit of extra help to make those concepts understood. Tools like these, along with our quartz countertop company’s SQUAD quoting tool, can provide valuable information that both you and your clients need in a way that appeals to both the tech-savvy and traditionalists among us.
