When you’re renovating your home, being able to see what a design will look and feel like can make the difference in deciding to proceed — and that’s where our 3D renderings come in so handy.
“Some people can’t visualize very well; just seeing lines on a page means nothing to them,” explains Amsted Architectural Designer Greg Simpson. “Being able to see the project in 3D in front of you is very helpful.”
Amsted has been creating 3D renderings (or virtual modelling) for many years. They’re an important tool in our designers’ toolbox. And in these days of physical distancing and doing business virtually, it’s easy to understand how helpful virtual modelling can be.
“You can see from the design to the finished product is the same,” says Greg.
Every project we do generates a 3D rendering, although not all are as detailed as this:
Some renderings might just block out colours and look very simple, allowing you to see the way the space opens out. They can also show you a before and after that you can toggle in 3D, for instance, showing the difference if a wall is removed.
But early in the design process, we can identify when a client has trouble visualizing concepts and then spend the time to create a more detailed 3D rendering to help them see the space. Some renderings even include a “walk-through”.
“I’m working on one right now that starts at the front door, walks through the dining room into the living room, goes around the kitchen and out the back door,” says Greg. This type of rendering gives the homeowner a better sense of how the spaces will work.
Renderings are also handy for testing out how a product looks before having to commit to it. “If we pick a tile that we like, we can put it into the rendering and see how it looks in the finished space,” says Greg. “Helping with visualization and selections is a very good tool to have.”
The rendering gets updated as we make selections to show how they look in the space and to help confirm client decisions so that by the time we get to construction, the way a space is modelled and what we finally build should match.
And, typically, that’s exactly what happens. In some instances — say if a tile is back-ordered, forcing a late change, they may not match exactly, but they’ll be close.
The point, says Greg, is to try to alleviate any unknowns. “When a selection is made in the design phase and you’re happy with it, we put the purchase order in right away so that what you’re seeing in the design is actually what’s built.”
Read more on the Amsted Advantage and our Proven Process for a successful renovation.