Let me ask you a question...if you were planning a kitchen remodel, and you could see your design, i.e., walk through the room, and experience the look and feel before the pain, disruption, and cost associated with the build out, would you find that helpful? Most likely, the answer would be YES! There is no doubt that taking on the time and expense of a major home remodeling project can be daunting. Many folks that do hire a design professional struggle to visualize the ideas and concepts that the designer presents. "I'll have to trust you, because I just can't see it..." Many clients say to their designer or architects. As much as you want to feel like your designer understands your personal style, and is able to prioritize your wish list to your budget, and come up with the "perfect" solution for you, design is all about a solid plan fueled by effective communication. What better way to communicate the design intent then with 3D modeling and virtual reality?
Many design firms of all sizes are implementing VR and 3D design into their process. Helping clients understand spacial relationships, architectural features, and the impact of the selected finishes makes for a smoother process, and less surprises in the field. These forward thinking professionals understand that without this tool, many of their ideas and designs will get lost in a translation gap most clients are not capable of bridging. If "seeing is believing", then doing some upfront research to make sure the design professionals you are interviewing for your upcoming project have 3D and VR capabilities is a must.
Will this cost you more money? The answer is, typically not. There is a difference between a CG (computer graphics) rendering professional that creates hi resolution, photo-realistic images that look like real life, and a designer that uses basic 3D as a communication tool. Designers and architects that have successfully implemented 3D modeling software find that it doesn't take them any more time to create the 3D...this means no additional cost to you, the client. To make sure you have realistic expectations, here is a basic 3D model I did on a recently completed master bathroom here in Phoenix. Hi tech and life-like? Perhaps not....but it certainly conveyed the concept and idea for the project without any extra design time, or cost to my client. What it also did was move the project along faster, and made the client instantly comfortable with the layout, saving me tons of time on revisions and sketching. It also effectively communicated the scope of work to the general contractor bidding the job. Questions like, "How far up the wall do I put the tile?" "How many cabinet drawers and doors do I purchase hardware for?" and "What is the height of the shower glass?" are instantly addressed by simply looking at the 3D snapshot.
VR and 3D modeling and design are becoming the preferred tool for designers and architects that want to streamline their process and level up the experience of their clients. Go into your next remodel project with as much information and tools to help you visualize so the outcome is what you expect, and the process is seamless as possible...your future self will thank you!