Whether or not you have the vision of Frank Lloyd Wright, or don't know a casement window from a double-hung, you can now create window and wall designs from thousands of possible combinations that reflect your own personal style.

Bayport, Minn.-based Andersen Windows has developed WindowCentrics Wall Planner, a new online tool that allows users to visualize how walls will look with windows and doors. Four walls and only one floor means that a wall plan design is just as important as a floor plan, according to Cameron Snyder, the company's brand public relations manager.

The idea for an online design tool, customarily used by builders and contractors to design with clients, was designed with consumers in mind -- people who often perform design services with pencil and paper.

The program takes users through the process of computer-aided design, allowing them to choose a wall shape from 16 available templates that include six families of Andersen windows and patio doors. Pre-designed window and door combinations or individual units are then “dropped” into the virtual wall space.

In addition to the design and layout, the tool allows users to personalize their design by selecting window trim stain and color options and adding color and texture to the wall. You can even enhance it with images of furniture, people, pets, and plants also can be used to demonstrate scale. The results can be saved as a PDF file for sharing.

To get you started, the Andersen Wall Planner offers a photo library that automatically generates window combinations inspired by real homes and automatically adjusts the design options to account for the limits of product manufacturing and construction parameters.

For more about WindowCentrics, go to andersenwindows.com/design.

Published: April 1, 2008

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