The Custom Cabinet Tool in Chief Architect is a powerful feature that lets you design unique cabinets tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re designing kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, or custom storage units, this tool gives you complete control over cabinet design and dimensions. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating and using the Custom Cabinet Tool in Chief Architect.
1. Opening the Cabinet Tool
- Start by opening your project in Chief Architect.
- Navigate to the Design menu, then select Cabinets > Custom Cabinet. Alternatively, you can access the Custom Cabinet Tool directly from the Tool Palette.
- This will open the Custom Cabinet Specification dialog, where you can begin designing your cabinet.
2. Choosing the Cabinet Type
- In the Custom Cabinet Specification dialog, you’ll be able to choose the type of cabinet you want to create:
- Base Cabinets: Cabinets that sit on the floor, typically used for lower kitchen storage.
- Wall Cabinets: Cabinets mounted on the wall, used for upper storage spaces.
- Tall Cabinets: Cabinets designed for tall spaces like pantries or utility closets.
- Select the cabinet type that best suits your design needs.
3. Defining Cabinet Dimensions
- After selecting the cabinet type, you’ll need to set the dimensions for your custom cabinet. Chief Architect allows you to adjust the following dimensions:
- Width: The overall width of the cabinet.
- Height: The overall height, which will vary depending on whether you’re creating a base, wall, or tall cabinet.
- Depth: The depth of the cabinet, which you can modify based on your storage requirements.
- Adjust these values to match your project specifications.
4. Configuring Cabinet Styles and Features
- Chief Architect gives you the ability to customize the style of your cabinet. This includes:
- Doors and Drawers: Choose from a variety of door styles (e.g., flat panel, raised panel, shaker) and drawer configurations (e.g., single, double).
- Cabinet Shelves: Add, remove, or adjust the number of shelves inside the cabinet. You can also change the shelf spacing and material.
- Toe Kicks: Customize the height of the toe kick for base cabinets.
- Pull-Outs and Trays: Add custom pull-out trays or other organizational features for easy access to cabinet contents.
5. Selecting Materials and Finishes
- Once the dimensions and style are set, you can choose the materials and finishes for the cabinet.
- Chief Architect provides a library of materials, including different wood types, laminates, and finishes.
- You can also create custom materials by uploading your own textures or selecting a pre-existing one from the library.
- Apply the material to the cabinet surfaces, including the doors, drawer fronts, and cabinet body.
6. Customizing the Cabinet Layout
- In the Custom Cabinet Specification dialog, you can further customize the cabinet layout by adjusting the arrangement of doors, drawers, and shelves.
- Use the Modify Layout option to configure multiple sections of the cabinet, such as including both a drawer bank and open shelving within the same cabinet.
- Chief Architect allows you to create even complex layouts by specifying different heights, widths, and depths for individual sections of the cabinet.
7. Placing the Custom Cabinet in the Design
- Once you’ve customized your cabinet, click OK to close the dialog and return to the floor plan.
- Place the custom cabinet in your design by clicking on the desired location within the layout. You can drag the cabinet into position or use the Snap to Grid feature for precise placement.
8. Editing and Modifying Cabinets
- To make adjustments to your custom cabinet, select it in your floor plan and right-click to open the Edit Cabinet dialog. From there, you can modify its dimensions, features, or materials.
- If you need to make the same changes to multiple cabinets, you can use the Copy/Paste or Replace with Similar tools to quickly apply changes to other cabinets in your design.
9. Previewing the Custom Cabinet in 3D
- After placing the cabinet in your layout, you can view it in 3D to see how it fits into the overall design.
- Switch to a 3D view and use the Camera Tool to walk through your design, inspecting the cabinet from different angles and making sure it meets your expectations.
- If needed, you can adjust the size, style, or material of the cabinet directly in the 3D view.
10. Saving Your Custom Cabinet Design
- Once you’re satisfied with your cabinet, you can save it to your User Library so that you can easily reuse it in future projects.
- To save the cabinet, right-click on it and select Add to Library. Give it a name and tag it with relevant keywords for easy retrieval later.
Using Chief Architect’s Custom Cabinet Tool gives you complete flexibility to create cabinets that fit your exact design requirements. From adjusting dimensions to selecting finishes and adding custom features, this tool helps you produce functional, stylish cabinetry that will enhance your designs. Whether you’re designing a kitchen, bathroom, or any other space requiring cabinetry, the Custom Cabinet Tool makes it easy to bring your vision to life.