developing a new house plan

[decorators3]

Hi

  

I'm designing an addition to an existing house, but I also need to renovate parts of the existing home so everything flows well with the new addition.

Is there a video or tutorial that shows the best workflow for this? Specifically, how do you work with the existing house and the new addition in the same plan while clearly showing what is existing, what is being renovated, and what is new?

I'd appreciate any suggestions or recommended videos. Thanks!

 

Levina

 

[DRAWZILLA]

I draw an existing plan first, then copy that plan as new, then draw the remodel and use the existing plan  as a reference plan under the remodeled plan. The trick is to create a new layer set that just has only the items showing, that you want to show. Basic cad like lines so when you make changes the referenced plan under will show. Remove a wall existing wall under will show. There is more than that but it is basically what you want to show, cabinets, fixtures etc.

[decorators3]

1 hour ago, DRAWZILLA said:

I draw an existing plan first, then copy that plan as new, then draw the remodel and use the existing plan  as a reference plan under the remodeled plan. The trick is to create a new layer set that just has only the items showing, that you want to show. Basic cad like lines so when you make changes the referenced plan under will show. Remove a wall existing wall under will show. There is more than that but it is basically what you want to show, cabinets, fixtures etc.

thanks  appreciated!!

[SHCanada2]

i do one of two things, what perry does, if it is intrusive, or just show the original on a separate layout page, and then the proposed on different layout pages, without referencing each other (2 separate files)

 

If you actually want to show a bunch of walls removed on the proposed plans, watch the CA video on reference plans.

 

This question probably gets asked twice a year so there should also be forum entries on it

[builtright3]

Here is the video link for the reference display.

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/5435/using-the-reference-display.html

[DRAWZILLA]

6 hours ago, SHCanada2 said:

i do one of two things, what perry does, if it is intrusive, or just show the original on a separate layout page, and then the proposed on different layout pages, without referencing each other (2 separate files)

 

If you actually want to show a bunch of walls removed on the proposed plans, watch the CA video on reference plans.

 

This question probably gets asked twice a year so there should also be forum entries on it

I also have a whole existing plan section with existing camera views just for the existing, but I also need the referenced plan under the new remodeled plan, not really a fan of how chief does it. kind of have my own method.

[decorators3]

On 8/2/2026 at 7:26 PM, DRAWZILLA said:

I also have a whole existing plan section with existing camera views just for the existing, but I also need the referenced plan under the new remodeled plan, not really a fan of how chief does it. kind of have my own method.

thank you

[decorators3]

On 8/2/2026 at 4:34 PM, builtright3 said:

Here is the video link for the reference display.

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/5435/using-the-reference-display.html

Thank you  I've watched the video you attached -  will have to watch a few times to get me head around it for more clarity