Method for designing and illustrating architectural enhancements to existing buildings

Claim 1

A method for remodeling an existing building, said method comprising: cataloging design ideas that utilize predetermined building products; presenting the design ideas to a client; allowing the client to select a design idea that utilizes a selected predetermined building product; preparing photographs or digital images of the building and transmitting a photograph or digital image to a design center; measuring and sketching the building and transmitting a sketch and measurements to the design center; preparing a drawing at the design center from the photograph or digital image, sketch and measurements, said drawing incorporating the design idea selected by the client into the building; and preparing a visual image from the photograph or digital image, sketch and measurements, said visual image representing the building remodeled with the design idea selected by the client.

Claim 2

A method for remodeling an existing building, said method comprising: cataloging design ideas that utilize predetermined building products; presenting the design ideas to a client; allowing the client to select a design idea that utilizes a selected predetermined building product; preparing photographs or digital images of the building and transmitting a photograph or digital image to a design center; measuring and sketching the building and transmitting a sketch and measurements to the design center; preparing a drawing at the design center from the photograph or digital image, sketch and measurements, said drawing incorporating the design idea selected by the client into the building; and preparing a visual image from the photograph or digital image, sketch and measurements, said visual image representing the building remodeled with the design idea selected by the client.

Claim 7

A method for remodeling an existing building comprising: cataloging design ideas that utilize predetermined building products; presenting the design ideas to a client; allowing the client to select a design idea that utilizes a selected predetermined building product; photographing the building and transmitting a photograph to a design center at a location different than the building; measuring and sketching the building on a pen-pad computer; electronically transmitting a sketch and measurements of the building to the design center using an electronic transmission means connected to the pen-pad computer; preparing a construction drawing from the photograph, sketch, and measurements, said drawing including the design idea selected by the client incorporated into the building; and preparing a visual image from the photograph, sketch and measurements, said visual image incorporating the design idea selected by the client into the building.

Claim 8

A method for remodeling an existing building comprising: cataloging design ideas that utilize predetermined building products; presenting the design ideas to a client; allowing the client to select a design idea that utilizes a selected predetermined building product; photographing the building and transmitting a photograph to a design center at a location different than the building; measuring and sketching the building on a pen-pad computer; electronically transmitting a sketch and measurements of the building to the design center using an electronic transmission means connected to the pen-pad computer; preparing a construction drawing from the photograph, sketch, and measurements, said drawing including the design idea selected by the client incorporated into the building; and preparing a visual image from the photograph, sketch and measurements, said visual image incorporating the design idea selected by the client into the building.

Claim 14

A method for preparing drawings suitable for remodeling an existing building and a visual image representative of the building after remodeling, said method, comprising: cataloging design ideas that utilize a building product selected from the group consisting of decorative base trims, corbels, decorative plinths, arch surrounds, barrel arches, niches, column bases, plant stands, round corners, radiused walls, fireplace treatments, arched fireplaces, radiused window surrounds, door arches, columns, bases, and decorative statues; allowing a client to select a design idea that utilizes a selected building product; preparing a photograph or digital image of the building and transmitting the photograph or digital image to a design center at a location different than the building; measuring and sketching the building with a pen-pad computer; electronically transmitting a sketch and measurements of the building to the design center using an electronic transmission means connected to the pen-pad computer; and preparing the drawings and the visual image from the photograph or digital image, sketch, measurements and the selected building product.

Claim 15

A method for preparing drawings suitable for remodeling an existing building and a visual image representative of the building after remodeling, said method, comprising: cataloging design ideas that utilize a building product selected from the group consisting of decorative base trims, corbels, decorative plinths, arch surrounds, barrel arches, niches, column bases, plant stands, round corners, radiused walls, fireplace treatments, arched fireplaces, radiused window surrounds, door arches, columns, bases, and decorative statues; allowing a client to select a design idea that utilizes a selected building product; preparing a photograph or digital image of the building and transmitting the photograph or digital image to a design center at a location different than the building; measuring and sketching the building with a pen-pad computer; electronically transmitting a sketch and measurements of the building to the design center using an electronic transmission means connected to the pen-pad computer; and preparing the drawings and the visual image from the photograph or digital image, sketch, measurements and the selected building product.