I am desperately trying to learn how to use Google Sketchup and it may just be the most frustrating program I’ve toyed with in a LONG while. Screw you Sketchup and your complicated rules and axis and inferring and lines not crossing.

As an experimentation project I wanted to model out The Brick House including the patio project and my proposal for a horizontal slat screen on the front porch and a matching slat wood gate for the driveway. It took me awhile to figure out that you could load already prepared 3-D elements…

Wow, that is way wonky. But you can kind of get the idea about the slats? Right?

Look a grapefruit tree! Much cleaner and much more well trimmed than ours.

There are all those pesky pavers in a virtual world…and they are still a pain to install. I haven’t figured out how to add gravel yet.

The roof was the worst thing to make, OMG geometry is not my strong suit. This little blank model represents about a good solid two days of intense work. Slow and steady as I tried to figure it out, watching tutorials and looking around at the 3-D warehouse. I may start again and try to get it all cleaned up and done correctly…I can’t wait to start redesigning the laundry room.

Anybody else play with this Sketchup beast? Any tips or tricks?

I can see the appeal and want to get a little more competent, but that learning curve is mighty steep.