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Interactive Interior Design

Angelique Philips Uses SketchUp to Win Over Clients

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Interactive Interior Design

SketchUp is widely used in the interior design world to transform 2D drawings into fully customized 3D models, complete with furniture and accessories sourced from the 3D Warehouse. Increasingly, interior designers and stylists are choosing SketchUp because it’s easy to learn—often easier than other design and modelling programs. For small design studios with limited budgets, its price point is another significant factor. Angelique Philips Interieurontwerp is one such small design studio.

Angelique Philips

After 18 years working at an architecture firm, Angelique Philips decided to spread her wings in 2020 and started her own business: Angelique Philips Interieurontwerp was born!

At her previous job, Angelique was introduced to SketchUp, and she hasn’t stopped using it since. She mastered SketchUp by diving in headfirst and learning actively on the job. Beyond a few webinars, she is largely self-taught.

Recognizing that her job didn’t leave much time for exploring the software in-depth, she recently enrolled in a LayOut training course and took an online Enscape course to get acquainted with this rendering program.

On social media, she follows avid SketchUp users who share helpful tips and tricks.

From First Concept to Presentation

Angelique shares her workflow and explains her design process, highlighting the differences between working with private and corporate clients:

“For many corporate projects, I’m hired by office interior specialists or workplace consultants. In these cases, I usually don’t have direct contact with the end user. The designs focus on workplace transformations. Hybrid work demands a new kind of office environment, with requirements different from traditional office layouts. The companies I work with communicate with their clients, and based on their input, I develop the design. However, the final presentation is handled by them.”

“Often, these projects require delivering dimensioned drawings, which I create using LayOut. For private clients, I tend to lean more towards slideshow presentations. I always offer to create a 3D draft because I feel this allows me to design most effectively.”

3D floor plan for an office design
3D floor plan for an office design

Rendering for Specific Projects

Depending on the client’s needs, Angelique further refines her ideas using Enscape, though she doesn’t rely on the rendering software often.

“Private clients often already find outsourcing a design a significant investment and don’t always see the added value of a photorealistic rendering,” she explains.

“For most projects, the SketchUp model is sufficient. Ultimately, you select the actual materials together, giving the client a complete picture. I use Enscape more frequently for corporate projects, where activity-based working is a focus. With linked panoramic images, employees can preview their future workspace early in the process, giving them a clear sense of the new environment and allowing them to explore it at their leisure.”

She adds, “Sometimes, I’m approached by property developers who need impressions of fully furnished homes for brochures or websites. In these cases, I use Enscape to create photorealistic renderings.”

SketchUp and Enscape visualization of a dining room

Dedicated 3D Warehouse User

As an interior designer, Angelique relies heavily on the 3D Warehouse. She’s noticed the growing inventory but points out a lack of options in office furniture. Fortunately, many suppliers provide DWG files that she can import.

“I’ve built my own library of frequently used furniture and objects. Well-known brands like Montis and Artifort have extensive collections in the 3D Warehouse. But for me and my clients, the shape and dimensions of a piece matter more than the brand. For instance, does a straight sofa or a corner sofa fit better in the space? That’s more important than the manufacturer. Private clients often use my designs to shop independently, armed with a clear idea of what to look for. Sometimes, I accompany them to ensure the pieces match both their taste and budget.”

“For office projects, finding affordable furniture can be challenging. The 3D Warehouse leans towards higher-end options, so I often have to either model pieces myself or find similar ones, which can be time-consuming.”

Workflow

When asked what she enjoys most about SketchUp, Angelique says, “I don’t have a favourite tool—the whole program runs smoothly, and you can create a design in no time. My favourite feature is creating animations. Clients love seeing the design from various angles in motion. It helps them visualize the project and pause on specific details. It’s incredibly helpful for them.”

“The new Flip Tool has been a game-changer—it eliminates the ‘Oops, wrong direction again’ moments. As for the Follow Me Tool, I think it’s so easy to use, but I rarely need it since I mostly work with existing spaces and furniture rather than complex shapes.”

To incorporate room dimensions, Angelique usually starts with DWG files. “These provide a solid foundation for building a 3D model. When I only have a floor plan, the process is less precise but still sufficient for interior design. If no drawings are available, I measure the space myself.”

SketchUp and Enscape visualization of a kitchen

Angelique also uses extensions to streamline her workflow. “I recently started using Skimp to simplify heavy models, which prevents LayOut from freezing. FlexTools is another favourite—it makes placing and moving doors and windows in walls incredibly easy. Since becoming self-employed, I’ve been more attentive to tools and extensions. At the architecture firm, there was less time and opportunity for that since everything was already running smoothly.”

Her top SketchUp tip? “Always create groups! The first object I draw immediately becomes a group before I continue. For example, when designing a kitchen, each cabinet is its own group. I only convert it into a component at the end to make adjustments easier.”

She also mentions a feature she wishes SketchUp had. “I recently had to showcase a new floor design for an office. It would be great to make all existing furniture white and highlight only the floor, instead of rendering the entire scene in grayscale. A highlight function like that would make presentations much more dynamic.”

Working environment in SketchUp
Working environment

While she hasn’t fully explored everything SketchUp Pro offers, she’s curious about tools like SketchUp for iPad and the Revit Importer. “I’d love to incorporate photos of real people into my designs so clients can see themselves in the project instead of generic figures. As for V-Ray, it feels like a big leap. At my previous job, the technical draftsman had to dive deep into V-Ray, while I focused on selecting colors and atmosphere. Enscape is a much more accessible alternative.”

Unique Style

Angelique’s approach is centred on the client. “I design for the client, not for myself. You sometimes hear things like, ‘That sofa isn’t comfortable, but the interior architect thought it looked good.’ That’s not my style at all!”

“I enjoy designing for everyone, whether it’s for a family shopping at IKEA or a client with an unlimited budget. Helping someone create a well-thought-out layout on a budget gives me more joy than working for someone who says, ‘Just take care of everything.’”

She thrives on the variety of her work, from creating designs for corporate clients to having personal interactions with private clients. “I want my designs to be versatile. People shouldn’t come to me expecting a specific wall colour or style. That said, I’ve been told that my designs are recognizable as mine, so maybe I do have a signature style, even if I’m still figuring out exactly what that is.”

Angelique doesn’t necessarily work with specific materials, as she believes material selection depends heavily on the space. However, she does consider the overall volume of a home and is more likely to choose an accent wall as a bold statement rather than smaller, disjointed accents. She prefers to take the architecture into account when making design decisions.

On her website, Angelique showcases her working process while emphasizing the diversity of her designs, making it clear she hasn’t committed to a particular style. “When you come to me, it’s not like you’ll automatically get this specific colour palette on the walls and that type of flooring.”

Angelique's Design Philosophy: Timeless, Personal and Architecture Oriented
Angelique’s Design Philosophy: Timeless, Personal and Architecture Oriented

Angelique favours neutral foundations over trendy designs, allowing her projects to adapt as trends or family needs change. Her designs evolve with her clients.

Advice for New Designers

To conclude, Angelique offers advice to aspiring designers:

“However, many young designers want to start their own business right out of school, and even while studying, they come across as very professional.” But I think it’s crucial to gain experience in the industry first, even if it’s at a furniture store. That’s where you learn how things work and have colleagues to brainstorm with. When you’re on your own, you have to figure everything out yourself, and there’s no sounding board. Running your own business involves so much more than design alone. Diving into it headfirst can be overwhelming and hard to sustain.”


This blog was previously published in the Dutch SketchUp Magazine in 2023. The content may have been adapted for this online version.

Text: Marinka Sloof   |  Visuals: Angelique Philips   |  Photos: Peggy Maes

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