San Rafael-based Autodesk released a new web service called Project Dragonfly that lets users build virtual rooms, fill them with virtual furniture and appliances, and ultimately view them in three dimensions.

“We discovered there were tons of people modeling their living rooms in the Sims video game,” said Mike Haley, a director of engineering at Autodesk. “Now they can design realistic spaces.”

Ashlee Vance of the New York Times' Bits blog reviewed the software today, which leverages Autodesk's AutoCAD technology along with their existing Seek online service, which catalogues common objects used for construction in the U.S. The company hopes that the service will ultimately allow users to design spaces, total up costs, and purchase all the items for a room through this single service.