Sims 3 - The Official Building/Remodeling Showboat Thread

[Joria]

Ok, sticking my nose in and hoping I remember everything.

Danefaith:  I do and don't like the foyer.  Unfortunately you have the same problem we all have with the blankety blank curtains not being able to be moved up or down.  Makes me go grrrrrr every time.  They really are right for weight but very off putting because of how they hang.  I'm not fond of the red chairs.  Almost too bright for the subtle shades you used.  Maybe the darker red that is almost a mahogany color?  Or a soft blue?  I love the rug!  You are so clever and I always learn something from your builds.

Tallstar:  make the roof more of an open "room".  (not really a room, just imagine it as such)  Leave the fencing around it you already have.  It suits the building and can be worked with just fine.  If you are going to continue to use plants that need to be in the ground, then Dane had the right idea.  If it was me, I'd get rid of them and use potted plants.  I'd first place my furniture in my "room" after deciding what the purpose of that room is.  *talking to myself as if I was doing this roof*  "Hmmm, let's see.  It's up in the air and has a totally clear view.  Ok then!  It needs a telescope and an easel for those great sea scapes and checking out that lighthouse in the bay.  Gee.  It's pretty far up and I'll get tired standing around painting.  I might want a frosty beverage too.  Ok, a juice bar will take care of that.  I'll put some stools in front of it and a potted plant to the side or behind it.  I might angle it and do a whole arrangement of potted plants.  Some nice lounge chairs so I can catch some rays and one of them with an umbrella so I don't get sunburn.  Oh, and a small table between my three lounge chairs so I have a place to set down a book or my frosty beverage!  Hmmm, might want some tunes up here too and what about lighting so I don't have to always be in the dark?  I can go with the modern or maybe even try a bit of Tiki up here."

See?  It's really more a matter of how you think you yourself might want to use the space.

  As for the bathroom, in my opinion unless you are putting a washer and dryer in the bathroom, it only needs to be 3 squares by 2 squares to contain a shower/tub, toilet and sink and have room to walk around.  If you are also making it a laundry it needs to be 3 squares by 4 squares.  A huge bathroom should be a luxury bathroom with a ginormous tub, AND a shower, AND a toilet, and a place to sit, and so much more.  Otherwise it is strictly a functional room and there is no need for it to be very big.  You've already reduced the size, if it were me I'd reduce it more or put in a laundry and maybe a half wall for toilet privacy.

I think the landscaping needs to be a bit more in keeping with the lot.  It's very beachie so maybe use some banana trees, small palm type trees and that shrub that has big leaves or even some pampas grass.  Use the big flowering plants just for accent, or maybe switch to a smaller flower with brighter colors. I'd also make the walkway to the house and stairs narrower.  It's like a grand entrance to a mansion but what you find at the end is a great little beach house.  Just doesn't feel quite right.  However, if you turned it from a house to a club it would be a great entrance and that house would make a wonderful little beach side club!

I think you are getting so many comments and ideas from us because you basically have a really great little house in a perfect spot.  I just might steal your idea and put something similar in my ongoing SV makeover!  It's perfect for that spot.  There is so much about it to love and it just feels right for a lovely stay at the coast!

[TallStar]

Ok, I'm hoping this is the last reno I need to do, but hey, that's the public's decision.


So I have a bar area, dance area, band area, foosball table,and a relaxing seating area.

[Sims3Clacla123]

Brilliant TallStar

[Joria]

 Tallstar, Wow!  That's really nice,now.  So, are you going to share this gem?  Please?

Ok, you guys I need help.  I opened mouth A and inserted foot B and am now struggling with my FIRST construction in a remodel of Bridgeport.  Remember, this is the town I hate the most?  It is SOOOOO depressing! (to me, anyway)  To make it worse, I decided to try to build a more or less modern house that has to look as dreary, (on the outside), as the rest of the buildings in BP.  (shudders)  We all know there is very little land in BP but I decided to explore a bit and discovered an area where tiny, 10x15 lots could all be placed.  Eleven of them to be precise.  At first I thought it would be a good area to put up some tents for homeless folk, (big cities have lots of homeless in the US), but then I realized this was premium, waterfront property!  So, here's my first attempt, VERY unfinished and in dire need of help/advice from folks like Danefaith, (my modern house building hero), who do such an excellent job of it.  The interior does NOT have to be dreary and the exterior is about as dreary as I can handle.  There is zero area for plants/garden.  If we try that there will be a sharp break where the property and road don't meet.  Anyway, here are the shots and please, please say whatever you want about what I've done so far and help me fix up the rest of it.  Oh, and there will be at least two more basement floors, one of which will hold a pool.



This is the entry level.  I like the seafoam green walls.  My intention is to have a half bath and just some seating.
It is rather like a huge foyer more than true living space.





This is the second floor.  Kitchen, (thank you Geez for the wallpaper!), dining area and living area.  From this point on it's stairs going up.  No more elevator.  Too crowded?



Third story.  Bedrooms.  But I'm having a hard time laying them out so there is room enough in each room and good travel space.  If I leave it as I currently have it do I make one room master bedroom and one a nursery or two kid's rooms and use the fourth floor for master bedroom and nursery?



Fourth floor.  This could easily be a huge master bedroom with a truly luxurious bath room and small area for a nursery.  Then we have to think, would we really want to raise kids here?  It is SOOOO depressing to look at that horrible, grey water.  However, at night it's like Disneyland.



Roof top level.  This is from the rear of the building so you can see it's surrounded by water front and back.  This area can very easily be converted into a roof top garden or a child's playground, (and garden), with the hot tub and bar going in the basement.  The grill area could be a simple barbecue without all the other stuff or be missing entirely.  You can see there really is no usable open lot ground.

The basement is currently just a black hole in the ground.  Help for this house would be appreciated as would any great, luxury builds fit for a tiny lot.  I have ten more to fill.  lol  (I'm putting basement holes in all of them today so it would be good if you build to use foundation.  The land is not very even.)

[samoht04]

It looks good so far Joria!  I think the Second Floor needs some Carpets or Rugs maybe? It looks like a lot of Wood. 

[Katluvr]

Hi Joria, I think you are doing a great job with this build - I especially love the rooftop entertainment area!

One thing that feels a little off to me is the columns and some of the wall coverings you have used, both interior (paneling in foyer) and exterior (brickwork, especially along corners).  They feel very classical to me while the rest of the house feels more modern in it's design.  I would prefer either no columns or more modern, streamlined columns if you have to use them.  As for the wall covering, I would tend to stay away from things with fancy crown molding or fancy paneling.  There are lots of choices that have just plain crown molding which can look very nice in either a modern or a classical design.

I can't wait to see what else you come up with for the house - it's really great so far!

[Joria]

Samoht, you are so right!  Duh!

Katluvr, you are also right.  I just didn't know about having something hanging up a few stories up with nothing to support it and we are very limited in which columns will rise that high.  I might just say, gravity doesn't work here and delete them entirely.  The difficulty I'm having with the exterior is keeping it looking new enough, yet still in the kind of grungy BP aura.  I tried different bricks and stone and that didn't work and stucco was just too clean looking and too bright.  My personal preference would be for a clean, white or pastel, stucco but it doesn't really suit the overall depressing BP look.  Sigh.  I wish I could turn it into MY city of Portland.  Yes, there are grey skies, (pretty much every day!), and yes the river isn't exactly sparkling blue but there is bright green and various colors everywhere and the buildings in general don't have that dirty look to them.  Oh sure, there are a few areas I wouldn't want to roam around in, but BP just has too much grey everywhere.  Kind of like the way it looked here after Mt. St. Helen's blew up and spewed ash everywhere.  Hmmm, maybe I should just go with stucco and make it grey stucco.  DUH.  What a concept.

[TallStar]

Here's the beauty that took so long to build.

[TheChronicR]

Joria, amazing build! I'm so sorry Bridgeport is so depressing, but, hey, it's the only city in Sims, lol. Did you know that you could recolor columns? Just like you do items and wallpapers/floortiles. The mailbox's place looks a bit odd to me, to be honest. Maybe move it "into" the wall using "moveobjects on"? And, also, what about a bit of terrain paint her and there? Yeah, the grass in Bridgeport is absolutely hideous. Oh, and thanks so much if it was for my request.

I love that house, Star! Fantastic, well done. Looking forward to seeing your next build.

[Joria]

Can't do the terrain paint thing.  All the lots have enough of a gap between lot and road that it would look really weird for a one tile paint.  So I'm leaving it grey and maybe will be able to hide some with plants. 

Yeah, I knew you could recolor them.  I pretty much recolor everything I can.  I got rid of the columns though and it looks MUCH better.  Having problems with the gallery so can't post the screenies at the moment.  More tomorrow.

[danefaith]

Nice furniture layout.  Good use of an open floor.  Takes advantage of the entire space without obstructing passage through the room. However, the kitchen feels a little empty.  Maybe add a few appliances and a throw rug.  The area with the bar,  book case and chess table could also benefit from a throw rug as well.

Try taking one of those agave plants and giving it a 180 degree rotation.  It helps prevent them look like they have an identical leaf pattern (which, they technically do).

Aside from that, looks pretty good.  Keep on keepin' on.

[danefaith]

So: I layered to curtains and I'm kind of content with the look now.   Later went and changed the chairs to something a little darker, but was too lazy to take another picture lol.

Then, a whole bunch of new rooms~.







Bath, living room and kitchen and formal dining.  Kitchen needs some work but I'm rather fond of the bath and living room.

For the upstairs, I made a master and then two bedrooms kind of designed to be guest rooms.  I might switch the twin guest room out for a small study or some sort and then embellish the other guest room because right now they're a little boring.

[gerrr00]

I love all of your work, danefaith.  But I must say this is my absolute favorite so far!  I love the colors and just about everything.  Thank you for making something so beautiful.  I can't wait for it to show up in the Swap Shop.

[Micler]

@Danefaith- The new rooms look great! The twin room would be much better as a study, and the other bedroom just needs some form of wow factor.

@Joria- I really like the rooftop terrace! I agree with you about Bridgeport, but the lots you placed are very nice.

I decided to build a modern, beach-side house in Sunset Valley. It's not overly beachy looking, but it does take advantage of the views. Criticism and advice is welcomed.

[Joria]

Micler, OMG!  I LOVE this house!  I love the stairs, the colors, the layout.  It's perfect.  You are going to put it in the swap shop aren't you?  (I must own this one!)

Danefaith, what can I say?  I'm running out of superlatives for your builds.  What a clever way to fix the curtain issue!  You always come up with great solutions and think outside of the box.  Another build I love.

I have done the rugs thing but the kitchen is still a little bare.  No tchotkes yet.  I've got the second floor done, teen boys room and little princess girl room.  The third floor will be master bedroom, en suite, (all my bedrooms are), and a nursery but I'm actually stymied as to how to lay it out!  Basement now has a pool and since we're on a bay, like RIGHT on the bay, I put in one of those swimming fish things so you get the illusion you are looking into the bay, only cleaner.  Lowest basement level will be mad scientist/artist type room for skills.  The kind of stuff that can catch fire.  There is a level with a hot tub, (took it off the roof so I could put in the playground), and I'm thinking it should be a party room.  Pool level also has weights and treadmill.  Photos in the works.

So far BP is coming along nicely.  I've noticed npc's using my viewpoint park, the playground and my all time favorite, rebuild of Waylon's bar.  I removed the second building and so had a huge, empty lot.  I thought, "I wonder what would happen if I put in a grocery store, book store and the Bistro?  Would they draw people?"  I did and they do!  Oh, they are eating at my renovated diner also.  I really must get these photos up!