Sims 3 - The Official Building/Remodeling Showboat Thread

[roguebait]

Looking for some advice on the exterior for a modern house:



As you can see, it's pretty sparse - no pun intended. No screenshoots of the back of the house; it's largely flat.

This is my first major attempt using ConstrainFloorElevation, and I gotta say, while it's certainly handy, I don't think it's something I'll be utilizing on a regular basis.It could just be that I've netted about 6 hours of sleep, total, in the past 48, but I'm pretty sure I have bald spots on the sides on my head from trying to figure out the U-shaped stairs alone (and that was even using a video from the SimSupply on youtube). We're not even going to talk about the garage/walkway/stairs mess. Really. That garage is hideous inside. It's a good thing Sims never actually have to go -into- the garages...

Though I may have just been struck by a solution....

Right then. Back to the part where I ask for help.

About the only thing set in stone is the retaining wall (that pun intended)(inspired by another video on The SimSupply, this one called, aptly enough, "Retaining Wall")(It's seriously really easy to make, though. No Acrostacking involved.)(Parenthetical statements!), though looking closer at it, I need to go back in behind the rocks with terrain paints. The landscaping in front of the garage is... acceptable, I suppose, though it was sort of a slapdash job. A sort of "how does this look?" experiment which, while not entirely satisfactory, will do in a pinch.



While there's a fair amount of space to the front and right of the house, the left and back pretty much abut the property lines. Since it isn't immediately obvious, I will clarify that that is a pool behind the garage. I was working off of this plan, with some minor tweaks:

 http://goo.gl/4l6kk (leads to eplans.com; it was just a huge URL)

Some things I'm considering and would like opinions on:

• Rooftop Garden (above garage).
• "Zen" Garden to the house's right (problem: no immediate access).
• Changing the floor tile for the roofs, patios, and courtyard
• Adding a back door (less of a consideration and more of a "do this;" it fronts the beach, for crying out loud!).
• Changing the stone to white "stucco" and the windows from white to black.
• Figure out a way to change up the back of the house so that there's entertaining space back there. Possibly replace "bed 2" (see the plan linked above) with a patio?

Things on the to-do list. Also open for debate:

• Actually work on the interior! (okay, so this one's not really debatable >>)
• Figure out something to do about the fence between the garage and the house. Because the garage makes heavy use of ConstrainFloorElevation, pretty much my only option was to use a fence. But it's ugly. This could possibly by solved by doing the penultimate item on the considerations list?
• Add a back door. Match the garage door to the house doors/windows.
• Move the second floor deck to the back to capitalize on beachfront views.
• Remove the garage door. Double-up on the left wall to mirror the right and back walls. Leave as carport.

That is all I can think of right now. Now I just wait for my infant nephew to stop screaming and fall asleep so that I, too, can fall asleep.


Edited like eighteen million times for grammar/syntax.

[saltpastillen]

Hi.

I'm no expert on modern builds but I do like the look of the house. I think adding a door, prefably of the living area would be a good idea. It looks like the area around the pool is rather small, and if you added a door to the living area you could make the house more easy to play and more effective when holding parties.

The retaining wall is great and maybe you should work with that in the garden next to the house. A modern look in a garden is lots of different green plants and rocks, I think that could work with this house.

Using the topiary plant in front of the garage instead of the evergreen, I think it would give it a more contemporary feel. Also, maybe just make the planters 1x2 and remove the lavender?

[Twinmum]

We have a thread called The Official Building/Remodeling Showboat Thread for sharing builds and seeking advice on them. I'm going to move this to that thread.

[roguebait]

We have a thread called The Official Building/Remodeling Showboat Thread for sharing builds and seeking advice on them. I'm going to move this to that thread.

See, I almost put this here, and then figured since it was a "Showboat" thread I should wait until I was finished? I don't know. I'm on day three of my body deciding it needed to wake me up after three hours of sleep, and I'm really getting tired of it...


The upside of this sleep deprivation? I have built like, five houses in three days...

Some things I'm considering and would like opinions on:

• Rooftop Garden (above garage).
• "Zen" Garden to the house's right (problem: no immediate access).
• Changing the floor tile for the roofs, patios, and courtyard
• Adding a back door (less of a consideration and more of a "do this;" it fronts the beach, for crying out loud!).
• Changing the stone to white "stucco" and the windows from white to black.
• Figure out a way to change up the back of the house so that there's entertaining space back there. Possibly replace "bed 2" (see the plan linked above) with a patio?

Things on the to-do list. Also open for debate:

• Actually work on the interior! (okay, so this one's not really debatable >>)
• Figure out something to do about the fence between the garage and the house. Because the garage makes heavy use of ConstrainFloorElevation, pretty much my only option was to use a fence. But it's ugly. This could possibly by solved by doing the penultimate item on the considerations list?
• Add a back door. Match the garage door to the house doors/windows. DONE
• Move the second floor deck to the back to capitalize on beachfront views. DONE
• Remove the garage door. Double-up on the left wall to mirror the right and back walls. Leave as carport. DONE It seriously looks ten times better now.

I've made some improvements to the exterior paint and footprint. Wrapped the retaining wall along the side and the back of the house, opening up more space for planters.

I read... somewhere... on this forum about making raised planters, but Light knows where it was? I think it was in somebody's Dynasty story, truth be told...

[Janna]

Bubbles,
I love the house, it looks so welcoming I know I want to have it. 
The only changes I would make is when you enter the house - by the stairs - I would put a couple of chairs for a visitor to sit in; that annoying salesperson that you make the mistake of letting into the house.
On the other side, I would turn that room into a study/library; but I am the type that all houses should have a library/study in it. 
You threw me at first when you said first floor and I saw bedrooms, and I was going you put bedrooms on the first floor?  They go on the second floor, then realized from the ground floor identification of how different countries, areas have different names for the floor of homes.   

[saltpastillen]

To make a raised planter you put down a piece of foundation, add one of the low border fences to the sides and put a good blank carpet on for flooring. The carpet can then be recolored to the earth tone of your choice. Then you just add plants using MOO (move objects on cheat).

[roguebait]

To make a raised planter you put down a piece of foundation, add one of the low border fences to the sides and put a good blank carpet on for flooring. The carpet can then be recolored to the earth tone of your choice. Then you just add plants using MOO (move objects on cheat).

That's so obvious I'm annoyed with myself that I didn't figure it out on my own. /grump

Moving on, I used platforms rather than foundations to make the beds below. The foundation is, frankly, just too high. But the platform edges are really quite ugly:



I could have sworn you were able to change the platform edges, but when I try, I just get the "thunk" sound. Am I misremembering, or am I doing something wrong?

(While I have, largely, adhered to the "green on green" policy, I couldn't pass up the yellow lilacs. Lilacs are my favorite flower, and yellow is this Sim's favorite colour.)

[saltpastillen]

You should be able to wallpaper the edge of the platform, and then recolor the wallpaper... I think. Let me check.

EDIT: Yes that's how you do it.

[roguebait]

You should be able to wallpaper the edge of the platform, and then recolor the wallpaper... I think. Let me check.

EDIT: Yes that's how you do it.

Aha! My fences were getting in the way!

[Ausette]

I could have sworn you were able to change the platform edges, but when I try, I just get the "thunk" sound. Am I misremembering, or am I doing something wrong?

I think the little wooden "fences" you have on the platforms are preventing you from painting the edges. Try removing the fences, painting the platform edges, and then putting the fences back on. 

[saltpastillen]

I've been working on this HUGE house ever since I got Supernatural and somehow the project has grown from just being about creating a colonial style house in Moonlight falls to this massive thing.

I'm going to enter it into a building competition on the official forum but wanted to share it with you guys first. It's almost, almost done. All I have left are finishing up the kids room upstairs and redoing some of the garden since I had to move it to a larger lot for the contest.

Anyway, I just wanted to get some feedback if you see something that looks completely out of place or have some suggestion to make it even better. Sorry about the grid, but it takes ages to load so I took the pictures in build mode straight from edit town.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the view from the road, it's on a 64x64 lot so it's massive (expensive too, you'll need midas touch or a ID purse to get your hands on it). One of the requirements was a front porch. Do you thing the porch I made is enough? I couldn't come up with a better way to fit a porch to this style.


This is the overview of the lot. The garage and pool area are complete, the grove of trees in the right hand corner has a wedding arch with a beatiful backdrop and a "secret garden" on the back with a bonfire. I'm also happy about the pond and the trees lining the drive way (part of the original design and one thing I won't remove). What's left is the vegetable garden now that university has added so many new plants... I'm keeping the BBQ area as it is and there is a fire pit by the tree house.


The ground floor. You enter and there's the stairwell. To the right is a formal dining room with professional bar, eat in kitchen with access to BBQ patio. Then comes the family room with the royal play area and fireplace/computer. Basically somewhere for kids and teens to hang out away from the grownups. Doors lead you to the large garden library where you can enjoy views of the garden, and play chess.

The left part of the floor is taken up by the formal living room with grand piano and plenty of seating (there's even a tiny dance floor so you can practice your club dancing at home) and a pool table area. Plus a powder room and laundry room.

I am really happy with how the house turned out. I forgot to mention there are lots of pet objects for cats, dogs and birds.



The second floor is slightly smaller and has 4 bedrooms with room for 2 sims each plus a nursery. A lavish master bedroom with a bathroom suite almost as large as the room itself, a  generous guest/second bedroom, a teenage girls room with own fireplace that has 2 beds, a fun packed kids room with 2 beds and the tiny nursery that has all the basic toddler objects. All bedrooms save the nursery has an en suite. There is also a room geared especially to teens, with huge TV and video game controllers and some arcade games. And don't forget the reading nook that overlooks the entrance.



The last image is the layout of the l-shaped house by the pool. It houses the garage a rec/game room with ping pong table, dart board, drums and guitar and of course a juice keg. A guest suite/in-law suite with en suite and a powder room for people using the pool with potty for toddler of course. And a large artist studio with aisles and sculpting station. It has panorama windows and really deserves a better view. In Sunset Valley maybe? Around the pool there is just some chairs and a bar. I'm thinking of putting in a small hot tub. What do you think?



I would really love any feedback, and especially an answer to the two questions I put in bold font. I have to turn this in soon. Please help.

[fortheloveofcake]

I really like this house! For the porch, the front porch does look kinda small, could you possibly add a railing to the edges of it to make it stand out a bit more?
As for the hot tub, I think the pool area looks pretty balanced as is. If you do add one, I would suggest moving the hopscotch game and putting the hot tub there.
Awesome work and good luck in the contest!

[roguebait]

Salt:

What I would do with the front porch is to add one or two squares of foundation to either side and add a second set of columns.Neoclassical holmes don't generally have large porches; rather they have a sort of ornate facade/entryway. What you've got going now is actually perfectly fine as far as these things go, but adding that second bit of definition wouldn't hurt you at all.

Additionally, I would recommend changing the roof facing above the columns to a flat white, or even one of the patterns in, um... "Wall Sets,"  with the sort of, um.. Sleep deprivation and Eddie Izzard are making thinking hard. The trays inset into the pattern itself.

Edit: Yes, I was right. They're in the "Wall Sets" section. They were either added in Ambitions, or Pets; the icons are too similar for me to differentiate.

[saltpastillen]

Thanks for the comments guys.

@roguebait. I actually already had 2 sets of columns, only problem was you couldn't see it. I don't want to mess up my landscaping by starting to add foundations at this point, but I did move them so they became more visible, and I really like the result more. The entry looks more imposing and that's kind of what I wanted. Also I added that thing you meant, but I'm at a loss to how to make it look good. Maybe I'll just do the columns... I hav  to mull it over. What's your opinion?

@fortheloveofcake - I switched fencing from the low border to the semi railing and I like the look a lot. Combined with moving the columns the entry/porch is now a lot more defined. I didn't want to move the hopscotch game, since I want it close to the other play equipment. I tried placing a hot tub next to the bar, but it just looked out of place. I think I'll scrap that idea and just let it be unless I get some other ideas that work better with my "vision".

Here's a pic of the new and improved entry - still undecided on the molding.


A look at how the new fence helped define the back porch.


And a peak at my secret garden, as you can see it's a little overgrown...

[roguebait]

That really is a lot more defines, with the spacing how you have it. It looks much more in line with the images that come up for a Neoclassical search. I like it!