Sims 3 - The Official Building/Remodeling Showboat Thread

[roguebait]

Looking for advice for a part of my next build, which is still in the planning stages.

I'm not very good at describing things, and I'm not very good at photoshop, but between the two of them, I hope I can convey what I'm after.

On certain ranch-style (usually) houses, there are... extended walls past the house's edges, that slope downward to about half-height or so, and then stop. Something like:



referring to the grey, non-blurry area.

I know that I'm probably going to have to use CFE to make it happen, but I'm having difficulty getting a nice slope. Has anybody done this sort of thing before? Do you have any tips?

[ladybug53]

I've never tried to do this myself but could something like Wall-Curving work for this sort of thing ? There are a few threads of the forum on how to do this . Just a suggestion . 

[roguebait]

Ladybug: As I said, I know that I'm going to have to use CFE. I'm asking for advice on how to get a smooth curve without it stretching 8 or 9 panels. Perhaps I should move this to the CFE thread, but I'm not sure which, as there are three.

[pallyndrome]

Thanks for the lovely comments! And I did go into buydebug and there were a TON of seed spawners on my lot. There looked like around 8 spread around at first, but each of those was hiding that many again. But I did get rid of them all again. And it makes sense according to what some of you said - I was using that lot to look at lots of lots in my library, so that must be the reason. My other lot with that problem was also used for that. So mystery solved!

[samoht04]

Ladybug: As I said, I know that I'm going to have to use CFE. I'm asking for advice on how to get a smooth curve without it stretching 8 or 9 panels. Perhaps I should move this to the CFE thread, but I'm not sure which, as there are three.

CFE is the most irritating building cheat out there, if it can go wrong it mostly will. It causes me much frustration when I use it yet it's also a life saver sometimes. Use the smallest brushes and the lowest falloff. There seems to be two types of raise/lower terrain in my game - a large bump but also a small shallow bump. The shallow one is less frequent but that will give you the best gentle curve. Be prepared to press the undo buttons though.

[Frey]

Hello Ladies and Gents.  I made us a nice little formal garden based very, very broadly on Kew Gardens here in sunny London.  Next will be a less formal, more woodland-y garden.  Am very glad to be back to building!

I love this! What EP or SP did that roof come with? Or is it store content? I absolutely have to get it!

Beautiful houses everyone! Agneza, I would love to download the Little Modern house too! May I? Please? 

[Joria]

Catching up on what you all have been doing.  Fantastic builds and remodels!!! 

Here's my latest endeavor now that I can play again.  It is a WIP for sure as I've not had much time.  I felt that since the "stadium" in Dragon Valley was a big tent, that we should have jousting there.  I know Sims won't joust but it is just a fun thing to make.  I had to reorient the tent but here it is so far.  Any hints, comments, advice would be welcome.





Here you see the Journeyman's Tent but also the Duke of Bows Fairgrounds.  I think the juxtaposition is great for this.  I'll be filling in more fun stuff in lots I'm placing in this area.



I'm thinking I may need to get rid of the horse stall.  I plan on 3 tents in that area of different colors and a small communal eating area.  At the other end of the field I was thinking of a royal pavillion but not sure.  Also maybe things like fortune teller, food booths and a rest room.  Ideas?  Comments?

[Silviak]

That's a really nice jousting arena, Joria. Man, it makes you wish you could spawn certain things in-game. I feel the urge for a turkey leg and ale incoming.

[Joria]

That's a really nice jousting arena, Joria. Man, it makes you wish you could spawn certain things in-game. I feel the urge for a turkey leg and ale incoming.

Thanks, Silviak.  mmmm, is there more turkey leg?  I'd prefer mulled wine with mine please.

Today I was doing a bit more, though not on the jousting field.  Decided Dragon Valley needed the arboretum and vault of antiquity so here is what I did.  Two lots, 20x15 very close together, on a narrow strip of land by the river.  Result:



Once I put a BIG tree in the empty space you don't see that it is an empty space.  A few shrubs in the joining gap and it looks good.  Here's more pics without the shrubs or tree.













I wanted a romantic, park like feel to both spots with easy access to the river.  There are skilling items in both areas plus a juice bar and picnic area, books to read, cozy places to sit and an alchemy table and more.  There is no rest room but there are two taverns close by, one on the side and one across the street.  Not that Sims are smart enough to use them.  lol  If folks want I'll post the download link.

[ladybug53]

Wow Joria ! Those look wonderful by the river . You did an amazing job ! Those will look very nice in Dragon Valley . 

[Janna]

Can I get it on the swap shop site?  I would love to have it, it looks really great.  With restrooms nearby that works out, and if your sim has the steel bladder, or one of the dragons (can't remember which one), you don't need a restroom. 

[Schipperke]

That's just beautiful, Joria!  You have a real knack for coordinating lots to their placement in the town.  I think real-life town planners could learn a few things from you. 

[Joria]

Thank you everyone for your kind comments.  I posted the lots to the swap shop and you'll also find them below for your convenience.  Use them as you wish.

I'm basically lazy.  I want an "easy" button for everything but if I REALLY want something I'll work for it.  My "easy" button for today came because I wanted a consignment store and not one of the ugly EA ones.  I tried making one with a Dragon Valley pavillion and it worked well but was a lot of work.  So then I decided I would remodel Anushka's fabulous outdoor market.  Here is the result:

My first attempt.  Worked but was a lot of work.  Did I want to make a whole lot full of these things so I could have a market?  Yes, but not now.



Eureka moment!  Use Anushka's perfect outdoor market but with a few changes.



I won't post an upload for this as it is not my work and Anushka deserves credit for her brilliant build.  Here is what I did:

Changed ground to make it duller to fit in with Dragon Valley, yet kept it light toned.

Removed roofs from several vendors and placed a recolored pavillion over the merchandise.

Raised the roofs on the vendors to the rear and changed them to thatch.

Added a veggie cart with recolored awning.

Changed style of benches.

Changed fences.

Changed trees to be more druid-ish.  Oak, ash, rowan, and olive, although olive doesn't really go with druid stuff.  Didn't have a holly and yew didn't look right.

I was able to place a 30x20 lot sideways alongside the river and close to the theater.
I like to keep my commercial lots, especially of certain types, close together.  Across the street from this is the Monte Vista market place, (remodeled a tad), and a perfect garden next to that.   On the side is the Festival Grounds.  So everything is convenient.

Of course, DV needed a fire station.  Agneza built a marvelous one but it just didn't fit the DV theme.  So I changed the exterior and the roof and didn't touch a thing inside.  You don't mess with perfection.  Here is how it looked.  I bet you guys can do better.  I'm not good with patterns and colors.



Not too much you can do with a modern looking fire truck but at least DV has one now and it doesn't look too bad.  Again, no file because it's not mine to share.

You'll find the stats for the Arboretum and Vault on the swap shop page but here are the links for the download.  No cc of course.

[Ricalynn]

Joria.. Everything looks great but I removed your uploads.    Uploaded files are for the swap shop only.   

[Joria]

Joria.. Everything looks great but I removed your uploads.    Uploaded files are for the swap shop only.

Oh, sorry, Rica.  Before, way early on, we were able to also put the uploads here so folks could find them easily.  I guess just a link would be ok?