Tutorials: Landscaping Help Section

[SpiritedTreasure]

Hi, I'm stuck. One dear to me says to leave the sides blank. I think they look empty. 

Thank you. 

[samoht04]

SpiritedTreasure, I added [IMG] tags to your Image Links to make them display, could you take a look at your post (Modify Button) to see how the tags work for future reference. 

As for your lot, I don't think they look too bland, it's just from such a busy front view the sides look less busy. I'd suggest continuing the landscaping from the back garden around the sides and merging it with the front. The back isn't as bold as the front but will provide some interest but not draw from the impact of the front if it is continued around the sides.

[Joria]

Spirited Treasure, from what I see in your pictures you have a lot going on in the backyard which is rather narrow. The narrowness makes it seem almost a bit crowded with all the statuary, fountains etc.  My suggestion, and I agree with you on the side needing "something", would be to take some of the backyard items and make a sitting area on the side.  Put in a tree, add a bench with the focus of the bench being on the statues and fountain.  Put a few shrubs behind the statues and fountain.  That will give you a tranquil area to just sit and read and will free up the back yard for perhaps a barbecue and pavement?  On the other side you could add a small veggie garden if you wanted to put more in.

[SpiritedTreasure]

Thank you all for your help.  I have it finished and up on my sims 3 official page .

[Swirl-Girl]

spirited treasure, I love the house, could you by any chance upload it here?
Has acrostacking and geoblending been mentioned yet? It could be used very creatively, stacking rocks, and QBUILDERZ(From Mod the Sims) even found a way to get the terrain to "stick" to the objects, and he planted a bush on a refrigerator, and everything, which was still usable.

[Decima]

How do you stack rocks?

[folcon]

How do you stack rocks?

depending on the effect you wanted, my best guess would be a mix off Move Objects on and Constrian Floor Elevation.

[Swirl-Girl]

Acrostacking. Google it, there's a guide on Mod the Sims, by QBUILDERZ.

[Janna]

This park I  have set aside, I can't get it to what I want and am frustrated.  So, am going for a different type, focusing mainly on adults, although there are a couple of things for toddlers and children, it is mainly for the older ones.  Teens lost out as I don't really have much with my expansion packs that would be of interest to them.  WA, SN, SEA, (packs) and RV, AS, MV (store).  Very limited. 



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I am working on a park, one that is geared for all ages, and I would like some help. I seem to be at a standstill in what to do with the landscaping, on what I have placed, do I need to take something out, does the building fit, are there better locations for a specific section (such as -- should the playground be moved to another area), the design of the playground, anything that would make it better.

Right now, it just doesn't feel right; I worked on it for over three hours yesterday (a drop in the bucket for the total time of working on it), and I still don't feel happy, so I would like some suggestions. 

Is it okay for me to post some photos here, should I place them elsewhere or what so others can see the park and give me some feedback.

What is in it so far is a playground for kids, with swing, slickyslide, the riding toys, bee and the rocking horses and a playpen from AS.  There are plants, trees, fruits and veggies planted around the park, but I want it geared more toward a park than a garden, so are there too many plants?   I have a patio area with grill and some small tables to eat at, a bar and a couple of snowcone machines, but that section doesn't feel right. 
There is a building that has on the first floor at entrance a bench and a bookshelf, turning to the right is a sparing ring and some more benches to sit at, to watch the matches or read.
The second floor has the restrooms with showers, exercise machines and a board breaker setup.  There is a small section that is over the sparing area that has a training dummy for practicing. 

Any suggestions for changes that will improve it will be appreciated.

[Swirl-Girl]

It sounds like a nice place, but unfortunately, the only way to see what you mean by "doesn't feel right" is for you to show us. It's perfectly fine for you to post pictures so we can see. It sounds wonderful and would like to see it. As for the plants, it sounds like you know what you're doing, don't put in a particularly large variety, or anything above lime level in rarity. (As I believe that's the rarest plant in the SV big park)
Edit: I'm pretty sure you can post pictures, like Spirited treasure did.

[saltpastillen]

Posting pictures here are fine, it is the only way others can see and comment your work properly. Another option would be to post a link to an album at the gallery.

[Janna]

I have deleted the photoes as I do not want them to become confused with the new park.  The one that I have been working on just doesn't feel right, and I could never get it as nice as the ones in the building contest.  Beautiful parks. 

[saltpastillen]

I think dedicating the area to water balloon fights sounds like a great idea. It would be another activity children could take part in in the park (since the park seems geared towards keeping toddlers/children occupied). 

[Janna]

Yes, my focus on this is it will be a park, not a garden; a place for children, for sim families.  All of my other have been gardens --  focusing on adults needs; cooking, necter making, alchemy, just harvesting, an area or two to relax, have a drink and meet with friends or make new ones.

I want one for the person who decides to download this to have a place to take their sim family.  A park for fun for the kids and also give them something, but more on the kids.  Adult sims can work out and let their kids play; the kids can have fun, or even sit and do homework, while the parent(s) work out or read skills books. 

Right now in Riverview it is open for the community, I will be able to see how sims in the town like it, do teens and chidren show up, what do they focus on. My sims have finished all of the gardening, I just need to go into Edit Town and do my thing, 

I'm trying to decide do I want to have less plants and have a section with chess tables, telescopes, so sims can work on logic and have fun at the same time.  Do I need the pond?   It's good for adults but is it wasted space for the kids?
I'm not sure in those areas; so feedback is helpful.  This won't be just for my sim families, but for those who may decide to download it; so that makes me indecisive.  I know what I want, but not what others would like.

I've "borrowed"  from others who have built parks to get ideas and took from ones I had built a long time back, then mixed them to how I like to arrange them.

Thanks for any feedback, suggestions

[saltpastillen]

A pond can be fun for the whole family, since kids can fish too. If you want to focus more on entertainment rather than gardening, I think the chess tables/telescope is a good idea. What exactly do you have in the house? Could you maybe add a basement with activities for teens?

Check out this thread for some great ideas.