Building Contest 1, 2011 - A Town House - Open for Comments

[Micler]

Congratulations, Katluvr! Your's is great!

@Lynley- I love every house you build, and this one is no different. It's so cute!
@caliban- I agree that it's very unique. I really like the exterior, and all of the colour's work very well together.
@imaGleek- The modern greys and blacks look great! Also, the kids bedroom is cute, and I like the red in the master bedroom.

I'd appreciate any comments or feedback on my submission.

[imaGleek]

@imaGleek- The modern greys and blacks look great! Also, the kids bedroom is cute, and I like the red in the master bedroom.

Thanks! I thought I went a little overboard on the grey.

[Choccolatee]

I'd like feedback on my house too.

Congrats Katluvr!

[imaGleek]

I'd like feedback on my house too.

I thought your house was cute , I liked what you did with the backyard and how you made a little sand box withe the short fence.

[caliban]

I think I've got everyone who's asked for feedback so far. There were things I liked about all the submissions, and more than a few little tricks that I made note of ;-]

@Lynley - Fantastic, inside and out. The design is consistent throughout, but the personal spaces are individual. Awesome uses of texture and color
@KJSinclair - great curb appeal, you are a wallpaper genius. I like that the two halves are not laid out exactly the same, and that each half reflects different personalities.
@Zapkid - awesome exterior look & Fantastic design. I found the layout a little awkward. You crammed a lot of style into a small foot print.
@VampirePlasma - I really liked the exterior silhouette. Your interior design was also top notch. I get what you were going for with the bathroom, but it felt to me like an odd use of space, when the dining room was in the hallway.
@GogoWars - Great exterior look, I think It could use a little more landscaping (you probably saved it for last and ran into the budget like me) A fun and funky interior. I'm not a big fan of lime, but I liked how you used it here.
@Joria - Fantastic exterior. A couple big trees would help fill out the lot. You used essentially the same color scheme in nearly every room, but each room feels different because of the different patterns you used. Nice job.
@imagleek - you had some very nice touches in the yard with the spilled sand and the dirt hits under the swings & slide. I think the downstairs could use a few hits of lighter or contrasting colors to give the eye something to catch on against the grey.
@grimsoul - I like the exterior of your house, the contrast of the brick and the siding. My main advise is to shrink your floor plan. You actually got a lot out of your budget, when you think about it (two fireplaces, two TV's, 4 bedrooms, etc). If you brought the back of the house forward, it would eat up some of that extra room AND give you more $$ to play with.
@micler - I really like the open plan 2nd floor you did. Nice, consistent design throughout the space.  When you have a house where the silhouette is very regular, putting some tall/full trees up close to the house can help break up the boxy shape.
@choclatee - Very interesting roof-line, especially from the front and I liked the front yard landscaping. Your kitchen was really well done. (and kudos for using upscale fridge & stove, though I know they can be budget eaters)

[samoht04]

First I think every entry was just fantastic in it's own way, I ran out of votes, Lol. 

On a more serious note, can we try not to say who voted for who, the scores are enough and you don't need to know who voted for you. I appreciate that it will be easy for some to guess when you give out feedback but just don't mention the fact. 

I have updated the list with a - Comments for those who'd like comments in the first post and the Post at the start of Voting on page 2.

Gogowars329 - I liked your use of contrast on the outside of the house, the only thing on the outside that I would improve would be to do some landscaping, just some terrain paints and maybe a tree out the back or something. Inside I found it a bit dark, with a bright Lime, other than that everything was great.

imaGleek - I actually liked the Exterior Walls and have seen it on houses around where I live, I think the roof could have been improved but Rooves are often so annoying to get right, I also think you need a path up to the front door. I liked the Upstairs of your House but downstairs with all that grey was a bit too much for my taste. I think your House looked great in layout and design just some of the colours need tweaking.

ZapKid - Your House was nice, the only thing for me were those Windows, they just seemed too big for the house, if you know what I mean? Inside and outside furnishing/landscaping was just great, You really spent time getting that right.

caliban - I loved the angular design of your house, it just reminded me of these houses I see at the edge of towns behind huge trees/bushes and when you come around the corner it hits you. Your use of patterns and colours really went so well together.

VampirePlasma - I liked the modern style of your House, everything looked great inside it.

grimsoul - As others have said, bravo for taking it that extra step further and actually doing two houses in one, that idea really is cool, I think the main thing I would say for you to improve on is the size planning of the houses, there is a lot of empty floor space so you could have made them smaller and got a better effect.

KJSinclair - Your idea was very unique, doing a Beach Style Townhouse, I like how you also did the split house and did a Family Side and a Bachelor side. One area to improve on is landscaping but I realise that mostly everyone ran out of money for Landscaping.

Katluvr - Congratulations for winning, I really liked how you brought in the Sunken Garage and "Old Style" Basement. Again I think possibly this House is bigger than it needed to be, although you did furnish it very well.
 
Lynley1248 - Your house really does remind me of Townhouses in the towns around me, although yours is far better than the real ones. I can't really think of many improvements, you came second after all.

kiko94 - I liked the yellowy/orange style of your House and your decorating skills and great along with landscaping.

Choccolatee -  Your House is good on the outside but inside and the colours just don't work for me, the grey doesn't help at all. If you had given each room a different pattern on the walls, which costs nothing to change the style in CAS, your house would have been better.

Micler - I absoulutely loved the inside of your house but the Exterior let it down in my opinion, also I think you may have wasted a bit of money on adding a basement that you didn't furnish, if you had deleted that you could have gained an extra $2000 maybe and that could have gone a long way.

[Gogowars329]

For your house, the lime green was just a little bit to vibrant for my taste.

@GogoWars - Great exterior look, I think It could use a little more landscaping (you probably saved it for last and ran into the budget like me) A fun and funky interior. I'm not a big fan of lime, but I liked how you used it here.

Gogowars329 - I liked your use of contrast on the outside of the house, the only thing on the outside that I would improve would be to do some landscaping, just some terrain paints and maybe a tree out the back or something. Inside I found it a bit dark, with a bright Lime, other than that everything was great.

Thanks for the comments. I can definitely agree about the lime not being the best colour choice. The landscaping was actually done first then I realised I was out of cash and had to delete some trees.

[grimsoul]

@grimsoul - I like the exterior of your house, the contrast of the brick and the siding. My main advise is to shrink your floor plan. You actually got a lot out of your budget, when you think about it (two fireplaces, two TV's, 4 bedrooms, etc). If you brought the back of the house forward, it would eat up some of that extra room AND give you more $$ to play with.

grimsoul - As others have said, bravo for taking it that extra step further and actually doing two houses in one, that idea really is cool, I think the main thing I would say for you to improve on is the size planning of the houses, there is a lot of empty floor space so you could have made them smaller and got a better effect.

I do have a problem when building with making the rooms to big. I guess I tend to do that to make sure my sims have plenty of room to get around each other and I'm a little claustrophobic also. 

[VampirePlasma]

@VampirePlasma - I really liked the exterior silhouette. Your interior design was also top notch. I get what you were going for with the bathroom, but it felt to me like an odd use of space, when the dining room was in the hallway.

Yeah, I feel you. You can tell am not the best with floor plans.    Thanks!

VampirePlasma - I liked the modern style of your House, everything looked great inside it.
 

Thanks Thomas 

[caliban]

I do have a problem when building with making the rooms to big. I guess I tend to do that to make sure my sims have plenty of room to get around each other and I'm a little claustrophobic also. 

I know what you mean. I always try to think about pathing/playability of the house in addition to the design. I know they've improved the pathing a lot since Sims 1, but there's still issues.

I find it useful figuring out a general floor plan in excel or on graph paper first.

[Ballerina4life]

Congrats to Katluvr! Your house was really gorgeous. I would also love any constructive criticism.

[Lilygirl]

Congrats to Katluvr!

I would appreciate feedback on my house as well.

@ Gogo: I love the curb appeal of your house with the colours and little garden in the front, I think it could have used a little more landscaping around the house. To me it didn't really fit what I picture when I think townhouse. I'm also a little confused about the small flat roof part in the back. I enjoy the interest you created using the green floor tiles "walking" out into different parts of the house. The bed alcove in the second bedroom on the middle floor is a very interesting idea.

@ imagleek: I love all the outdoor lights you used around the flower beds! I love the effect of solar lights at light in RL and this reminds me of that (as soon as we buy our house in 2 years solar lights are on my first shopping spree list!). I enjoy the contrast between the rock and horizontal siding and the simply green flower beds in the front. The coloured accent wall in the master bedroom is a nice effect, I think I would have placed the bed up against is and left the window space open for a couple comfy chairs. I would have liked to see some colour in the main floor, on rugs and upholstery perhaps, with a gray palate like that it seems a little boring but it's fabulous to make colours pop!

@ Zapkid: Having seen your Swap Shop builds I had high expectations for your submission! Kidding. I love the exterior colours you used. I think the garage door could use a recolour but other than that, fabulous! The backyard is a great example of setting up different areas for different things but it all still works. The long side veranda is great although I think the interior space along it could have been set up differently to take advantage of the great view you created. I would turn the kitchen around and place it on the wall by the stairs so that there is room for all 4 Sims to eat meals together at the dining table.

@ caliban: The red and green exterior makes for a striking site from the curb! The roof section at the front, above the entrance and dining room looks a little too imposing to me, I think lowering the slope on it would have been nice. Having the garage added on towards the back is a refreshing alternative, and created the cutest corner for a half bath! I think that the white windows are a little too bright for the downstairs woodwork trim. Landscaping gets 2 thumbs up!

@ VampirePlasma: A delightfully charming house, although not what I picture when I think townhouse. The flower beds are fabulous and the exterior brick is an interesting choice. I love the soft green on the walls and the layout of the kitchen, you created a wonderful outside the windows to enjoy during breakfast. I think the bathroom featured is set up a little awkwardly with the tub in the middle of the room. Also, the shower isn't actually route-able by Sims, it needs to be turned counterclockwise 90degrees.

@ grimsoul: Kudos for building a 2-family dwelling with 70,000 simoleons. I don't recognize that roof texture - apparently I need to branch out more. The front yard could use more landscaping. I love the contrasting exterior colours on the house. It seems very open and roomy, so much that it's too much. I think downsizing from the back and the sides would have created a better floor plan, bigger back yards, and given you more money for the landscaping. I like the use of bold, rich colours in the interiors.

@ KJSinclair: Kudos to you as well for building a multi-family dwelling on a 70,000 simoleon budget. I love the exterior woodwork, fencing, and gardens. The 2 very different colour schemes provides for a nice visual contrast, and I appreciate having the 2 different floor plans showing the versatility of the space. The rooms and backyards look like people actually live there in RL.

@ Ballarina4life: The exterior colours are nice, although I would have like to see a darker roof to match the decks and railing; also the windows on the second floor don't line up with those on the first, lining them up creates a more cohesive appearance from the curb. I like the little bump out for the dining area and the open loft idea is very interesting. I think swinging the stairs around 180degrees would create a better flow for the downstairs and the loft area. Love the rug and colours in the master bedroom.

@ Katluvr: What can I really say, you won after all! I enjoy the basement garage although I think the house needs to be placed further back on the lot, that driveway doesn't look very drive-able. The fencing on the balconies gives the place a Victorian flare which always appeals to me personally. Love the rich, jewel-tone colours throughout the house.

@ Lynley: Super cute house! I love your use of the roof tool, especially on the garage. Well done on the landscaping, and kudos for fitting a pool into you budget. I love the shades of blue and gree that you used in the interior, very unique and beautiful.

@ Kiko: I like the colour schemes on the exterior and the interior, although the interior could have used a little more variation in the colours of the rugs and upholstery. For a townhouse, I think less rambling space for the floor plan would have fit better. Not sure why the main floor needs 2 full baths, for example. I do like the layout of the kitchen/dining room. The second floor also has a lot of empty space between the bedrooms. It always amuses me when I see the topiary penguins standing in the sunshine - when I think penguins I think cold, snow, white, cloudy. I think your garage door could use a recolour to match the house. Well done on the landscaping and the small terrace on the second floor.

@ Choccolatee: Love the beach, airy vibe of this house, maybe not very townhouse but awesome nonetheless. The hedge-work gives it a very structured, manicured, upscale look for only 70,000 simoleons. I would have loved to see some designated use for the foyer, more than the couple chairs you have placed, the space is so large and made larger by the 2-story design of the foyer. Love the soft interior colours.

@ Micler: Your house is so cute I would seriously consider buying it in RL. For the size of the lot, I would have liked to see a larger house or a fenced in yard, the house seems to get lost on the vast expanse of the lawn. I would like to see more continuity in the windows at the back of the house. The little patio area in the back is awesome. I love the layout of the main floor and would be excited to see what the space might look like with an extra 2-3 squares all around. Love the wood floors interior colours.

Wow, I think I got everybody. Sorry guys, that's a lot of text.

[Lynley1248]

Thanks for the feedback.  I think everyone did an awesome job and I loved seeing all the unique designs everyone came up with. 

Gogowars– The interior layout was really nice.  I like the open feel of the downstairs, in particular. The lime was a bit bright for my tastes, though.  I liked the exterior, as well.  I also agree that the back could have used a bit more landscaping.

imaGleek – I liked the exterior shape and the rock/siding look. I love the accent wall in the master bedroom.  I would have changed the roof line a bit, at the front, and added a few splashes of color to the interior, but otherwise it was great.

ZapKid – I really liked the exterior and landscaping.  The backyard looks like a great place to relax. The only thing was that the full length widows behind the kitchen cabinets look out of place.  I think smaller windows would have looked more realistic. 

caliban – I really liked the distinct shape of your home and the roof-top deck.  I liked the colors, as well, especially the downstairs.

VampirePlasma – The modern grey brick is really nice and works well with the exterior shape.  The interior is great, as well.

grimsoul – The two family design was a great idea.  I think the interior is a bit empty, but that was probably a budget issue.  I know that was the hardest part for me, anyway.

KJSinclair– Like with grimsoul’s house, I liked the two family plan.  The exterior look was great.  With the landscaping, some terrain paint under the swings and such make it look a little more realistic, like it belongs there. 

Katluvr– I loved the shape of the house and underground garage/basement.  The exterior was lovely.  Some of the colors were a bit bright for my personal taste, but I loved the teen’s room.

kiko94 – The exterior shape was great.  The warm interior colors were really nice, as well. I really liked it.

Choccolatee – The modern vibe of the exterior is nice and the interior colors fit well with the style.

Micler – Cute!  I love the use of half-walls for the patio area.  Even though the house is on the smaller side, nothing seems too crowded.  I really like the colors, as well.

Lilygirl – Love the modern look and those large windows.  I also like the little pops of color with the furniture and rugs.

[caliban]

Thanks to all for feed back

@ caliban: The red and green exterior makes for a striking site from the curb! The roof section at the front, above the entrance and dining room looks a little too imposing to me, I think lowering the slope on it would have been nice. Having the garage added on towards the back is a refreshing alternative, and created the cutest corner for a half bath! I think that the white windows are a little too bright for the downstairs woodwork trim. Landscaping gets 2 thumbs up!

I agree with you on the slope on that roof section. What I really wanted for that was a half-mansard (I think, the one with the sloped sides & flat-top) tool, which would make it more in line with the main rooftop.

The angled garage was fun, but also a bit of a pain (especially when I decided to add the fireplace and then had to work around that upstairs.)

So, next round of feed back:

@ballerina4life - The house is a nice shape, but the roof felt really really tall. I REALLY liked your color schemes, especially in the master bedroom & the kitchen. I agree w/ Lilly about flipping the stairs. I think you could lose 2-3 squares from front-to back, still have plenty of room for all the functionality currently built in and have a little tighter layout. I really liked the marble in the kitchen, but when you look at it from the top down, the counters disappear into the floor. Most of the design elements that you used are flat color, they don't have a lot of texture in them. I think a little tone-on-tone pattern in the living room rugs would be good.

@lilygirl -  I like the layout over all, though it does feel a little empty in places. My favorite room here was the reading room. I like the design that you have, how the colors work together, but it feels like the foundation for a design and it's missing something. It may be as simple as putting some artwork up to break up the walls a bit. Sorry I can't articulate it more than that right now.

@katluvr - Your exterior is awesome, and really does reflect a brownstone. Because it's not in an actual row-house situation, some trees to break up the very regular lines of the exterior would be nice. You picked patterns and wall papers inside that continues the feel of a traditional brownstone house. The teen's bedroom was I think my favorite room in your house.

[dimy77]

Congrats to the winner! And thanks to the few who votes on mine . Hope to do better with the 2nd contest!

-Dimy