EAxis House of Fail: August

[Hecubus]

Yeah, the basement is pretty dark. Shame really.

That's why I did the 'basement apartment window' look. It's the only way to get any light down there. It's easy - you knock out a couple of foundation blocks, put walls on the inside, add a window (you must use move_objects on, then draw a perpendicular wall to make the window show up), and add a fence to the outside. It doesn't take away from your interior space and adds not only light but a little architectural interest.

@Hecubus. These apartment lots will be so hot shortly! Looks very fresh and tidy. You didn't do too badly on space, even though you split them.

Thanks. I have been quietly building some multi-family lots in anticipation.

I can't wait to see what you do, witch!

[Strangel]

May just have to borrow Glad I thought of that, Witch!





-ahem- MATYan editing.

[HomeschooledByTards]

That's why I did the 'basement apartment window' look. It's the only way to get any light down there. It's easy - you knock out a couple of foundation blocks, put walls on the inside, add a window (you must use move_objects on, then draw a perpendicular wall to make the window show up), and add a fence to the outside. It doesn't take away from your interior space and adds not only light but a little architectural interest.

Hmm, interesting idea. I'll have to try this when I get home. I hate basements because they are usually so dark, and I don't like putting in a lot of lamps.

[SalixTree]

After removing paint and adding a full roof, this house looked like any old house up and down my road, so I made it into an Irish cottage. As well, I was reminded of the song "Road to Lisdoonvarna" rather than to nowhere.










I put Road to Lisdoonvarna on my Simpage: http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/lot_detail.php?asset_id=732654
It needs Seasons only, for the country look stuff.

*edit* also download here: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?jnd3cnzdgdt

(Sorry about the bad quality pics, I have yet to figure out why better quality pics don't load up on this site for me. So I reduce the quality. If there's anyone who has any tips, I'm happy to hear them. cheers.)

[Strangel]

Nabbed, Salix, BAA!

Do you use the in-game camera or an outside source, like Gadwin?

[SalixTree]

I use print and paste into photoshop.

[Roux]

@SalixTree: I find that my picture-heavy posts, such as this one, take a few minutes for the preview to fetch. Maybe it's the same for you?

Since I wasn't all that happy with my first entry, I decided I'd try another. I'm a lot happier with this one.

Roux's Nowhere v.2

Price: 72,721 (will drop to 44,497 with use of Magic Wand)
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 3
EPs/SPs: All
Flat lot used, clean package.
Lot NOT playtested, but I realized just now that I forgot to add a phone and fire protection. 




This house is more traditional and family-friendly than my first entry, with warmer decoration and furnishings. I converted the narrow passageway in the original version into a stairwell up to the primary, second floor entry. However, there is a family entrance on the first floor where the bedrooms, One Desk and study area reside. Lock the outside gate and door to Household Only, as well as the gated stairwell (second floor) to keep visitors from invading this space. The house is not AwesomeSpec due to multiple viewing decks and non-locked kitchen, but should still be functional. To lock the kitchen, either add fencing & gate or use full walls & door.

Layout pics: roof; second floor; first floor; basement






I attempted to fully furnish this while keeping the cost down without using Magic Wand, so you will find some less expensive furnishings and build elements, cheap lighting, very few items from the "decorative" category, and light landscaping. But I think the colors and style still work pretty well together, and without all the extra decor it'll be easier on redecoration. There are a few luxuries, though, such as the pool and hot tub.

Outdoor pics: second floor entry way; first floor family entrance; first floor hot tub; rear balcony and stairs leading down to basement pool and pond.
 
 


Second floor pics: TV area; chess table; kitchen & bar seating; dining area; bath
       

 
First floor pics: study area; family entrance/One Desk; master bedroom; master bath; second bath; child's room
         


Not featured in pictures: nursery, pond and pool.

Download Roux's Nowhere v.2

[Alex]

Wow. These all look great...

Maybe I should finally get around to getting Ikeashit.

[eevilcat]

Someone floated the idea of converting it to a commercial lot so I thought I'd give it a try. I used the flat version of the lot for this so it should be fine to drop anywhere into your 'hood. I also figured out my previous problem with being unable to place walls in the basement - all I had to do was raise the ground 2 clicks first. Doh! This also means that the basement won't be underwater if you use the BV beach terrain (as I do for MATY Inverted).

It's designed to be a shop with the ground floor given over completely to sales. Downstairs are male and female toilets, a seating area, dartboard and photobooth. I've laid out the display shelves so that customers can move freely around the store. There's also plenty space to queue without blocking the aisles. Outside has been landscaped into a pretty garden area complete with seating and water features. I kept the roof flat as it suits the modern style of the building. Converted with all EPs/GLS/FFS/H&M installed.

I tested it in my MATY Inverted 'hood as I thought it was about time Rohan Uglybutt started pursuing his LTW of owning 5 top-level business. In case anyone hasn't seen them yet all the pretty vases came from the latest Parsimonious anniversary update - they're gorgeous!

Entrances - one each side of the building, both with double doors to avoid any pedestrian traffic jams.


Gardens on the left and right.


Ground floor display area.


Basement relaxation area and bathroom area.


Rohan Uglybutt serves an impatient Yul Brynne. There's plenty space for shoppers to queue and the counter is big enough to add a second till.


Earl Witch decides that one giant vase is just not enough.


Download the commercialised 73 Road to Nowhere from here.

[jolrei]

LOL SalixTree - You built my grandmother's house.  Is there an old retro toaster to put on the counter?

[witch]

@SalixTree. Wow, love the nooks and crannies. It's the sort of cottage I wouldn't mind living in when I get old.

@Roux. I like your 2nd version better too, I like lots of levels and different pathways.

@Eevilcat. I've always liked those windows but they only seem to fit on commercial lots. Very spacious light and airy. Choice.

[Chaavik]

I really enjoyed looking at the houses in this thread. Great job, everyone!!

This is my makeover of the ugly house using the flattened lot downloaded from here in this thread. I do apologize in advance for learning how to do the slideshow and link to that slideshow. Tips for doing that is welcome.

1 Wright Avenue - Furnished For Family

Cost: About $164,000
CC: No

2 Bedrooms
1 Nursery
1.5 Bathrooms (Full Bathroom on 2nd Floor and Guest Bathroom on 1st Floor)
Kitchen
Basement (Sports-themed with bar, pool table, treadmill, stereo and tv)
Dining-Office Area
Study-Toddler Area
Hot Tub-Deck (Back corner of the lot)
Garden (Complete with fruit trees, two 4-tiled rows of garden soil ready for planting)
Driveway
Fence-Gate (Keep unwanted varmints out)

*Not included - Cars, Cats/Dogs, Sims

There is a pet bowl in the kitchen but no pet toys or beds. Up to discretion of the player to have or not have.

Expansion Packs: ALL
Stuff Packs: ALL (Don't think Holiday is needed)
CEP: Yes


Slideshow (Click Image To Start):

Link To Download (4shared):

1 Wright Avenue.zip


Alternate Link To Download (MediaFire):

1 Wright Avenue

[witch]

Cool Chaavik! Maybe a touch heavy on the stone throughout - it's a very dominant tone, but over all I like it because of the sleek modern aspect of it. Very similar to Annanlike lots.

A tip for pictures is to set graphics settings on high for the picture taking if your machine can handle it; that gets rid of most of the jagged edges.

[Minena]

Minena's Road to Nowhere

I kept it simple and didn't use the basement at all.

Final cost $71, 292

EP's: All

SP's: Kitchen & Bath and Ikea

___________________________________________________________

































http://minena.prismbaby.com/roadtonowhere/Minena's73RoadtoNowhere.rar

[Kyna]

Minena, I think you took out some of the original external walls - the external walls around the original entrance formed a T-junction, and I can't see it on your version.  Apart from that, it looks very nice.  It has a nice atmosphere, although I'm not sure how playable it will be.

Does the bathroom work with a basin right next to it like you have in the upstairs bathroom?  I've never put a basin right next to the bath like that, because I thought sims wouldn't be able to use the bath.

I assume you've playtested it.  How do sims manage the steps by the front door?  It looks very cramped there.

And while I love those kitchen chairs from NL (they're my favourites when I furnish a lot), I have found they don't work too well when they're next to a wall.  Sims can get in the corner chair, but can't get out and end up being stuck between two chairs.

[Minena]

Minena, I think you took out some of the original external walls - the external walls around the original entrance formed a T-junction, and I can't see it on your version.

Ahhh, I see that now. I will correct it. When I blocked the end on the narrow entrance I saw it as an interior entry hall and thus removed the walls.

Does the bathroom work with a basin right next to it like you have in the upstairs bathroom?  I've never put a basin right next to the bath like that, because I thought sims wouldn't be able to use the bath.

Anything can be placed on the end of the tub and Sims can use it fine, as long as the faucet end is left clear.

I assume you've playtested it.  How do sims manage the steps by the front door?  It looks very cramped there.

Possibly, but I liked the look more than having the stairs run straight out fron the porch.

And while I love those kitchen chairs from NL (they're my favourites when I furnish a lot), I have found they don't work too well when they're next to a wall.  Sims can get in the corner chair, but can't get out and end up being stuck between two chairs.

I haven't play tested it, but I can hardly build without playability in my mind while I furnish. The only real issue will be the dresser in the upstairs bath, as when the house is entered after being placed, the door will not work as the dresser crosses the front of it. Easy enough fix, moveobjects on, move dresser out, reset door, move dresser back in, and both will work.

Quite possible there will be a chair issue, I haven't used those chairs in a while, but I've found with later expansions that there seems to be better "space" around objects for Sims to maneuver around. The only real issues I still know of are diagonal desks..well...thats all I can remember right now. There are a few things that really just won't work, but alot of the issues with getting around furniture are no more.

I will test it now after I fix the missing walls

[Minena]

Updated corrected layout of first floor. Replaced missing original walls.

Thank you again Kyna for pointing that out, I have a tendancy to loose track of the original walls on rebuilds.

[witch]

Very nice Minena, it would work well as a starter. I agree with the comments that Kyna made though, maybe make the entrance sideway stairs a double pair? I mean, that's what I'd probably do, not that you should do it! I've used tubs next to the end of the bath before, although the chest could really go in that long narrow setup. I like your cool clear colours.

[Minena]

Thanks Witch. Turned out the chairs I used in the kitchen did cause the "stuck in the corner" syndrome so I turned the table sideways along the wall. I think those are the only chairs that cause that problem as I haven't run into it in a long time.

I am debating the double-wide front stairs. I'd have to extend the deck out one more square which shouldn't hurt the overall look. When the welcome wagon showed up, of course one of them stopped right at the top of them and left the last guy screaming that he couldn't get by.

This is a fun challenge and I look forward to more. Some amazing remodels have come out of them.

[SalixTree]

Hey Minena, (are you the Minena I know?) 
Nice house! *downloads*
I was wondering, I've seen stairs like you made quite often. Is there a tutorial for these? Sometimes I wish I could do this with stairs. As I'm a skinner and  not normally a house builder, I don't know a lot of tricks such as this. My houses are usually made in a simple manner.

Eevilcat, cool community lot, that is! Love the yellows.

I'm going to later try to post a better quality pic to my earlieir post, see if I can get it to post. Maybe I'm not waiting long enough, as Rouk mentions.

[Eleonora]

http://www.sims2wiki.info/wiki.php?title=Tutorials:Stairs%26Lifts%26Elevators

A 1000 and 1 ways of creating fancy staircases. Ofcourse, if you have OFB, you can just plop down a podium (from the foundations menu) and use that as an easy way to make corner stairs.

Oh and for anybody who uses podiums (podia?), please, please, please paint the sides. Everytime I read a story or see a house with an undyed podium it drives me nuts.

[witch]

Oh and for anybody who uses podiums (podia?), please, please, please paint the sides. Everytime I read a story or see a house with an undyed podium it drives me nuts.

So how do you do that then? I tried applying a wallpaper and it wouldn't take it.

[Hecubus]

Oh and for anybody who uses podiums (podia?), please, please, please paint the sides. Everytime I read a story or see a house with an undyed podium it drives me nuts.

So how do you do that then? I tried applying a wallpaper and it wouldn't take it.

I assume you're talking about the stage? They are very persnickety. I found the best way to do it is to place a modular stair, and 'paint' starting on the stage piece behind the stair. Then remove the stair (or not, if it's part of your design). Do note that if you do that, the full circumference of the stage is painted with that one wallpaper - if you want it to have a different color (say, on an outside wall), temporarily remove the walls, put up modular stairs, paint just those parts of the stage, remove stairs, re-add walls, and breath a sigh of relief. (Sighing optional.)


I remain impressed with what everyone's doing - this lot is a true challenge!

[Minena]

Hey Minena, (are you the Minena I know?) 

/waves yes I am Salix! Nice house btw

[msalwaysright]

Oh and for anybody who uses podiums (podia?), please, please, please paint the sides. Everytime I read a story or see a house with an undyed podium it drives me nuts.

So how do you do that then? I tried applying a wallpaper and it wouldn't take it.

When I place them next to walls, they won't take wallpaper. You have to delete the wall, paint the stage, then replace the wall. Annoying, but worth it for the finished product.