More Awesome Than You!

Inspired by Emma in this thread. (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,12114.0.html):

Challenge: makeover Eaxis-designed lot.  This is not a contest, just a challenge- anyone can enter, judge, or enter AND judge.

Rules:
1. No CC.  Please indicate needed expansions and stuff packs so people who wish to download your lot know what to expect.  Pictures are required, either available for download, on a slideshow, or posted in this thread.

2. By entering this challenge, you agree to take constructive criticism.  If you wish to judge someone else's entry, you should be respectful but honest.

3. Your lot does not have to be Awesomespec, although it is encouraged.

4. You may move internal walls and add external walls but you may NOT move original external walls.

5. Lots may be furnished, unfurnished, or partially furnished.  You can even upload both furnished and unfurnished versions.

*PLEASE NOTE* Since this is an Eaxis-designed lot, it may or may not have level edges.  Place at your own risk.

This is the challenge lot:
190 Sim Lane (http://www.4shared.com/file/50889452/2c413782/190_Sim_Lane.html) from Pleasantview
lot size 40x30
lot value $32,773

All entries are due by July 1st.  If this catches on, maybe we could have another house to do next month.  If you have a specific lot in mind, feel free to suggest it; the only requirement is that it be an Eaxis-designed one.

Nice one! ;)

[eta pics of the original lot]

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/original_190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_555e5c50.jpg)
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/original_190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_755e5c66.jpg)
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/original_190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_355e5c6e.jpg)
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/original_190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_b55e5c5c.jpg)
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/original_190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_b55e5c88.jpg)
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/original_190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_d55e5c86.jpg)

Are walls allowed to be moved? If so then internal or external walls or both?

If I had to make the rules, I would state-Internal walls can be moved, no external walls to be moved (however, you can add extensions to the original walls, such as extra rooms, conservatories, decked areas etc).

Yeah, and all else is fair game.  ;D

I won't be able to get to it for a few days though, so I hope it goes for a week or two.

Sure, I'll add that.

*high-fives Emma*


OK, let's say entries are due by the end of the month?

Thanks for including the lot file, since I've stripped all EAxis lots excepting those two stupid BV hotels I can't delete.This makes me cry, but I get what you mean. Test account, here I come.

This is my entry:

190 Sim Lane by Tingeling
2 bedrooms, nursery, 3 bathrooms
Total cost: 121707 Simoleons
I have: All expansion packs
           All stuff packs (except Glamour life stuff)

(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/190%20Sim%20Lane%20by%20Tingeling/snapshot_00000009_955c34cf.jpg)

(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/190%20Sim%20Lane%20by%20Tingeling/Screenshot-1.jpg)

(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/190%20Sim%20Lane%20by%20Tingeling/snapshot_00000009_f55c4e3c-1.jpg)

(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/190%20Sim%20Lane%20by%20Tingeling/snapshot_00000009_f55c3778.jpg)

(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/190%20Sim%20Lane%20by%20Tingeling/snapshot_00000009_f55c3722.jpg)

More pictures at Tingeling's Photobukkit (http://s301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/190%20Sim%20Lane%20by%20Tingeling/)

Edit: The actual House is at Rapidshare! (http://rapidshare.de/files/39691685/190SimLane_byTingeling.rar.html)

I don't see a file to download on that link, Tingeling. Am I having a blond moment?

I see a big "download now" button when I go to the link. So perhaps blondness strikes? :)

Hmmmm, this is what I see when I click on the link "Thank you for your upload. Remember that only those people are able to access your files knowing the exact link. RapidShare is a file hoster and does not announce your files anywhere."

Do I have to have an account there?

I honestly don't know. You should see this after the first note:

Edited to remove link.
Edit nr 2: removed second link. Use the one in my first post.

Probably best not to post the delete link, someone has already deleted it (no, it was not me). The download link you posted above it seemed to be the right one. I got the same error message as keirra using the link in the first post.

Apparently I can't edit my posts (tried to, but it didnt stick!) so I'll try uploading the house again.

Edit: Never mind that, pressed the wrong button. New file is uploaded at rapidshare.

Got it. Thanks.

Nice. Downloaded a copy to install once I have all the EPs and SPs in place.

Mmm. I like it too. Nice clean lines, tidy modern look. Thanks Tingeling.

The Rapidshare link tells me the file has been deleted.

Witch, try the link in the post that has the pictures in it. That one works for me. Tingeling, you need to delete that second link that you posted. It doesn't work.

D'oh! I made an assumption the second link was the correct one just because it often is. Trying the first link now.

Yep, that worked, ta.

My entry:

Requires all EPs up to FT and all SPs up to K&BI. Costs §128k furnished.
3 bedrooms, Nursery, 4 full bathrooms, 1 small room with just a bath for bathing spawn, pets etc, Garage, Pool, Pond, Greenhouse & Fruit Trees. Self contained kitchen, dining area in main room and grill/eating area outdoors.

Front of lot
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_f55d4b87.jpg)

First floor
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_555d4d92.jpg)

Second floor
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_955d4d97.jpg)

Back of lot
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane/snapshot_00000001_355d4b9f.jpg)

More pictures here. (http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane/?albumview=slideshow)

Download here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/51042797/aa0dd181/190_Sim_Lane_Emma.html)

I like how you integrated the garage with the whole house. And very awesomespec, too!

Dumb question, but does it need to be internally furnished? Maxis furnishings are so blah.  >:(




EDIT: Correct punctuation. Questions get question marks!

Not a dumb question at all.  I added this to the rules:

If you want to furnish it with your custom stuff for pictures but put it up for download empty, that's OK too.  Pretty much anything goes, I guess.

Tingeling, I like the clean contemporary design.  It looks like it would fit well in a California-type neighborhood.  I especially like the closed-off hot tub area in the back; I've never thought to build one into its own little house, I always just fence them off.  I may widen the upstairs hallway and close off the staircase, though, to prevent traffic jams.

Emma, I like how your version keeps in line with the original house's style.  I'm also liking the garage with the 2nd-story bedrooms above it.  I might replace some of the bushes/flowerbeds with plastic plants or floor covering because of all the upkeep that is required.  The little mini-garden over the front door is cute, and all the nice-sized bathrooms are a plus.

I'm working on mine.  Got the unfurnished version done, and now I'm starting to furnish it.  The decorating kind of got away from me; it's almost sickeningly cutesy and over 50,000 simol. empty.  Argh.

Very nice, Emma.  I really like how you included a greenhouse, pond, etc.. Baaaaaaa!

 :) I love this challenge and I'm going to do it.. it makes a nice break from working on Simmers Against Securom.

Out of interest why did you pick that house? I always thought that was one of their better houses. (I know the internal layout is a little illogical in places and the furnishings are a bit environment score deprived, but it's workeable) You should consider doing a challenge with the ugly row of white houses that don't have enough room for a doublebed too..  because that would be even more of a challenge.

I picked this house because it is not really terrible, but it does need a bit of reconstruction/redecoration and there is plenty of room on the lot to expand.  How about we do one of the white box houses in July?

Like Emma, I chose to keep the house in the same colors as it started with and added a garage. I wanted to add two going sideways, but the garage door just wouldn't turn correctly.  ::) This house contains two separate living spaces, designed for two small families or a family with grandma and grandpa having their own place upstairs. I need transitional multifamily homes, and this one lends itself to it. Unfurnished, because EAxis crap is blah.

Requires all EPs up to FT and should not require any SP.
Bottom floor is a two bed, two bath apartment with living room and kitchen/dining area. Top floor is a two bed, one bath apartment with living room, kitchen/dining area, and foyer. Top of garage could be used as a deck.
Cost: $44,088. $32,981 when magic wand is applied.
File attached, as it was just under the limit.

(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee18/ZazazuAbubu/190ZZfront.jpg)

(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee18/ZazazuAbubu/190ZZone.jpg)

(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee18/ZazazuAbubu/190ZZtwo.jpg)

I didn't add on anything except enclosing the back "porch" which made for some extra space upstairs.  Four bedrooms, 3 baths, living room, raised kitchen and an atrium type thing where the back porch used to be.

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/shallowkid/190simlane3.jpg)

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/shallowkid/190simlane4.jpg)

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/shallowkid/190simlane2.jpg)

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/shallowkid/190simlane1.jpg)

And the raised kitchen from the inside:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/shallowkid/190simlane6.jpg)

Downloadable on the exchange (http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/lot_detail.php?asset_id=707042) because I'm 12.

Gorgeous Zazazu-I'm grabbing that for my hood! The reason why the garage doors/driveway piece won't turn correctly is because of lot placement when the house was originally built (by Maxis, so there is nothing you can do about it) I know-because I tried :D

Glad you like my house, I had a lot of fun renovating it! I can't wait for next month's challenge now!

[edit] Shallow_kid, that looks really nice! It is amazing how different one house can look. Gonna go grab yours too and I'll rate high ;)

Here is a challenge that I feel able to do! In fact, I have the thing done but it's a monster. I'm so glad to see that it can be uploaded empty! That will reduce the file size immensely. Thank you for that! Also need to take new pictures. The first ones suck. lol

I'll probably post an entry at some point...but could we get a picture of the original house in the first post for comparison's sake, please?

Here it is. Let me warn you that I suck at building as well as taking pictures. I you think P & L is needed, I won't get butthurt! ;D I have the funky Deluxe version, Uni and OFB.
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/snapshotfrontview.jpg)
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/Snapshotbackview.jpg)
We have featured a small music room, large living/dining area, two full baths, kitchen and toddler play area/breakfast nook on the first floor.
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/snapshotfirstfloor.jpg)

On the second floor, there is a master suite (to the left), two bedrooms, two bathrooms (counting the on in the master suite), and two decks, one visitor accessible and one not. The empty room can serve as another bedroom, an office or storage. A workout/play area finishes up the space, If more is needed, a few columns and you're extension ready!
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/snapshotsecondfloor.jpg)

http://www.mediafire.com/?v4wotjmovay (http://www.mediafire.com/?v4wotjmovay)

I added some to the 2nd post in this thread.

Nothing wrong with that for a family home Cimaronna.

If you want some picture taking tips, use a picture taking program like Gadwin. Put the slider and everything for pictures up to the highest levels. Use the mode where you go to save, that gets rid of the gridlines. Use Tab to get rid of the UI. (Get your pic placed first, otherwise you have to use the keyboard for finer movement controls). Zoom right in so the picture fills the screen. I usually put my floors slightly on the diagonal and get right close in.

You'll probably still have to resize so the pics aren't too big for the forum.

Why Thankee, Ma'am!  ;D

I'll be checking into that ASAP. I know that I need something to improve this. Maybe that will be just the thing!

Oh! I forgot to post that this remodel costs $59,202

Thank you for explaining that SnootCB.. I think it'd be fun to tackle another one next month. Mine is gutted and I've begun to decorate.

Zazazu mentioned a limit but I didn't spot it one.. are we working with a dollar limit for the challenge?

She meant the file size is small enough to upload to the forum.

ETA: Great job everyone. 

The file size limit is 640KB IIRC.

 :) thank you for explaining that Emma and Keirra

 :-* ;D

Turn the driveway? How do you mean?

I is thouroughly confused.

You know that street parking tutorial that SOMEONE removed? You can use that to turn both driveways, the itty end pieces, and the garage doors. There's one particular line in the floor config file that has to have an # added to it, then you can select sidewalk tiles. Delete one of the sidewalk tiles on the end of the opposite side of the street, and the pieces flip. You can use this to do street parking and design side garages.

However, for this house, I could get everything to flip, but the durned garage door was inside out. I thought about doing some sort of faux garage/carport thing, but didn't like the look.

Thanks. :)  I should have done that in the first place.

Zazazu: I like that your version is basically a duplex- great for extended families and will no doubt be easily transformed into an "apartment" lot when the next EP comes out.  I also like what you've done with the roof.  I'll probably add a perimeter fence out of habit.

shallow_kid: I really like what you've done with the outside of the house.  The atrium with the 2nd-story room above it is especially interesting.  I also think the elevated kitchen was a neat idea, though I might add a half wall to the outer edge of it.

Cimaronna: You don't suck at building.  The only things I'd change about the outside would be to (1) add a perimeter fence and (2) change up the roof line just a bit.  I'd probaby change the overhangs on the angled areas to get them in line with the rest of the roof, and I'd add another roof part to the chimney.  The inside of the house would work really well for a big family; I especially like the decoration of the kitchen (my version currently has those same floor tiles, but in pink) and the living area.

Thank you very much! I'll note these changes and try it out. I say that I suck at building because I nearly always end up with a Square Box Hotel. I'm trying to get myself out of that rut. So far, no good. Frankly, I'm loving everyone's entries you have right now. There are several awesomely talented builders is MATY! I'm going to go snatch some.

I didn't change much of the exterior layout, I enclosed the patio-like area in the back and moved it to the side. I tried to awesomespec the insides. The lot is fully furnished with room for expansion upstairs; another bedroom could easily be added. Price is § 97 978.

Pics:

Exterior:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_d55f0d76.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_755f0f3a.jpg)

Outdoor dining area:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_955f0ee9.jpg)

Downstairs:
Layout
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_755f0db8.jpg)

Living room, seen from hallway/study:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_b55f0dfb.jpg)

Study:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_155f0e07.jpg)

Hallway/entrance:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_b55f0e25.jpg)

Kitchen:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_155f0e5d.jpg)

Nursery:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_955f0e98.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_355f0eb2.jpg)

Upstairs, layout:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/annann/Maxischallenge/snapshot_00000001_b55f0dae.jpg)

ETA: Built with all EPs and SPs installed. Probably needs all of them to look like it's supposed to. :P

beautiful! I'm sending it off in different directions with the colours for mine, but I love the cleanness of the feel of your version.  ;D

Beautiful Annan! I hope you all realise I am going to have a full neighbourhood of '190 Sim Lanes' by the time we are all finished :D At least they all look totally different!

My version: mostly furnished at 68,113...2 large bedrooms, 2 baths, open floorplan.  All EPs, FFS and GLS.  My pics also suck.  Would be happy to attach download if anyone is really interested.  *Edited to add download link, at bottom of post.  Enjoy!

Front
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd16/therealsnowbawl/ScreenShot017-9.jpg)

Back
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd16/therealsnowbawl/ScreenShot018-11.jpg)

Side View
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd16/therealsnowbawl/ScreenShot019-12.jpg)

1st Floor
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd16/therealsnowbawl/ScreenShot020-11.jpg)

2nd Floor
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd16/therealsnowbawl/ScreenShot021-11.jpg)

Edit to add dl link (and keep in mind, furnishings are reference only, decor at very minimum): 190 Sim Lane- Snow Style (http://www.4shared.com/file/51255731/54fe2c3c/Snow_190_Sim_Lane.html)

 :) that's lovely.. Only one small peice of feedback, the white bit on the roof makes it look unpainted.. I know it's likely just light paint.. You might want to look at a slightly darker shade so it blends more with the rest of the building.

I'd love a copy, Bawler.

These are all SO much better, cooler and more interesting than anything stupid EAxis does with the exact same resources. I obviously need to arr me some stuff packs so I can download the houses.

Technically, you don't need the stuff packs. The items from the packs just won't show up.

Snoot's 190 Sim Lane (fully furnished) (http://www.4shared.com/file/51270795/e462a3fd/190_Sim_Lane__furnished_.html) now available for P&L
lot value: $119,394 (definitely not a starter home)
3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms
features: pond, greenhouse & orchard, swimming pool, fireplace, craft room, enclosed stairs, family room, skilling objects for all skills, 1 master bed + 2 single beds + nursery, LACKS GARAGE
[edit to add]requires all EPs and SPs
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/SnootCB/SimsCC/th_190simlane1.jpg) (http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/SnootCB/?action=view&current=8bcf139b.pbw)
Click for slideshow.

Annan: I like what you did with the roof and the siding/stone on the outside wall.  What a super-efficient use of space!

snowbawl: The landscaping is very pretty.  The inside seems minimalistic but well-furnished.

 ;D Snoot that's a great remake.. It looks really nice and I love the absolute attention to playability (is that what awesomespec means?) It has a really logical flow between tasks, no wasted space and is cleanly laid out. :) Downloaded. :)

Snoot & Snowbawl, love both your houses, and downloaded ;D Snoot, the only tiny little thing about your house is it needs more windows at the front :D But I have a window fetish I think-it's all I can do to stop myself from putting them on every other piece of wall!

I just love how different these all are!  I really like snoot's for larger families.  Nice use of the space.  Annan, I really like what you did with the windows and the stone on the exterior.  And I'm keeping zaza's for AL for sure

Awesomespec is Pes's set of recommendations for building an efficient, highly playable lot.  You can find it here: http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,7263.0.html

Great idea! I've downloaded several! Working diligently on my own entry.

Amber I've been building for the Sims for years and I totally agree with most of the things he says there. I didn't know about the "one desk" thing so this was very helpful. Thank you. :)

Here's my entry.  I'm running all expansions up through FreeTime and Family Fun Stuff, although I don't think I used any shit pack items this time.  If you download, I recommend installing Pescado's "eye in the sky" baby controller to make the play table in the nursery workable.  (It's crammed into a corner, and a toddler will have difficulty getting to it on her own.)  I've tested the lot with a family (2 adults, 1 teen, 1 child, 1 toddler) with one cat.  It sells for §61,384 -- I used the Magic Wand.  It's not AwesomeSpec because the stairs aren't lockable.

(http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/9985/challenge2008exterioryv5.jpg)
(http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/103/challenge2008exteriorbawx0.th.jpg) (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=challenge2008exteriorbawx0.jpg)(http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3784/challenge2008downstairsza5.th.jpg) (http://img518.imageshack.us/my.php?image=challenge2008downstairsza5.jpg)(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9350/challenge2008upstairsbqv9.th.jpg) (http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?image=challenge2008upstairsbqv9.jpg)
(http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/8859/challenge2008kitchenxp3.th.jpg) (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=challenge2008kitchenxp3.jpg)(http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/3784/challenge2008familydw8.th.jpg) (http://img49.imageshack.us/my.php?image=challenge2008familydw8.jpg)(http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/29/challenge2008upstairsaqf7.th.jpg) (http://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=challenge2008upstairsaqf7.jpg)(http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/7918/challenge2008nurserydz1.th.jpg) (http://img363.imageshack.us/my.php?image=challenge2008nurserydz1.jpg)

Download here (http://www.4shared.com/file/58852745/b50620ee/190_Sim_Lane_-_BastDawn_-_noCC.html)

Nicely done! I have so many 190 Sim Lanes, I'm having to rename them, but hey! I need another one!  :D

Ooh, I like yours Bastdawn!

Okay, since it doesn't state in the rules that you can only enter once-I've made another one!

Requires all EPs up to FT and all SPs up to K&BI. Costs §189k furnished. You can always wave the magic wand to depreciate stuff though, I didn't. ;)

3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, nursery, living room, bathroom, kitchen and separate dining room on first floor, along with the 'one desk', reading area, painting, pottery and chess. 2nd floor has 1 master bedroom, 2 kid's rooms and 3 (yes, 3!) bath and/or shower rooms. In the hallway there is an exercise bike and a ballet barre and the bedrooms and workout area can be closed off from visitors if you want to grant them access to the recreation area on the 3rd floor by placing walling and locked doors from the stairs to the bathroom wall. Visitors can use the 2 small bathrooms on the 2nd floor then if you so wish. 3rd floor includes a bathroom, crafting area and rec area with pool table and dartboard. (Also, on the 3rd floor, there is a little 1x4 space where the chimney was that is ideal for placing your macro controllers out of view) Garden includes greenhouse, pond and 'orchard' and there is a small swimming pool. Garden is accessible from kitchen where there is a patio area with grill and covered dining area. Phew. I think that is it, but I am sure I've forgotten something.

Front of lot

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane_V2/snapshot_00000001_5560fdc1.jpg)

1st floor layout

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane_V2/snapshot_00000001_7560feae.jpg)

2nd floor layout

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane_V2/snapshot_00000001_1560feb0.jpg)

3rd floor layout

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane_V2/snapshot_00000001_d560feb3.jpg)

Back of lot

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane_V2/snapshot_00000001_f560fdec.jpg)

More pictures. (http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/190_Sim_Lane_V2/?action=view&current=408ee0e3.pbw) Download lot. (http://www.4shared.com/file/51364827/9b9a3165/190_Sim_Lane_Emma_V2.html)

Beautiful! --And another one lands in my downloads folder!

 ;D awh.. Emma that's gorgeous. Downloaded.

Wah!  4shared haetz me.  All I get even with popup blockers off is the 4shared logo and a blank white page.  No download!  ETA:  NM it works in Furryfox, just not IE   :P

Bastdawn, beautiful job! 

I attempted to follow AwesomeSpecs by enclosing the kitchen, putting a door to the stairs, and using a front perimeter fence. But I'm sure its not perfectly Awesome.

--All expansions + K&B
--§115,000
--fully furnished
--2BR +1 nursery
--2BA
--driveway

*forgot a burglar alarm and light in stairway

More pictures and download here (http://gethanesims.prismbaby.com/index.php?pg=./other/challenge_190SimLane/challenge_190SimLane)

(http://gethanesims.prismbaby.com/content/other/challenge_190SimLane/00Front.jpg)

(http://gethanesims.prismbaby.com/content/other/challenge_190SimLane/01Entry.jpg)

More pictures and download here (http://gethanesims.prismbaby.com/index.php?pg=./other/challenge_190SimLane/challenge_190SimLane)

Snoot, I have a question.. the house I'm working on at the moment keeps the exterior walls but I did obliterate the fireplace chimney on the third floor.. I detest that look on any building. Can we get a ruling whether just the chimney on the third floor is ok to obliterate?

I'm happy to just keep doing the house for fun -as in, not a challenge entry-and show you guys the pictures when I get it finished. Gethane and Emma-these are both gorgeous. ;D

OH HAI. Can anybody play this game? I need a little more P&L in my life.

Everyone's houses were so gorgeous and so much better than the original that it made me want to try. There are 3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a nursery, a skilling room/study area, a greenhouse (empty), and I added a garage. It's pretty much furnished, but I only added a few decorative objects here and there. It complies with as many awesomespec rules as I could remember off the top of my head--perimeter fence, one desk, lockable kitchen and stairs. Yours for only $120,216.

Oh, I'm using all EPs up to FreeTime (except for Pets) and the GL and TS stuff packs. I don't think I used anything from GL, but I might have used the TSS.

Front
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/snapshot_00000005_7561770b.jpg)

Back
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/snapshot_00000005_156177a1.jpg)

First Floor
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/asnapshot_00000005_956177fe.jpg)

Second Floor
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/asnapshot_00000005_756177e6.jpg)

Living Room
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/snapshot_00000005_d5617847.jpg)

Kitchen
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/snapshot_00000005_b5617874.jpg)

Downloadable here if you want it. (http://www.4shared.com/file/51435807/c4f58b4a/190_Sim_Lane_by_leaths.html)

If we do this challenge again next month, I will be sure to actually furnish and decorate.  Everyone has done such a great job on the insides.  I feel stupid for having just furnished and decorated enough as to provide markers of where I would put things.  Forgot a burglar alarm, you say?  I did not even put in a trashcan, or a dishwasher.  Not even a single picture.  I barely included lights.  SIGH.

Anyhoo, I've decided to limit myself to only two downloads.  And I am waiting until the end of the challenge and all entries are in.  Are we judging these?  That would be such a hard job, they all look great.

@tlhs, I, personally, think that your window choice and placement is rather arbitrary...but from what I've seen, that would be my only complaint.

Great job everyone.

BastDawn: I like your layout and I especially like the decoration of the outside of the house.  Good for a medium- to large-sized family.
OK, I found the magic wand and I thought I installed it correctly (putting the collections file in the collection folder rather than downloads) BUT I can't find it in game.  Thought it would be under collections in Buy/Build mode, but no luck.  Am I supposed to put BOTH files in collections?  And anyway, how exactly do you "wave it around"?

Emma: I think I like this one even more than your first entry.  Nice layout, and, again, I like the plants placed over the front porch- creative!  I also like the little path to the pond.

gethane: I like that your house keeps the original "look" of the original, except bigger and more symmetrical.  I'll change a bit of the interior decorating to fit my own tastes but overall I like what you've done with it.

Meh, I think it is *technically* against the rules, but I don't care.  I'm still curious to see what you did with it.

tlhs: Great interpretation of Awesomepec, I think.  I'd move the trashcan inside the fence to keep kickers away, but that's about it.  I think the stone/stucco walls look really nice.

Nope, no official judging, just sharing and mutual P&L/high fives.  I'll definitely put up another challenge house next month- I went back and looked at some of the white box houses that had been suggested the other day and I had a very bad DO NOT WANT reaction.

I know it has been said before, but I think it's really interesting to see how many variations on the same house there are! When I build, there's only one way things can fit, and I don't think I could re-arrange stuff in a satisfactory manner. But it can obviously be done. :P

Also, I think it's good to see some of the lurkers come out and post buildings. Yay new builders!

I put both in /Downloads/Hacks. You do have to go into collections in-game to find it.

What about that itty-bitty cabin in the woods that came with basegame? It had green siding and pines on the lot. That was the first house I played in the game (and my game was 1 sim minute/30 seconds RL on my laptop without any cc at that point because I was running it at max everything and it couldn't handle it). The Tests had a hell of a time making that thing livable.

As Zazuzu said, both in Downloads works fine, but it should be working the way you have it, with the collections file in Collections and the Magic Wand in Downloads.  What is your setup?  If you don't have FreeTime, the collection file might not work.  You can force it to show up by editing it in SimPE. (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,72.msg314123.html#msg314123)  To wave it around, click on it, move it onto the lot as if to place it, and then cancel it.  Done!

Thank you for the answer Snoot.. I'll post some pics on here, but I may also do another version if I get the time. :) This is the single most relaxing thing I've gotten to do all month.

I forgot about the chimney thing - so if you're judging, I am disqualified. But Emma and Saraswati made me post it, so here it is. (I can haz peer preshur?)

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/IllusionsofGrandeur-TS2/190SimsLane-Hecubus/mainview.jpg)

Structural Changes: removed fireplace/chimney; squared off bay window; changed stairwell, doors, and windows; reconfigured both floors. Note the fenced-in lot, lockable kitchen doors, and groovy new roofline.

It's lightly furnished, to show where the infant sleeping pod, bathrooms, and kitchen would be. If I were to really furnish it, I'd use the preponderance of Asian-inspired stuff from Simcastic and SimsDeisgnAvenue. Lot requires EPs through BV for the garden goodies to show up. There's room for a driveway, but I didn't put it in because, well, I didn't put it in.  ;D

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/IllusionsofGrandeur-TS2/190SimsLane-Hecubus/backyard.jpg)

First Floor:
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/IllusionsofGrandeur-TS2/190SimsLane-Hecubus/mainfloor1.jpg)

Second Floor:
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/IllusionsofGrandeur-TS2/190SimsLane-Hecubus/secondfloor1.jpg)

More pics (http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/IllusionsofGrandeur-TS2/190SimsLane-Hecubus/?albumview=slideshow)

Download (http://www.illusionsofgrandeur-ts2.com/residentiallots/190SimsLane-flippedByHecubus.rar)

Edited to add floor plan pics to the post.

WOW TO HEBESCUS! TALK ABOUT OVERHAULED  :o
heres my contribution...i tired to keep it "maxis-ey" and went for a mediterainian feel on the outside
i have all EP's and the K&B SP (i also have H&M but i didnt use anything from it)
priced at §88,774 and has 3 bedroooms and 2 bathrooms and nice back/side patio
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/snapshot_00000005_9561b790.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/snapshot_00000005_5561b7d3.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/snapshot_00000005_b561b809.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/snapshot_00000005_9561b80e.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/snapshot_00000005_d561b85b.jpg)
id say if we do one next month we should do that little house right behind this one..that steel/blue/grey colored one

download file:
http://www.4shared.com/file/51476648/dd8d77fb/190_Sim_Lane.html

It is a good idea, since a lot of us zorched our Maxis houses because they were such great buckets of phail.

I love all of these! I'm so fail when it comes to building houses for my Sims- I'll probably end up grabbing most of these. I've been putting up with EA shit for too long.

Hecubus: That house is awesomesauce.  Perfect for a Takemizu vacation home.  The roof where the side bit attaches to the main part of the house is a bit wonky, but I don't think there's anything to be done about it with that type of roof anyway.  This is probably the most unique entry so far.

Cockroach: I like your style, though I will probably remodel the upstairs because the hall is such a funky shape.  It doesn't strictly have to be made available for download if it would be a lot of trouble to upload it, but it is encouraged.  If your file size is to big to attach to your post, try opening an account at 4shared or another free file hosting site.

Noted, and put on the list.
And ouch, Cockroach, careful on the typing.  The typos, they ow! :-(

Hm, thanks Zaza & BastDawn.  Dunno what went wrong, then.  I do have FT, but maybe the download was corrupted.  I shall try again, then.

Why thank you. Yeah, that roof bit is wonky, but it's the way EAxis makes the eaves on the asian-inspired roofs. It's maddening! I suppose I could have shortened that section, but then I'd have been mesing too much with basic structure. Oh well. Maybe a tall pine there will hide it. ;)

Yay Hec! Yours is so different! I love everyone's stuff so far :D Cockroach, which ep's/sp's do you have?


The one thing I hate about driveways is the fact you can't have a proper perimiter(sp?) fence really as you can't draw one in front of the driveway. Spoils the look. :(

I'm behind on commenting, so here it is:

Gethane: Loving the overall look of the place! Much better atmosphere!

tlhs: Big, roomy, looks great, inside and out!

Hecubus: Dang! Bury us why don't you?  :D I take it that the awesome roof comes with BV?

Cockroach: Nicely done! Love the Mediterranean look, use of space and the two story columns! I always forget about those!

Snowbawl: You can load it up for pictures and empty it for upload. I had to with mine because it was barely under the limit. I thought it would be easier for others to deal with.

I'm still downloading even though I can't use some of these just yet. Working on getting some more EP's now. Incredible job, everyone!

Edited for clarification.
Edit #2 Snowbawl: What wasn't I thinking? I'm sorry about that. Must have been tired. 

@Cockroach, please make yours available for download.  At 4shared, it is very easy to set up an account and upload.  I love the look of the house.  You did an awesome job.  I would change the upper floorplan as well...but that's just me.  It definitely shows some uniqueness.

I love seeing all the different looks for this house. So many 190 Sim Lanes to download, so little room in my neighborhood.

Hecubus: Your makeover is so unique. It's weird, after I finished mine I wondered how that house would look redone with the game's Asian theme objects, and well--there it is. Beautiful job.

Love the Asian style house too. In fact I've done over the Picaso lot in Desiderata in a similar style. If I ever finish this damn assignment and get my research survey online, I might get to actually PLAY!

I'll upload some of my other Maxis redecorated lots over the next few weeks, but I'm really keen to have a go at this one too.

Bloody homework, haven't even booted the game for four days.

I'm loving all the different styles and layouts. I like the Mediterranean look and also Annan's clean style.

I love all these, such a good idea and such great results!

This may will get disqualified, as I originally made the house using a few bits of CC (mostly hacked objects), but removed them with Clean Installer prior to upload, AND IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LOT. Otherwise, it's all Maxis.

LINK (http://laverwinklesims.com/index.php?topic=780.msg8162#msg8162)

EDIT: Doh! I just realised that this challenge is based on a specific lot, and my makeover is of a different lot. Reading comprehension FTW! Oh well, I'll leave it here, anyway, because it may be of some use to somebody. Yes, I am having one of 'those' days.

I just downloaded all of the houses on behalf of my sister, and they are all amazing!

Emma - I envy your mad house building skillz!

*Emma P&L at NVA

Thanks Jess ;D

I had so much fun the first time that I decided to do another one. Hope you all like it!
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/MATY/FrontView.jpg)
First floor.
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/MATY/FirstFloor.jpg)
Second Floor
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/MATY/Secondfloor.jpg)
Master Suite.
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/MATY/MasterSuite.jpg)
House emptied for ease of decorating in your own awesome way.
http://www.4shared.com/file/51691865/f4bb631d/190_Sim_Lane_Cim_v2.html (http://www.4shared.com/file/51691865/f4bb631d/190_Sim_Lane_Cim_v2.html)

These are all really beautiful. I meant to mention that in my first post, but I was too embarrassed after being a 'tard and posting the wrong makeover. I had pledged to not go on a downloading binge, but I am weak and made of phail. *yoinks many houses*

One could do an entire 190 Sim Lane hood, or sub hood, with just these houses, and never have a fugly bit of real estate.

Alright, Jolrei. Stop crawling around in my head.  :D

/me is surprised to find that he has become a mind curse

Well I knew I had lost my directions somewhere.  It's a bit crowded in here anyway.  Okay, I'm out.

Cimaronna, any chance on getting a furnished copy? I like what you did with the place!

Heh! Mind curse? Nah. That's what you get for running in a maze without a map. :P


Of course! Have it available soon.    ;)
Added: Strangel, that didn't work out very well as the file is too big with everything with it. Would you settle for partially furnished, instead?

I have offering. I tried to make it reasonably awesomespec. Decor is inspired by house across the road (exterior), and all those people who get a bit carried away watching Changing Rooms and similar, where designers perpetrate cruel practical jokes with colour. Otherwise known as "Dear God, what were they thinking?

Front view:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/rohinax/front.jpg)
(Note the bamboo screening for nudist hippie types who hot tub in the nude.)

Back, featuring caffetorium, pet area and fishing pond:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/rohinax/back.jpg)

Top view, upper floor:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/rohinax/top1.jpg)

Top view, main floor:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/rohinax/top2.jpg)

Deceptively tasteful study, with original fireplace:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/rohinax/study.jpg)

Overview of ground floor:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e396/rohinax/groundfloor.jpg)

Is partially furnished about 132k. Since the coffee bush, none of my sims sleep much, but there is a possible third bedroom upstairs, should you need. Also, room to put in more skilling objects or career rewards.

Download here (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/uglybutt/)

Cimaronna, that looks amazing! I love it!

Rohina, very nice ;D Great for psychedelic hippy sims!


[edit] I like the greenhouse roof!

NOHAIR!  Was that a joke you made, or do you really think my simmies want to live in Technocolor?   :D
Either way, another unique approach to the same old "blah" EAXis.

Very considerate.  I think I'll download and make simRohina live here.  My price for letting you kill Jordi.
Now, where is that updated nudist hack?

My makeover seems a bit pedestrian after seeing some of the more inventive and elaborate ideas already submitted. :) It's moderately AwesomeSpec, but not to the letter. I didn't expand the house very much; just added a garage, enclosed part of the back right corner and added space upstairs like many others have done. I changed the exterior to a combo of two stucco tones and used one of the red tile roofs. The landscaping is generally desert/palms, and although the house is shown on lush terrain, I think it would look best on desert terrain. Definitely the most challenging part for me was dealing with those stupid-ass extra chimney walls on the third level.

190 Sim Lane Makeover by Roux
3 BR / 4 BA with garage, pool and greenhouse
Price: 78,481 (depreciated with Magic Wand)
All expansions and stuff packs through K&B installed, with the exception of Teen Style

Click pictures to enlarge, and/or click here (http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/?albumview=slideshow) to view slideshow with even MOAR pictures.
To download, click here (http://www.4shared.com/file/51833572/a1afe5f6/190_Sim_Lane_Roux_Deprec.html?dirPwdVerified=fa49ad03).

Overview: front view; back view; ground floor layout; first floor layout.
Front perimeter fencing provided. Note use of annoying fake chimney for a two-story window above the back door. Kitchen and stairway lockable. Dining room contains caffeination station (front left corner), post-serving counter, and is large enough to add a buffet table for parties (move corner plant). Plenty of room in the yard to expand the greenhouse and add a pond for nature-loving types, place large career rewards, or hold outdoor parties. First floor could be further expanded by using the roof area over the garage.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_01_Front.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/01_Front.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_04_Back.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/04_Back.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_05_GroundFloorLayout.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/05_GroundFloorLayout.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_06_FirstFloorLayout.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/06_FirstFloorLayout.jpg)

Ground floor: entryway; living room; dining room; kitchen; bath.
Entryway contains the phone (in the little cubby behind the stairs) and The One Desk. In the living room, I moved the fireplace and used that area for the back door. I've done better living rooms, but it should flow without major traffic jams. The dining room has plenty of seating and room to navigate. Kitchen is neutral with one accenting wall with a backsplash.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_08_Entryway.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/08_Entryway.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_09_LivingRoom.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/09_LivingRoom.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_10_DiningRoom.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/10_DiningRoom.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_11_Kitchen.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/11_Kitchen.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_12_GroundFloorBath.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/12_GroundFloorBath.jpg)

First floor bedrooms: master; second; nursery.
I added a stage and plants below the 2-story window in the master bedroom. In both master and second bedrooms, a bedside lamp could be removed and replaced with Sleep Clock. The nursery is not AwesomeSpec, but in a pinch (OMGTWINZ!!11oneeleventyone!) it could hold two cribs and a changing table, and a fridge could go in the hallway. Then upon aging to toddlers, I'd convert the second bedroom into a playroom.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_13_MasterBR.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/13_MasterBR.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_15_SecondBR.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/15_SecondBR.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_16_Nursery.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/16_Nursery.jpg)

First floor baths: all three of them.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_19_FirstFloorBA1.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/19_FirstFloorBA1.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_21_FirstFloorBA2.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/21_FirstFloorBA2.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/th_22_FirstFloorBA3.jpg) (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Roux_28/Roux_190SimLane/22_FirstFloorBA3.jpg)


My personal favorite part of the house is the dining room: I really like the contrast of the whitewashed floorboards, purpley walls, and green accents.

With CC, I'd use a modified version of the stairs that are open underneath and store the Lot Debugger, Lot Sync Timer and Macrotastics launcher in the stairwell. This lot was not playtested, but my biggest area of concern is stairwell traffic flow... I prefer landings to be at least 2x2, so there might be some hiccups.

OOO ROUX!  that is full of win :O i'm so downloading that  ;D

Pedestrian, nothing. That's great! Well me, Roux.

I really like your version, Roux.  You did a great job.

Roux, that is gorgeous!  I can't wait to see these all in the game.

Roux, I adore that house. It's going to look great in my desert neighborhood.

Rohina, lovely work! I love all of the space available! Especially appreciated is the "tribute" to colorblind decorators everywhere! *Cimaronna snatched another one*

Roux, I don't think "pedestrian" applies, here. Wonderful job! *and another*

(Edit) To grab off houses  ;)

Well, it just looked so normal in comparison to Hecubus's and Rohina's! Thanks, everyone. I love house makeover challenges, but I work so slowly on building/decorating that I end up past the deadline and then never submit. So, yay me for finally getting off my butt and entering for once.

I'm about to go on a downloading spree here, meself, and will probably also end up with a 190 Sim Lane neighborhood. So many great houses! Too many to comment on all of them, but I can't wait to see these all in my game.

Excellent work Roux! I loved your colorful bathrooms.

*click download link*

Can't wait to see it in game.

I've downloaded most of these, and am indeed setting up a Pleasantview with mostly 190 Sim Lane variations :-)

After I installed the clean neighborhood templates, I started over by putting 5 sims through Uni, they're staying as roomies in witch's Luxury Lodgings until they figure out who to settle down with - or at least get knocked-up by. The first rule is, no babies born @ the Luxury Lodgings! I've already got one of my brave new recolonizers set up with her wife in Emma's v.1 makeover, with an adorable toddler and another baby on the way. So far, the lot has played beautifully, and I can't wait to try the others out! Now, if only I weren't so lazy I'd take more pictures of my new breed of Pleasantview-ians for your P&L amusements...

So laaaaazy....

Yay! I've plonked mine in my n'hood, but still have to move sims in. I'm glad it plays well ;D

And I've actually, finally, started my makeover. I've got the outside done, all the wallpapers and I'm onto floors. Haven't even started furnishing it yet but tomorrow night's Friday night. Yay! I can play as long as I want and my homework's done for now. In fact I'll go and take a couple of teaser shots for you now.

I was going to make a modern house but every choice I made seemed to push me toward old-fashioned. So it turned out very differently to the way I had it planned.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/MakeoverOutside001.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/MakeoverOutside002.jpg)

That's more than just a teaser. It's almost cruel!  :D Can't wait to see/grab it!

Yeah, well, I've just realised I've disqualified myself.  :D I forgot the exterior wall rule, I didn't change the shape (much), except to widen the bay windows at the front, but I did remove that godawful chimney. I just couldn't live with it! Oh well, I like the house so much I can't wait to play it, so it's not all in vain.

It's taken me about 4-5 hours so far. I was reminded of a poster here once who reckoned he could build and furnish a decent house in a couple of hours. I said bollocks then and I say bollocks now. I reckon just furnishing it will be another couple of hours in addition to the time already spent.

This is probably the part of the sims game I like the most.

Oh, I can't wait to download that witch!

I want it too Witch, even disqualified!

Oops! I'll be glad to get it all the same, though. That chimney! I hear you! I can't imagine why the thing is a whole story above the rest of the house but it's a tried and true pain fur sure! *adding the chimney to Pet Peeves thread  :D* Either that guy is a master builder or a consummate liar. Doing this with Maxiscrap* takes twice the time, in my opinion.

*All one word is intentional as it seems so appropriate.

Gethane, thank you for the compliment... I have downloaded more than a few of your Maxis-only houses and they've really helped me pick up ideas to expand my decorating palette.

Witch, that looks lovely so far. I made the exterior walls a really bright color as I was building so I would not accidentally change or delete them. I agree with your comment about the time it takes to build and furnish a house. Maybe a quick slap-dab job can be done in an hour, but I spent a good portion of 2 days working on my house. Between some bad starts, making build tweaks as I began furnishing it, and then decorating and redecorating the rooms, it just took time.

I surround chimneys quite a lot, but never that high, and never four squares wide. What the hell? It looks like someone stacked a bunch of life-size legos at the back of the house because they had some left over in the kit and didn't know what to do with them.

Ooh, forgot to mention that I did have to rotate the shower in the master bedroom's en suite bathroom in Emma's v.1 house so that sims could use it. Apparently the towel bar adjacent to the "entry tile" keeps sims from being able to get in. I opted to rotate the shower rather than lose the towel bar entirely. Stupid EAxis! *shakes fist*

EDIT: Also forgot to mention the lack of lighting in the upstairs hall and kids rooms. Simply fixed to be sure, otherwise though, the actual house layout works really well for my little family :-)

Huh! Wish I'd thought of that!  :D

It was only after I posted the pictures, when I went back through the thread to look at all the other lots, that I remembered the external wall rule. I've been doing a few Maxis renovations lately and when I got into the flow - hur, the Zone - I forgot everything else.

BTW I've been meaning to ask, what filesharing sites would you recommend? 4Shared, my current, recently wiped a number of houses and witch sim, merely because I hadn't logged in for a month. I don't like the ones that make people jump through hoops to get the files.

Another of my projects has been writing a website to display all my downloads, but broken computers and too much work have ground that to a halt for the time being.

For some reason, my first post never worked.


I didn't go overboard with my house - kept it simple because my computer is struggling with all the expansions.
No stuff packs.

2 kids rooms, 1 master room.
kitchen with lockable door, living room/dining/study is all open plan.
visitor bathroom downstairs and two bathrooms upstairs.

The pool isn't very usable in the way of slides or diving boards, but it's long enough that it'll raise body points.
Entertainment area is there generally as a way of filling gaps.

Pictures!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/snapshot_00000022_5567165f.jpg)
Outside of the house, pool side.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/snapshot_00000022_75671651.jpg)
Entertainment area - basket ball hoop, bbq, fire, swing, etc.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/snapshot_00000022_556716c6.jpg)
Ground floor.  it's very open-plan, with closed off kitchen to stop hungry guests.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/snapshot_00000022_d5671693.jpg)
Top floor.  3 bedrooms with bathrooms.

It's not the most impressive, but it's small, simple and you can't really *lose* a sim in it.

Tee hee, I'm always forgetting the lights :D Sorry. I didn't think the towel bar would affect the shower either....can't you tell I hardly ever use the towel bars in-game? Sorry again ;)

Nice, Yecats.  Going to share?

Oh, no worries at all Emma! I wouldn't have thought the towel bar would obstruct the shower either! As for lights, I use the newest version of the Radiance Lighting mod, so I'm always adding more lights in every lot my sims occupy. I really have to look into the tutorial in Peasantry about editing the secret hobby lots, because without extra lighting they're pretty much unplayable for me after 6pm or if it's overcast on the lot :-P

Blimey, another whole evening just furnishing it.

6 bathrooms, 4 bedrooms. §94,167. Emma told me how to make the simolean sign but I've forgotten. I've waved the magic wand - it depreciated down from §171,000. (Cheers Emma)

I have all EPs but not all stuff packs.

It's not far off awesome spec, replace the kitchen arch entrance with a door and remove the bottom set of outside stairs and Bob's your uncle.

Sorry in advance to people with dialup, I took lots of pics. I love looking at others' pics so I assume other builders get into that too.  ;D

Front
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside011.jpg)


Back
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside009.jpg)


Ground / 1st Floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside001.jpg)


2nd Floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside002.jpg)


3rd floor - which could also be a bedroom - or a ballet/music room
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside003.jpg)


Kitchen
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside004.jpg)


Nursery
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside013.jpg)


Dining area
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside005.jpg)


Lounge area
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside006.jpg)


Study nook
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside007.jpg)


Top floor hobby area
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/190%20Sim%20Lane/MakeoverInside008.jpg)


Download
 (http://www.4shared.com/dir/5969025/d93e78cb/sharing.html)

Also now at Laverwinkle (http://laverwinklesims.com/index.php?topic=789.msg8229).

20.20 Monday 23rd June
My apologies, Joe has just pointed out that I had a couple of hitch-hikers in the lot file; the phone line controller and a wallpaper. The lot file is now clean and contains a lot segment only. Please re-download if you d/l the file before this date.

I forgot the phone line controller likes to join in the fun, I usually work in a clean test hood but was too lazy this time.

Both of the above files have been updated.

That's orsum, Poofs!

Witch, that is really nice. I love the bold roof color... I shy away from the bright roof tiles, but love it when other people use them. I wonder why that is?


Three things I love in a sim house! I second BastDawn's request - share, please! I would like a complete collection for my subhood. :)

Witch, that is really gorgeous! I love it!

ps. Alt + 7, 8, 9 = §

Yowza!

*Cimaronna pounces, runs off with file*

Thanks so much, witch! The family I have living in that house right now would be doing back flips if only they knew!


I do that too, Roux. It never seems to look right when I do it but I never feel the need to change them when someone else does. Weird. Weird. (but that's just me  ;D)
Bastdawn, the request has just been thirded. I'd also love to have a complete collection and yours is a must-have as well!

I love that backyard, Witch!

There must be something I don't get about stairs. How do you do "stone railings"? Is it the result of a lot of "floor elevation" changing the walls, or am I missing something obvious?

I think what you are missing is BV.

Well, I have it, but haven't had the chance to play with it.

Thus explains my problem. Thanks, rohina. (I'm suddenly reminded of my asking what snapdragons were shortly before Pets came out.)  :-[

It never seizes to amaze me how different a house can be with just a little effort and a creative mind. You have all done a great job. I can't wait for the next round!  :)

@Witch: The terrace looks great!

@Yecats: I never thought of placing the kitchen counter like that. Very nice touch!

Here is my take on the house
Cost: §87,497
3 Floors
3 Bedrooms, 3 Bath plus a nursery, a rec room & an attached greenhouse.
Edited to add: I have all the Eps (Nightlife, Uni, Pets, OFB, Seasons, BV, FT) so far plus the Holiday Stuff pack (I do not think I used any of the stuff pack though).

Kitchen/Dining area
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l43/Simmerstuff/Maty%20house/snapshot_b567f4f8_3567f827.jpg)
1st Floor Includes a rather large living room area for entertaining in. (Also has a side room for stairs with a door so you can lock out guests)
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l43/Simmerstuff/Maty%20house/snapshot_b567f4f8_1567f80f.jpg)
2nd Floor Bedrooms and the nursery the 2nd Floor also has two balconies.
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l43/Simmerstuff/Maty%20house/snapshot_b567f4f8_f567f7ed.jpg)
3rd Floor The Rec room and a larger balcony with a telescope.
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l43/Simmerstuff/Maty%20house/snapshot_b567f4f8_9567f7c9.jpg)
And finally the house shot
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l43/Simmerstuff/Maty%20house/snapshot_b567f4f8_d567f772.jpg)

Here is the link to download:
http://www.4shared.com/file/52098300/446769ff/The_Simmers_190_Sim_Lane.html (http://www.4shared.com/file/52098300/446769ff/The_Simmers_190_Sim_Lane.html)

Ooh nice ;D

There, I've just downloaded the whole raft of 190s.  I will now proceed directly to the part where I'm incredibly annoyed that I will likely now have to get zOMGPetz in order to make them work in game.

Well done! *snatch*

May I also suggest using some of the Veronaville houses in future challenge? Some are more challenging than others for building. They're all seriously depressing from a decorating standpoint, though. Just from what we're seeing here, there are more than enough awesome builders in this forum to fix them! Just a thought.

Wow!  I wasn't expecting the demand.

I won't be home for a day or so, so I'll post up my house when I get home. 
I might even do a CC version and a more elaborate version, just to make the pool work a little better and theme the lighting.


Would it be OK to include CC if I give credit where credit is due?  Most of my stuff is from free sites.

So be expecting at least another 2 190's from me within the next week!

Surprise! You've got it!  ;D Obsession has overtaken me, methinks. I have two more of my own done.

Strangel, I'd forgotten completely about Rapidshare! My apologies to you for taking so long.

My second upload (furnished version) can be found here:
http://rapidshare.de/files/39782496/190_Sim_Lane_Cim_v2_2.Sims2Pack.html (http://rapidshare.de/files/39782496/190_Sim_Lane_Cim_v2_2.Sims2Pack.html)

There might be a painting or two missing or the odd thing somewhat misplaced. I worked back and forth from my pictures to try getting everything back into the house.

No one here worries about whether it's free or pay.  Arrr  ;)

Aww, zOMGPetz isn't so bad.  The little kitties and puppies are so cute!  XD

OK. Might wanna put your sunnies on before you view this one, I went a bit mad with colour. It does meet the competition criteria however, even including the ghastly chimney. I'm pretty sure it also meets awesome spec.

Worth §99.347. Three bedrooms, six bathrooms. I have all EPs up to Freetime. There's a room at the top currently filled with exercise machines, that could easily be a fourth bedroom. The garage can come back further and there is plenty of room outside.

I followed someone else's idea about colouring the exterior walls a bright colour, so as not to inadvertently delete them. It worked so well, I loved the colour red on the house so much I incorporated it into the design. Then I went mad on colour. I used all the furniture and wallpaper I usually avoid as too loud. Normally I stick to muted earthy sort of tones but this lot is a real experiment for me.

I hope you like it.  :D

Front
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2001.jpg)


Side
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2002.jpg)


Back
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2003.jpg)


Ground / 1st floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2004.jpg)


2nd floor - children's floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2005.jpg)


Top floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2006.jpg)


Kitchen
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2007.jpg)


Kids' area
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2010.jpg)


Kids' room
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2012.jpg)


Master Bedroom
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2013.jpg)


Top lounge
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Makeover2015.jpg)

Download from Laverwinkle (http://laverwinklesims.com/index.php?topic=790.msg8233)

8.20pm Monday 23rd June
My apologies, there was a hitch-hiker in the lot file; the phone line controller. The lot file is now clean and contains a lot segment only. Please re-download if you d/l the file before this date.

I forgot the phone line controller likes to join in the fun, I usually work in a clean test hood but was too lazy this time.

The above file has been updated.

Wow!  It's bright, but very bold and stylish.  I love it!

Woot! Another masterpiece! Maybe you added "loud" decor but you coordinated them! EA should be decorating for Ringling Brothers but your ideas look great!  ;) *nabs new shiny

What was the original? And have you decided which one you want as the Official Poofs House in Awesomeland? Because you wouldn't want to end up like EMMA...

I love it, Witch.  I really like the red the kitchen.

No, no, you're damn right I don't want to end up like Emma!

This is the original (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,12151.msg342839.html#msg342839) we're making over.

You mean I get a choice? Choice! The red one is the one that is awesome spec with no mods. That would be fine. Easy to pick by sight from hood view also.

I like giving people choices. It makes that much funnier when things then go wrong. That's sort of the entire principle behind evil genies.

*with six bathrooms witch feels reasonably confident

BTW I forgot, the nursery needs a mini fridge if you don't use Inge's bottomless bottles.

Lovely house witch....can I come live with you? :D

Heh. I'd live in any one of these, given the chance!  ;)

Well, here is my humble, newbie entry.  Since until very recently I was running The Sims 2 on an ancient, not-meeting-minimum-requirements laptop, I tend to place far too few lights and decorations.

(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee14/SoulOfZinglon/190SimLaneFrontViewDAYLIGHT.jpg)

Cost: 195,280
Bathrooms: 6 full, 1 not quite so full
Bedrooms: 5
Spawning Rooms: 2
Furnished: With bare necessities, like a dance-sphere.  :P
Eps/Stuff packs: I have them all. Arr.
Custom Content: None used ^^

(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee14/SoulOfZinglon/190SimLaneFirstFloorDAYLIGHT.jpg)
Downstairs has a kitchen/dining area, three bathrooms, mini-moat, swimmable tar pit, greenhouse, living room/guest reception area, dingy study area to hold career awards, and a garage.  Also, it has two staircases, because Sims are retarded.

(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee14/SoulOfZinglon/190SimLaneSecondFloorDAYLIGHT.jpg)
The upstairs has five bedrooms, three with double beds, and two with single beds and desks.  It also includes spawing stations with fridges, three bathrooms, and one half bathroom. 

(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee14/SoulOfZinglon/190SimLaneNonEmoFront.jpg)
The mini-moat, bridge, and swimmable tar pit, because EAxis has no blue terrain paint.  Tested to make sure sims don't swim around the entire house.

(http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee14/SoulOfZinglon/190SimLaneLivingRoomDAYLIGHT.jpg)
A corner of the living room/visitor reception room.

The original chimney is still there along with the weirdo chimney cover.  The tower in the corner is built into a small hill.  I tried to make it as awesome as possible.  There is a bathroom in the reception area for the guests, and the stairs and kitchen are easily locked off to prevent the guests from overrunning the house.  The house has a lot of bathrooms, because sims waiting for the bathroom, or having to run halfway across the house to use the restroom bothers me.  The house could hold a multi-generational family, or a couple small families, or just a really creepy bachelor.

If you want to download: http://www.4shared.com/file/52361149/239f6ac4/190_Sim_Lane.html?dirPwdVerified=c736f995 (http://www.4shared.com/file/52361149/239f6ac4/190_Sim_Lane.html?dirPwdVerified=c736f995)

Enjoy  :)

Edited: In order to replace night shots with daylight shots, because it was totally intentional and part of my evil plan to obscure my building errors.  It most definately wasn't because I forgot. Nope, not at all :P

Is it possible to get some daytime pictures? I believe your nightime shots, while moody, don't show off the house's features, which I'm sure are many.

Yes - seconding what Hecubus said.  You may already have discovered the day/night toggle available in build mode.  Hesitate to click on it no longer.

Hur. Yep. Plenty of bathrooms mate!

Hey ZingySoul - what's spawing?

Yet another reason why I shouldn't post after eating delicious dark chocolate. :P

House is rar'd and ready to go.

2 coming soon - CC and Non-CC.

http://www.4shared.com/file/52407386/ab3f76f3/190_Sim_Lane.html (http://www.4shared.com/file/52407386/ab3f76f3/190_Sim_Lane.html)

Thanks! It's going to make a fine addition to the neighborhood. ;D
*nabs and dashes*

I've gotten myself stucked with building.  I usually keep track of my designs and things in a book,  but i've lost my book.

And I'm a sucker for collecting pictures of sets, printing them in glorious colour and putting them in another book so i can compare kitchens and living rooms.

BTW: Thank you Parsimonius, VitaSims and some other random places for making complete house sets and themed rooms.  I would never get by without you.

Well, here's my entry.  Made with all EP's and no SP's installed.

(http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/cheese/noncheese/190SimLane1.jpg)

(http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/cheese/noncheese/190SimLane2.jpg)

(http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/cheese/noncheese/190SimLane3.jpg)

(http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/cheese/noncheese/190SimLane4.jpg)

It now has four bedrooms (or two bedrooms plus two nooks that can house a crib or a single bed,) two and a half baths, a fishable pond, a family room and street parking.  Priced after Magic Wand depreciation at 62,967.  Not 100% Awesomespec-compliant, I'm sure, but I did make some efforts in that direction.

As you may notice, it's now sitting on a foundation.  I hereby solemnly swear that I did not remove any of the original exterior walls; some of them are now surrounded by other walls and/or squished to about a quarter of their original height, but they're still there!  XD  Adding the extra walls made for some interesting little cubbies inside which I attempted to make useful.  I also tried, with dubious success, to work around the roof and give the smaller bedroom somewhat of a view of the outside.

I did include three pieces of custom content as little finishing touches, but the lot should work just fine without them: Christianlov's clothing rack, Pes's Windkeeper-mailbox cover, and roddyaleixo's invisible driveway recolor (link below.  The street parking will look a bit odd without it, but will still work.)

ETA: Forgot to mention, there *is* a One Desk in the Vomitorium.  I discovered that I could save some space by using moveObjects to hide half of it under the stairs, with a random cheap item stuck on the other side so Sims won't try to use it, and it works all right--just appears to be a half-sized desk.  (Which I intend to try to create for real when I finally work up the nerve to try meshing, as an aside.)

Invisible driveway: http://freya.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=90875 (http://freya.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=90875)

Download:
http://www.filecrunch.com/fileDownload.php?sub=68480c09cb663db6007f38f69c658e89&fileId=155937 (http://www.filecrunch.com/fileDownload.php?sub=68480c09cb663db6007f38f69c658e89&fileId=155937)

That's lovely.  I'll enjoy playing with it.

For some reason, that reminds me of a swiss chalet. I love the way you moved the stairs to get a decent sized lounge. Squishing the walls to make a foundation was a real stroke of genius, personally I much prefer houses on a foundation.

These houses are beautiful. Personally, I tend to prefer single-floor dwellings, and since I get annoyed by big clumps of wall that don't drop, they tend to come out a bit rhomboid. I think I might have to have a go at this one, though, and see if having the outer walls predetermined can encourage me to think in some new layouts.

Looking forward to an "all-190" 'hood.

I thought I'd join in the fun and rework it in a modern still with added garage. Made with all EPs and GLS/FFS/H&M SPs. 2 Bedrooms/bathrooms upstairs with balcony/telescope for communing with aliens. Open plan dining/study area downstairs with separate kitchen, lounge and toilet. Outside are a swimming pool and basketball hoop for the athletically inclined and an orchard/greenhouse for those that like gardening. It should pretty well conform to awesome spec. Lemmiwinks and Cweiberdink (the latest lovely couple to join the MATY 'hood) have been playtesting it and it seems to work just fine.

Front:
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/190aSimLane/190aFront.jpg)

Back:
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/190aSimLane/190aBack.jpg)

Ground Floor:
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/190aSimLane/190aGroundFloor.jpg)

Upper Floor:
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/190aSimLane/190aUpperFloor.jpg)



Get it here: http://www.filecrunch.com/fileDownload.php?sub=8708c6b12b74d6fc6f3010821a761b38&fileId=155949 (http://www.filecrunch.com/fileDownload.php?sub=8708c6b12b74d6fc6f3010821a761b38&fileId=155949)

Alternative link for Furryfox users: http://rapidshare.com/files/125098138/190a_Sim_Lane.Sims2Pack.html (http://rapidshare.com/files/125098138/190a_Sim_Lane.Sims2Pack.html)

Nice one, Amber! Love the way you used the fake chimney in the master bedroom.

eevilcat, I've never found a use for that fencing you used around the pool. It looks really nice. However, I'm getting the following message when I try to download yours: This file is a private File. So you don't have rights to download this file.

Make public, please???

Sorted, you should be able to download it now.

I love that fencing but, until now, haven't been able to find a use for it.

Those both look lovely ;D I've just finished another one and I am debating whether to furnish or not....I might just part-furnish.

Yay, another one!  I love the eevil cathouse, er, eevilcat house!

Amber and Eevilcat,
These are gorgeous! I can't wait to get everything installed so I can play all of these houses! One of the things I like best about this challenge is all of the new (to me) building ideas to try.

I am so moving a crazy cat lady into eevilcat's house :D

I love both of these; I must say I wanted a way to put the house on a foundation because it is so necessary to have a basement for all those skilling objects and rewards and crap.

Sneaky, very sneaky. My hat off to you.

It's not as difficult as you might think--just takes a bit of patience.  Here's how I did it:

1.  Removed the original roof
2.  Added another set of walls on top of the first and second stories
3.  Moved all the second-floor doors and windows to the third floor, then the first floor ones to the second floor
4.  Used 'boolprop ConstrainFloorElevation false' and the wall and terrain tools to squish the first story down to foundation-height
5.  Added stairs where needed and foundation walls inside the squished first story.  (There should be space for a small basement under there now, btw.)

Kazzandra has several cats in RL. Just a thought.  ;)

Anyone else having issues downloading eevilcat's house o' spiffy?

I was planning on doing so tomorrow, but I just tried and it don't work.

I could not get it to work earlier, but I thought it might have been because the internets were crap.

Absolutely marvelous information/tip/instructions amber!

I don't know what the issue is exactly, but I have trouble with both of the last two... firefox and filecrunch don't want to play nice apparently... though I am not claiming that as fact... I just keep getting the

"Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at f4.filecrunch.com."

message.

I use Opera so that's probably why I didn't come across any problems. Try this rapidshare link: http://rapidshare.com/files/125098138/190a_Sim_Lane.Sims2Pack.html (http://rapidshare.com/files/125098138/190a_Sim_Lane.Sims2Pack.html)


EDIT: added alternative link to the original post.

-nyoink-

That's weird, I use Firefox and I haven't had any problems with Filecrunch.  :/  Well, this one should work.

http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/cheese/noncheese/Ambular_190_Sim_Lane.rar (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/cheese/noncheese/Ambular_190_Sim_Lane.rar)

I hadn't previously had problems either, just yesterday for whatever reason.

got it now... I have a whole street full of 190s now... only renamed to random ascending odd numbers.

I've really enjoyed this thread and the variety of better-looking, more functional houses.  I'm happy to have my own nice collection of 190 Sim Lanes now.

Here's my attempt:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1499.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1500.jpg)
ground floor:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1502.jpg)
upper floor:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1501.jpg)
click thumbnails to see larger pics:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1503.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1503.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1504.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1504.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1505.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1505.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1514.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1514.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1511.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1511.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1513.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1513.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1507.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1507.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1508.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1508.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1509.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1509.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1510.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1510.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/th_ScreenShot1512.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/190%20Sim%20Lane%20makeover/ScreenShot1512.jpg)

Download Lot (http://www.box.net/shared/iesvotgggs)

Notes:
I have all the expansion packs, plus I have Family Fun and Celebrations.  I don't think I used any items from the stuff packs, so they may not be required.  The house's value started out at around §192K, but thanks to the magic wand, the price is now about §110K.  The house is mostly up to awesomespecs, although the nursery is upstairs because it really didn't fit anywhere else.  I also put in too many flowers and shrubs.  I realized this when my sims couldn't pay their gardener one day and he quit coming, as they had to waste a great deal of their own time watering flowers and trimming shrubs. ;)  Other than those two details, the house is very playable, IMO.

There is a kitchen counter in one side of the nursery to hold a smart milk dispenser.  The teddy bear is on there as a placeholder to keep your sims from preparing dinner upstairs.

Wow! This looks fantastic! *snatch*

I really like the way you expanded at the front of the house, twooflower. And the way you did the exteriors, it looks like the brick part was the 'original' house, and the part with the siding looks like a recent addition. Looks very much like a real-life house I'd see in an older neighborhood. Great job!

There are illegal plants in that house! Are you trying to corrupt my sims, twooflower?

Twooflower - lovely house, but WTF is that pink plant thing with pink fog around it? Is it that snapdragon thing?

Yeah, they're snapdragons.  It was an "impulse buy."  When I was decorating, I saw they were available in a collection file.  This was in the wee hours when my judgment was compromised.  I generally just say no to snapdragons.  ;) 

Hmmm. Fuzzy Pumpkin Snapdragon Hate. Perhaps I should make Fuzzy Pumpkin deathly allergic to snapdragons so all snapdragon fumes have the opposite effect on the Pumpkin.

They should make her sneeze a lot, so she can be Sneezy.

I am sneezy.

I don't like snapdragons as they make my sims more dronelike. They also cut down on the morning bathroom shuffle, which is a staple in all my homes due to my like for small houses and relatively large families. It's not morning in Teardrop Isle if some kid isn't doing the pee-pee dance.

Beautiful! *Nabs* There are going to be some lovely neighborhoods built from this challenge!

Yep, this was a triffic idea. I downloaded all the lots last night except for the Cim V2 at around 17MB, I think. It kept stalling, I'll have another go today.

I'm looking forward to next month's offering, if we're going to do it again. There should be enough shape to make it a challenge and something awful we have to work around - like my nemesis the chimney in this one.

This is the CC one I've been working on.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Screenshot.jpg)
The outside of the house from the back

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/snapshot_00000022_756f9c3f.jpg)
Top Floor.   Bunk beds are usable.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/snapshot_00000022_956f9c1d.jpg)
Bottom Floor. Bookcase is a secret door.  I'm pretty sure it would be lockable.
Starwell is in a seperate room, so to avoid wanderings.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/snapshot_00000022_956f9b9f.jpg)
Street side, walls down.  There is a greenhouse out the back there and a dog kennel too.

I won't put this up for download unless it's wanted, due to the CC.

CC from:
Parsimonius
Brighten11
KariMinger
VitaSims
ATS
Buntah
and The Dream Team from MTS2

There might be some others in there, but I tried to keep it to a minimum of artists.

You put BUNTAH in your house? Augh! Get it off!!!

but can you SPOT the buntah?

THATS the question

I dunno; can you spot an apostrophe when someone rams it up your ass?

/me wipes Diet Coke off monitor
Note to self: don't drink and post.

Are the bedsheets on the single beds Buntah's?

actually, no.  I think those are parsimonius and vitasims. Vitasims for the disney princess one and parsimonius for the ones on the boys bed - part of the hydrophere set or the other alienish one, if i recall correctly.
Single double bed is from the ATS Modern Line set, and the master bedroom/bathroom is mostly Parsimonius Amilus Curiae.

The only buntah that I used from knowledge is the garden bench and stools.  Not entirely bad looking for buntah-isms.

Here is my take on 190 Sim Lane, which costs §170,720:


More pictures can be viewed at http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/HBJavaMama/190%20Sim%20Lane/ (http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/HBJavaMama/190%20Sim%20Lane/)

Download fully furnished version here: http://www.4shared.com/file/53110691/7c869bf4/190_Sim_Lane.html. (http://www.4shared.com/file/53110691/7c869bf4/190_Sim_Lane.html.) 
And the semi-furnished version that includes only things that an actual house on the market would include: http://www.4shared.com/file/53112175/4a2eac6d/190_Sim_Lane_Unfurnished.html (http://www.4shared.com/file/53112175/4a2eac6d/190_Sim_Lane_Unfurnished.html)

Hope you enjoy!

Looks great, HBMT. I am interested in downloading.

It should be noted that the easels will error with FT. I promise I'll update them someday.

Yay! Another one! *Grabs up happily*

I did build two more. In the interest of anti-thread spamming, I've uploaded them for anyone who would like to at least look at them. If you'd like to download, there are furnished and unfurnished versions available.

http://www.4shared.com/account/dir/7610602/d800c33e/sharing.html?rnd=29 (http://www.4shared.com/account/dir/7610602/d800c33e/sharing.html?rnd=29)

Agreed. I was thinking of those vile "split" houses in Veronaville as a possibility. Maybe they would be too big for a challenge, though.
Witch, if the house won't download for you, I can always upload it elsewhere. I have so many accounts now, somewhere should work!  ;D Also, may I say one more round of thanks for suggesting Gadwin's for taking pictures? *promises not to fawn and drool* lol It's fantastic!

Lovely house, HBMT! It looks like you tinkered with the outside walls, didn't you? Still, it's really purty. I'd love to live there.

Thanks!  I did add to the outside, but I did not move or remove any of the walls at all.  There is a top-down picture of the bottom floor in the slideshow and you can see the original walls there.

Hah! "Pretty sneaky, sis!"
*remembers Connect Four*

The Gadwin solution was one I picked up here, makes much clearer pictures, even reducing them down for web use. Plus I can put the results in folders with specific names/dates.

I think actually it's your first lot that I'm having trouble with, will check later. I did see V2 in the folder so now I'm confused.  :D

As for next month's lot, the original home should also be on a big enough section to extend or landscape. I think you're right the house shouldn't be too big, it would stop some from participating and would get boring to redo if it were too large.

HBMT-looks great. I'd like to know how you got a driveway on the right side of the house...mine wouldn't fit when I tried.

Maybe it was where you placed the lot on the road? I could put a driveway on the right, although chose not to in the end.

I dunno :D I'm going to try tomorrow though.

Can we do that one from Pleasantview that doesn't have any rooms big enough to put a double bed in? I can't remember which one it is because I zorched my Maxis hoods.

So far on the Eaxis House of Fail makeover list:

-one of the little white box houses from Pleasantview (what you are thinking of, rohina?)
-that tiny cabin from Pleasantview
-lots from Veronaville, specifically "split" ones

Anything I'm missing, or more suggestions?  And keep in mind community lots, dorms, and hotels are fair game too.  I have a couple in mind, but I'd like to hear what others think.

zaza, i'm not even sure i've played sims properly since getting FT.
I might squeeze a couple of hours in today and have a real good play... no building... just simming.

Then again, only played pets long enough to get seasons, then I only played seasons long enough to get BV and so on...

Oh, no biggie. I was pretty miffed that they throw errors now (only on mouseover for the canvas...I suspect it's the missing BHAVs for grilled cheese paintings and the new frames).

It's only MoveObjects On.  The only problem with it being on the right is that you don't see them actually drive up into the driveway, they just appear there.

Oh right. Cheater! CHEATER!!!!

LOL I'm kidding-I was pretty sure it wouldn't fit without cheaty stuff and I'm not bothered about the cars just materialising on the driveway...I have a lot of sideways garages in my lots in-game and the cars just appear in there. It seems to cause a lot less time-lag too when sims come home from work, plus they don't get stuck behind the schoolbus if finish time coincides with end-of-school time.

 :P

If you're still having trouble, all of my houses are at the above link, now. Hope that works for you!  ;)

SnootCB,
I was thinking of one of the split houses because they're so ludicrous in their setup. The more I think of it, the more I feel that they might not be a good idea. The lot is a large one but it would have to be just to make the smaller of the two buildings livable as well as viewable. If you have a look, you'll better see what I'm trying to garble out, here. As for most of the others, EA went out of their way to decorate in the most depressing manner possible. Heck, just changing the wall colors and flooring would be doing them a favor in my opinion.

I'm wondering if the house Rohina is thinking of is 225 Main Street from Pleasantview? If memory serves, the thing was so cramped that it needed help right away. Starting out, I used a lot of those houses for my first couple's spawn, expanding as needed (can it really be only a year ago?) I might be wrong about this being the one Rohina requested but it might not be a bad one to use for another challenge.

Yeah-the upstairs is really teensy in that house-I've made it over a couple of times. I've always ended up extending the house by moving the walls though so the 'no exterior walls to be moved' rule would make that house really quite difficult.

I also think that 95 Woodland Drive would be a good one to do. It is one of my favourite Pleasantview houses, but it is so small! I'd like a few variations on that one ;D I also have another I like but I'd have to make a new Sims 2 folder to find out which one it is. Pleasantview is obliterated in my game!

Heh. I don't know if that one is still available in mine or not. So many of them ended up in the lot bin when I took the plunge and started building from scratch. Now my Pleasantview is in dire need of a cleansing. Of course, I didn't know squat when I started and that one family has pretty much clogged the neighborhood all by itself. Family sims and my ignorance at the time. A lethal combination. :D

You are teh evil, Cimaronna, narking on me like that! Just food for thought: I'll be up to ten in a few weeks. Our animal shelter got a huge influx and was starting to put kittens down. So I will be the proud slave to ten cats soon-- I'm sure the others will not be pleased. I'll just have to sacrifice more interweb times for kittehs again!  :)

Also-- I've never played  a EAxis home but I have been lurking and all I can say is WOW! It really does look like a new and different house every time! Grabbing several.

Rohina, I just laughed so hard I lost all breath for a moment. If they did add Buntah, I'm just very releived they didn't use some of her multicoloured, flouro stuff from a few years ago. :o

But, but -- You said -- I never said you were crazy! /sputtering 
I dinna nark on ye though, lassie. Ye did that, yourself. * ;D

Awww! Poor little guys! Send some my way and hats off to you for obvious reasons!

The thing I hate most about EA houses is everything the fact that you often have to rotate them constantly to play. I don't do vertigo well and I always try to build with minimal spinning.

* Apologizes to everyone in forum who actually knows how the phonetic rendering of a Scots accent should appear

No kidding! I generally build so that I can pick a viewpoint central along the rear of the house and see the whole house at once as well as the sidewalk (in case anyone new walks by I'd like someone to meet). I hate rotating. Paging up and down is fine, but rotating sucks.

This is a big part of the reason I like small houses and rarely build anything more than 20 squares wide.

Try DFAcam (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/awesomeland/stuff/dfacam.zip). Absolutely no more spinning to play! Never again have your view blocked by tall furniture. Death From Above: Accept no Kewian-based substitutes!

Wahoo!
Thank you for that! I was going to ask in the CC thread for camera mod recommendations. Now I don't need to!  ;D
*makes notes * Ok. I won't.

I tend to build so I can see mostly everything from the right hand front corner, looking diagonally. I've currently got one house where the bat box et al is on the back porch and I have to rotate to see them, that's irritating.

I'm keen to try this camera mod too, you've mentioned it before JM.

Keep in mind that this isn't a prettycam. Although you can swoop in real close and get decent angles, like I do in Awesomeland, at regular zoom levels, it is designed for play. Once you get used to DFA, you'll find it almost intolerable to use the original, which never angles above 45ish! Mine settles at around 80-90!

Mine almost always go under the foundation. In the two foundation-less homes and community lots, I have them hidden under the roof. All are placed so that I can click on each without having to rotate. I usually have the in-game Sim Modder, TJ's Sim Blender & ACR controller, lot debugger, TJ's Visitor Controller*, TJ's College Adjuster**, Chaavik's version of Monique's computer***.

In Prospect Beach, I hid them in a phone booth surround, but Teardrop Isle hasn't gone through any prettifications yet. When it does, I'm thinking simulated taxi stands instead, with a one-square rear buffer for hack hiding.

*community and uni lots only
** uni lots only
***residential lots only, if they haven't paid the $1k to have a computer in use all the time. I modded the thing to a $1 cost so all my paupers have no excuse for missing a tax bill.

I play at this angle too, although I do wizz around each floor level depending on what room my sims are in so I don't permentantly keep the camera in the corner, just keep the angle the same. The major flaw with this is that 90% of the time I can't see the pavement and so miss all the walk bys that like to trot by at regular intervals and more than once I've moved the camera to find that a random sim apppears to have invited themsevles inside without my knowledge. (This is because my sims BFF seem to take the view that they are allowed to just walk inside without waiting to be greeted. I've never seen the 'greet from afar' interaction because they won't stay ungreeted long enough for my sim to do it.)

What's the difference between your DFA and the Gunmod camera changes?  I've been using the GM ones for ages, and get a top-down view whenever I want.

These were due by the 1st, right?   ;)

So here's my first try at making over a Maxis house, as well as my first attempt at building to Awesomespec. All content is Maxis - no CC. Which is why it took me 12 bloody hours to crank this puppy out. Built with all EPs & all SPs, except Teen, K&B, and Ikea. House is heavy on Pets/Seasons/FT/BV items. Also, very slight jiggerypokery to the tune of moveobjects on and snaptogrid false. Sadly not playtested, but I'll be doing that just as soon as my wrist stops burning from all the hot mouse action it's been getting.

Original price §152,006
Wanded price §85,824

Street View:
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_street.jpg)

Back View:
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_back.jpg)

Ground Floor:
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_groundfloor_notes.jpg)

Top Floor:
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_topfloor_notes.jpg)

Notes on front entrance:
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_frontclose_notes.jpg)

Smaller shots:
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_side_t.gif)  (http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_living_t.gif)  (http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_upstairs_t.gif)  (http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_hobbyvamp_t.gif)  (http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a92/lizziecup/190SimLane/190sl_eat_t.gif)

Available here: http://rapidshare.com/files/126294805/190SimLn_liz.rar (http://rapidshare.com/files/126294805/190SimLn_liz.rar)
Also available 'unfurnished'. Version has bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances, and the perimeter fence only covers the front. Wanded price is §49,293).
http://rapidshare.com/files/126295174/190SimLn_liz_unfurnished.rar (http://rapidshare.com/files/126295174/190SimLn_liz_unfurnished.rar)

As this is also my first attempt at sharing a lot, please let me know if I've borked it horribly.

If memory serves, Awesomespec requires the stairs to be lockable/blocked off from nosy visitors. You've done if for the second floor, but not the first. It's a lovely house, Liz! If I had all the EPs I'd download it.

That's really nice, Liz.  I like the layout.  I might change the window behind the fridge just because I dislike blocked windows, but other than that it is very nicely decorated.

I've got finals this week, so it'll be a few days before I can get this month's challenge house up.  Sorry.

Thanks, you guys - I'm glad you like it! Been playtesting tonight, and so far it's working out okay. Much fun watching a neighbourhood wolf whinge and moan about not being able to destroy the landscaping. Deal with it, wolfie.

Jess, I know what you mean about the staircase. I thought about that, too, but then I just didn't feel like I had enough room to add those walls downstairs without rethinking my whole layout. Maybe if I'd thought about it before I was about 6 hours into the project, lol...  :-[
SnootCB, I was tempted to switch that window for the very same reason but decided against it. I don't know - I guess I just think it works, but I totally see your point. Looking foward to seeing what you've got for us!

Beautiful! I'm so very looking forward to having the time to load all of my new games! It's going to be a job but it'll be worth it!

Did we get a decision on which house to do next? If so, can some kind soul put it up for download as I don't have the default 'hoods in my game.

Which one shall we do? I'll upload it asap then.

How about that absolutely grotesque house that came with Seasons (I think it's called "Harmonious Haven")?

It is, by far, the worst house ever designed by EAxis. The layout is atrocious (huge bathrooms bigger than small bedrooms and a giant room that takes up most of the house with a tiny little pool in the center). It'd be a great house to revamp. I did it once to that house, and turned out rather nice. Maybe if someone can just remove the Seasons specific objects (two fruit trees and some red deck flooring I believe) we could do that one next?

EDIT: This is the house I am talking about. It's terrible. As you have no doubt established, the person who designed this house was quite cleary completely bind. I doubt any other EAxis house in the game could compete in the failness stakes.
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d113/thecallumus/Screenshot.jpg)
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d113/thecallumus/Screenshot-1.jpg)

Oh, good choice. I was thinking of one of those Uni houses that doesn't have enough room for a bed upstairs.

Good choice Alex.  I'll have time to upload it either tonight or tomorrow afternoon.  Or if someone REALLY wants to start the July thread NOW and goes ahead and posts it, that's cool too.  I'm also putting together a list of houses to be made over, so if anyone has a specific request now would be the time to make it.

Urgh. I've never seen that house before-it is awful! :-X This should be fun! Nah, we'll wait for you to upload it Snoot.

It is funny that you should pick that house.  I just totally redid it not too long ago.  And you are right...it IS horrible!  Will be interesting to see what everyone does, and if anyone keeps the damned tiny pool.

ugly ass house. I figured that was some sort of PlantSim water need fulfilling thing.

I assume we can nix the pond like thingy? Cause that would be grand...

Might pay for someone to check that it doesn't waterlog the hood. It looks a bit uneven to me.

Plus I would also like to find the lot Rohina referred to, the one without a single bedroom large enough for a double bed.

This is the only one in Pleasantview that fits that description (aside from the little white boxes).

105 Sim Lane:
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_00000004_3579f244.jpg)

And a pic of the upstairs:
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_00000004_b579f265.jpg)

I hope it's the right house, anyways.

Edited to add - sorry for the crap pictures.

I thought it was that '225 Main St' one. I'll get pics of it soon.

I think I found it! I am sure Rohina means 130 Sim Lane...just look at those tiny bedrooms!

Front
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/Misc_Stuff/snapshot_00000001_557a465f.jpg)

Back
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/Misc_Stuff/snapshot_00000001_757a466a.jpg)

1st floor
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/Misc_Stuff/snapshot_00000001_757a4690.jpg)

2nd floor
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/Misc_Stuff/snapshot_00000001_157a468e.jpg)

I vote we do this one next. The lot is not flat though.

That lot isn't half bad, I've seen worse.

I've only ever played that house once, when I first installed the Sims. My sim got stuck in the hot-tub and I thought the lot was bugged so I deleted it :D I'd never heard of boolProp or moveobjects on.

In my first house (it was a trailer type lot) I got my sim pregnant and it died. I don't know what happened but my pregnant sims always died. Mostly by somehow bursting into flames :P

My first pregnant sim died too-she was a single mother and I had got her pregnant by Mortimer Goth. She kept face-falling into her meals ::) I'd only been playing her for about 5 sim-days so I didn't have enough asp points for an energiser. I nearly cried when the social worker came to collect the child. That was when I uninstalled Sims 2 and played on my Sims 1 again for a bit :P

Haha when I had social services come for the first time I tried to pen them up so they couldn't take the baby.

*in stereotypical Aussie voice*
Social services stole mah baby!!11!oneone!!11!

Social services pain and in no way related to house make-overs:

I built an orphanage.  Money was tight, and we'd been selling off doors, windows, etc., but finally the adult had to get a job.  He and the seven kids all left in the morning and I saved.  Then the kids came home and were snatched away by social services.  Aaaaaaah!  I replayed from the save and had a kid RACE to the phone to call a nanny.  Over and over.  Of course every time she pulled up in her nannymobile just in time to see the kids taken away.  Part of the pain was, it took the seven kids SO FREAKING LONG to get off the bus that the orphanage man was back from work before the social services lady had packed up all the kids.

In a panic I scoured the net for kids-stay-alone hacks and then all was well.

I started out in Pleasantview playing my own sims for a while - couple of days with one, switch to another new sim - so I had a lot of Welcome Wagon visits, each of which included Brandi Broke. I noticed she kept peeing and leaving early; a couple of times she ran to my sim's bathroom to yack up her lunch meat sandwich. And once I'd spotted her out by the curb and had no idea what the hell she was doing out there. It was obvious she was pregnant, so I went to play her through her pregnancy, if only to get her to quit barfing up the Welcome Wagon visits.

So as we all probably remember, there's pregnant Brandi with a toddler in the house and no money for a nanny. Even with her useless teen in the house, she hadn't enough cooking skill to fix herself enough food to keep from starving before she passed out in her mac'n'cheese. And while preoccupied with starving and passing out, there was precious little time for trivialities like bathing herself or peeing in the toilet she couldn't keep her miserable toddler out of, so she shambled around miserably in a green cloud of her own stink. Not surprisingly, she died repeatedly before I *finally* got her through the Desperation Dance long enough to give birth. I thought, shit, pregnancy is really hard on these sims! And then a day later I got the "Brandi is well again!" message. Because apparently what she'd been doing out by the curb that time was eating from the rubbish and making herself seriously sick. So joy of joys for me, my first pregnant sim to play was Brandi Broke with a serious case of food poisoning. Yikes.

So which one are we doing here?  The stupid one from Seasons or 130 Sim Lane?  If we're still deciding, I vote for the Seasons one with the silly little pool inside.


All my pregnant sims faceplant into their food, including simEmma.  They like to keep active, and pregnant sims' needs decrease too fast.  None has ever died (of that anyway).

I don't know... You can fit a double bed in at least two of the bedrooms.

I actually kinda like that house. Still though, the Seasons house is definitely the most god-damn awful house EAxis have ever spawned.

That's what I was thinking. I'll reset my test account and see if I can't find that cabin home.

EDIT: Can't. It must have been in the lot bin, and both my main and test accounts have no Maxis content in the lot bins.
EDIT le deux: I even went so far as to pull out my old laptop and spend 2 hours cleaning it, then ripping the 'hood files and lot catalogs. Couldn't find it. It's definitely a lot bin house as I looked at the merged Pleasantview/Veronaville/etc. 'hood and it's not there either.

Uh. Probably not the one Rohina means, then :D

I vote the Seasons one as well...and I have not had a problem with it waterlogging my hood.  I want to see the useless pool makeovers.  :D

In that house I got rid of the pool and did an "open plan living" type set up. I also re-did the walls and floors. I think I'll re-do it sometime the day, my designated kitchen area is too small.

Do you know what it was called? I still have all the lot bin houses. Are you sure you don't mean that tiny little house in Pleasantview that definitely doesn't have room for a double bed...10 Oak Lane?

Yes, it is 10 Oak Lane. I remembered it as being in green siding...perhaps I had changed that in my game. Stupid thing is off in the boondocks, so I didn't see it earlier. Well, I wasted two hours (not really, I was doing housework while waiting for the super-slow laptop).

We could do that one next, I suppose. Which one are we doing then? The Freetime house?

This is 225 Main Street
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/MATY/225MainStreet.jpg)
I guess I was thinking of another house. It wouldn't be bad for a challenge but it isn't as bad as I thought. You be the judge.  ;D
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/MATY/225MainStreetfirstfloor.jpg)
A double bed will fit in the bigger bedroom
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/MATY/225MainStreetsecondfloor.jpg)

As for 10 Oak Street
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/MATY/10OakStreet.jpg)
It doesn't have any bedrooms. This is it.
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k138/Cimaronna/MATY/10OakStreetInterior.jpg)

I have all of the Pleasantview houses now should it be decided to use one.

I love 10 Oak street. My teen whore raised 7 chilluns in there. Oh man that was fun :D

I moved Alvin Bigfoot into that house. He lives a fantastic life in there, and supplies the town with just about everything.

130 Sim Lane is adorable, although it is very small and needs a makeover. I have fond memories of that one, my first romance soim popped out seven children in that one.

10 Oak Street is a cool place. I had a Sim with a severe mental problem move in there. She finally got preggers with Goopy's child and left it in the toilet, then the baby got stolen by faeries. The mental case spent her time painting pictures of anything interesting in her little plot.

Ain't that always the way?

10 Oak Street looks like a really cute little studio haus, but it looks like it'd be pretty easy to remodel, seeing as there's only one room of walls to leave intact. Never before seen the "random swimming hole" Seasons house, but I love the impractical WTF-ness of that feature.

225 Main St. has its possibilities, but I'm still going to lobby for the Seasons house with the stupid inside pool.  That one looks like fun to remodel.

I'd support that one, with the rule that you can't delete the pool. Add to it, if you must, but don't remove it or the pond.

Hm. That's a good idea. Although it really would limit things. Perhaps extra points for not removing the pool and pond? It's funny you should mention it though. I have an idea in my head of turning it into some sort of huge pool room.

Sounds fine to me.  Keep the pool and pond.  Can we agree?  We're well into July already.

I'm happy to go with the majority opinion, I don't have any particular preferences. Though if we go with this house, I would want to remove the pond, even if the inside pool has to stay.

Works for me.

That's kind of what I was thinking - I'd love to see what everyone does with it.

Yes, we can haz agreement - Wacky Pool Feature House FTW!

Harmonious Haven, the Seasons lot, it is then.

Should we continue this new challenge in this thread, or suggest that the first person with an entry start a new one? One one hand, it keeps this set of challenges nicely contained; on the other hand, the picture-heavy thread does take longer to load for those with slower connections.

I know. Let someone else decide, like, say, Emma, rather than thinking you need to be the Boss of it.

I think a new thread would be better, it sucks having to find the right page in a continuing thread.

A new thread (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,12353.0.html) has already been started and entries have already been submitted in it, so the question is pointless.   ::)