More Awesome Than You!

This month we are going to pimp out 104 Riverbend Road, rebuilt in Base-game Starter. I replaced the umbrella with the expensive sculpture because they are both 2x2 decorative items.

On with the pictures:
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s18/liveangel93/MATY/ScreenShot070.png)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s18/liveangel93/MATY/ScreenShot071.png)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s18/liveangel93/MATY/ScreenShot072.png)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s18/liveangel93/MATY/ScreenShot075.png)

Rules, cut and pasted from last month:

1. No CC.  Please indicate 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.

Monthly rules:

1. Leave the palm tree in its spot.

2. The pond must remain intact. It may be expanded, but NOT made smaller.

This is going to be fun. Not. I'll start today. :]

Rule question:

Can you change the external walls as long as you don't (re)move them?  Specifically, replace sections with greenhouse wall?

I think it has been a generally accepted practice that one may change the nature of the walls, provided that the original footprint of the house is not altered.  A greenhouse wall is still a wall.  A wall with a door or windows in it is still a wall. 

That's what I thought, just wanted to double check.

Yes, but anything NOT Awesomespec is an INSUPERIOR KEWIAN-BASED SUBSTITUTE. And as everyone knows, ACCEPT NO KEWIAN-BASED SUBSTITUTES!

Holy crap, this is the worst house I have ever seen---proof positive EA just doesn't care about quality in any way, shape, or form.  I think they hired a monkey to design this one. 

"Just push this button and move the mouse around, Bubbles, like this . . . and now click some stuff down here . . .there you go!"

I think it was more like the monkey discovered the hexagon shaped wall tools. Click and drag, that's big enough for a house, NOW, A PORCH!

Uh, Jelly? That's an octagon. An octagon-shaped RAKE.

=p Dammit.

To be fair, it does look far better in Seasons than this base-game-ified version here. It's still pretty crappy though.

I just spent a long, long time building this monstrosity into a better house, but the octagonal footprint that we have to stick to made this difficult. But that was the point, I suppose?

Anyway, I don't really like how my remodel has turned out, but for tips and whatnot, I will post it.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Frontview.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Backview-1.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/topviewsecondfloor.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/topviewfirstfloor.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/GreatRoom.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Kitchen.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Bathroom.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Bedroom1.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Bedroom2.jpg)

I didn't really want to decorate it, because I don't necessarily see myself using it, nor do I forsee anyone actually downloading it.
Meh.
Built with University, Nightlife, Free Time, Apartment Life, IKEA Home stuff, and Teen Style stuff

What about "jacking it up" onto a foundation? Is that within the rules? I actually HATE houses built flat to the ground.

Yes. As long as it matches the original footprint, that's fine.

Prosthetics, I like the outside of your house, but the inside is rather boring. Yes, it's modern, but it also has nothing interesting on the inside.

i only have the sims 3... if i re-build this as close as i can and follow the rules...can i participate or will i lose by default?

Ciane remade last month's house for TS3, 2 examples, so I don't see any reason you should not. Just be sure to make it very clear it is a TS3 version if you post a DL link.

(i always forget to resize them...so im linking. Sorry for that. I might fix it tommrow)
Heres my contribution.  :P
I even took pics of the rebuild to show you all i didnt cheat.
I am currently feeling uninspired so i decided to turn it into a community lot. The only thing that came to mind with the octogan was Atrarium so i ran with it.
I dont know the original lot size...and all the lots in the sims 3 are....large...so i picked a random one.  This lot i think whould be a 5x3 or 5x4 maybee in the sims 2 so i think i get kicked out for that automaticly  ::)

anyway; pics:
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/Screenshot-23-1.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/Screenshot-2-4-1.jpg)
and re my-do:
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/Screenshot-3-3-1.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/Screenshot-4-3-1.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/fergiefan12/Screenshot-5-2-1.jpg)
and yes...the palm tree sticks out of the roof and the landscaping isnt really done...and its still zoned residential...but thats all cuz i dont care.  ;D
and on a side note: whats KEWIAN-BASED SUBSTITUTES?  JM screams that alot but i dont know what it refers to.

There are some small lots in Sims3.  The smallest ones are some of the community park lots in Riverview, less than 20x20.

A Kewian-based substitute is something that is made of insuperiority and fail, like Kewian.

Minenas Riverbend Road

All EP's and most SP's (no Holiday or Teen crap)

Mostly traditional style. 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, kitchen, dining room, living room, 2 balconies, pond, patio and grassy garden area.

$90k and change

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot348.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot349.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot350.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot351.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot352.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot353.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot354.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot355.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot356.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot357.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot358.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot359.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot360.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot361.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot362.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot363.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot364.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot365.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot366.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot367.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot368.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot369.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot370.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/ScreenShot371.png)

DOWNLOAD (http://minena.prismbaby.com/contests/maty0909/Minenas%20Riverbend%20Road.rar)

Great layout Minena!
Prosthetics, I like the general look of the house with the balcony on the top floor and those windows and door combination. I also like how you used the space downstairs for two small latrines/water closets. I would have liked to see the stairs remain in the middle of the downstairs and a breaking up of that big space downstairs to include a smaller den, library, music or sewing room, etc.

I kept the look of the original house and added one room to both floors. I moved the upstairs bath so that the front balcony would actually be useful and I put in a bathroom downstairs as well. When I moved the upstairs bath, I also adjusted the wall of the original bedroom making it just a little bit larger.

I doubled the size of the gardening space, but this was done in just a base game. For base game only, the garden space would make a nice flower garden or an outdoor grill area. For those with seasons though, this is a great space for crops as it close to the kitchen. (That is, of course, if anyone actually downloads and play the lot.)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/MaxisFlip/frnt.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/MaxisFlip/side.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/MaxisFlip/back.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/MaxisFlip/downstrs.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/MaxisFlip/upstr.jpg)

the link: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=d39c6ac1cd216e02312dbd5f2bdc5062e04e75f6e8ebb871

Because of the palm tree and the pond, I thought of an oasis in the middle of a desert.  I made a little oasis for a small, young family of generous means (~88K wanded).  It's designed to blur the distinction between inside and outside, offering the advantages of the outdoors without all that pesky nature, or the oppressive heat.  Most of the viewing deck is technically considered a greenhouse by the game, despite the solid look.

I believe the house is mostly awesomespec, but deviates in the placement of nursery & skillination zones, which are scattered around rather than being on the viewing deck.  The nursery is only designed to accomodate one sprout, but could be modified to support two separate crib rooms in an emergency by sacrificing/moving the changing table and smart milk counter.  Alternatively, it could be replaced with a kids' bedroom containing two beds.

Here's a teaser to get you to click the link to the slideshow (http://s587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/yibbled/September 2009 House of Fail/?albumview=slideshow):

(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/yibbled/September%202009%20House%20of%20Fail/snapshot_00000004_97b69e7b.jpg)

And here's the house itself. (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=f9541092152f8cffe7c82ed4b8f0c380e04e75f6e8ebb871) 

Uni, NL, Pets, OFB, Seasons, BV, Family & Glamour Stuff (Plus AwesomeWare and Salvaged Stories Crap)

I made a second one, but the shape of this house just has me frustrated (especially because I don't have seasons installed, so the roof is a total pain in the ass.)

The front
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Front-1.jpg)
The Back
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Back-1.jpg)
The Garden
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Gardenarea.jpg)

Downstairs
The Entrance:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Entryway.jpg)
Kitchen & Dining:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/KitchenDining.jpg)
Living Room:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Livingroom.jpg)
Bathroom:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/DownstairsBathroom.jpg)


Upstairs...

Bedroom:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Bedroom.jpg)
View from the Bed:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/Viewfrombedroom.jpg)
Bathroom:
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/UpstairsBathroom-1.jpg)


This house was built with either one sim or a sim couple in mind, as it's only one bedroom...and would become rather crowded with more sims.
Lot attached to post because I could, and built with Nightlife, University, Open For Business, Bon Voyage, Free Time, Apartment Life, Teen Style Stuff and IKEA Stuff.

When I started playing around with this house I really had no clue as to any direction to take it. Then it just kind of seemed to take over and go its own direction. I am honestly very surprised at the end result. It looks nothing like anything I have ever done before. It just seemed to have a will of its own and came out looking like a sort of Asian, sort of Polynesian crossbreed (in my opinion at any rate). It has 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths, a large livingroom/diningroom, small kitchen, and 4 large verandahs. The pond (enlarged to extend partially beneath the house) should be fishable at the back. I never have my Sims fish, so I'm not completely sure of that. I did move the Palm Tree back into the corner of the lot because the roof extended into it in its original site and looked weird. So here in all its glory I present "Chobee Oriented"

(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/Chobee%20Oriented/snapshot_0000002d_b7bc47b7.jpg)

Slideshow: http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/Chobee%20Oriented/?albumview=slideshow (http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/Chobee%20Oriented/?albumview=slideshow)
Download: http://www.box.net/shared/480535bonb (http://www.box.net/shared/480535bonb)

chobeegal, nice and unique; hard to believe that it's the same house.

Hi everybody!
Some exciting entries here so far! I made this house right after the September house was announced but have been keeping it in case I come up with something better. Now I'm giving up as this octagonal shape (or whatever it's called) just doesn't inspire me much. So here's my version. One bedroom & one bathroom but lots of space for entertaining guests. There's also a small guest toilet.
I was experimenting with a landing so the house turned out a bit weird, I suppose, but it's meant for a fun loving single sim or a couple with no kids  ;)
Anyway, all critique is welcome!

(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad1.jpg)
Through the windows you should see stairs to a landing (not very well though).


(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad10.jpg)
Here you can see the landing with the one desk and stairs to second floor.

(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad7.jpg)
Living/dining room with fireplace

(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad8.jpg)
Another shot towards the entrance hall

(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad9.jpg)
Kitchen is at the back of the house with a door to patio and grilling area

(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad6.jpg)
The one bedroom


(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad2.jpg)
Downstairs


(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad3.jpg)
Upstairs

(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad4.jpg)


(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad5.jpg)
The pond is fishable.

(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg215/sipu_von_sapu/September%20house%20of%20phail/104BRiverbendRoad11.jpg)
The rubbish bin is at this side

The house is playtested. Download (http://www.box.net/shared/e643hoa0n4)
Oh, and that mailbox override you see in the picturs is not included in the download package.

Edit: I knew I had forgotten something. I've got all EP's and all SP's except Family Fun Stuff.

I made a third, and I definitely like this one better (though the angles are still driving me bananas.) Well, here it is: Marsden Manse

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/Front-1.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/Back-1.jpg)

2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms around 65,000 simoleons.

There is one piece of CC in this house, and it's an extracted television from Apartment Life. Downloadable right here (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,11573.0.html) from MATY.

I uninstalled Apartment Life (again) so theres no ceilings. Sorry :/

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/Entrance.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/Livingroom-1.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/KitchenDining.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/Bedroom2-1.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/Bedroom.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/Bathroom.jpg)

The two bathrooms on the second floor are nearly identical in design, the only difference is the shower curtain on shower/tub combo.
There's a half bath on the first floor, behind the stairs. Picture angles were being difficult, so I didn't get any shots of it.

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/firstfloortop.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/secondfloortop.jpg)

Built with Nightlife, University, Bon Voyage, IKEA Stuff, and Teen Style Stuff.
Uploaded to Megaupload because the file was a whole 11 kb too big.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZT277K6D


*edited to add information and link.

Night Racer:  Attractive.  Can't say much more than that, not having TS3.

Minena, your house is gorgeous in almost every detail.  That living room floor, however, is so bad that at first I couldn't see the elegance of everything else.

Cianne, I like your layout from a technical point of view but the style leaves something to be desired.  The downstairs is fine, but the exterior is bland and the upstairs looks like you just phoned it in.   Too much of the original walls and floors can be seen in your design, in my opinion.

Prosthetics, your second house feels somewhat uninspired to me.  I like what there is, I just don't feel like there's enough of it.  My personal preference is for more ornamentation.  I liked your first roof better -- I think you didn't give that attempt enough credit.  A bit plain, but structurally it was good, and the color palette was much nicer.  Your third house blew me away.  Love at first sight. Much better work, and more cohesive in ambience.

Chobeegal, truly stunning interior.  The exterior seems a little plain in back, but only in comparison to the exquisite detail of the interior.  I have some concerns about the layout, but if it works it's quite a clever way of fitting so much into the house.

Sipu, your entry is quite lovely -- clean and airy.  Clever use of space.

Finally got around to reinstalling TS2 on my laptop again, and will now start working on my entry.

Yeah, I want the house to look like the original. I like to make a realistic home make-over with just the minimal changes and basics added. I want it to still be a Maxis/EA home when I'm done, but without the traffic jams and inconvenient hikes upstairs to use the bathroom.

Sipu, I really like the new look and that railing.

Prosthetics, I too like that third house best. I love that roof fencing and the new look to the front. I also really like that you didn't make a lot of structural changes. It looks very playable.

Chobeegal, It certainly doesn't look like the same house. I like that roof and all the columns.

Yibble, I liked the way the new addition was included. I love the creamy colors and stone floor. I do think that the glass and metal fencing on the upper rails would look nicer in wood and/or brick and stone to match the exterior better.

A minimalist 2 bedroom, 1 bath home with an Arabic feel. Ileila Ein attempts to keep the feel of the original building, yet remaining livable. With a reshuffle of furniture, this spacious dwelling will grow with your sim family.

I have no idea how much it costs, I didn't check. I have all eps & sps.

Downloadable here (http://www.4shared.com/file/133773935/95ff76a8/FloopySept09.html).

Exterior
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Ext1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Ext2.jpg)

Roof
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/floorplanroof.jpg)

Level 1
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Floorplanlvl1.jpg)

Ground Floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Floorplanground.jpg)

Lounge
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Lounge2-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Lounge1-1.jpg)

Kitchen
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Kitchen3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Kitchen2-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Kitchen1-1.jpg)

Bathroom
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Bath1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Bath2.jpg)

Inside Stairwell
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Stairwell2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Stairwell1.jpg)

Master Bedroom
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Mbed3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Mbed2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Mbed1.jpg)

Bedroom
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Bed3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Bed2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Bed1.jpg)

Deck
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty comps/Deck1.jpg)

Wow you weren't kidding with that minimalism were you? Even the color is minimalist

Less is more, and carefully considered hints of colour will do more to open a room than clutter (She says as she looks around at the crap surrounding her)

Art school. This is how I use it.

In the spirit of moar fight (I guess) one could argue that that's basic high school art 1-2 learnings ha. Still I'd go with something of a err bland pattern for the bedsheets cos they look like untextured meshes being so eerily white even in the beigeiness (the touches of color seem to come from the occasional rug and tree outside)

You have caught on to my creative genius. And yes, high school art DOES teach minimalism. If they are teaching at all, and if one can tear the students' attentions away from eating paste and moulding grotesquely misshapen phalluses out of clay.

You don't have to like my lot if you don't want to. I'm not going to point a gun to your head and force you to like it. I do like it though, because it avoids the pitfall of other lots in this comp that decided to struggle against the original lot's shape rather than using it as a feature.  In this case, the archetecture would have been lost with the clutter you seem so determined to cling to, so my preference for simplicity, elegance and clean lines won out.

I am waiting around to see if the awesome lot designers are still playing this game, or if they have moved on with the new shiny that is TS3. Witch, Salix Tree, Emma, et al, are you guys still playing this game?

I'm just err constructively criticizing? My main "beef" (lol) is the textures of the beds - they look like meshes without any textures (and I mean that in a video game context, not so much a design one) which I think is distracting.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/floopyboo/maty%20comps/Mbed1.jpg)
Like I see what you're getting at here but compare the cushion and frame of the couch with that of the beds and you can see how the former "syncs" better with your design aesthetic whereas the latter simply looks like you greyscaled that piece of furniture in photobooth. But design is inherently subjective so what looks jarring to one... isn't for another?

Also, I don't remember bringing up anything about clutter ... just that there's a difference between minimalism and openhouse decor.

At first, I really disliked this floor plan, and was thinking about not entering this month at all. However, after I started to
play with some ideas and rejected many, I went with a middle eastern design and came up with this mosque. I never
stepped into a mosque, so I had to go by what I saw in pictures, and use the limiting,original game objects. So if
anyone has been to a mosque, please feel free to give some constructive criticism on how I can improve it.

(http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5930/frontviewc.jpg)
The front view. The mosque has a "gold" dome with a single minaret.

(http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3783/backviewp.jpg)
Back view.

(http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8789/pavilionu.jpg)
I seen an outside pic of a room with arches like these, but I couldn't see the inside so I made it like a cool, relaxing sitting room.

(http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/9214/pool2.jpg)
A pool/pond area with couches.

(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3924/poolone.jpg)
Second view of the pool

(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/6711/prayerroom.jpg)
The prayer room. I went a lot on my memory for the room and some on the pictures I seen. I seen a picture
with people I think praying with a opulent chair in front of them, so that's why the chair is there. I need a lot
of help in this room, so I would be grateful if someone has any comments or pics to improve this sad looking room.

(http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3955/neigborhoodview.jpg)
The neighborhood view, I thought it looked pretty cool from this view.

 

Errr...floopyboo, not to nit-pick and only quoting Pes...


Jorganza...it looks pretty authentic to me, though it's been years since I went to a mosque with my (then) boyfriend.

Lets see if I can churn something out in 2 weeks.

Haven't entered one of these in a while - should be fun.

That's right but only multitile objects. Single beds or chairs for instance are save. At least the animation works.

Melrose- A home designed with a family of crafty (in an artsy sense) women in mind.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_f7c182e1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_f7c182ee.jpg)

Disclaimers:   I have all EP's, SP's, store items and freebies.  I don't think I used any pre-order items, but don't know for certain.  I have briefly playtested with a family of four and didn't encounter many issues (and I fixed the ones I did).

Yard: Small greenhouse and logic area. 
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_d7c1842f.jpg)

First floor:  Kitchen with eat-in dining area, bathroom and living room.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_b7c18336.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_f7c183ac.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_17c18372.jpg)

Second floor:   Bathroom, double/twin bedroom and master bedroom with attached bath. 
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_57c18327.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_f7c183d4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_17c183bd.jpg)

Attic: Open!  I loaded it with all kinds of crafting and skilling items, but it can be adapted for anything.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_0000000e_b7c1834a.jpg)

All this will run you $67, 141 (wanded)!

Download: Melrose.rar (http://www.box.net/shared/4u1fdaqcnn)

Jorganza's lot is the only lot to go with a more open, airy floorplan thus far aside from mine. The architecture is simple and the furnishings elegant and well-themed.

I don't really like the roof, but knowing the trouble I had trying to find something that even remotely worked, I'll lay the blame in the game for that one.



Back to my lot. It's amusing seeing people get all bent out of shape over it. The genius comment was tongue in cheek, however my criticism of 'too cramped, too cluttered' remains for the rest of you. It's a tiny space, for crying out loud, expand it, don't make it smaller!

Oh Batelle you used one of my favorite contrasts! Light green on raspberry - i like the combo cos it can only be pulled off if the person knows what they're doing. It's a very tricky pair but you it works here.

But single beds are three tiles...

Really like your house, Batelle, it's got such nice decoration and just the right amount of clutter.

Okay, so you're saying to put the bare minimum furnishings and the lot would be near perfect? Awesome. I think I'll use your minimalist tactics from now on.  ::)
Constructively, your house felt as stale as my first submission.

As an aside,

Night Racer: very nice Sims 3 rebuild, but as it only looks beautiful and I don't own TS3, I can't say much else.

Minena: once again, a very stunning home. But I'm a sucker for gardens, and the outdoors, so the landscaping is probably my favorite feature. I can't really get past the carpet you used in the living room though...I've never been a fan of the print carpet, but you did sort of manage to pull it off.

ciane: Not really sure what to say at the moment. I can't find anything I don't like, but I can't find much that I like either. A response to this house may take me longer than expected.

yibble: nice job, but it seems to me that if I had two adults, a child, and a toddler living in that house they'd be stomping and screaming about blocked paths, but who's to know? I certainly haven't playtested your lot. (don't have glamour life installed...or pets....or FFS XD)

chobeegal: I really like the roof. Especially because I've never been able to pull off those oriental roofs very well. Bon Voyage is not my friend ;) once more, not sure how one of your lots would react to my laptop, but it looks nice enough.

Sipu_von_Sapu: it feels, to me anyway, that the exterior stucco and brick aren't really...meshing...well. I've never been really good at landings, but you seem to have pulled yours off well enough. Your house seems like it would be more comfy on a bigger lot (but I suppose many of them would :p)

Jorganza: great job on the roof of your mosque, personally I've never been to one...but it looks as about authentic as you can get without CC.

Batelle: I also love the raspberry and green color scheme. You've managed to pull that off very well, or at least better than I ever could  ;D


And thanks to cianne and yibble for the kind comments on my third submission. :3

floppyboo, I like the roof shape over the original part of the house, but the connecting roof line is not as inspiring. The connecting wall corner at the top of the stairs looks ackward to me. I think it would look nicer if the wall for small bedroom was moved back one space.

I also would like to see the tree remain outside on a patio. I think that a wall coming straight off the corner of the inside hallway square would work well. It would add outside light to the stairway and create an area close to the dining room for patio cooking. The upstairs patio could be reshaped with an interesting diagonal edge to avoid enclosing the palm tree.

Jorganza, I think you did a great job on the Mosque look. I like the new exterior look and additional potted palms. I do think that the structured swimming pool look in the fenced patio conflicts with the unstructured pond look outside the fenced area. I also think the front fence would look better if it was only on the left side of the front walk as it just stops at the right side. It is as if you ignored the original pond instead of making it part of the new design.

Batelle, I love the way you kept the original shape and merely added a bathroom unto the ground floor. The spiral stairs and adjustments to the room layouts are great. I particularly like the diagonal bath shapes upstairs and the improved bedroom spaces.

The M&G roof is also one of my favorites. Adding the attic gives the Sims plenty of room for their hobbies and other interests. Nice job!

Yeah, Tarlia, that was kinda the point. Pandaah seemed to completely miss it. Thanks for having clarified it to him.

Prosthetics, your use of subtle (or maybe not so subtle) sarcasm is perfect! I was thinking about posting something similar but everything I started to say seemed too caustic so I decided to let it lie with the rest of the sleeping dogs.
Prosthetics, I'll just talk about all of your houses here in a single section.
#1 looks to have good potential. However I think removing the second story front porch was a mistake. Your house front looks too "nekkid" (as we Southerners say) without it. Also those two empty squares could now be opened and used for doors onto the balcony. I would expand the second floor bath (especially so since it has to serve both bedrooms) into some of that unused space upstairs and that would give it room for a tub/shower and a sink, while the rest of the space could be turned into a sort of office/study area. You have a great rooftop patio area on the second floor, but no (visible) means for your Sims to access it. Stairs at the back or side would solve that problem well. I also have no idea why there need to be two "guest" baths on the first floor. I suggest removing the front one, moving the front Kitchen wall back three squares (add the little "corner" piece where the bathroom was) and make the "addition" either into a single car garage or (better) an "eat-in" Kitchen. The remaining "guest" bath could actually also be expanded one tile left which would give room for an outside entry and a shower to turn it into a "sand room" (as opposed to "mud room" since it is a beach house). The overlarge Living Room could be broken up by adding half-walls for an "entry" as well as half-walls to define the stair area. Also move stairs one tile back and you can expand the "small" bedroom to a more usable space. Then add some plants to the pond, add a back door from the Kitchen (as well as a small paved area outside the kitchen and "sand room"), add landscaping, and voila!
#2 Well I do like the two story stairwell to the "loft" bedroom, but I can't get any real "feel" for the interior layout from your pictures. The exterior definitely is even more "unfinished" looking and "nekkid" than #1. The landscaping is quite attractive though. I believe I would add some railings and some stairs at the back and utilize the roof area as an entertainment area. And change that boring exterior paint job.
#3 Yeah, this is definitely your best effort of the three. Front is not "nekkid" like the others. The roof, though flat and not utilized (I always like to make use of the extra space a flat roof provides), looks "finished" and not just stuck there to cover the house. While it is compact (small), it makes good use of the space so it doesn't have a "cramped" feel.

Night Racer, as I don't own TS3, I can't say much except that it looks beautiful rebuilt as a Sims 3 house.

Minena, I think the landscaping of your lot is quite stunning; I think though that the living room carpet you used belongs in either a much larger room or a much smaller one, and I would have used bright orange furniture to play up the orange in the carpet rather than seemingly trying to downplay it. If you are going with something that bold, you need to work with it not against it. I don't really care for the kind of drab carpet in the entry and hall, but some bright "rugs" could make all the difference and tie it into the living room as well. The layout appears pretty workable and I quite like the fact that you managed the whole remake without any additions to the structure at all. I don't however like the two "chimneys" on the front of the house at all. They look "tacked on" and seem to overbalance the house. I understand why you did them, but they just don't look right, imho. Maybe if you made them shorter they'd work.

Ciane, it's really kind of bland on the outside; the inside too. Reminds me of some of the "furnished" weekend beach rentals I've seen here in Florida. Expensive as hell, minimally furnished, and not someplace you'd want to spend much time in (but that's the point; you're renting it to have beach access, right?). There's nothing really wrong with it, it just doesn't have a comfortable, homey "feel" to it. Add some clutter (sorry, floopy, I like some "clutter") and a few "rugs" and some landscaping and that might change the "feel" totally.

Yibble, I don't know about a "desert" lot, perhaps it is, but it looks more like what I've seen in single family houses on small city lots. Maybe it's for a desert city? LA? Las Vegas? Tahoe? Phoenix?

Sipu, my only real criticism is that the bricks on the left in front look out of place. Rather than giving a balanced look, they actually just look kind of stuck on. Maybe if you had added bricks to the roof fronts and to the white strip on the right making a "frame" around the windows and door it would work better aesthetically.

Floopyboo, while I like your house in general and would never criticize minimalism as "barren" in looks (as is the opinion of many), I do find your "elitist" attitude quite annoying. Just because you don't like what you term "clutter" does not mean everyone else shares your opinion nor does it make your opinion necessarily correct and everyone else wrong. When you've lived a little longer and gotten over your teenaged "I know it all" stage of life and actually acquired some true wisdom, you will know this. I have tried to be tactful here, but sometimes tact is not my strong suite.

Jorganza, really good job on your mosque, it looks quite accurate; and to think all done without CC.
On another vein of thought; Jorganza, are you going to post a download link? I really like your Mosque interpretation. As to floopyboo's "artistically sophisticated" critique of the roof; hey floopy, what else would you use on a mosque?
Have you ever actually seen a (traditional) mosque, floopy? They have round roofs and soaring minarets.

Batelle, I have also done unique color combinations like this that you would think would not work but they do. I like this lot a lot.

Yeah, the first two weren't exactly my proudest works, and even I don't like them very much. By the time I got to the third one, I actually had some inspiration from the other builders, after seeing what some of you did with the lot. My first two houses were just done to have them done. But thank you for the in depth analysis. :]

ETA:

Here is my fourth house. Gotta furnish it and get some interior pics, but that should be done by the evening: the Crafty Cabin

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/CraftCabin.png)

I was going for authentic, so wood interior, etc. It's pretty much modeled after a few houses in the mountains here, except for the octagon. And yes, the palm tree is still in it's place. Though I really wanted to ged rid of it >_<

Here's the download to the mosque in RAR format. I have all the EP's and SP's. And thanks for critiquing my lot Ciane and everyone else.
I couldn't really think of what to do with the pond, it was more in the way than anything else. I did change the fencing around a little
bit to section of the pond.

Really great houses everyone, I thought the octagon shape would be hard to work around, but a lot of you still made excellent
houses.

To Prosthetics: I think your latest house looks the best out of your other 3 houses. I really like the open area on the second floor
of the building. 

Okay, I finally got around to taking the interior pics and packaging the lot.
Fourth and final submission: Crafty Cabin

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/CraftCabin.png)
The front
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/Back.png)
The back (yes, the pond is still there!)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/Entrance.png)
The entrance
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/LivingRoom.png)
The living room
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/KitchenDiningRoom.png)
Kitchen and Dining room
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/MasterBedroom.png)
The bedroom
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/DownstairsBathroom.png)
The half-bath
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/UpstairsBedroom1.png)
Single bedroom
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/UpstairsBedroom2.png)
Single bedroom 2
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/UpstairsBathroom1.png)
Bathroom 1 (with seperate shower room, as is visible)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/UpstairsBathroom2.png)
Bathroom 2 (attached to bedroom 2)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/SecondStoryPatio.png)
Second story patio area

The first floor, birdseye
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/TopViewFloorOne.png)
The second floor, birdseye
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/ComaB/TS2/The%20Crafty%20Cabin/TopViewFloorTwo.png)


Total cost: 71,968 simoleons

Built with Double Deluxe, University Life, Bon Voyage, Free Time and Apartment Life.

I like the cabin look.

I played around with this in Sims 3 again. It took two weeks of Sim play for them to be able to afford the remodel and furnishings. (They started out in just the octagon-shaped ground floor and I added-on as they got more money and had more kids.)

The house now looks like this:
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/Alphabet/Screenshot-55.jpg)

The slideshow is here:
(http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/Alphabet/th_Screenshot-55.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/Alphabet/?action=view&current=efab0767.pbw)

The outsides pretty. I'm not going to get into the inside, since I don't have TS3 or anything. Thanks, by the way. ^_^


Since September is coming to a close, what house should we do in October? (There's a list in the previous thread.)

Perhaps...since people with the sims 3 are allowed to enter and rebuild the sims 2 house in there sims 3 game...perhaps we can do it the other way around this month?

I.e: Somone posts a sims 3 house... and the challege goes as per usual? I presume it will have to be re-built in the sims 2...so people without the sims 3 can plop and edit it in their game...i guess if somone volunteers to do it?

Just an idea? Just a load of phail? You decide.

Methinks it wouldn't be as easy to recreate TS3 houses in TS2 as the other way round. TS3 offers more when it come to buildings (smaller grid, object placement) so some aspects may not transfer well to TS2.

It sounds easy, but doing it is another thing entirely. It's not a bad idea, but it doesn't seem as easily achievable. (basically, what Heodez said x3)

I enjoy seeing the houses that all of you create, but I get bummed out when I'll see a great looking house and then find out that's for Sims3 and not available to someone who only has Sims2.
There are still tons of Sims2 houses out there that phail: the Monty's, Capps, Summerdreams; Specter, Grunt, and even the Smith's; Etc. I know there are other sites that do makeovers, but it's by the individual's choice, and it may not be what your looking for. I like coming here for the diversity and uniqueness of many of the creators.
Thank you for allowing me to put in my two cents, I look forward to seeing what everyone creates.

I can attempt to transfer the layout of a house from sims3 to sims2, I'm willing to give it a go.

Any ideas as to which house? 

I have everything expansion+stuff pack.

If you're going to remake a TS3 house in TS2, you should try to make it base-game compatible (ie, no EPs or SPs using the AnyGameStarter), so that everyone can participate.

I'm afraid that I have problems convincing myself to play TS3, so I have no ideas about which houses would fail the most.

Threads for previous months have several lists of possible TS2 houses; does anyone see one that looks interesting to them?

I like redoing the European Townhouse that is in bin for the base game. It's a small starter with one bedroom and one bath with a porch that desperately needs expansion.

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/homes/Screenshot.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/homes/snapshot_00000005_77d224d0.jpg)

(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/ciane/homes/snapshot_00000005_d7d224c5.jpg)

The house is centered on the lot and has no landscaping. Outside of keeping the original outside walls, there are no other limitations. People could be very creative with this.

Seems like a good choice to me. Would there be any bonus conditions? Such as keeping the balcony, or anything like that? If not, it would be fine, just asking. :]

The only possible bonus points I see would be keeping the stairs in place, keeping the porch and balcony spaces, or both.

I think this one would be a very good choice. I have done numerous remakes of it just to make it usable in my own games.

I haven't joined in a house of phail for a while now.  Perhaps if life clears out a bit for me I can add an entry for October.  I hate that Uni house, but want to see what everyone does with it.

ETA:  That house comes in the bin?  I thought it was one of the rental houses available already placed in one of the college hoods?

It's the European Townhouse in the bin, I believe.

TS3 offers only ONE thing that TS2 doesn't have: The ability to place multitile objects diagonally. In most cases, however, this is a suboptimal placement, anyway. Many other things TS2 has, TS3 is entirely lacking in, like, say, the simple, basic ability to put a staircase over another one. TS2 actually already HAS the grid thing, AND the ability to move objects up and down on walls, which TS3 lacks.

It is. Wot? EA reusing game content whenever possible?! SHURLY that has never happened!

The challenge lot for October has been posted.  Suggestions for bonus points gladly accepted.