More Awesome Than You!

1097 West Dreaming Drive

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/1097-1.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/1097-3.jpg)

Rules:

1. No CC.  This lot is base game compatible. 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.

Note: This lot has level edges.

Special condition: The path must remain in the same place as it is now and still be a path. I'm presuming it can still be built over if the house is extended, I'll amend the condition if there is discussion about this.

Flat base game lot built by Pbox. Download here (http://www.box.net/shared/vdps4s7h8f).

That file comes up as corrupt for me. Anyone else got problems with it, or am I just experiencing random Winrar fuckwittery again?

That diagonal wall and door are troubling me. My experience with such has definitely been on the not so good side.

I'll have to see what the builders come up with. So far I've downloaded just about every house that's been renovated.

Must be "random Winrar fuckwittery again" (LOL), cause it's fine for me from both above link and download in December thread.

Random WinRar fuckwittery it is. Downloaded 7zip and that one complained too, but at least extracted the file  :P

If I hadn't appropriated acquired 2 stuffs packs over the holidays this would not be remotely possible.  Basic Maxis shit content is at best a challenge.

*heart farts all custom content creators I use*

Try the upload at this link and see whether it's any better:

http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,13816.msg403983.html#msg403983

I think I may give this one a try. My work schedule is really crazy right now but I'll give it a shot. :)

I'm not very good at building... at all. Or rather, not very imaginative  :P

Either way, here's my go at this month's house of fail:

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1085/3164403816_fa1baf1d88_o.jpg)

I've kept the main layout pretty much the same, except for the added conservatory and support pillar to the side.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/3164404020_f91e332fde_o.jpg)

I like ponds... and it sort of seemed to fit the curvy pathway to have one there.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1156/3163569379_d548c3af8a_o.jpg)

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1066/3163568931_2361674367_o.jpg)

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1044/3164405250_28db68da13_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/3164404932_5310111b1d_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3163569625_0050cf78c2_o.jpg)

Bedroom with en-suite bathroom.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/3163569755_1d3b05e9fb_o.jpg)

Cluttered attic annex arty place.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/3163570059_fd200d9449_o.jpg)

Overview of the first floor.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1075/3164406550_4d5ff023c2_o.jpg)

Overview of the ground floor.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/3163570619_e086ac08d1_o.jpg)

And what do my sims do when introduced with their brand new home? That's right, go badger the fish.  ::)


Total cost: ~ 80,000$
1 Bed, 1 Bath
EP's and SP's: Base, Uni, NL, OFB, Seasons, FT, AL, M&G

Hmm. I'm going to try this, I've been on a building kick lately anyway, and this lot doesn't look like one my laptop will hate me for trying to renovate (all those big lots on my underpowered, vista-running computer... I need to get this thing more RAM, I think).

That's nice Nepheris. That brick really suits the house and the conservatory finishes it nicely. What do you have over the front door? Looks like lights, or flowers?

@Nepheris: I really like the pond and your sunroom. Very nicely done.

Nephris, that's a really lovely layout you have going. I like the colors you used for the interior too; it's a very warm scheme.

To clarify the special condition... the path CAN be built over partially and, say, be made into a front entry-way, so long as most of it remains, correct? I'm pretty tired right now, so I'm a little befuddled if it would be okay or not.

Same!  :D

When I added it to the thread I thought, what if someone wants to build out that way? So personally I'm going to interpret that path condition as meaning that whatever part of the path is still visible, has to remain the same. It's going to be hard enough to build on a lot this size anyway.

My befuddled mind thanks you, witch.  ;D My renovations to 1097 have begun, so, hopefully I'll be posting it later on. After dinner or some such thing like that.

still a noob to this, but here goes...
added a second floor, with 3 bedrooms. On the first floor added a glassed in porch like room with view of fish tanks.

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/01.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/02.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/03.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/04.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/05.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/06.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/07.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/08.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/09.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/10.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/11.jpg)

I have all EP's/SP's

http://www.mediafire.com/?jmnyjnngtdz

Very nice! I really like the glass porch. I never use the aquariums, so they are a nice touch. *downloading*

Since its so cold here I decided to go to the Casbah

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/front.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/topdown001.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/topdown002.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/topdown003.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/entry.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/living.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/viewthru.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/viewofcourt.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/courtyard.png)

Some areas may need furniture rearranged for play, but most of it should be fine.

I have all EPs/SPs except Holiday pack

Available for download HERE (http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/minenahouseofphailjan.rar)

@Nepheris - I agree, the conservatory is lovely!  I also like your use of wood throughout, it's hard to match up the woods sometimes.

@mistyk  - the aquariums are very cool indeed!

@Minena - yoinking NAO!

I turned it into a vacation home with three bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a sun room, dining room/entry and a large living room. I did it in the log cabin style to fit in my Pine Woods Vacation neighborhood. Be gentle. :) I have all EPs and Stuff Packs but not M&G.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/33983113@N04/show/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/33983113@N04/show/)

http://www.4shared.com/file/78834475/74636075/1097_Pine_Hill_Road.html
 (http://www.4shared.com/file/78834475/74636075/1097_Pine_Hill_Road.html)

That is such a gorgeous house Minena!


I'm currently studying Japanese, so this month I created an Eastern style retreat.
 
(http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/3841/wholeviewls9.jpg)

(http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/3428/firstlevelbg9.jpg)

(http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/6475/secondflooroz4.jpg)

(http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/2121/teaareamj1.jpg)

(http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/3373/downstairszd3.jpg)

(http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/8940/diningzj4.jpg)

(http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/6407/tichibv9.jpg)

(http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/4434/upstairsjw3.jpg)

(http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/6458/nightviewuz4.jpg)

Edit: It can be downloaded here http://www.4shared.com/file/78931135/ea46440d/Harukas_Retreat.html
I have all the EPs+Sps.

Oh man, were youse guys lined up behind the starting line or what?  :D

@mistyk: Nice house - especially liked the gazebo and the fish tank views inside the house. I'm glad I thought of that.

@Minena: The Casbah rocks! I love the way you've kept the theme all the way through, even in the garden.

@CaponeSim: I need more vacation houses. I like the wood theme, although for a log cabin type of lot, maybe a fireplace or wood burner would have added to the atmosphere?

@Jorganza: I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so!

Shall I build you a few with fireplaces and such?

Cheers for the offer, but I like to pick up one here and there and that way I get realistic variety. I haven't started on the vacation hoods yet anyway, I'm still outfitting my new main hood at the moment. Again, starting again. One day I will reach the second generation!  :D

I went with a country cottage look. The exterior is completely landscaped, the interior only contains basic fixtures, kitchen/bath/lights; so you can easily decorate it to your own tastes. I have all EPs/SPs.

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u159/kattenijin/snapshot_00000202_566c20df.jpg)

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u159/kattenijin/snapshot_00000202_f66c2f41.jpg)

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u159/kattenijin/snapshot_00000202_766c2100.jpg)

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u159/kattenijin/snapshot_00000202_166c2f5b.jpg)

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u159/kattenijin/snapshot_00000202_766c2e30.jpg)

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u159/kattenijin/snapshot_00000202_966c2de0.jpg)

Download here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/179589555/1097-Fin.zip

Download link, please?

I think that the reason everyone is having such a great time redecorating this house is because it is such an easy house to play. My sims and I really enjoy this house!  :D

@Nepheris: I love sunrooms! Ponds are nice too. Good job!

@Mistyk: I really like the tv nook and the aquariums. I usually notice when people use odd windows for a house, but they weren't even noticable this time. They matched the colors, which was nicely done. I like the gazebo too.

@Minena: This house is gorgeous! I've tried using these colors and the same furniture but I could never get them to match. The garden was what I fell for this time.

@Caponesim: My vacation neighbourhoods are always short on good houses, so I believe my sims will enjoy this one. I know I will! Good work with the color scheme!

@Jorganza: I like the red kitchen and the garden. Also mine! Yoink!

@katteninjin: Oooh, the english countryside is a nice theme. I like what you did with the front door, sort of hiding it to the side. The back porch with the grill is a nice touch. I have always wondered how you can make those slanted roofs. Gotta search for a tutorial on that!

@ Witch: Those are indeed flowers over the door, the orange ones that came with M&G.

@ Mystik: I like how airy and 'open plan' your house is, and love the gazebo. The roof looks a bit odd though, I find playing around with the roof tools looks generally better than using the auto-roof.

@ Minena & CaponeSim: Your pictures refuse to load for me  :(

@ Jorganza: Simply gorgeous :) *yoink*

@ Kattenijin: Very lovely, can picture that house in the middle of a foresty area.

It's quite interesting to see what people did with that diagonal wall. I think I like Kattenijin's workaround best, quite clever how you added the diagonal hallway and that oddly-shaped bathroom, it works very well.

This month's entries have got to be of the overall highest standard yet.

Damn, I wish I had my new computer NAO so I could snag some of these!

If it's the wall slant on the front and left side, the tutorial is here:  http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=156028

If you mean the angled roof over the area that had the original door, it's a game feature that comes with the Pets EP. It may be carried over in a later EP, but I don't know.

May I just say, wow. I had one or two ideas, but, wow. I'm not sure I can top the entries thus far! (That's not to say I won't try, though.)

I know, right? This months entries have been outstanding and it's only the 5th! It's a good thing this isn't a contest. I think our judges would have a very hard time deciding who would win.

And everyone thought the diagonal wall would be difficult to deal with. All the entries so far are really outstanding.

Wow! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with, the entries so far have been awesome.
I love the Moroccan theme and the Timber houses in particular.

These really are outstanding.  I love them all!

Thank-you. Yoink!

I went very stark and modern with this one... I'll use decorations in my next one, I promise. This one has been made into an apartment complex, suited for three small households, but there's also a residential version, for the larger family. (The residential version does have goofy placeholder doors in place of apartment doors though, might want to switch those out for doors that match the rest.)

Rent: $2,599 - $2,638
Residential cost: ~$180,000

It has not been wanded.

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-1-Full.jpg)

Ground floor: Flat one; separate common area.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-1-Ground.jpg)

First/second floors: Flats two and three. (The flat on the first floor is identical to the flat on the second floor.)
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-1-Upstairs.jpg)

Roof: Common area.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-1-Roof.jpg)

Each flat has two double beds. Only one bathroom in each, but the downstairs common area has two more. The balconies are owned by the flats, and are an ideal location for hack type things like the macrotastics box, and similar items.

I have all EPs. SPs I think I have are: Holidays, FFS, GLS, H&M, Celebrations. AL definitely required. Walls and floors from H&M.

Get the residential version here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/78965767/3a30b5f1/Jan09-1-Faizah-1097-ModernMansion.html)
Get the apartment version here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/78966038/c002e54e/Jan09-1-Faizah-1097-ModernFlats.html)

Love the modern look and the color scheme. Very nice!

I'm assuming we can pave over the pathway, as long as it's still a pathway, right? (Because if not, I messed up.)

Lot and pictures forthcoming, just need to upload them first.

I hope so, because I've just done that...

I understood Witch to say the exposed part had to remain unpaved, but you could pave over part for a room extension.

I like how you enclosed the spiral stairs.  I'll have to try that sometime after I friggin' figure out how to stack the damn things.

Witch said


She didn't say anything about the path needing to stay unpaved.  A paved path is still a path.

Well here in the "boonies" we call it a "path" when it isn't paved, (ie: a path through the woods). If it's paved it is a "sidewalk" or a front walk. ;)

Here we call sidewalks "footpaths", even though they are paved.  I don't think I've ever heard the term "front walk".

Oh the misunderstandings that can arise from speaking two different dialects of the same "mother tongue"! LOL

Well, as I'm of the opinion that regardless of what you call it, it's a form of path, I'm not going to worry about it. So, here it is.

I have all EPs, plus Teen Style Stuff.

Cost- $111,218

(http://i43.tinypic.com/10h1smr.jpg)
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2413ymd.jpg)
(http://i43.tinypic.com/s14xsl.jpg)

More pictures here. (http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=nocWJE6d02QPqRE%2BY2S2ng%3D%3D)

Download link here. (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=a1357b2c37fca3ccd2db6fb9a8902bda)

It's tricky. Basically, the stairs above have to be rotated exactly the same way as the stairs below before they'll stack. For the longest time I didn't think it was possible myself. (I think in an earlier house of fail entry I'd put the stairs up next to the stairs down, rather than on top of them.)

You're right, it's kind of tricky. You have to keep turning the upper one until the "enter" step matches to the top step of the lower stair.

Faizah I love the look, very nautical with the round windows and what look like ships rails. Would be very nice at the beachl.

Wow, some amazing houses! Love the casbah one, Minena..  and Kattenijin's woodsy one, (I'm a sucker for forests).
You guys are so fast! I moved some Sims into mine, and kept playing them while building. It IS a fun house to play!
Just wondering now how to make the witch cauldron stay behind when I move out, so far I've moved the Sims out 2x, and each test move made the cauldron disappear. Maybe if I kill the Sim.  ;) Ah well, it doesn't really HAVE to have the cauldron.

Here's a pic of mine, still in progress. Should be done in a day or two.
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/Crazy-old-coots-house.jpg)

Mmmm, very witchy cottage. If you find out how to make the cauldron stay, do please let me know, I'm also making something for witches.  ;D

I'd be interested in finding out if killing the witchsim or all sims would leave behind the cauldron.

ok, I did it. Got the cauldron to stay, with no killing of Sims involved.
I made my lot a community lot. My witch Sim bought the lot. She went there and left some test items: cauldron, money tree, witch light, and some crafted flowers. She went home, and sold the lot. I turned the lot into residential. All items stayed!! Yay!
I even did a test packaging, and placed the lot back down, items still there. So I'm assuming one can leave just about anything on a lot using this method.

.. back to building!

I don't remember where I got this from but I have witch things in buy/build mode..it makes all the witch stuff regents, potions, lights, thrones, cauldrons, books available in catalog...some stuff shows up in random places though, like I believe the regents are in hobbies

edit: found where I got it from, it is by XPTL297 at InSim  http://www.insimenator.org/showthread.php?t=97344

I have had no issues with it, but maybe someone awesome can check it out

it's more than just the witch things. there are other al things in there, plaques and what not. i used simpe to delete everything but the witchy items when i figured that out.

thanks, I hadn't noticed that since I have unlockers for career rewards and such I thought the plaques were part of that...I have never used simPe...so i have no idea how to make any changes to it

"Quaint Residential, yours for only 106,800 (give or take a few simoleans)!"
Three stories, five bedroom six bath.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/pretentiouskate/MATYchallenge/front.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/pretentiouskate/MATYchallenge/thirdfloor.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/pretentiouskate/MATYchallenge/secondfloor.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/pretentiouskate/MATYchallenge/firstfloor.jpg)

Moar pictures, with descriptions (http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y36/pretentiouskate/MATYchallenge/?albumview=slideshow)

Download Link (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=4cae850a5a02fc60d2db6fb9a8902bda)
I have all expansions, Teen Style Stuff, Mansions and Gardens, Kitchen and Bath, Happy Holiday Stuff, and Glamour Life

This is my entry, it is §79k furnished, no CC and has 1 bedroom and 2 bathrooms. Living room, kitchen, separate dining area. Desk is in living room, stairs not closed off, but can be easily done. No nursery included this time. On the second floor there is a games room area. All EPs/SPs used. I will add more pics when I properly playtest this evening. Pics are kinda dark, sorry.

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/1097_Emma/1097_Emma_Front.jpg)

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/1097_Emma/1097_Emma_First.jpg)

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/1097_Emma/1097_Emma_Second.jpg)

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/1097_Emma/1097_Emma_Back.jpg)

Download here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/79088539/6f59841d/1097_Emma.html)

Emma, that back-garden fence is a good idea. In my lot, no matter where I put the back door, everyone visiting plus the paperboy/girl uses that as opposed to the front door. I put it in the most ridicules place, and visitors still used it! Like as if they live in Holland, where nobody uses their front door.

I always fence off the back door when playing as I can't stand things being dropped there. I don't usually fence the front garden off though, unless there is something there I don't want guests messing about with. I don't mind pets digging up the ground as that is the only way I get my sims to dig for stuff. No holes-no digging!

I have a horrible feeling this is going to be a clone of what's already been posted, but here goes nothing.

Dundreamin House comes in at $112,627. It would have been a little dearer if I'd remembered to put in a phone. It's a two-bedroom, three bathroom house. Ground floor accommodation includes lounge, dining room and bathroom, all open to guests. In addition there is a private kitchen, and large nursery which could be converted into a decent en suite bedroom when reproduction is no longer required. Entry to the family's private accommodation is via the gym, with stairs to the first floor. There is a master bedroom with bath/shower room en suite, a twin children's bed and bathroom, and a large family room.

I'm not sure if this meets the letter of the law or not. The path is there, you just can't see it for all the paving.

Sample pictures: (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1135/3170641961_e733c4416d.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/3170643539_b0a9e6ce13.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/3170642435_ce1610bf91.jpg?v=0)

Download here: http://tinyurl.com/648pyj  (http://tinyurl.com/648pyj)

File cleaned by Clean Installer. Countertops and bathrooms cleaned by Traveller family testers.

ETA: I've got all EPs, and no SPs apart from M&G.

[Having now read the thread, I can see I did mess up with the path requirement. Have kicked the cat, and feel better now.]

And they keep coming. More adorable entries. Cozy, well appointed, attractive.

I'm enjoying working with a smaller lot for a change so I thought I'd post a picture of the work in progress. I've gone a bit back to front this time and finished the exterior before really starting on the interior so it's a lot less finished than it looks! It'll probably be a couple of weeks before I can complete and upload it as I must stop being distracted and write an essay for uni.

(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097HeavenlyGardens/1097WIP.jpg)

Eevilcat, I love the colours you used. The roof looks great and I love the little summerhouse in front.

Now this is why I never put anything up.  Dear Goddess can one be any more intimidated right now?  Oh well, before the end of the week I guess.

@Faizah and chobeegal - I figured it would require patience which I lack, but I'll give it a shot the next time, thanks!

@SalixTree - yoinking immediately!  I think I have all your entries in game.  If this is a little intimate cottage I'm going to be SO happy.

@aubreylaraine - off topic but your avatar always makes me smile.

@emma and jim - see: intimidation

@eevilcat - I really need to try those roofs myself one day.

I think this month's title is a misnomer, I don't know how phail a house can be when it inspires so much beautiful work.  Anyway, here is the first of two remodels that I've done.  The second version, which is actually the first one I started on, needs to be furnished and playtested before I upload it.

1097 Stars Boulevard

(http://i44.tinypic.com/169rk7n.jpg)
(http://i43.tinypic.com/1z9gd3.jpg)

Third Floor/Attic:  Finished sewing/craft room, half bath and unfinished space that is currently being used as a makeshift game room/ballet studio. 
(http://i41.tinypic.com/m1274.jpg)

Second Floor:   Master bedroom with attached bath, common bathroom, teen room, child's room and small double twin room for guests or sims who don't deserve their own bedroom.  There is also a central common area with television and stereo.  The space above the first floor living area is open, but can easily be closed off into another room.
(http://i44.tinypic.com/2ewe3aq.jpg)
(http://i39.tinypic.com/262ody0.jpg)

First Floor: The open entry has the One Desk, piano and the main living/reading area.  There is also a nursery with attached bath, a large kitchen/dining area and an enclosed porch for skilling/storage.
(http://i41.tinypic.com/s25gs8.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/2w7l4x3.jpg)
(http://i40.tinypic.com/8xub9j.jpg)
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2a9nzud.jpg)

Yard:   Fishable pond, space for a small orchard or garden, and plenty of flowers to keep a nature sim happy (and sweaty) for hours. 
(http://i41.tinypic.com/2e0tkr9.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/zxwvtj.jpg)

Disclaimer:   I playtested it a bit with a large family, and fixed all the issues that they turned up, but I know I forgot the burglar alarm.  I have all EP's, SP's and most of the store items. 

The way I did the roofing makes the lot look like total crap in the neighborhood view, just in case that's something that you look for in a house.

Download Link:   1097 Stars Boulevard (http://www.box.net/shared/5juaeorypo) Wanded to $67,998

Batelle, that is gorgeous! I love the red, white and blue theme.

Okay, I have got to get M&G now. There's so many of these houses I want to download and can't! :(
Plus, seeing the beautiful gardens everyone's made makes me want the stuff in my game.

I didn't want to look at any houses till I'd finished mine, so I wouldn't find myself copying other people's ideas. Now I have looked at them all, it does look as if this month's going to be great. It's amazing we've got so many good lots already. What stands out to me is (are?):

@Jorganza: This will look good in my Japanese hood. They're all Tai Chi experts, so they'll be flocking to your pagoda to show off. It has a really sumptuous colour scheme.

@Emma: I can't believe you can get all that for $79k. That's within reach of your average brooding bachelor. It's so moody - and so made for pleasure.

@Batelle: This is definitely my favourite. I usually like to play big lots, but you've somehow made this little house feel big. It looks very liveable. That blue and white bedroom is just lovely.

Ooh, I just realised what you were referring to -- the round things are lights. I just put them all the way up on the exterior because I thought they looked nice.

-----

Anyway, the real reason I'm posting is because I've made another already... I present to you, 1097 Castle Court. It costs 56,862 simoleons, thanks to the magic wand. I may have gone slightly overboard with the trees...

Exterior:
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-2-Full.jpg)

Downstairs:
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-2-Downstairs.jpg)

Upstairs:
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-2-Upstairs.jpg)

The Pool Room:
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-2-PoolRoom.jpg)

Nursery:
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-2-Nursery.jpg)

As before, I have all EPs and several SPs (Holidays, FFS, GLS, Celebrations, H&M, I think.)

Download it here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/79166035/f497102a/Jan09-2-Faizah-1097CastleCourt.html)

Interesting comment. I always do the exteriors first. I just do a rough room layout inside so I know where to put windows, check the doors, then do all the exterior of the house. Whether I do the house interior or the gardens next really depends on my mood of the evening, I often alternate.

@Everyone else: WOW!

http://community.livejournal.com/thesims2/6049797.html

This tutorial explains an amazingly fast and easy way to decorate lots with career rewards and unlockable items such as the witch cauldron, and upload them without need of moving out or killing the sims living inside. I built a laboratory and a school set a few weeks ago and was able to upload them without losing the biotech station, the cowplant and all other career rewards I used to furnish them.

Ah thanks. Now I knew this could be done but I've always been too lazy to suss out how to find the lot number.  :D

Pescado has posted that method several times.  I suspect the LJ poster got the idea from here.

Yeah, that's how come I knew it could be done. I'm just, you know, too lazy to copy/paste it at the time and too lazy to look when I need it.  ;D

Gorgeous house makeovers, everyone. I'm impressed.

Hey there. New member, first post - although I've lurked around here for a while. Here's my interpretation of this months House of Fail:

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/SiKeTe/snapshot_00000004_966d1f81.jpg)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/SiKeTe/snapshot_00000004_766d1faa.jpg)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/SiKeTe/snapshot_00000004_766d1ffd.jpg)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/SiKeTe/snapshot_00000004_366d2002.jpg)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/SiKeTe/snapshot_00000004_766d2005.jpg)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/SiKeTe/snapshot_00000004_d66d2008.jpg)

(EDIT:)Here's some interior pics:
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/SiKeTe/snapshot_00000004_f66d2072.jpg)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/SiKeTe/snapshot_00000004_f66d21eb.jpg)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a152/SiKeTe/snapshot_00000004_f66d240e.jpg)

Download: http://www.box.net/shared/boxplqk6c9 (http://www.box.net/shared/boxplqk6c9) (EDIT: I forgot to say I have all EP/SPs including AL and M&G and I have included Sims Store items.)

Wow, this months entries are fab.

That Casbah house rocks!

@ Salixtree: Can't wait to see your finished witchy retreat.

@ Jim: You always do such nice interiors.

@ Batelle: That house would fit right into my RL hometown!

@ Emma: I love how you got the two story window in there.

@ Faizah: I love houses in the woods! Reminds me of happy holidays.

Anyway, great entries all. And it's nice to have a little house that is more playable to my style as the basis.

Evilcat, how adorable! Such pretty colors, must have. Wowsie!
Batelle, that's a cool house, just how I imagine a typical American house might look.
Everyone's houses are fantastic this month, isn't this house fun?
My house is turning into more of a crazy-old-coot house, the Sim I have living there is out of her mind! I get distracted just playing her, must finish building!

Wow. Not only are there so many entries already, they are also really impressive. I really wanted to do a bit more commenting this month, I hope I haven't missed anyone. I'll wait with the unfinished ones when the are posted completely.
I have included both positive and negative criticism, but that doesn't mean I don't think the houses are mostly awesome. It's just that I like it myself to get other peoples likes/dislikes.


Nepheris: Nice cozy feel. The outside/inside transition is really nice with the little fountain and the flowerpots in the sunroom and also the aquarium that all sort of mirror the pond area. I would prefer more than one bedroom though.

mistyk: Cute with the gazebo on the pond. I like the idea of mixing the modern and more romantic styles, but it feels a bit disjointed in places.

Minena: I hear you about the cold :D. I would love to be in that place right now. The style is very well carried out through the place. My only objection would be the lone bedroom again.

CaponeSim: Another nice sunroom. The layout of the house looks very practical and playable. I'm not so fond of the tiny ponds in the front yard.

Jorganza: Very well translated to the eastern style. That arch fence is hard to use as it easily looks dull. But with those lights and wall-hangings on the poles it looks great. I like to have a bit more activities on my community lots though.

kattenijin: The stone cottage look is great and not used very often. The landscaping is very nice and that grilling area in the back is super cute. There's a definite need for a hack to take care of the hedges and bushes.
 
Faizah: Those balconies with the lights on the sides look really good. I like the pool-house as well. With common areas on both the roof and the ground there could be a lot of traffic problems with that one staircase.

Silvain: The interior and facade of the house is perfect for a vampire family. The dark stone path fits in well but I've never been fond of the orange-reddish color of those flowers against that particular grass color.

crunk: The green and white exterior gives a very peaceful feel to the place. I have a severe allergy to the floor used in the kitchen ;).

Emma: Love the exterior of the house. The two-storey window overlooking the pond with balconies on each side looks awesome. As does the fenced in yard. On the top floor I'm not to fond of the splotchy repeating floor pattern in such a large area.

jim: Path or not, it has a nice medieval/fantasy town feel to it. The interior is stunning with lots of nice ideas. Perhaps the timbering on the exterior could be varied slightly more.

Batelle: This would make a lovely seaside home. The details and decorations inside look great. I especially like the master bedroom with the shelving over the couch. Again a bit repetitive floor pattern in a large area.

Faizah #2: Nice unusual combo with the brick and wood siding. Love the pool room. Otherwise the interior might be a bit on the plain side.

Vespinito: That lush garden look great against that warm facade. very creative carpeting. Fun idea to mix the flat and leaning roof, but the proportions look a little bit off to me.

Phew. I still can't quite believe how many great houses there is already. It is already the best month in my opinion and it's only the 6th!

I've done another one already... I'll stop now, really.

This one costs around $140,000. Suitable for a large family. I present to you, 1097 Old Road

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-3-Full.jpg)

Ground: Kitchen, master dining, servant dining, throne room, The One Desk, two bathrooms.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-3-Ground.jpg)
Yard is ideal for expansion, or for gardening. (Gah. Now that everything is uploaded, I'm thinking I should've planted a hedge maze.)

Mid Level: Master bedroom, nursery, two bathrooms, chess, books.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-3-MidLevel.jpg)
The nursery rooms can be converted into bedrooms if needed, they could each fit two singles or a single double.

Upper Level: Two double bed bedrooms, servants' quarters.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-3-UpperLevel.jpg)
I didn't install the sleep clocks, they didn't fit the theme, but there are sufficient end tables in the servants' quarters to utilise all beds.

Throne Room:
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-3-ThroneRoom.jpg)
The thrones could be swapped out for witchier thrones, if desired.

I have all EPs, and a handful of older SPs (Holidays, FFS, GLS, Celebrations, H&M)

Get it here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/79309062/8d6f3531/Jan09-3-Faizah-1097OldRoad.html) (EDIT: Or download it with a hedge, two posts down. Both versions have different file names, so you can have both.)

 A hedge maze is definitely perfect for that yard.   damn
 

Okay, I've gone and made a hedged version too: 1097 Old Hedge Road costs about $150,000.

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-3-HedgeFull.jpg)

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-3-HedgeMaze.jpg)

I have all EPs, and a handful of older SPs (Holidays, FFS, GLS, Celebrations, H&M)

Download it here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/79319303/931435c8/Jan09-3-Faizah-1097OldHedgeRoad.html) (It has a different name to the original, so you can have both, if you want.)

I like! I think I'll be redoing the hedge maze with a fake-hedge fence I picked up somewhere. I's too lazy to make sure they hire gardeners or actually do the trimming. xD

Everyone's houses look really good this month. I'm still working on mine, and I've got two versions going. I'm not sure I like either very much, though. It's a very challenging house to work with. When I finish off my versions, I'll post them. In the mean time, here's a picture of the front of my second version of the house.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/snapshot_00000047_566eaf21.jpg)

As you can see, Cecil and I need to playtest it first.

(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/Preview.jpg)


(crap I hope I did this right)

I like the concertina-style wall above the door.

Thanks, the 'vampire' or 'goth'(not 'gothic' so much as 'black-and-red-never-quite-lost-that-teenage-rebel-attitude-with-eyeliner-thing', if that makes sense) feel was sort of what I was aiming for. I can see what you mean with the flowers, too, though I'm not sure what I'd be able to use otherwise (at least until I can get Mansion and Garden stuff....), I might try the other possibilities with the house sometime tomorrow... or something. I've never done much with gardens, so I just sort of picked one that didn't seem to totally kill what I was aiming for...

Well, this being MATY, I tend to assume we all live with the Director's Cut installed. Isn't "perfectplants" part of that? I loose track.
Anyhow, I discovered that I used some SimsStore items, but didn't include them in the lot file, so you'll most likely be missing some plants and the wall fountain in the grilling area if you don't have them in your game. 

Perfectplants is by TwoJeffs, not Pescado.  Pescado has the dailygardener hack.

It's funny you should compliment the garden since it was the part I put the least thought into, I tend to get bored by the time it comes to landscaping and I just throw together a few plants and hope they look right. And creative carpeting is somewhat of a specialty of mine. What do you mean by the proportions being off though?

@Vespinito: A very tropical look, I love the wood detailing you've done with tiles. I like the garden as well.  :P The main bedroom - with all the purple and mirrors - wow!

@Faizah: I was halfway through making a castle, but it kept wanting to turn into something else. I do like the throne room - and the maze.

@originalhalf: I'm really keen to see the inside of this, it looks good from the outside. I do like the modern look.

Perfect plants is too convenient and cheaty, and thus non-Awesome. We just make you pay for the gardener!

I needed to do another lot for this month, this time with a path. I sat there staring at the path, not wanting to do another house as boring as the last, and this lot just built itself. I don't think it's boring, but it is garish.

It's a community lot, a children's playground.  The Traveller family have tested it (as they've not yet been evicted from the January house, just next door), and they like it, adults and children alike. Why there's only one child in that family is beyond me. They start all their testing sessions with a nice long bonk and keep right on going from there.

Sample pictures (I did mention garish, didn't I?)
Front:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3177225690_a404524d80.jpg?v=0)
Ground floor:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3177226192_31b389198e.jpg?v=0)
Roof:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3177227084_fa5ba026a3.jpg?v=0)

Slideshow here: http://tinyurl.com/7kdpb4 (http://tinyurl.com/7kdpb4)
Download here: http://tinyurl.com/9cycxe (http://tinyurl.com/9cycxe)

I have all EPs and M&G SP.

I take back what I said about your interiors!

I grant you it won't suit every hood. Children don't really do tasteful.

jim, this is really cute!  :D

Ha!  That's the sort of house that makes the neighbors cluck disapprovingly while everyone at the house is having fantastic fun.  Love it.

Neighbors? What neighbors? They'd all move away and then just come back to "play" here!

That's way cute Jim. I especially like the bonking pair on the couch.  ::)

There were minors present too.

As always, I'm loving seeing all the different and awesome houses.  I'm making one this month too, although I still have a ways to go on the inside, and maybe will do some more with the outside.  I feel like it's fairly boring in comparison to most of this month's houses, but oh well.  Here's a pic of what I've got so far:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/4066.jpg)

Nah, that's got a nice country cottage look. Nice fresh colour too. Will be good for my town outskirts.

Twooflower, I love it! I like countryish houses lots, and I'll defo nab this when it's done.
Jim, you are insane. What a crazy place!
Fayza, very cool, love the hedge maze.

Mine is done, but for some reason refuses to upload on Media Fire. If I can't get it to work, I might have to use the Sims2 site.
*EDIT* I figured it out, I just uploaded the package, it didn't like the RAR file.
http://www.mediafire.com/file/12t3o2jyyzn/The Crazy Old Coot's House.Sims2Pack

Slideshow:
 
(http://s331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/th_crazy-old-coot-house.jpg) (http://s331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/?action=view&current=0572ae69.pbw)

Here are a few photos:

The old coot and her cat:
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/crazy-old-coot-front.jpg)
The jumping room:
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/crazy-old-coot-jumping-room.jpg)
Making eyes of newts:
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/crazy-old-coot-witchy.jpg)
Juggling room
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/crazy-old-coot-juggling-room.jpg)
Swinging room
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/crazy-old-coot-swing-1.jpg)
Kitty's room:
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/crazy-old-coot-cat-room.jpg)
Fishing spot:
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims%20houses/Crazy%20Old%20Coot/crazy-old-coot-fish.jpg)

@ twooflower - oh that is cute, can't wait to see the rest

@ SalixTree - will yoink when I get home.  I love your livingrooms, I can't ever get that cozy feel with mine.  I have a particular MATY personality in mind for this house with her 12 cats.

@ Vespinito - that roof is interesting, you don't have the "ZOMG there's weather in mah house!" complaints?  Love the master bedroom.  Like the hot tub room but doesn't the hot tub push through the ceiling below?  (Or have these things been fixed and I missed them?)

@ Batelle - late I know but I do like your house, a lot.  I like the r/w/b color scheme and the all-American style of the house itself.  Very nice.

@ Faizah - I suck at making cabins so thanks for this one.

@ jim - I have to figure out how to use that castle as a community lot!  Brilliant!


*witch - I'm a Bauhaus-aholic so modern is what I do most.  The game is conducive to that type of architecture.  I depend on everyone else's talent here to get the traditional styles.

Au contraire, twooflower. I think that looks like a nice, liveable house. I hope you upload the end result.

And SalixTree, that is a great result! I, too, want to move a batty sim in.

My living rooms are usually based on our own Irish sitting rooms, which are usually tiny little cramped spaces with a big fireplace, with hardly any room to move around in. And, they are very cosy too!

There have been so many entries - I'll have comments on entries past page two latter on today. Over all, I'm impressed!

Twoflower- It looks good so far, I like the porch and dormers. The lot reminds me of Anne of Green Gables.

Salix - You did an excellent job of making Maxis not look like boring old Maxis. Lots of clutter and nick-nacks to keep things interesting. Also, unrelated to the house, that workout gear is really something! :D

Nepheris - The sunroom in front is a great touch, especially with the view. The landscaping is a little bare, other than the pond. Moar trees? Overall I like the color scheme, I find that a neutral color scheme is easy to personalize by family.

mistyk - Excellent gazebo. Overall the house is cute, I'd use it.

Minena - Awesome! The arches are a nice touch outside, as are the fountains in the courtyards. Good use of Maxian wooden floors and mixing of themes somewhat (AL "upper crust" wallpaper rather than stucco everywhere).

Capone - Good rustic home. Overall I think it looks great. The interior space could have been used a little better in some places, as rooms look very empty to me. Also, the deco seems very disjointed - is it a rustic cabin, a Moroccan home, or ... ?

Jorganza - Holy Roof! Amazing, great architecture.

kattenijin - I love the back BBQ area. This was downloaded and plopped in one of my hoods immediately. The gardens are great, and I appreciate the lack of furnishings. There may be too many trees on the lot for easy playing.

Faizah - The red and white apartment building is a lot of fun. Nice interpretation of the challenge. The gym/pool room is a nice touch - the vending machine in the corner is a little silly. :)

Silvain - nice use of spiral stairs. Overall the lot is a bit on the dark side, perfect for evil sims. I'm not a big fan of the landscaping on this one - it looks a little forced.

Emma - Again, very dark, but looks great and plays well in game with a few new paint choices. Good use of the Gearhead stuff.  Also loving the garden and heart-shaped pond.

Thanks. Clutter is difficult to do without the extra slot thingies, keeping it CC free.
As for the workout gear, you all can go ahead and make fun of it if you like.  ;) It's been ripped to shreds in the GOS forum already. hehe

So what happens if you make a house all cluttered with the slot packages and then someone who doesn't use the slot packages downloads them?

I wonder.. shall I test it?

Couldn't hurt to find out... for scientific purposes.

SalixTree, loving the house even though I hate you. I adore Kitty's room.

I hate you so much too, dearest Emma. :-*

Silvain, those gothy  dining chairs are cool, are they from a stuff pack?

This is what happens:
(http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/l467/SalixxTree/Sims2%20pics/slot-test.jpg)

Heh, I suppose it still does what it says on the tin.  :P

Here is my utterly lame entry for this month.

http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/MATYJAN09.rar

Done with all SPs and EPs. There is a  'Custom' and a 'Clean' file in the rar.  The Custom version contains Numenor's Limo, Targa's Supafride, some custom plants and Squinge's autonomous minigolf thingy. It's also probably better you have all the store and story-stuff objects if you go for it. The Clean version should hopefully be official Sims 2 Eaxis crap only. You should get the lots for cheap (less than half than what they're worth ~ 50.000/70.000) because of the real estate market bubble I used Inge's StayThingsShrub for testing. The ground floor is a pool/party area and the first floor is the living area, suitable for DINKs or a rich old couple. I didn't feel like doing much with the garden.

Front:
(http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/0109A.jpg)

(http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/0109J.jpg)

Back:
(http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/0109H.jpg)

Floorplans:
(http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/0109F.jpg)

(http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/0109G.jpg)

Pool/Party Floor
(http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/0109B.jpg)

(http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/0109C.jpg)

Bathroom with massage bench/Dining-Living-Area:
(http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/0109E.jpg)

(http://www.ireneks.de/upload/matychallenges/0109D.jpg)

First time contributor here, though I've been stalking the 'House of Phail' threads for months now. 

It's pretty tame.  I went overboard with the M&G gardening stuff and am not 100% happy with the upstairs. 

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/meadowbee/Sims2/randomhouse/snapshot_b656dada_76720393.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/meadowbee/Sims2/randomhouse/snapshot_b656dada_767206ab.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/meadowbee/Sims2/randomhouse/snapshot_b656dada_967206a3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/meadowbee/Sims2/randomhouse/snapshot_b656dada_167203c9.jpg)

Slideshow

(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v256/meadowbee/Sims2/randomhouse/th_snapshot_b656dada_76720393.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v256/meadowbee/Sims2/randomhouse/?action=view&current=8f182c12.pbw)

I have all EPs and SPs.  This house was play tested by the Gavigan family (I have no clue what pack added them to the Sim Bin) and costs $108, 473.  I suspect it is not Awesomespec because I don't know what means. 

Download? (http://sims2.meadow-bee.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/1097januaryoverload.zip)

 This is a good explanation of Awesomespec.
http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,12981.msg370335.html#msg370335

 

 

I was just thinking that having all the rooms opening off a big central hall was a good way to go about Awesomespecs, and one I've never tried. I'm glad you thought of it.

ChillyzGrrl, for someone who doesn't know Awesomespec, you did really well. All you are missing is the anti-wolf fencing and the second sitting room downstairs can easily be converted to the nursery.

I love the gazebo out front and the upstairs layout looks great. Very pretty house!

I particularly like the fact that you used solar panels on the actual roof of the house. From all the pictures I've seen, everyone seems to place them on flat surfaces.

I've been lurking here for a long time now and I promised I'd de-lurk if a friend posted her house.

First, I'd like to say that this month's entries are amazing so far!  I've yoinked the majority of them.

Second, ChillyzGrrl, you did a great job for your first time entry.  I'm proud of you for working up the courage to post it.  Maybe I'll work up the courage to try when I don't have so much on my plate.

Um... I think they're from apartment life, actually.

@tryclyn  thank you!  That explains so much! 

@Emma  that's the first gazebo I've ever done that looked right.  I've been trying to do one and make it work since the game came out. 


I might have picked up a few things without knowing it while I've been lurking over here.  You all do such wonderful houses! 

@Alex  they look more natural on the sloped roof and don't take up any needed space.  I wasn't aware there was another way to do them.  I haven't played around with the bigger panels, though.  Just the smaller ones.  but there's enough on the roof that the family living there should get money back for greener living *g*

@jim actually, that was largely an accident, but it turned out well, I thought.  In retrospect, I should have put a couple of chairs on the wall opposite the desk, for people to sit.  I had originally placed a sculpture in the middle, but it made it look too cluttered. 

@petalbrook thanks!  (I'm yoinking a handful of them, too, once I get to the computer I play on. *g*)

I finally finished my house of faill. As I stated before, I had two versions going; this is the second version. The first version was scrapped, because in my opinion it was rather... er... well, it was even more fail than the original house. I tried to shake things up a bit in my decorating, and I hope I succeeded. I, as always, appreciate any comments that you have to make about my house.

I have stolen borrowed several elements from other houses that I have seen here, because they were cool.  :D

I have all EPs/SPs (including holiday) and the lot has been packaged and scanned with Clean Installer. Please scan it again, though.

The house contains three bedrooms with attached baths, two balconies, a "public" bathroom, and a library which can be renovated into another bedroom. It also houses a lovely sun porch big enough for entertaining and a nice front patio with reflecting pool and landscaped areas surrounding it. There is also a spacious kitchen with a breakfast bar and a formal dining room which can be locked to deny access to those nosy neighbors.

Front close up
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097frontcloseup2.jpg)

Living room
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097la1.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097la2.jpg)

Kitchen
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097kitchen.jpg)

Formal dining room
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097formaldining.jpg)

Library
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097libraryoffice.jpg)

Sun porch and patio
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097sunporch.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097frontpatio.jpg)

Hallway
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097hall.jpg)

Guest room
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097guest.jpg)

Kid's room
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097kidsroom.jpg)

Master bedroom and bathroom
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097master.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097masterbath.jpg)

Back of the house
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097rear.jpg)

Aerial view of the first and second floor
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097aerial1.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/starrystarrynight03/1097aerial2.jpg)

And, of course, the download link.
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=af7da9293f7a2857d2db6fb9a8902bda

Twooflower, hurry up with that house of yours, I wants to yoink it  :D

Finally I finished this lot. You'd think, wouldn't you, that a tiny lot like this wouldn't be much of a problem? Hah! The first thing I decided, seeing as I needed a lot for my three witches, was that I would make a castle. This seemed like a very sensible idea at the time so I started to play. I squashed all the walls so I could make a basement and commenced to build a monolithic stone slab of a house. The house did not want to be a castle however and transmogrified into a spooky gothic decrepit looking lot.

Then I got totally sick of trying to use EAxis windows for the spooky look and found I kept wanting to play with the new art deco windows and doors. By this time, the house did not look spooky and decrepit at all. So here you have it, a hybrid cross between art deco and boho.

I've uploaded two lots, a family home complete with nursery etc and a witches' haunt with three workrooms and four adult bedrooms. (There is to be a vampire in the cellar). The cellar is still made of the original castle brick and access to it is hidden behind a secret bookcase in the dining room. Don't put this lot on low ground, you will have a basement full of water.

I haven't deliberately followed awesome spec although the front of the lot is fenced and there is a desk near the front door. The towers on either side of the house are the main transport routes, spiral stairs in the right hand tower and a lift in the left. Each level of the house may only be accessed by a door from the stairs or lift, so visitors will only be able to go to the levels you tell them to.

Witch's family home is §125,510 and Witches' Haunt is §63,543. Don't know why it dropped so much again, the §125K is an already wanded price. The family home has 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and two toilets. The haunt has 4 bedrooms and the same number of utilities as the family home.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches006.jpg)

Closer in
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches026.jpg)

Gate
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches017.jpg)

Front door
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches021.jpg)

- have patience with me showing all these photos, if you had any idea how long it took to place the damn fiddly bits, you would think they were awesome pics too!  :D

Rear view - with lots of landing platforms for witches.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches025.jpg)

Top floor - games and hobbies
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches013.jpg)

Close up
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches012.jpg)

Another one
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches010.jpg)

Bedroom floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches014.jpg)

Closeup of one view in the main bedroom
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches020.jpg)

Ground floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches015.jpg)

Kitchen
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches018.jpg)

Dining room
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches019.jpg)

Basement
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches016.jpg)

Gratuitous pictures of my witches at work and the basement makeover from the Witches' Haunt version

Good witch at the highest point of the house, just under the telescope. All cauldrons and book pedestals came over just fine by copying from the lot catalogue.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches003.jpg)

Undecided witch in the possie off her bedroom - she's a Libra, doesn't like to move too far from her bed.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches002.jpg)

Trying hard to be an evil witch is our wimpish entry here
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches001.jpg)

Vampire quarters expanded a little. He will also get a bathroom of his own when money permits. The four of them are currently §80K in debt for this lot.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/1097_Makeover/1092_witches004.jpg)

Witch's family home (http://www.box.net/shared/4xonl4ggc7).

Witches' Haunt (http://www.box.net/shared/r9nqp0b1j0).

@witch - Lol at "fiddly bits." I know what you mean, though. That's why I scrapped my first version of the house; it just wasn't turning out the way I had hoped it would. I love your castle, though, it's very modern castle-ish with a wonderful color scheme.  :D

witch, this looks great. I have never been able to figure out how to use a lot of the items and colors that you have and it looks really nice!

witch, your castle is such an eclectic mix of styles.  I have serious appreciation for the fiddly bits - I was just messing with the art deco trim (forget what it's actually called) on a house, and getting each part to line up when you have it on a diagonal is a bitch.  I don't know how you had the patience.

@ Starlady: I absolutely hate those frilly curtains. Apart from that, though, (and the tiger wallpaper, which you just know would be burning bright in the forests of the night), I think your house looks great. There's a real country house feel to the place. I like the mix of plain and striped furnishings. I found it quite a dark house to work with, but you've got it beautifully lit. It will fit well in my neighbourhood.

@ witch: The gatehouse and entrance to the house look fantastic. I had those pegasus statues on top of the play house for a while, where they looked stupid, obviously, but they look as if they were made to go on your gatehouse. I also liked the way you used those curved roof corners by the bay windows. I'd never have thought of doing that, but it ties it all together.  The Art Deco windows work really well in the kitchen with that strong yellow and the geometric panelling.  Love the way you've set the peacock to watch the pool table - and that the felt tones with all the oxblood colour in the house.

I really enjoyed doing this house so I thought I would try another

This one is a little bit country, and little bit victorian.

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry001.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry002.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry003.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry004.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry005.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry006.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry007.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry008.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry009.png)

(http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/hopcountry010.png)

I have all EP/SP's

The garage can not have a car in it, but there is room for the driveway extension to be placed in the driveway and while they just poof and not actually drive off, it does allow the use of a vehicle.

the bath and kitchen items were placed normally (no boolprops) so should be quite useable.

File available HERE (http://minena.prismbaby.com/files/matyeaxis/HOPjanuary/country/minenaHOPJan09country.rar)

@Minena -  :o That. Is. So. Beautiful. Yoinkage is imminent!

@Jim - Thanks. I'm glad that you like it and glad to know someone else besides me absolutely hates that tiger wallpaper.  :D I wouldn't say that I exactly hate the frilly curtains, but I do think that they stick out too far from the wall. But I am also a girly girl. Anything frilly is fine by me. I guess next time if I want to shake up my style (because I always seem to do country style houses) I'll go for Victorian or city-style.

Wow.. everything is gorgeous! Witch, yours made me laugh. Minena, I actually gasped on looking at your pictures. People asked what was wrong! lol
What setting do you have your graphics at, anyhow? -yoinked-

I keep meaning to do a cheap-arse brick exterior sort of house, but I can never quite bring myself to do it. I did depart from my usual style with the hedge maze lot, at least. A lot darker than I usually build. (The predominance of light colours hearkens back to my long period of ancient graphics card-less computers and cheap monitors.)

I have an ATI Radeon X1650pro PCI 256mb and all game settings on high. I've been very happy with it's performance.

I'm glad you liked the house. I think this lot has been very fun to do.

I didn't want to fill in the whole front with the roof edging, it doesn't drop with walls down and it makes playing difficult, so the corners were enough to give the impression of the style without compromising visibility. Thanks for your comments.

@starlady: I like the cluttered homey look of your lot. One thing I would comment on is the large pillars marching down the front; personally I don't think they fit the style of the house, they're too heavy.

@Minena: Lovely, lovely thematically styled home. I often try for the country/Victorian look and always fail to achieve it. I always forget about garden rocks too and I like the way you have them set around the paths. All the pale colours really lighten this lot.

@Lurker who submitted the sims secret: Gowan, I challenge you personally to have a go.  :P We do constructive criticism here and you may be able to take advantage of that by getting passionate builders to talk about your work. There are no winners or losers, just participants.

Alright, here's my entry. I have all the EPs and all the SPs except M&G. $48,796, depreciated with the magic wand.

I somewhat idiotically accidentally included some flowers by HystericalParoxysm, but those can be gutted with the clean installer (though it WILL make the house less pretty). Later I'll try to come back and post a clean version. Loosely conforms to awesomespec (well, not quite, but it's close) and there's room for expansion upwards. It can easily fit up to six sims, but you'll have to start building if you want more.

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0901/snapshot_d65c8194_b6749f12.jpg)

I suck at landscaping, sorry.

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0901/snapshot_d65c8194_b6749f25.jpg)

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0901/snapshot_d65c8194_1674a099.jpg)

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0901/snapshot_d65c8194_f6749f84.jpg)

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0901/snapshot_d65c8194_16749fa5.jpg)

The offending flowers:

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0901/snapshot_d65c8194_36749fd1.jpg)

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0901/snapshot_d65c8194_9674a014.jpg)

You can easily wall off the refrigerator area of the kitchen to create a separate kitchen and nursery or to allow only Cooking Sim access to the kitchen.

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0901/snapshot_d65c8194_b674a02a.jpg)

Download here! (http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0901/January%20Eaxis%20House%20of%20Fail.Sims2Pack) (right-click, save-as)

Hey eaglezero, long time no see!

I love your open-roofed conservatory, it really makes the heart of the house and I'll be downloading WITH flowers.  ;D I also like the blue windows, although the overall dark grey of the outside is a little intimidating. You seem to have quite a few large spaces of floor, I had that problem because of the odd shape of some of the rooms. I tried creating some central points of interest to avoid that look.

My entry for this month's challenge isn't much, since I did it in a hurry (as usual).  My apologies for not posting any pictures yet - I will try to get that done tomorrow.  I was going for contemporary asian.  I think my favorite room is the kitchen.

Ground floor:  Foyer, Kitchen, Dining room, 1/2 Bath, Living room, Nursery (2 spawn rooms), Full spawn bathroom.

Second floor:  Loft area, 2 Small bedrooms, 2 3/4 Baths off the sm bedrooms, Master Bedroom w/ master bathroom, Balcony.

The path is still there, but I biggered it. :)  The yard has two faux zen gardens to fill the space, tea table and a fountain. 

It didn't come out quite the way I had pictured it since we aren't using CC, but I did my best to mimic my cc with maxis items.  Decor is minimal, since I never decorate a house until I move a sim in anyway.  In the loft upstairs is a karaoke dealy-whopper and though it is useable, once in a while my sim would do the foot stomp.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ejjzihxeynn/Bliss1097WLeisureLane.rar

Edited to add pictures:

(http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/SimBliss/1097WLeisureLane.jpg)(http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/SimBliss/1097Zengarden.jpg)(http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/SimBliss/1097Groundfloor.jpg)(http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/SimBliss/1097Kitchen.jpg)(http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/SimBliss/1097Upstairs.jpg)

I'm a longtime lurker, and I could have sworn that I had joined ages ago, but apparently not.

Anyway, I really liked the bones of the house submitted for the EA House o' Fail challenge this month, and I decided to go ahead and submit my own meager contribution. I wouldn't call myself a builder by any stretch of the imagination, but I really enjoyed trying to modify this house. I'm not near as talented as some of you, but I present my honest effort.

Presenting 1097 West Dreaming Drive, aka 1097 West Leisure Lane, as it's known as in my game for some reason. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and it's not entirely awesomespec, but it could probably be made so with a few modifications.

(http://i43.tinypic.com/2csa2oy.png)
Basic outdoor view from the front.

(http://i44.tinypic.com/211nli1.png)
First floor view. Open foyer with the one desk, large kitchen/dining area, bathroom and a one-child nursery near the kitchen.  The seating area near the TV also has a fireplace in the uploaded version.

(http://i41.tinypic.com/2vrsjnb.png)
Second floor view. Two children's bedrooms, connected by a jack-and-jill bath, master suite with attached bath, and a nice outdoor terrace space.

(http://i44.tinypic.com/2lsdw5w.png)
A closer view of the kitchen, probably my favorite room in the whole lot.

Yours for a magic-wanded steal at 70,816 simoleons.  have all EP's and SP's, (including AL and M&G), but the house should be devoid of EA Store items.

Download here: http://www.mediafire.com/?ncdpffmyqqw

@Bliss: Nice urban looking lot. I liked the way you did a small gatehouse to accommodate the larger gate in the fence, that looks good. The colours go well also, particularly with the pink trees outside. I think my favourite room is the kitchen too, the bricks, although grey,  give a good texture while the rug and the picture add splashes of bright primary colours.

Just a hint for next time, if the lot is rectangular, take pictures sideways, so you can fit as much as possible in the proportions of the screen.

@PearlRose: I like the layout, the appearance and I also like the kitchen best in your house.  :D I've never heard it called a jack-and-jill bath before, that's cute. One comment I would make is about the roofs. They look awkward. Even EAxis auto-roofs are sometimes a lifesaver. Good onya for braving the thread.

I am enamoured with all the interpretations I have seen thus far; but I must remark especially about Witch's lot--it made me giggle out loud (in a good way).  That is not something I ever do, but the incredible air of whimsy in that lot was too much to hold back!

Gail

It was actually my first time attempting to create a roof without the use of the Auto-Roof tool, which probably explains some of it's epic awkwardness. Thanks for the feedback, though, I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed redoing that lot!

Very nice houses, PearlRose and Bliss!

I never understood why it was called a jack-and-jill bath.  It's a common term that I've seen used in architecture to describe the bedroom/bath/bedroom set up. I've also seen them called teen suites or jack-and-jill suites on a couple of sites I visit frequently. What can I say? I like lurking on house plan websites.

Just imagine when they are teenagers if they share a bathroom like that.
"Mo-o-o-m! Jill is hogging my bathroom again! She's been in there for, like, three hours already!"  :D

Is it still a jack-and-jill suite/bathroom is the people sharing it are both girls? Or would it be called a jill-and-jill suite?

I was beginning to wonder if I would find time for this one. I finally did, nothing spectacular just a simple redo and decoration. Hope you all like it well enough. I own all the EP's and SP's.


please forgive any typos on the pictures themselfs. I was in a bit of a hurry.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/realmscat/Frontsideway.jpg)

Took a few pictures so made a slide show.

(http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/realmscat/th_Neighborhood.jpg) (http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/realmscat/?action=view&current=03a581c0.pbw)

Link to house:
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=a737b73d55e37947d2db6fb9a8902bda

Wow, realmscat, that's a really nice house! My only thing would be the master bedroom -- the rest of the house is so colorful, why the stark white bedroom?

Thank you Starlady, and honestly until you posed the question I hadn't realized the stark difference. More then likely it was subconscious. There is no other way to say this other then outright so sorry for the personal glimps into my life. I have been taking my husband for radiation treatments for awhile now so maybe on an artistic level it represented the starkness of the cancer treatment clinic. Thats the only viable reason I can come up with anyways.  ;D I quess sometimes the ugly in our lifes expresses itself in beautiful ways to help us cope.

That's a very nice family home. We'll have to take a brownie point off for losing the curvy path though!  :D

I know it's been a few months since I've done one of these houses, but I wanted to give this one a try. I hope you like green, because that seems to be where my mind was.

The house ended up with 3 bedrooms (plus nursery), and 3 baths. It's not entirely awesomespec, but it's close. I liked the way I did the stairs on the ground floor, so I didn't want to close them in. I play tested it and everything seems fine. For $125,971 (not wanded), your sims can see if I'm telling the truth.

Front
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/snapshot_00000005_16787cb6.jpg)

Top Down Views
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/snapshot_00000005_b6793c24.jpg)

(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/snapshot_00000005_56793c2f.jpg)

(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/snapshot_00000005_f6793c3b.jpg)

Front Yard
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/snapshot_00000005_96793c8a.jpg)

Family "Room"
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/snapshot_00000005_1678846e.jpg)

Rec Room
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/snapshot_00000005_567889d7.jpg)

More pictures (http://s293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/leaths/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/?albumview=slideshow)

Download here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/80534465/3b291e21/1097_West_Dreaming_Dr_by_leaths.html)

ETA: I have all EPs and the Glamour Life, Teen Style, and Ikea stuff packs.

Also, I wanted to mention that I've loved just about every entry this month, but I haven't said anything because I'm annoyed that I can't download a single one. You people with your M&G SP are just killing me.  :)

Leaths, I download those lots anyway. I don't own any stuff packs, so I get the lot with a few missing items. Most seem fine without those items.(Except Witch's lots, which really needs all the neat stuff!)

Really? That's good to know. I figured that since M&G worked more like an EP than a SP, it would be required for lots built with it. Now I can happily go on a yoinking spree. Thanks!

@leaths - It's a very nice house and I do love the way you have the staircase! And the green only adds to the very earthy/homey feel of your house.

I don't have M&G, so there's at least three lots up for grabs there... Nor am I planning to get M&G in the near future. (And yes, that means I do not intend to Arr it. Actually purchasing it never even rated consideration.)

I think I just used M&G for the garden of my house and not anywhere inside, so perhaps the garden will be a bit bare, but the house should be in good shape.

As for the other houses posted, well, I can just say it's a good thing I have a bunch of Uni grads in my 'hood who are going to need new houses soon, because I just yoinked several for use in my game.

leaths, I really adore your house. It's really pretty, and I especially love how you've done the yard, especially without use of the garden-friendly M&G pack.

Here's a question, though: Because M&G stuff is technically a mini-expansion, wouldn't houses built with M&G become unusable for those who don't have the M&G stuff pack? As I read it, M&G is considered a mini-expansion because of the new building cheat. I hope they're compatible.

The most important thing is not whether the latest pack is considered to be an EP or an SP.

The important thing is whether the latest pack actually changes the internal structure of records within the lot package.  If a record is in an unknown format (ie, the format from a later pack), the game will usually crash.

So far, I haven't found any internal changes in the lot packages between AL and M&G.  Therefore, there is some hope that a lot created with M&G can be used in a game without M&G but with AL.  Of course, any M&G-specific meshes could be a problem.

FYI: Both Family Fun Stuff and Glamour Life Stuff redefine the lot package internals, but then EA got wise and started using the Pets structure for all SPs except M&G.

Well, I guess the only thing to do is to try it and see what happens. I'll download something soon and report back if no one else gets to it first.

@Faizah--I'll have to go back and look through the thread. I must have missed yours. Or at least not noticed that it didn't include M&G.

@starlady and PearlRose--Thanks. I don't think it compares to some of the clever things others have done with this house, but I like how it turned out for the most part.

Mine are all on the first few pages, I think. There's a red and white modern apartment lot. A cabin in the woods with a billion trees. And a castle type lot, with throne room, and optional hedge maze.

Well, I downloaded a variety of houses using stuff packs, and my game didn't crash.
For example, Minena's Casbah house uses all packs except Holiday, and what I got had missing doors and things, which I can easily replace using CC, and the lot will still look similar to what she made.

Rassin' frassin' Verizon and work.  Ok, here goes:

@starlady - I really like your kitchen.  I have a fondness for that diner combo.  I also like how you put the skilling items in the hallway.  I'll have to try that, it's different from the usual places.

@witch - I really like art nouveau but am having issues with the Maxis interpretation.  It's so - movie theatre-ish.  I love, love, love what you did with the front stairs!  I have a 3 witch family this will work for.

@Minena - Yoinking this, so all-American looking which I can't build for diddly. 

@eaglezero - I like little courtyards like that, never tried one like that.  Cute.

@Bliss - Yay for neutrals!  I really, really like that kitchen.

@PearlRose - I never would have thought of putting the stairs there.  Ditto to witch's comment on your kitchen.

@realmscat -  Orderly.  I like orderly.  Orderly is really good.  So is white.  Love the master bedrooms.  Really nice object placement.  How's it play?

@leaths -  Got this one.  Love how you did the garden/greenhouse.  I'm a sucker for a badass garden.


I promise to upload mine tomorrow. Between internet connection issues at home and the little Malaysian boy slacking on the job here at MATY I didn't even try.

Fantastic houses this time round - I just hope I'm not letting the side down by delurking  ;)

1097 West Factory Road

(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e205/ryukrolld/1097%20West%20Factory%20Road/ScreenShot014.png)

I'm not entirely sure why, but this house seemed to scream 'factory conversion' to me. Mixing industrial architecture and modern decor, the building has become the perfect home for a bachelor sim or a rich young couple. The gound floor is almost totally open-plan, with a good-sized bathroom and greenhouse, whilst the bedroom area and access to a small balcony are to be found on the upper mezzanine level.

(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e205/ryukrolld/1097%20West%20Factory%20Road/ScreenShot024.png)

Upper - (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e205/ryukrolld/1097%20West%20Factory%20Road/ScreenShot029.png)

Ground - (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e205/ryukrolld/1097%20West%20Factory%20Road/ScreenShot030.png)

The garden is slightly landscaped, but not much, and there is a small patio area outside the front door. Outsite the perimeter fence is far less cared for than the factory itself, but the car can be worked on and restored - you just need to put it on a driveway piece once it's complete. The lot costs 107,990 and has been fully playtested and scanned with the clean installer. More images can be found at http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e205/ryukrolld/1097%20West%20Factory%20Road/ (http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e205/ryukrolld/1097%20West%20Factory%20Road/)


The lot itself - http://www.box.net/shared/2x3mxktcss (http://www.box.net/shared/2x3mxktcss)

Enjoy!   :D

EDIT: Forgot to add which ep/sp combo - I have all ep's, family fun, glamour life, IKEA stuff, and M&G - apologies for forgetting this!

@ loaf - Oh HELLS yeah!  Yoinking this immediately!

@originalhalf -- Thanks. I actually did the landscaping first this time instead of leaving it until the end. I think it made a difference because I wasn't in a hurry to just get it done already.

@loaf -- That is awesome. You did a great job of sticking to your theme and making it everything work together. The only thing I would change is moving the TV off of a diagonal. I don't think sims can watch it properly that way. (They stay standing up instead of sitting their rears on the couch.) But that hardly matters.

*yoinks*

Very nice Loaf, I have another converted factory apartment  - pbox's? - near the four factories that Notovney made, this will fit nicely in the area. Well themed. Cheers.

Thank god I have my Internet back, I'm planning to go and get all the lots from the previous months and file them properly, my competition downloads are all over the place and I'm sure I'm missing some beauties.

It's not as impressive as some people's houses this month, but here's my version. I wanted to use textures, especially on the walls, that I normally don't. I'm not sure about the results, but here it is.


Front view
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_166b774f_167de8c3.jpg)

Overheads - Downstairs is the foyer, living room, sunroom, kitchen, dining, nursery and powder room.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_00000002_567debbb.jpg)

Upstairs are the master suite, second and third bedrooms, second bath and a craft/skilling room.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_00000002_d67debdb.jpg)

More pics
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_166b774f_767de8f7.jpg)

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_166b774f_167de8e8.jpg)

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_166b774f_b67de968.jpg)

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_166b774f_967de9ef.jpg)

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_166b774f_567dea2d.jpg)

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_166b774f_167dea15.jpg)

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/mrowcat/snapshot_166b774f_567deaf3.jpg)

Download here (http://www.mediafire.com/?09kmldnxbkc) I have all ep's and all but Family Fun, Holiday, H&M and Ikea stuff packs installed.

Well here goes.  I have all the EPs, but only the Ikea and M&G stuff packs.  Oh, and the store stuff from here.  It's far from Awesomespec as I don't play that way, but is easy to adapt.  Extending the rail at the top of the stairs with a gate and locking the back door limits the movement of visitors.  I did try it and it worked well.  The one desk is on the ground floor in the family room.

(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/Preview.jpg)

Exterior front.




(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/GroundFloorPlan.jpg)

Ground Floor Plan.  Yes, Cecil gets his aquarium.




(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/FirstFloorPlan.jpg)

First Floor Plan.




(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/SecondFloorPlan.jpg)

Second Floor Plan.



I went picture happy so I'm only posting a couple of my favorites.  The rest can be found here:  http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/ (http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/)  (yeah, I'll work on fixing that link length later).


(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/Entry.jpg)

Entryway Garden.  The little fairy is soooo cute.




(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/EmmasConcertinaWindows.jpg)

Emma's Concertina Windows.




(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/SpawnArea4.jpg)

Spawn Area.  I adore those sun god lamps.




(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/January%2009%20House%20of%20Phail/PrivateBalcony3.jpg)

Private Balcony with hot tub.


I never use this many decorative objects (except for landscaping) so that was a huge challenge.  I tend toward strictly utilitarian and don't do frou-frou.   I highly recommend you run it through Clean Installer - I did, but as I'm an igmo with some stuff I can't guarantee I knew what I was doing.

Piss, almost forgot the file.  It's here  http://www.mediafire.com/?2dy10dzzxxn (http://www.mediafire.com/?2dy10dzzxxn)

@mrowcat: I can see where you were going with the brick and siding mix. It makes for a bit of variety and some lines to break the height. You've got a good family home there, if a trifle dark for my taste in a couple of places. I like the sunflower seat.

@originalhalf: You just have so much SPACE! Granted it's a two-bedroom, three-floor house, but even so, a sauna!?!  :D I like the colours, the wood and the open-plan living. Very modern, I don't think it's frou-frou at all.

Now that's the kind of house I like. Clean lines, lots and lots of windows, modern and open. I can admire the cottagey makeovers, and marvel at the post-industrial ingenuity, but they always seem too twee or too dark to actually play. It's not long before I'm redoing the walls, sticking in more windows, just butchering the original idea.  This is right up my street.

ETA: It plays very nicely. I moved in a couple with two kids, and they're making full use of the facilities.

Here's my entry. It's pretty much Awesomespec except that there's only one crib in the nursery. I have all EPs up to Seasons and the Family Fun and Glamour Life stuff packs.

Exterior pictures:
(http://i40.tinypic.com/2vm7tza.jpg)
(http://i44.tinypic.com/2m334pe.jpg)

Ground floor plan: entry with the One Desk, living room, dining room, kitchen, nursery, bathroom.
(http://i41.tinypic.com/qs1avo.jpg)

First floor plan: Skilling area, master bedroom with bathroom, twin bedroom, another bedroom, bathroom.
(http://i39.tinypic.com/281brrd.jpg)

Living room.
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2wrdhmh.jpg)

Dining room and kitchen.
(http://i39.tinypic.com/14cv3p2.jpg)

Master bedroom.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/qqqpoo.jpg)

Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/file/4ngq5ixmuz3/HoFJanuary.rar (http://www.mediafire.com/file/4ngq5ixmuz3/HoFJanuary.rar)

@mrowcat - like the stone, I have trouble mixing it with other materials on the exterior.  I like the formality of your foyer, very upscale.

@Cucumberpie - primary colors ftw!  Cool working balcony on the front.  Sucks the lot is the way it is and the play stuff has to be in front.


@jim - eaglezero, leaths and of course Salix inspired this garden with cc stuff - my poor attempt at indoor-ish cottage-y. 

(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/Jan%2009%20House%20of%20Phail%20Custom/snapshot_00000030_b675393a.jpg)

@orginalhalf -- I really like the modern look of your house. I can never seem to do modern very well, so I always download those type of houses. Like Emma, I really like those concertina walls. And that cc garden is gorgeous. I really love the hot tub deck too.

@mrowcat -- I think that the contrast between the stone and the siding on the exterior works really well. I also like the fenced off portion of the back garden. I would so sit in that garden seat on a sunny afternoon. I don't know about that heavy, Victorianish wallpaper in the sewing room. I think it conflicts with the rest of the house. It's still a nice looking house, though.

@cucumberpie -- Nice primary colors. I attempted a version that was mainly primary colors and it ended up looking like Superman exploded all over the house, so I am impressed that you pulled it off. I think the dining room carpet is my favorite part.

@originalhalf: These are the things I notied when playing the house. It runs a bit slow at times, more then likely due to my machine it is above the requirements yet it is still not high end. The Diagonal couch has its' issues as far as wanky animations when played on, and at times they will walk through it. Other then that the only real fubar was the telescope. I hadn't noticed right way but the great divider is in the way of looking through it. Everything else ran smoothly though I personaly think the AI for using doors is a bit warped. I have always thought that which is why I usually remove any door but the front door. So I did notice they used the side door to often for my likings.

@Witch: Oops! I deserve to loose the points, I should read the rules throughly instead of skimming over them. Now I feel truely blonde.   ??? :-[

@Cucumberpie: love the primaries. Also the dining room carpet is my favourite, but the twin bedroom is a close second. I like the tidy organisation of the house too, with the little corridor leading to the stairs.

@originalhalf: That looks really tranquil.

Before I BSOD for the 4th time:

http://www.4shared.com/file/81569304/83c6c3ad/1097_West_Dreaming_Drive.html (http://www.4shared.com/file/81569304/83c6c3ad/1097_West_Dreaming_Drive.html)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_76811ca6.jpg)

Top floor - each apartment is divided by colour.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_76811cbb.jpg)


2nd floor - Bedrooms
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_b6811cc5.jpg)

Ground floor - entry point and kitchen/dining for all apartments.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_968123ee.jpg)

(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/th_snapshot_00000004_76811ca6.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/?action=view&current=ce09e909.pbw)


It has been playtested - but only the Yellow apartment.

Next one is coming soon.

Cor blimey crikey girl! Are you after my title as monster house builder?!?  :D

Love the colour coding idea, instead of trying to puzzle out which room belongs where.

I got kinda bored of decorating after the first floor.  Lol.  Hence the reason that the master bedroom in the green one is just bare - save for a chest of drawers and a divider.

The empty square area in the purple master bedroom is ment to hold another 1-tile chest of drawers / wardrobe - I just totally forgot about it.

The green apartment also has exclusive access to the very top roof - complete with spa and telescope.  So they're the ones to be friends with  ;)



Still to come:  A log cabin and a cottage.

1097 Cottage Hill

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-4-Front.jpg)

It costs 49,401 simoleons.

It has two 4x4 bedrooms, three 2x3 bathrooms (toilet + shower/tub) and a dual occupancy nursery.

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-4-TopDown.jpg)

Finally, the house I've been wanting to do. A sturdy brick exterior, and a light and cosy interior. It's great for a small family, though, of course, there's always room to expand upwards. The nursery can be easily converted to a bedroom, or general purpose room.

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-4-Yard.jpg)

I've done a lot more landscaping than I usually do...

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-4-Dining.jpg)

Paintings are scattered throughout, as well.


Download it here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/81785327/90d75047/Jan09-4-Faizah-1097CottageHill-Lit.html) I have everything except TSS, Ikea, and M&G. AL required.

...

I forgot to add lights. Please redownload!

The lot at night:
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Jan09-4-TopDownLit.jpg)

I like the cottage, Faizah. It's simple, but cozy. Where did those windows come from? I don't recognize them.

If you hit L (?) in build mode, it will go into night mode. Go to Buy Mode and place your lights. They will be lit.

I love the little gate in the middle of the shrubs. Very pretty. Very rustic. It also looks like it would make a good Three Lakes vacation home.

I want to say Glamour Life Stuff, but I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. Not particularly cottagey, with the gold in there, but nice, in an 'I never use these, I should use these' kind of way.


Ohhh! You have to place them in night mode. (And yes, it is L. I just tested in game.) I knew about night/day switching, but I always installed the lights in the day mode. Heh.

---

Lights added. Uploaded. Link (and picture) in my previous post.

@Leaths & Faizah-Those are Sims2 Store windows, dunno which set they come from though.

Faizah, very pretty cottage, I love how you've placed the paintings over the dining table.

Well, if they're store windows, I got them from a link posted somewhere on here. I'm afraid I can't be more specific. I know I do have some store items, but I don't remember when I acquired them, or where, beyond MATY. I just guessed Glamour because they have the gold trim. I see metallic/gold, and I think of the Glamour pack, it had so many metallic things in it.

Somehow I've ended up with 3 quite different entries for this month and now need to test them all. It looks like I've a busy weekend ahead of me!

I tried to build the house with octagon roofs, but found out that they don't work very well with the roof slope slider. Anyways, here is what I got (I would have posted it a week ago, but MATY would not load :(  ):


front
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e279/kalinagn/january/snapshot_1675770f_b67f952f.jpg)

back
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e279/kalinagn/january/snapshot_1675770f_967f95a2.jpg)

floor plan 1st floor
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e279/kalinagn/january/snapshot_1675770f_f67f98d5.jpg)

kitchen
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e279/kalinagn/january/snapshot_1675770f_567f97d3.jpg)

living
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e279/kalinagn/january/snapshot_1675770f_b67f9724.jpg)

dining
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e279/kalinagn/january/snapshot_1675770f_367f9789.jpg)

floor plan 2nd floor
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e279/kalinagn/january/snapshot_1675770f_f67f95fd.jpg)

master bedroom
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e279/kalinagn/january/snapshot_1675770f_167f96d6.jpg)

the house can be downloaded here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=5549021a99dc212cd1014a7a667fa2b4e04e75f6e8ebb871

I have all EPs and SPs, and there should be no CC.

bah here's my attempt for this month.....

front of house;
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/ajcrawly/1097/FrontofHouse-1.png)

1st floor;
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/ajcrawly/1097/1stfloor-1.png)

2nd floor;
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/ajcrawly/1097/ScreenShot014-1.png)


slideshow is here;http://s390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/ajcrawly/1097/?action=view&current=26a186fc.pbw


download is here; http://www.mediafire.com/?ggqngnzxwmw

I have all EP's and SP's.

Sorry it took me so long to get back here.  I got sick and had to go to the hospital after I posted the picture.  I'm doing a lot better now, but I just haven't had the desire to work on the house much more.  I do feel it is as done as it's going to get, so I figure before it's too late, I'll go ahead and post it.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/4070.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/4071.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/4074.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/4075.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/4076.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/4078.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/2flower/1097%20West%20Dreaming%20Drive/4079.jpg)

§94,221
2 bedrooms
nursery
2 bathrooms
balcony
pond

This requires all EPs + Family Fun, Celebration & Mansion & Garden

My attempt at an EAxis House of Phail. It's Pseudo-Awesomespec. Linked because the file is so bloated. (http://dc120.4shared.com/download/82369854/15552189/1097_Liveangel_Jan09.Sims2Pack?tsid=20090125-003519-6dfdef75)

(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s18/liveangel93/More%20Awful%20Than%20You/HFJanovd.png)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s18/liveangel93/More%20Awful%20Than%20You/HFJanfp1d.png)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s18/liveangel93/More%20Awful%20Than%20You/HFJanfp2d.png)

I really hate it when people neglect to give the top floor ceilings!
It's not that hard. Just put floortiles directly under the roof, and it will generate ceilings below.

 ::) It really isn't that big a deal to me. I can easily go in and add them myself if they've been forgotten. But maybe they aren't forgotten at all. Maybe the person doesn't have AL and so doesn't know how to make ceilings show up for it. ;D

I don't use ceiling tiles very often, so the top floor doesn't get any.  Get over it.

Me either. To be honest, I don't ever look at ceilings. Why would I? There's nothing to see.

Ceilings are overated unless you like making movies or taking lots of Sim real photos. I never look at them either, they get in the way of my playing.

Yeah. What she said.  :P

I've ended up doing three houses this month probably because the first one was an absolute sod to finish and I'm still not happy with it. This is number 2 of 3, otherwise known as 1097 Barclay Square. It's designed to be a home entertainment/recreation business so there is a ticket machine and open/close sign ready to go... all you have to do is get on the phone and register a home business. It's essentially a house of two halves with most of it open to the public and a private two storey flat that is accessed from the middle floor.

Front - outside is a large swimming pool and play area for the sim brats.
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097BarclaySquare/Front.jpg)

Ground Floor - public recreation area with male/female toilets and a shower room. There are a couple of vending machines and even a waste bin for neat sims to dump their rubbish in.
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097BarclaySquare/GroundFloor.jpg)

Middle Floor - public gym area and two balconies, one with sun loungers and the other a hot tub. There is the entrance to the private flat with a kitchen dining area on its lower floor.
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097BarclaySquare/MiddleFloor.jpg)

Top Floor - private bed/sitting/bathroom and access to private balcony with sun loungers.
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097BarclaySquare/TopFloor.jpg)

More pictures in slide show: http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097BarclaySquare/?action=view&current=415e23e6.pbw (http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097BarclaySquare/?action=view&current=415e23e6.pbw)


Created with all EPs/SPs (except teen/celebration stuff). Download it from here: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=293267ffc45b6ab9d2db6fb9a8902bda (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=293267ffc45b6ab9d2db6fb9a8902bda)

Yoinked. I always like your buildings, and this is no exception.

My last offering is 1097 Blue Horizons, which is completely unAwesomespecs. There's no provision for children, or for keeping people from wandering wherever they want to. It's for popularity or romance sims, who just want to have fun, entertain, make out etc., with no contingent increase in the population. The garden is largely given over to a barbecue/party area, opening off the lounge, though there is also a fishing pond, and an attempt at a stepping stone path (using green linoleum, not very successfully.) I haven't had a wolf circling for a long time, so there's no anti-wolf fencing, but there's room for it if they do start showing up.

This lot seems so shaded and dark to me that I've made it virtually all windows, which is boring from a building point of view, but the only way I know to get enough light into this house. Downstairs has a large dining/chess/piano/TV area, with separate kitchen, hot tub, and bathroom. The hot tub and bathroom have windows to the ground, like the rest of the house, so I've used planting outside to give an effect of privacy. You'd probably want a 'perfect plants' hack to maintain them - or substitute some decent CC blinds. There's quite a bit of lighting scattered round the lounge, so it is very bright at night. Personally I like it bright, but I'll admit it does glare a bit. There are three solar panels on the roof, to help offset the electricity bills.

Upstairs there's a twin guest bedroom, a music room, a bathroom with twin showers, and a double bedroom. The verandah area has a treadmill, and there's a large landing with seating and bookcase, for anyone who needs a break from partying. No ceiling tiles on this floor (to keep the cost down.)

It comes in at $114,553. I have all EPs and just the M&G SP.

Front:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/3222518729_df372a4b1a.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3223371810_5653b6ca1c.jpg?v=0)
Ground:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/3222518121_dace40a41d.jpg?v=0)
Upstairs:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3222517761_81787cd5f1.jpg?v=0)

More pictures here: http://tinyurl.com/dk5d9s (http://tinyurl.com/dk5d9s)
Download here: http://tinyurl.com/djgmpp (http://tinyurl.com/djgmpp)

If I never play another building with diagonal walls, that's fine by me.

I always like the look of your houses, Jim. I think my favorite part of this one, for a reason I can't quite put my finger on, is the way the border of the front patio alternates between fencing and garden areas. I also like the way you used the table booth seats for a couch. I don't know why, but it wouldn't have ever occurred to me to use them like that.

Completely illegal and ineligible offering as it is bloated with custom content.  Contains the little garden I posted awhile ago.  Directly inspired by SalixTree and eaglezero.  I have had no internet access at home for over a week (*throws firebomb at Verizon) but will tomorrow (*cheers to Comcast).  Will upload actual house file then and edit this post if anyone is interested.  More pics can be found here http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/Jan%2009%20House%20of%20Phail%20Custom/ (http://s410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/Jan%2009%20House%20of%20Phail%20Custom/)


(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/Jan%2009%20House%20of%20Phail%20Custom/snapshot_00000030_16753d7f.jpg)

(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/Jan%2009%20House%20of%20Phail%20Custom/snapshot_00000030_56753d28.jpg)

(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/Jan%2009%20House%20of%20Phail%20Custom/snapshot_00000030_5675387a.jpg)

(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp188/originalhalf/Jan%2009%20House%20of%20Phail%20Custom/snapshot_00000030_36753a0a.jpg)

http://www.mediafire.com/file/zmzjgjhdgzg/1097G.Sims2Pack (http://www.mediafire.com/file/zmzjgjhdgzg/1097G.Sims2Pack)

So many cool houses this month.  Might have to make a neighborhood just for them.   :P

Here's one more... in under deadline!  It took me a while to figure out what to do with this lot.  The path was a bit of a nuisance. I kept wishing it would just disappear.

_____

Crickets chirp and all is peaceful near this quiet, unassuming mountain home.

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/front_view_night.jpg)

 
Day breaks...

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/house_front_lit.jpg)

We see now that the home is a bit older, with some fresh paint and some signs of weather.  It's a small home, suitable for someone's grandparents, perhaps.

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/action_front_helicopter.jpg)

The yard is landscaped, but slightly overgrown.

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/house_front_salute.jpg)

The first floor contains a living room, kitchen with dining area, and bathroom.

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/house_Floor1.jpg)

The second floor features a large bedroom and a full bath.  Just one bedroom; the owners must not have many visitors.

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/house_Floor2.jpg)

The occupants can curl up with some good books before retiring.

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/house_bedroom.jpg)

This concludes our visit.  Shall we be on our way?

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/sidewalk_2.jpg)

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/path_front.jpg)

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/path_middle.jpg)

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/path_last.jpg)

You've found the Underground!  It's the hottest club in town, but there are no signs anywhere, and if you don't have the most current passphrase, you may find yourself invited to partake of deelicious caek in the attached Eradication Zone.

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/sekrit_Floor1.jpg)

For most visitors, the Underground is merely a nightclub, and a great one at that.  Sure, nobody talks about that certain club, and the Bubble Box may be slightly south-west of the legal line.  But you can't really get into too much trouble here... unless the club owner slides you a key to the second floor.

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/sekrit_Floor2.jpg)

The second floor is where the Underground Elite meet to build skills, develop alliances and devious plans, and get thier marching orders.  From here, the UE can spy on the entire neighborhood (or the local college's women's dorm), and plot their takeover.

For fresh air, sweat, and playing the deity, the UE visits the training compound, convenienty located on the roof.
 
(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/sekrit_floor3.jpg)

Since Terces Aera Trail is invisible to satellites, the following is the only full-lot picture in existence.  Please to be eating after viewing, kthxbai.

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/overview_labeled.jpg)

(http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/action_sekritpath.jpg)

TERCES AERA TRAIL IN ACTION

Lol_style action images - more interior detail and some funnies. (http://sims.silversilly.com/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=5&Itemid=2)

DOWNLOAD

Download 1097 Terces Aera Trail (http://sims.silversilly.com/images/stories/lots/terces_aera_trail/lot_file_and_description_pix/1097_terces_aera_trail.rar)

Created with:  All EP's, Happy Holiday Stuff, Mansions & Gardens

Custom content included:  None.

Playing angles:  This lot plays very easily.  View it from the back, and you can see all the action without changing angles.  Hacks placed on the back exterior wall are easily reached.

Zoning:  Residential, but commercial or secret could work, too.
 
NOTES AND RECOMMENDED HACKS

The Underground

My game has an active underground, identified via Simlogical's Color Keys System (http://www.simlogical.com/sl/Sims2Pages/Sims2_ColorKeys.htm). Criminals, vampires, evil witches, Landgraabs, members of secret military societies, and the occasional sweet teenage girl who turns out to be a criminal prodigy all get a key.  Most seemingly innocent community lots have back room poker and shady dealings.  This lot was designed to be their headquarters, a place to build skills and alliances to further their devious plans!  In my game, I'll be locking the second floor to allow members of the underground only.

To make best use of the training facility, replace the upstairs podium with Simwardrobe's Vocational Training controller (http://www.simwardrobe.com/), located under Objects > Business Facilitators.

The Watchful Cook

The hideout kitchen is designed for the uni NPC cook, spawned by the uni stove on all lots by the Simlogical ShinyTyme NPC Everywhere Patch (http://www.simlogical.com/sl/Sims2Pages/Sims2_Eating.htm). He'll make just two plates at a time, clean as he goes, and won't be tempted to serve food upstairs.  After taking these pictures, I gave him a bit of a makeover and now strongly suspect he's the brains behind the whole operation, watching everything...

Eradication zone... lulz.  I really should incorporate one into every house to deal with pesky neighbors.

OH MAH GAH.

That lot is awesome! I'm totally going to start some kind of resistance in my hood now.

@rosess: Interesting make-over. I was all set to say 'Hang on, what happened to the path? And the original walls?', and then I scrolled down to the other pictures. Heh. Clever!

Yeah, ay? I'm just one of the followers here.  :D Awesome and super cool Rosess, lovely surprise at this time of the month!

Speaking of which, who amongst you has noticed some particularly awkward House of Phail that needs a makeover for next month? I still have pics up in last months thread too, if anything there takes your fancy.

I could never do a Legacy challenge... it's too much fun doing the goofy stuff.  Cracked me up, too, when Pescado made an appearance to check things out during testing.  Grabbed a drink, laughed at a few people, sprinted upstairs to do some spying when nobody else had wandered up yet, and then apparently remembered another appointment and ran off the lot.  It's in the slideshow, though the speed of the inspection was what really made it funny.

Witch, I have your lots snagged for next play session - I don't have any playable witches in this hood yet, and I want to get enough of them to use all those landing porches at the same time.   :P 

 :'(

I just tried installing Emma's house, which uses M&G. I don't have M&G. I got a message saying something like, "GTFO, luzer, u need stuffpack" (not those words exactly, but the meaning was clear.)

ROFFLE!

....NOOO.

I NEED THIS HOUSE.

This is almost enough to make me ARRquire M&G. Almost.

I have been told that double-posting is allowed in this ONE instance.

2 houses finished, in record time, just before the deadline.

1st up, The Cabin.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_768f8fd9.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_968f8fae.jpg)


Master Bedroom, spawn rooms, 'teen' bedroom and two child bedrooms. 
2 upstairs bathrooms and access to the desk from the hallway.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_968f8fa5.jpg)

Dining room, lockable kitchen, 'relaxation area' and music nook.  Living room is a little dark, but I liked the look of the leather floor.  Greenhouse is accessible through the living room and the front yard.  The one desk is in the study with the guest bathroom and the lockable staircase.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_f68f8f9c.jpg)

Download from here: http://www.4shared.com/file/83226055/ac892e20/1097_West_Dreaming_Drive_Cabin.html (http://www.4shared.com/file/83226055/ac892e20/1097_West_Dreaming_Drive_Cabin.html)

Slideshow: (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/th_snapshot_00000004_768f8fd9.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/?action=view&current=2fd25b29.pbw)

2nd house.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_b68fa75f.jpg)

The Cottage.

2 bedroom, 2 bathroom house.

Bridge over not-so-troubled water, and a spa with a swimmable moat.  Hammocks hidden away to enjoy a lazy afternoon.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_168fa749.jpg)


Lockable kitchen with entry to yard.  Garden patch along fence-line with compost bin.

Take tea under the pagola and relax while listening to the sound of the fountains in the pond.

Catch a fresh fish for dinner off the bark pier.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/snapshot_00000004_d68fa757.jpg)


Slide Show: 
(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/th_snapshot_00000004_168fa749.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v457/yecatsnz/Sims2/?action=view&current=d5b51247.pbw)

Download: http://www.4shared.com/file/83222492/1633cb04/1097_West_Dreaming_Drive_Cottage.html (http://www.4shared.com/file/83222492/1633cb04/1097_West_Dreaming_Drive_Cottage.html)

I went a little nuts with the roof angle slider and the solar panels on the cabin. 
I hope the hammocks and coffee table of the cottage work - I was playing with moveobjects and snapobjects.

All EP's and SP's except Pets & Uni.  No store stuff.  Not playtested.

rosess, words can not express my amusement at your entry and your further pictures. Well done. Well done.

Rosess - great house! I was another one of those people who was confused at first. Very tricky, and very well done.

Yecats, great use of water! I like the path as a bridge.

I would like to suggest 190 Sim Lane Pleasantville, but it has already been phailed, so never mind!  :-*

that house has already been phailed :) Early on. One of the first 2 or 3 I think.

You know what else phailed? My searching skills!  :D

I would suggest some community lots. A lot of the MAXIS ones are either very ugly or are nothing but uni-taskers. The art galleries, for example, don't have anything to do on them except view pictures. No gift shops, no elite dining area, no BUYING the art?

I like the idea of community lots also, they are all pretty much phails.

I also like one suggested by Witch last month (not sure which hood it is from though, as I don't remember ever seeing this lot)

204 Old Farm Road (borrowed from Witch's post)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/204OldFarmRoad2.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/204OldFarmRoad1.jpg)

another suggestion
225 Main Street - Pleasantview
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/225-1.jpg)(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/225-2.jpg)
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/225-3.jpg)(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/225-4.jpg)

That house has potential.  Keep the patio, probably?

Jelenedra, the galleries are the worst.  Isn't there one that's all catwalks and a grocery store or some such?  Weird and useless.  I like big family-owned galleries, with portraits of generations in addition to the buyable art. 

There is one with broken speakers (I think) and a coffee bar with one little table and two chairs WAAAAAY in the back. No bathroom (or a small one, I can't remember). Sims beeline to the coffee bar and never even bother checking out any of the art.

If we do that house, I will need someone to move a terlet and fridge right next to my computer.  I like redoing that house, but I get so involved, and it takes me forever.  A community lot that I think needs redoing: the Bluewater Spa.  What  a crappy little spa to send your sims to!

Isn't that the maxoid art gallery?  I use that a lot precisely because it causes such stupid behaviour.  I have had sims bogart the small theatre there, as well as the coffee bar.

In any case, I am currently annoyed with the total boredom and lack of inspired decoration that is Academie Le Tour, and am redecorating everything there.  The student centre is particularly useless.  2 pool tables and a dart board.  Needs MOAR GEAR (and possibly a real restaurant).

I agree about the student centre, actually all the uni student centers/unions are pretty bad.

Also the community lots in Veronaville, especially the Market = big fail

another suggestion is maybe do 2 threads, one for house of fail and one for community lot of fail, and you can choose one or both to makeover

There are some interesting lots in the lot bin... The two story NL townhouses might be interesting. (I've been playing with 1x1 lots lately, so my preference is towards the small. My computer can handle big, but it's so hard to take pictures of the big ones.)

That farm house looks doable, though.

I do like the idea of a simultaneous Community Lot of Fail, maybe with some wiggle room for other non-residential lots. (Lots that were originally residential and converted otherwise would still go in the House of Fail thread from whence they came.)

Can I suggest the Craftman's Pride house from the bin, if it hasn't been phailed already?  Of particular note is the entire third floor, which consists of one huge, very oddly-shaped room and four pockets that cannot be used at all because of the roof.  I have also had sims have routing troubles on the first floor, which has a bathroom plonked right in the middle of the main living room.

rosess - that house is awesome.  I would totally grab it, but I am leery of giving my sims access to that many reward objects, even just a select few.

Uni stuff might be interesting. Of course, that would require that we have Uni or that it is rebuilt in basegame. I just redid one of those dumb rentable houses in Sim State, House of Phail style. Still needs work and obviously doesn't qualify as I used a metric fuckton of cc:
(http://i41.tinypic.com/e01gsl.jpg)

Isn't there a problem with houses built in uni, if placed in a non-uni hood after being built in a uni hood? Something about Sims not aging as they should?

Maybe instead of having multiple PHAIL threads every month, you guys could trade off? Comm one month, residental/uni the next?

Do you have Apartment Life?  If so, did you use the Clean Installer, which removes the M&G flag?

That house looks interesting, Zazazu. I'm glad I thought of positioning the greek letters that way.  ;)

I agree with the sentiment that we should take on the challenge of redecorating some of the community lots in the game. Reason: I suck at doing community lots. Therefore it would be an interesting learning experience. Plus, who could say no to free lots built by someone else? (And hopefully awesomespec as well?) Anyway, I think we have enough contestants to do two threads a month.

What's to suck at?  It's so easy!

You take stupid maxoid community lot.  Empty it of all content.  Add lots of rooms, courtyards, etc.  Fill with all manner of shopping, recreational, dining objects.  Don't forget a skillination area with bookshelves, a woohoo area with at least one decent sofa, if not a bed, hot tub, sauna, pool with slide, clothing store, grocer, games area...and put it on a beach (with the FT baskeball court thrown in for good measure).  Don't forget a nice landing area out front for the witches.

Then you do walls/floors/doors/windows same as you would for a house, using whatever skills of a decorator you might have.

When you are done, you have a one-stop comm lot for all your sims' needs - away with all that bouncing from comm lot to comm lot, just because you can't remember which damn mall has the cell phone machine.

  I have not, yet, redone a community lot.  I've created a few of my own, but never bothered to fix the EAxis pre-mades.  Whatever the challenge is, I'm game.

  I have had enough of the cold now and more than ready to not have to type with gloves on for a change.  With this thought I decided to make 1097 a vacation home on the beach.  The smallest beach lot is still larger than the challenge lot so I've made some adjustments.

  Welcome to 1097 Leisure Beach (awful name I know).

(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk190/tryclyn/MATY%20-%20House%20challenges/January%20-%201097%20West%20Leisure%20Lane/ScreenShot041.jpg)


  The stone fence keeps the lot the size of the original.  I plan to remove and expand later, but wanted to keep the limitations for the challenge.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk190/tryclyn/MATY%20-%20House%20challenges/January%20-%201097%20West%20Leisure%20Lane/Poolarea.jpg)      (http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk190/tryclyn/MATY%20-%20House%20challenges/January%20-%201097%20West%20Leisure%20Lane/ScreenShot044.jpg)

(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk190/tryclyn/MATY%20-%20House%20challenges/January%20-%201097%20West%20Leisure%20Lane/BirdsEye.jpg)

 Kitchen and Piano can be locked away from visitors.  Sims prefer to eat at the table outside so just remove it if you don't find it amusing to watch them eat in the rain.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk190/tryclyn/MATY%20-%20House%20challenges/January%20-%201097%20West%20Leisure%20Lane/Mainfloor.jpg)

  One bedroom  because this is a get away for mom and dad.  If sprites must come there is room in the yard for a tent or two.  Workout and art area are lockable so visitors may wander upstairs, but they only get to enjoy the view.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk190/tryclyn/MATY%20-%20House%20challenges/January%20-%201097%20West%20Leisure%20Lane/Upperfloor.jpg)

More pics in the slideshow. http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk190/tryclyn/MATY%20-%20House%20challenges/January%20-%201097%20West%20Leisure%20Lane/?albumview=slideshow

Download if you wish.  http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=0581aed48c2ae03e91b20cc0d07ba4d201ab55312dc77d09

 I have all EP/SP installed.  I may have Store Stuff, but I don't think that I used any. Sells for about $110,000 furnished. 







 I did make a regular house as well, but in play testing the routing was wonky.  I can work with it, but I would not wish to share while it is still not right.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk190/tryclyn/MATY%20-%20House%20challenges/Frontnside.jpg)

Yes. I had this issue way back when with my Monopoly 'hood, as I made the template lot in Uni. Loading the lot, making a small change, and resaving makes it function correctly in the base.

@yecats: I thought the dining room in your first house was really innovative. It was a great way to break up a large amount of space, although I'd make it a video game / TV type room.

@tryclyn: That would make a great summer house. I always forget you can do tiles on slopes now, it looks good where it comes down from the back of the house onto the lower patio.

I don't mind whether we do community lots or not, I'm happy to go with the general consensus. I'd prefer to keep this particular competition in one thread though.

That's actually a good idéa, to plonk down whatever you need on one lot. The problem for me is that I start with a lot, get bored after 30 minutes, scrap it and start a new one. If I don't have an idéa of how it should look in the end, I end up not finishing it. Hmm, that reminds me. I did make a community lot this month, I had just forgotten about it until now...

I don't have uni or pets, but I'm happy to re-create something to work with. 
Community, Residential, doesn't matter to me, I like to play around with both.

I managed to find one of the lots I started working on this month. Apparently I was on someting, 'cause the Hippie House of Doom is pretty freaky. Anyway, enjoy.

(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/1097%20by%20Tingeling/snapshot_00000002_768fb6db.jpg)

(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/1097%20by%20Tingeling/snapshot_00000002_d68fb824.jpg)

(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/1097%20by%20Tingeling/snapshot_00000002_d68fb783.jpg)

(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/1097%20by%20Tingeling/snapshot_00000002_768fb8b5.jpg)

Moar pic's here (http://s301.photobucket.com/albums/nn65/AnnaTingeling/1097%20by%20Tingeling/)

Hippie House of Doom (http://rapidshare.de/files/44320349/1097byTingeling.rar.html)

Specs: I've got all expansion packs and stuff packs except Glamour life stuff. The house costs 117116 simoleons, so it is pretty pricey.
Caution! There are a few cc stuff in there, so paired with the fact that the months competition is over, it obviously doesn't qualify for the race. But I thought I'd share anyway.

Very colourful!  :D But surprisingly nice.

It's actually still Jan 31st here for another 11 hours - and we're ahead of Malaysia by about 5 hours I think. So - 16 hours approx left for this month's competition.

Heh... The challenge could be called 'Lot of Fail'.

My current obsession as well, especially after returning to University in a post-Seasons world. The Library at Academie Le Tour doesn't even have bathrooms -- it has a fucking outhouse.  :-\

While testing someone's hotel, I found a community lot of phail on Twikkii Island, Twikkii Beach Boardwalk. It had a lot of empty space, but worst was that the jewelry stands were put in backwards, so poor Kennedy couldn't even buy some earrings he desperately wanted!
Problem though, for people who don't own BV.

Tingeling, love the hippy house. peace!  ;)
*edit* Ting, that link sends me to some premium download site. And I don't see your download there.

I have noticed that too. Maybe we could redo some of the vacation hoods too. I think some of the lots are ok, but I loathe the small buyable house in Twikki Island.

Yep, that's rapidshare for ya! Just scroll down the page and you will see two buttons to press. Push the free user button and you'll get to wait a minute. After that they ask you to write a code in a box before you can download yhe actual file. It's a bitch, I know. I'll see if I can find a better file hosting site in the future.

@ Cucumberpie

I know you posted your house weeks ago :) but I finally got a chance to see it in game. I love it! It looks like a great baby/child raising house and the primary colored constructed rugs and linoleum floors will look great with Kandinsky and Gockel painting recolors.

Ah well I see I have missed the Malaysian-time end of January deadline for house no2 but here goes anyway.

I went with a sort of space age theme, at least with choice of decor and furniture plus the inclusion of a lift. It's mostly open plan downstairs so is most definitely not awesome spec but it is an easy house to play provided you don't mind the possibility of the odd fridge raid by a visitor. It has been made with all EPs/SPs except teen/celebration stuff and thoroughly tested with the EAxian Newson family.

Front of house with paved path to front door, covered sunken hot tub and greenhouse for the gardening sims.
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097CowplantPastures/Front.jpg)

Ground floor - the entrance leads into a large open area with kitchen, study and games. There is a spiral staircase and a lift to the upstairs floor. The lounge is separate with a downstairs bathroom and toilet.
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097CowplantPastures/Ground.jpg)

Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a further bathroom with bath for bathing toddlers and a large patio area.
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097CowplantPastures/Upper.jpg)

More images uploaded here: http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097CowplantPastures/ (http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j136/spacedcat/Lot%20Building/1097CowplantPastures/)

Download the file from here: http://www.mediafire.com/file/jqnjtkkhwzz/1097 Cowplant Pastures.Sims2Pack (http://www.mediafire.com/file/jqnjtkkhwzz/1097 Cowplant Pastures.Sims2Pack)

(My original plan was to have cowplants hence the name, but it didn't work out that way in the end.)

@eevilcat: I like the color scheme, my favourite shade of turquoise!

Stunning eevilcat! Those blue lupins give just enough contrast to break the main colour and all the rest looks great. Good spacing inside the house too.

Ok, so who is this month's winnar, and what is our House of Phail for February?

People pretty much choose their own winners I guess. As for February's lot, read back a page or so. Does anything appeal? If not, suggest something, preferably with pics.

The winners this month are the same winners as every month.  The winners are those of us who suck at building - each month we get a variety of well-built, interesting, mostly awesomespec, cc-free lots to download.

Delurking to say I whole-heartedly agree with this comment, and to express my appreciation to you all for the fabulous lots I now have to play with.  You guys rock!   ;D

Not sure if anyone has decided yet..but here is a couple suggestions for Febuary's contest. If I am posting ones already done or concidered then please forgive.

Old Silo Farm Veronaville: Perhaps require that everything already there must remain?

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/realmscat/Snapshot-4.jpg)

73 Road to Nowhere Strangetown: I have always hated this lot. I can't play it without nearly tearing the entire house down and rebuilding it.

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/realmscat/Snapshot-2.jpg)

10 Oak Street Pleasantview: Just pretty much a useless cabin to me. It dosen't even have room for a shower in the bathroom.

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/realmscat/Snapshot-1.jpg)

Didn't we already do that strangetown one? (And by 'we' I mean everyone but me, as I think I was busy that month. Probably November's house?)

EDIT: I took a look, and that was done in August (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,12619.0.html).

I suggested Old Silo Farm Veronaville once before and no one seemed interested. I agree too that 10 Oak Street Pleasantview would be a good one. It is pretty useless as is.

Perhaps make it a requirement that, in addition to keeping everything where it is, the silo has to be seperate from the house? Otherwise, I don't know, it's kind of just an empty lot. Honestly, even that 'rule' seems a little forced.

I think that miserable little cabin should be done. The way it is, you can't even let ONE sim live there without problems. It's a completely ridiculous house.

Once upon a time I had Kaylynn Langerak live in that cabin, along with her twin babies + the Crittur dogs and their four puppies. It was... interesting.

Hmm, you know what, that cabin sounds like a plan. Yeah, I can think of something...

I vote for that horrible little cabin.

I second the cabin, it definately needs to be redone.

I agree that the cabin needs to be redone. Although, I think that 225 Main Street (Pleasantview) is also a good candidate. I tried playing that lot once and almost ended up ripping my hair out by the roots. Any of those too will do.

I did that one as well, but I got my entry in late enough that it missed comment and/or downloading. LOL It was a fun house to work with, though.

The cabin could be fun seeing as you will absolutely have to expand it and with having to leave all the exterior walls in place, might make a fun floor plan

The little cabin does look like a good choice for this month. Can somebody else do a basegame version of it, flatten it if required then kick off a new thread?

Isn't it already base game.
In that case I think it just needs to be flattened.

Problem is if someone like me flattens and saves it you will then have a M&G compatible house that is of limited use. I don't have Numenor's base/any game wotsit on my computer otherwise I'd do it.

The cabin would be very cool.  I've enjoyed redoing that one over the years.


No truer words.

Tingling metioned 225 Main Street Pleasantview as well so here are some pictures. Sorry about rementioning Strangetown. I knew I should have looked farther. After all there are only a few houses in Strangetown to begin with.

(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/realmscat/Snapshot.jpg)


(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/realmscat/Snapshot-3.jpg)


(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h97/realmscat/Snapshot-5.jpg)

Eh, the Strangetown lots are all horrible, they were bound to be mentioned again.