More Awesome Than You!

By popular vote this months house is:
74 Gondola Way (Also known as Asshat Malcomes mansion) (Note: OFB required)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/bluewater%20residential/Bluewater_250209009.jpg)
Rules copy and pasted from last month:

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

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

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

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

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

Bonus rule:

-You can't remove the pool and the veranda (The veranda at the back).
If you have no idea which veranda then:
(http://i42.tinypic.com/emrec.jpg)
If your still confused, get a noose.

A flattened version of the house has been provided for the challenge if you need one (Thanks to Mootilda).

Credit to Witch for the submission of the challenge.

Edit: There has been some moaning that the lot is too big for their taste. I will ask that for next month you please suggest an alternative for a small lot. People here are getting sick of the whining.

Definition of "veranda"?  I see 4 things on the house that might be called a "veranda".  Bottom and top floors, front and back of the house.  In fact, the one on the top floor at the back could be considered 2 separate pieces.  Then again, a friend tells me that the bottom front is a "porch" and the bottom back is a "deck", so there are only two "verandas".

Just looking for some clarification.

The back (The big square one). According to Witch as she suggested the rule in the previous challenge.

Is there any way to get a base-game compatible?  Or to post floorplans so I can re-build it?  I has no OFB.

Cheers to Mootilda and Giggy.

I'll try and take some pics for you after tea, Yecats.

It is basegame converted, isn't it? Never mind, I can't read... But still, as long as you have one EP from later than OFB, it should be fine, shouldn't it? Missing OFB objects, but so would a base-game version.

Basement
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/basement.jpg)

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

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

Does the garage count as external walls, or can we knock it down? There doesn't seem much point to cars and garages these days.

I would say the garage must stay, not necessarily as a garage though.

See, now I'm just suspicious that you've got plans for the garage. That's what Maty's done to me. I used to be so trusting; but now I look for the subplot.

My daughter was on a 6 hour flight last night and I was up late waiting for her call.......so........

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/01-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/02-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/03-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/04-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/05-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/06-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/07-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/08-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/09-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/10-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/11-1.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/12.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/13.jpg)

(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/kfortiortega/Sims/14.jpg)

I have all EP's/SP's

http://www.mediafire.com/?yn0nbo2jn4t

I'm just stunned. It's beautiful. The only thing I'd change is the red carpet in the living room, because it makes me think of pub carpeting. Everything else is lovely, so cool and clean - makes me think of unbleached linen.

Your daughter's a frequent flyer, I hope?

Thanks, that is a huge compliment. I am a fan of your beautiful houses, and I am still new to these makeovers and still have lots to learn.
I am never sure which carpets to use, the maxis ones are so limited, and some of them are just to flat looking, I like the ones that look like the shaggy style carpet

yes she is a frequent flyer, she has been making the rounds of visiting family members...*sigh* to be young and free

Good call with this house... It's so huge and oddly shaped. And huge. (I've been working with 1x1s lately...)

Definitely a challenge!

This came with OFB, so I believe that you have to have OFB (or any later EP).  If you decide to rebuild as a base-game compatible lot, please post it for us all.


There's a good likelihood that this will work with any EP which was released after OFB.  I've heard that there can be crashes caused by missing objects, but I've never seen this myself.  If you load the lot without OFB and it doesn't crash immediately, I believe that you're safe.

I was a sniffy sneezing house builder today. Maybe that is why my house is snot green.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y245/Modya/sims%202/sims%202%20challenges/front.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y245/Modya/sims%202/sims%202%20challenges/backyard.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y245/Modya/sims%202/sims%202%20challenges/mainfloor.jpg)-main floor.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y245/Modya/sims%202/sims%202%20challenges/secondfloor.jpg) the second floor has the kitchen and nusery. This house is an attempt at awesome spec.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y245/Modya/sims%202/sims%202%20challenges/topfloor.jpg)
the boring level. room to expand with bedrooms. I lost my interests about this floor when I realize that no one can afford this house in my neighborhood.


Extremely expensive. Here is a link if anyone wants this Money Pit. http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=c89d6532ad287de007258ee67c679e4ae04e75f6e8ebb871

It was pets and uni that i didn't have, not OFB.  I'm stupid and blonde.

I'm having problems with my windows again... where did i hide that ergo window fix?

For those who might want to conform to Awesome spec even though it's not required, or just want know what it is, a link to Awesomespec would be nice.  I know most people who post here know what it is, but newcomers might not.  I know we can all use google and forum search.  Many references to it, few threads about it.  I'm not sure I have the most current or if there is a current standard that includes AL.  Not sure the One Desk rule should apply now that we have MogHughson's desk locator mods (MTS2).  So for those similarly confused, here's what I found.  Is there anything else I should be looking at for guidance?

Awesomespec v5, circa 2007 (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,7263.0.html)
a more recent discussion of awesomespec, circa 2008 (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php?topic=12981.0)

@mistyk: What Jim said, especially the bit about unbleached linen.  :D Seriously, nice lot, a real improvement.

@Jim: I have already enlarged the garage three spaces back so it actually works as a garage and has a bit of spare space. Personally I don't think the garage has to qualify as external walls, after all, it's not attached to the house. I'm planning on making the top part of the garage into servants' quarters, so I kept it.

@Anebrd: It's a bit hard to tell because your pictures are quite small, but the house seems quite dark to me. I was going to make another comment but I've lost interest.  :P

ServantS? As in 'more than one' and 'live in'? To think of Nanny Crumplebottom and Butler Bill shacked up over the garage ... I wait with bated breath.

I am still confused about the definition of veranda - is it the patio on the first floor or porch/deck thing the second, or both?

Love mistyk's color palatte & I particularly like the kitchen and swim areas. It's much too nice for that skeevy Landgrabbe now.

Anebrd, the M&G roofline works, but I think another color combo would suit it more.

Now I have to catch fake a mild bug so I can have a day to build.

(http://i42.tinypic.com/emrec.jpg)

This confusion is just killing me.

74 Seaside Boulevard apartments. Rent ranges from $547 to $1,144

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Mar09/Mar09-1-Front.jpg)

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Mar09/Mar09-1-Rear.jpg)

Basement: Three apartments. Pool.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Mar09/Mar09-1-Basement.jpg)

Common area: Multimedia Room. Gym. Bar out the back.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Mar09/Mar09-1-Downstairs.jpg)

Upstairs: Two apartments. Veranda.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Mar09/Mar09-1-Upstairs.jpg)

Around the side: Garage apartment. Pagoda.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p282/Lady_Faizah/Sims/Mar09/Mar09-1-Outside.jpg)
(Note: Garage apartment does have a ceiling, but it was temporarily removed for this shot.)

Download it here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/90392593/21386912/Mar09-1-Faizah-74SeasideBoulevard.html) (Or download the residential version here. (http://www.4shared.com/file/90392610/72ae0cf9/Mar09-1-Faizah-74SeasideBoulevard-Res.html))

Compatibility: I have everything except TSS, Ikea and M&G. AL required.

@Faizah - I love this!  It turned out looking very elegant.  I'm downloading both versions.  With your apartments, I really like how much there is to do out in the communal areas.  Apartments I've built are more like separate houses with very little to do outside.  I look forward to trying something different.

I love the way you rotated the tiles on the gazebo, to make such a nice pattern.

Do you mind if I borrow the idea for some buildings of my own?

Go ahead! Heh. I didn't actually rotate them though, that's a floor with a horizontal and vertical version. What I did was make a big X across the gazebo, then fill two sections with one floor, and the other two with the other, but rotating for two of the sections would also work. I did it in the September house too, probably even with the same floor.

Well, considering that OFB is one of the better expansions to use with Awesomeware, and the fact that it is readily available, I don't see why other people should put in extra work just to cater to your laziness.

Not everyone wants OFB.  Or they might not have money to shell out for it.  Or they don't want to arr.  Witch was willing to take pictures.  We know witch can let someone have it if they're being annoying, that didn't happen.  Also, a lazy person wouldn't bother building a lot they don't have from floorplans, too much effort.  I honestly don't see why yecats request would rate a smackdown from the admin.  Well, other than this being MATY, I suppose.

I hate this lot. It is too big. Can I kill it?

I'm trying not to do apartments or a hotel. I have an idea, and it's something I actually need, I just hate big buildings at the moment. The past three houses I've made were a maximum of 144 tiles².

My sentiments exactly.  ;)

I know the feeling. I came straight from a series of 1x1s, so the apartments I've made out of this one all feel kind of large and sprawling to me, especially the red and dark blue ones.

@MistyK, I really love this.  I don't often play mansions, but this is great! 

If I can fit most of one apartment into view on screen and still see sufficient detail, without zooming out too much, it doesn't feel sprawly to me.  Not talking about the entire lot, just one housing unit.  Personally, I would rather zoom out a bit in bigger lots, or scroll, than go up and down a lot in a multi-story 1x1 lot.  Half my sims often decide to do something interesting on the ground floor while I'm watching the other half of them on the 2nd story.

That's why you put everything 'interesting' on the first floor, and the second floor is just beds and bathrooms. Only one of my residential 1x1s doesn't follow that, because I was going for something specific.

Pes hates on me because I am stupid and fail.  I'm used to it.

This house actually wasn't that bad, besides the fact it's most definitely not family friendly, and the way the outside was designed. In any case, here's my interpretation of this month's House of Phail.

It comes in at 172,373, and although it isn't Awesomespec, it still has the pool, and the veranda, which has been redone to fit the new design.

Edited because I fail at grammar.

(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g126/soopersweet2005/House%20of%20Phail/frontofhouse.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g126/soopersweet2005/House%20of%20Phail/backofhouse.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g126/soopersweet2005/House%20of%20Phail/snapshot_00000002_96bb1731.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g126/soopersweet2005/House%20of%20Phail/topshotsecondfloor.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g126/soopersweet2005/House%20of%20Phail/livingroom.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g126/soopersweet2005/House%20of%20Phail/diningroom.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g126/soopersweet2005/House%20of%20Phail/veranda.jpg)
download here (http://www.filefactory.com/file/af34fe4/n/74_Gondola_Way_zip)

Your sentence no verb.  But I like the pretty colors inside the house!

Jim's Social Club

I was intending this to be a community lot, but then witch mentioned using the 'garage' as accommodation.
I pinched that idea, and made the Social Club a home business, convertible to a community lot quite simply
by knocking down the accommodation section. It's just tacked onto the original house, so would still leave
original walls intact.

The house has a double bedroom, two-crib nursery, and shower room downstairs, with a non-awesome
open plan lounge and kitchen upstairs, with a second shower room. The nursery is definitely cramped, I'm
afraid. (I have a 'no population increase' policy in my neighbourhood, so nurseries seem a bit redundant. I'll
get more use out of it converted to a guest room.) The fenced-off garden area has a fishing pool and a
greenhouse, to keep that food nice and sparkly. There are no external doors to the house, which is
probably a bad thing - access is by doors on the ground and first floor, connecting to the public areas.

The public parts of the building offer a gym, bar, sauna and pool/hot tub room downstairs, with snack and
barbecue facilities. There are roomy toilet and showering facilities, yet most customers have to be
'influenced' to use the showers. There's a definite green fug over the treadmills most of the time. The
garden area has axe throwing, log rolling and basketball areas. No-one has ever used any of these in four
days' testing, so you could probably scrap them and save a bit of money.

Upstairs there is a room for playing music with a microphone, a dj station and dancefloor. There's a TV
corner on the landing, a snooker and darts room. The terrace area has bowling and blowing (bubbles).

Income was running at about $5000 by day 4, which is a bit pathetic, but then my tester was doing nothing
to get customers, or keep them. She seems to have a drink problem.

I have all EPS, and M&G SP.

Cost: $185.089 (wanded and Clean Installer checked)

Front
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/3333582336_db8ae97178.jpg?v=0)

Ground floor layout
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3332686495_7c4d1f73f9.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3333520408_18d5beded5.jpg?v=0)

Upstairs layout
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3587/3333520204_f5bb524786.jpg?v=0)(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3333520742_979908fab8.jpg?v=0)

Lounge:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/3332685415_6b97a47dfa.jpg?v=0)

Slideshow: http://tinyurl.com/bcy64x (http://tinyurl.com/bcy64x)
Download: http://tinyurl.com/83tzlj (http://tinyurl.com/83tzlj)

This is my third try at this house... all my other attempts were too sprawling, so I shamelessly ripped out the second floor. $103,000 wanded. Suitable for a family of six, more if you put floors on the second story. I didn't decorate too extensively because I was trying to keep the cost down. It's easy to lower it a bit more by going in and ripping out the extra fun things. As is, it houses my only pleasure sim, who is kept very happy getting drinks from the bar, bouncing on the couch, and going swimming. I did use a CC floor for the pool area because the matching tile is so pretty, but the other crap in the package can just be stripped out with the clean installer, I think.

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/snapshot_b6bc2240_f6bc2377.jpg)

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/snapshot_b6bc2240_16bc2388.jpg)

Top-down view:

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/snapshot_b6bc2240_96bc23b3.jpg)

You can see that the areas you may not want guests to go (upstairs, the kitchen, bedroom area, and pool & nursery) are easy to lock.

Closer top-down view so you can see the rooms:

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/snapshot_b6bc2240_f6bc23c2.jpg)

Pool room:

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/snapshot_b6bc2240_56bc2451.jpg)

Study:

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/snapshot_b6bc2240_96bc24d4.jpg)

Living room:

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/snapshot_b6bc2240_36bc2523.jpg)

Master bedroom:

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/snapshot_b6bc2240_16bc2565.jpg)

Dining room:

(http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/snapshot_b6bc2240_96bc2649.jpg)

Download HERE (http://www.lightsbrook.com/sims/maty/eaxis0903/Eaglezero-MarchEHOF.Sims2Pack) (right-click, save-as).

I agree with Zazazu, I don't like this lot either. I much prefer smaller lots.
Maybe this could be a dorm... hmm...
Or not.

I'm going to add my voice to the "don't like" whine chorus. ;D I just can't seem to get any inspiration toward this one. It's just too big and unwieldy. A real Albatross.

Well, I'm thoroughly enjoying planning this one. I have the exterior and interior walls and doors up and am about to put in windows.  :D  I can see it might be pain to furnish and will take a bit of time. Yeah, the house itself is large, possibly too large for a competition like this; however it's very refreshing after the series of tiny boxes we've been stuck with in recent months. After all, even rich bastards have to live somewhere.

So all you whingers and moaners, make sure you have some interesting suggestions for the end of this month, huh?  :P

@Jim: I do like your home business social club. I haven't had a home business since soon after OFB was released because I got sick of guests complaining about business stuff. I'm willing to give it another go now for this club. I can't remember who does it, but I like the idea of a secret club for the underworld. This would have to be for the cocaine barons and the like.

@eaglezero: You have a nice eye for colour and style, with some interesting combos. That banana striped dining area with the stripey wood works well and so does the piano desk combo. Matching woods has always been one of the most frustrating things about sims 2 for me. The house has a lovely exterior.

The problem is, if you can't knock down external walls, you can really only keep the building pretty much as is, or build on to it. Not many people are going to want to make it bigger, I suppose. It might have given people more building options if they could knock down the pool area, and the terrace above it. I prefer big lots myself - those little tiny houses make me feel claustrophobic, and I can't stand feeling I have to navigate round furniture all the time, so this is a welcome change - and it is a genuine challenge. We may not get as many lots as usual, but I bet we'll see some interesting ones.

Maybe for the next challenge have 2 lots going at once?
One small lot and one big lot for people with these issues.
It could be for the better? Otherwise if not possible then yes people if you don't want a big lot then FFS tell us a better alternative!

Ahem.

*witch whistles casually


You know, if potential contributors are really struggling with the size, why not ignore the pool and balcony/verandah requirements? Knock 'em down! I ignored the trees requirement in last month's house. I also don't often build awesome spec, as suggested, mainly because I don't play that way and ultimately the houses are for me. After all, it's really all about the fun of building.

The 'requirements' that change month to month are always optional, anyway. Just so long as you follow the 'leave external walls in place' (though not necessarily external) rule, you're golden. Replacing them with other types of wall, ie, greenhouse walls, is also generally allowed.

Some really pretty lots have come out of this boring, unwieldy house.

mistyk - I like the nature-y look of your lot. The house exterior, the landscaping, the outdoor living areas, the greenhouse, it all flows very nicely. The interior is nice as well, but the exterior as a whole is my favorite thing.

Anebrd - I hope you are feeling better, but I like the "snot green." I agree with Witch, your pictures are a bit small/dark, but I can see that any sim living there will never want for things to do.

Faizah - A very bright, attractive lot. For me, though, the darkish, monochromatic apartments don't reconcile with the light, traditional exterior. I want my cupcakes to have a gooey sugary filling; this one looks filled with rock candy. :P Yummy, but not what I was expecting.

omgdani - I like the blue stucco and the green dining room. And lots of wood everywhere; I love wood. The only thing that seems really weird to me is that the living room has a double wall. The windows on the outer wall are looking looking into a nothing-space beside the chimney. Why?

Jim - Another fun lot from you. Something about veranda bowling seems hilarious to me, in a good way. Especially after a turn off the bubble blower, I can see some serious damage occurring. Also, the statue staring in through the bathroom window? Awesome.

eaglezero - Yours is the only lot so far (mine included) that my computer could run without Sir Lagsalot annoying the hell out of me. *Makes note to upgrade her ramz.* The style is very simple and clean looking, pretty colors, and nice use of the 2-story windows.

I understand the "too big!" sentiments; this is a huge lot for me as well. For some reason, though, I've felt oddly uninspired by the smaller lots chosen the last couple months, but this large one interested me. I decided to make it into a community lot for throwing elegant parties/weddings. Since that's not really an option for sims (is it?), it's kind of a waste, but I had fun anyway. I borrowed some inspiration from Dundurn Castle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundurn_Castle) for the exterior, because it's so lovely. I didn't keep the pool in the basement, but I did use the pool tool in that room to make up for it. Also, sorry the bar is so plain. Some cc on the shelves should dress it up. None of the EAxis content looked right to me.  The spot by the upstairs elevator is supposed to be a coat check, although it's mostly just an excuse for woohooing. If anyone wants a residential version, let me know. It would need some remodeling to be suitable for living (no kitchen, bedrooms, etc.). The community lot version was playtested, and everything works.

Slideshow: (http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/veganelise/th_gondolafront.jpg) (http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/veganelise/?action=view&current=63dd8d24.pbw).
Clicking the pictures brings up a bigger version.

I have all EPs/SPs. Download here (http://www.mediafire.com/?aungtgfjlwm).

That is just a beautiful lot. I love the ballroom.

Also, since BV (I think) you can have community lot weddings.

@devilsrope: Very nice. It has a look of Larnach Castle, Dunedin, New Zealand, as well. I was trying to avoid the blocky look for myself but the way you have the pillars at the front soaring to the full building height gives a nice vertical to balance all the horizontals.

I haven't tried a community wedding yet but I will certainly give this lot a try.

I love the ballroom too. The chandelier has finally found its place, and is looking good. I like the ceiling you've put in the upstairs ballroom. It's unusual, but it works. If my sims could be bothered to get married, this is where they'd do it alright.

Thank you, guys. I'm pleased the ballroom is a hit, as it's my favorite room as well. In my testing I was able to use the wedding arch, as you mentioned, parrot. My problem was getting my outing-mates to behave (no luck). I just winged it though, so I'll do a search and see what I can find to make it a better experience next time. And, witch, that castle is beautiful, and the landscape view on the front page of its website really sells it. I'm getting an itch to visit NZ now.

I was obviously wrong.  I thought that we would see a lot of interesting entries for this month, even though the existing building is huge.  Looks like people are stalled on this one.  So, I vote that we avoid big buildings in the future.  Small buildings on a big lot, however, are still fair game.

I don't think we should rule out any particular type of building, otherwise we'll all simply stay in our comfort zone, and get more and more samey.  I know I tend to build all the same type of house, left to my own devices, so I like the fact that, for this challenge only, I've got to think about building round stupid trees, or keeping a path I'd rather build over. It's having irksome restrictions that make you try something different, and let you see ideas others have to get round the same difficulty.  Mistyk's and devilsrope's houses this month are amongst the best we've ever seen, I think, and it would be a shame to automatically rule out having anything like them in the future.

We're not going to be able to suit everyone every time, but if we have variety, everyone gets suited eventually.

I have big plans for the lot, I just haven't had time to build in it yet.

I have the exterior, but not the grounds, done. I'm starting the interior decorating this weekend. It might just be taking people longer this month because it's a bigger lot.

I agree we should keep a variety. I've been really bored with the lots the last couple of months but still made lots I can use which I wouldn't have made in that way left to my own devices.

ETA:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/Makeover2/Image2.jpg)

That looks great, witch! 

I'm trying not to look too closely at the pictures, to save myself from inadvertantly copying someone else's entry.  Hoever, I think everyone is doing a great job with the exteriors and verandas (I adore the walls and windows on mistyk's). devilsrope, that community lot is amazing!

   First time posting here.  I had a try at this house and this is the result:

(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/MiMadre_2007/snapshot_0000001e_76c6b1c8.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/MiMadre_2007/snapshot_0000001e_96c6b1e8.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/MiMadre_2007/snapshot_0000001e_96c6b2af.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/MiMadre_2007/snapshot_0000001e_b6c6b472.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/MiMadre_2007/snapshot_0000001e_36c6b2da-1.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/MiMadre_2007/snapshot_0000001e_96c6b210.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/MiMadre_2007/snapshot_0000001e_76c6b209.jpg)
(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb318/MiMadre_2007/snapshot_0000001e_56c6b23f.jpg)

Download
http://www.box.net/shared/5fb1xzmu98

Hi Buny. You've certainly made a grand mansion, but I have to ask, were you feeling a little blue?  :P  I like your cluttered homelike look, even though it's a posh place. BTW you can improve your pictures if you use a program like Gadwin to take them.

I've got the same stairs in the main entrance and I was really peeved there was so little depth to the area. I wanted to set the stairs further back from the entrance. Actually, what I really wanted to do was create a mezzanine with curved stairs on either side, but EAxis didn't make the opposite curve.  >:(

      Thanks for commenting and I'll try the print screen program.

   As for the house the Dining room was already blue , I really didn't change anything there.  Blue is my favored color though and it's a calming color, it's suggested for bedrooms to help you sleep better, not sure if that works though. 
   
   What has always bothered me about this house is that for such a big house it had only one bedroom and that humongous office what a total waste of space, and as unlikeable as Landgrabb might be he needs children to keep the line going.

My computer really didn't like this house -- I needs more RAMS!!  (Hopefully I should be getting some soon.)

Anyway here is my attempt at this months house.  Pictures are not the best --  I got a new mouse and for some reason Gadwin is not working correctly with it.   

Front of the house, with Side Hedge Maze.
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/ajcrawly/74%20Gondola%20way/front.png)
Back of the house.
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/ajcrawly/74%20Gondola%20way/back.png)
Side Hedge maze and pond
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/ajcrawly/74%20Gondola%20way/hedgemazepond.png)
2nd Floor; Master bedroom, child/teen bedroom, full nursery, baby rooms, and nanny bedroom.  With terrace playground.
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/ajcrawly/74%20Gondola%20way/2ndfloor.png)
1st Floor; Library, Dining room, kitchen, chef/cook bedroom, entrance way, TV room, and child/teen bedroom.
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo349/ajcrawly/74%20Gondola%20way/1stfloor.png)

I couldn't play-test this because my computer was very unhappy with just the house, I could only imagine how it would do with Sims. So I hope everything is functional.  I did test the pool to make sure access to all parts was successful.

download here http://www.mediafire.com/?d4y4o4j2mqw

I have all EP's and SP's.   

I'll upload photo slideshow tomorrow later today (as I'm literally falling asleep at my desk at the moment).

It is now "later" so--Here is link to slideshow...
http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/?albumview=slideshow (http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/?albumview=slideshow)

Here are some pics too...

Front shots of the house...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_b6c943c4.jpg)

(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_56c94432.jpg)

This is a shot of the back of the house...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_d6c959aa.jpg)

Upper level layout...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_36c9448b.jpg)

This is the children's wing...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_16c95a53.jpg)

Girl's room...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_36c95a41.jpg)

Boy's room...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_16c95a53.jpg)

Master suite...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_16c95a73.jpg)

Lower level layout...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_d6c9449c-2.jpg)

Diningroom/Kitchen...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_16c947da.jpg)

Livingroom/Entry...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_76c947c1.jpg)

(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_96c8a2d6-1.jpg)

Pool...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_16c8a181.jpg)
I assumed that the wall between the main house and the "Poolroom" could be treated as an "interior" wall and I made some changes to its positioning without eliminating it.

Home floral business...
(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_f6c94528-1.jpg)

(http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv302/chobeegal_photos/March09/snapshot_0000001a_96c94543.jpg)

I did have to use a tiny amount of CC in order to achieve the result I wanted.
Windkeeper's merokkanchair
Menaceman44's CeilingLightFix
Nik24X7's dining chair recolors
Several floors (decks) from AVENIDA.

Here is the link to my house for this month; it was too big for MATY upload restrictions to allow. Hopefully the link works.
http://www.box.net/shared/b7mbl6bg4r (http://www.box.net/shared/b7mbl6bg4r)

Everyone is doing far better than me.  This one is frustrating and I'm trying not to steal incorporate the things I see here.

Oh oh can I play?

When I saw this lot I thought of a Lodge right away, and since I need a lodge in my hood I figured I would give it a go. It is called Two-Bears Lodge in my neighborhood "Hinkley Lake" but I renamed it to Gonway Lodge so I could keep track of it for uploading purposes.

Gonway Lodge
The ground floor houses the front desk, a restaurant off to one side and the pool and game room off to the other side, an elevator ride down takes you to the club to blow off steam and chat up the other guests.

The second floor contains the media/office room and a conference room which really is just a room you can rent to have a wedding, complete with banquet set up. On the other side of the second floor is the gym overlooking the pool as well as a covered terrace for the munchkins to play on. A second terrace lies between the amenities overlooking the front of the lodge for coffee and a break from the rest of the hubbub on the floor.

The third floor features accommodations to fit most family sizes, all rooms have phones, a bookcase, seating and private bathes with closets should the weather change leaving your current attire unsuitable. This floor also features a honeymoon suite with amenities such as a mini fridge, coffee bar, smoke alarm (should it get too hot in the room!) and phone as well as a private bath so you never have to leave the room.

The fourth and final floor features two full service penthouse suites for sims with larger families or who need to get away from the rest of the guests.
Also on the grounds is one detached quest house for a sim whose idea of a getaway is to get back to the greenhouse and simplicity. My original thought was a caretaker sim but since you can't run a hotel as a home business (well you can, just not without cc) it got turned into a guest house type room. Moving on...

The back "yard" has a small pond that is fishable and features a fountain, however not a lot of the yard is accessible; it's mainly for looks and to lag the crap out of your box.

Lot was play tested and everything appears functional. Accommodations range from 557 to 2711 per night. I didn't have any issues with the elevators since there are two and at one point there were 17 sims on the lot moving between the floors and they all seemed fine.

*Good luck if you have a slow low speckled rig..

http://www.nectere.net/TLSnet/Dropbox/thelocker/GonwayLodge.rar

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/nectere/Sims2%20Stuff/gonwaylodge/002.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/nectere/Sims2%20Stuff/gonwaylodge/003.jpg)

Moar pics:
http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/nectere/Sims2%20Stuff/gonwaylodge/?albumview=slideshow

@chobeegal. Well, I'm not surprised your computer struggled. You're going to need to sell a lot of plants to pay the team of gardeners you'll be needing.

Likes: that clinical kitchen, which is such a contrast to all the exuberance going on outside; the whole bedroom floor. Your master bedroom area looks so luxurious, and I particularly like details such as lit closets, and layered curtains.

Not sure about: is that a hole in the middle of the front balcony? It looks a bit risky.

@ Nectere. This is so much better than any holiday hotel my sims have been to. It seems to have everything, peace, raveup, bathing, playground poised above a watery grave, and companionable fishing while you wait for it to happen.

Likes: The little guest house, which looks almost Shakerish next to the rugged log construction; the contrast between the manicured front garden and the wild terrain at the back - just love that wilderness.

Not sure about: is log cabin construction safe over four floors? I'd want to get a structural engineer in before attempting that room over the front balcony.

@jim !sprog death to frog grave! Arrrrrrrhhhhhhh...oops. Oh well gotta feed those fish somehow.  Heh, I thought about structural support actually, hence the post beam construction on the front, did you see the post and beams holding up the balcony and the honeymoon suite? Actually they are kinda hard to see against the floor color but honest they are there! Anyway thanks this was great! baaaaaaa

;D LOL You got me confused with ajcrawly.
My PC had no problem with this house. I haz a shitload of RAM (3Gigs) now and gonna add 1Gig more soon. I do see your point about the drag though and would definitely suggest anyone with a slower 'puter do some major "surgery" before attempting playing this lot.
In reality, I would probably not play a lot this large at all. I much prefer the mini-lots (1X?), long and narrow. They are a challenge to build on too.
As for the plants though, when I play I use a gardening hack for any plants I keep anyway. My Sims find it annoying to have to tend their own flowers etc. or to pay a gardener.

Thank-you for your complements on the interior decor. I do try to keep that more simple for ease of navigation for my Sims. I really don't like the style of the Maxis curtains and the only way to do much to remedy it without using a lot of CC is to layer what is available. And I HATE dark closets in RL, hence the lighting in the Sims' ones.

No, that is not a hole in either balcony. I has a "grid" in it (which I matched underneath with the "ceiling"). The "grid" tile is one of the listed CC items I used.

My version, 3 double bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, first floor nursery. All EPs/SPs, no CC, costs §188k. Stupid verandah and pool remain. Some pics:

Front:
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/74_Gondola_Way/74_Gondola_Way-Front.jpg)

Basement (showing pool and garage):
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/74_Gondola_Way/74_Gondola_Way-Basement.jpg)

First floor:
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/74_Gondola_Way/74_Gondola_Way-First.jpg)

Second floor:
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/74_Gondola_Way/74_Gondola_Way-Second.jpg)

Back of lot:
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll294/Emma_M_71/74_Gondola_Way/74_Gondola_Way-Back.jpg)

I will add more pictures if I don't forget.

Download. (http://www.4shared.com/file/93282335/f1edb897/74_Gondola_Way_Emma.html)

I'm jealous.

Do you have XP? If you do check this out: Windows XP Game Optimization Tips @http://www.simwardrobe.com/ (http://www.simwardrobe.com/). It really speeds things up without adding any actual RAM. By doing this I have the equivalent of about 6-7 Gigs of RAM.
Incidentally, I found out this also works for VISTA, though it's easier to just stick in a flash drive for ready boost with VISTA.

This is just a silly lot, which I don't really think anyone will want to play. In fact, I think it's pretty much unplayable, because the sight lines are just terrible. I'm just posting it for a laugh. It's big, it's ugly, it's not cheap.

NeverEverLand

It comes in at $182,953, but it is intended for the pop idol sector of the market, so it's quite reasonable from that point of view.

It offers:
Ground floor: elegant if showy dining room, with lockable kitchen off; bathroom; spacious entry hall with musical possibilities, and games table adjoining; TV lounge with the homework desk (though children leaving the chair to the right will find themselves trapped behind the settee); pool/hot tub. There is a separate nursery annexe with room for two babies.

First floor: spacious master bedroom, with (unlit) bathroom en suite [the client I had in mind for this would possibly prefer his bathroom unlit]; twin kids' room with bathroom and separate toilet en suite, opening on to a playground terrace; connecting terrace between the bedrooms, with toys, games and snack machines; landing area has chess table and bookcase, for skilling.

Roof area: bar and seating; bubble blower; fruit bar; telescope; exercise sphere; loungers.

Mature trees give the garden privacy. There is a secluded fishing pond, fruit trees and a spa, to cater for all tastes, and a helipad, for those quick getaways.

It has to be said, the whole place is a bit dark, and needs much more lighting. At night it's downright gloomy. I haven't bothered to go in and light it more, because I really don't think anyone's likely to try playing it.

Sample shots:
Back:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3364638473_7a95d2090b.jpg?v=0)
Entrance hall:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3365459400_3bcfa33928.jpg?v=0)

Master bedroom
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3364638371_6230ae2ddc.jpg?v=0)

Landing:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3364638177_2f4d0c5977.jpg?v=0)

I have all EPs and M&G SP. Clean installer checked.

Slideshow here: http://tinyurl.com/dyecc6 (http://Slideshow here: http://tinyurl.com/dyecc6)
Download here: http://tinyurl.com/648pyj (http://Download here: http://tinyurl.com/648pyj)
 

Rubbish.  This lot is great - my simworlds are hardly "realistic", and gaudy is sometimes the way to go.  I don't think it's ugly (although I probably wouldn't decorate my IRL house like that).  I quite like the rooftop terrace ideas.  I have just the sim for this house (although he's gonna have to work a bit to raise the necessary purchase capital).


And the "guy" on the landing looks like me (although "he" has no dress sense whatsoever).   ;D 
Will download later.

Jim I love this lot. Its perfect for my eccentric family in Strangetown

It's Apartments!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_f6c99a28_d6c9a9f9.jpg)

Notes: Tested-  the landing for the penthouse was easily congested due to move-in excitement (landlord, new neighbors, gypsy, Mr. Humble...).  I included a download for the residential version so you can fiddle with the lay-out without having to use cheats, if you so desire.  I have all EP's, SP's Pre-Orders and Store Stuffs.

Lot View:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_36c9998b_d6c99d0d.jpg)

Penthouse:  3 Bed/2 Bath, nursery and enclosed porch. 
Rent:  $2,541

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_36c9998b_36c99d21.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_36c9998b_56c99db0.jpg)

1A: 3 Bed (2 Bed/1 Nursery)/2 Bath, space in lower level for crafting stations/aspiration rewards and an open porch.
Rent: $2,494

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_96c99701_96c9a398.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_96c99701_d6c9a3b5.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_96c99701_76c9a406.jpg)

1B: 3 Bed (2 Bed/1 Nursery)/2 Bath, space in lower level for crafting stations/aspiration rewards and an open porch
Rent: $2,396

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_76c993d9_56c9a59c.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_76c993d9_b6c9a5b1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_76c993d9_b6c9a5ef.jpg)

Garage: 1 Bed/1Bath
Rent: $809

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_f6c99a28_b6c9a84a.jpg)

Common Areas: Pool/Gym with access to large veranda, Basketball court and playground.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_f6c99a28_b6c9a8b9.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_f6c99a28_b6c9a950.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/Spikus/snapshot_f6c99a28_16c9a92f.jpg)

Download: 
It's Apartments! Apartments (http://www.box.net/shared/7fvg0ucpgc)
It's Apartments! Residential (http://www.box.net/shared/7loil2yv1p)

I like that you've given the lot a modern feel, but with very conventional materials. It looks ecologically sound, somehow

I particularly like the way you've added a wall to the balcony/landing on the top floor. It gives you a much better roofline, which was a real problem with this house. The wooden ceilings were a new idea to me, and they look good with those brick walls. I'm less keen on the idea of a bedroom and bathroom without windows; it would feel very claustrophobic to me. I'd definitely splurge the extra $50 a week for the penthouse.  The 'garage' apartment looks like a good starter apartment. It's very affordable, but stylish and comfortably furnished. 

It will look good in my sensible neighbourhood.

I have a question that probably should go on a different thread but I'm not really sure where so I'll just ask it here. I would like to know if there is any way to make a corner lot. Also, if you have a Maxis made corner lot (like the Broke one) is there any way to change the "front" of the lot to the other street edge so a driveway can be placed there?

Here's a tutorial on how to create a corner lot:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showpost.php?p=1778052&postcount=11

Or, use the LotAdjuster.  There's an advanced option to allow you to add and subtract roads from a lot.  You may also need to expand the lot to hold the new road.


Yes, it should be very easy.  You just need to change the U11 value to match the new front of the lot.  There's just one caveat: if you have one or more roads on a lot, you must have a road at the "front".  The tutorial above has a link to an explanation of the U10 and U11 fields.

There's also a tutorial about how to rotate a lot here:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=255110

If you need more help with this, I can walk you though it.  However, it might be better to start a new thread... this really isn't the right place for this.

Still fighting my frustration with the size of this lot (would shrink it if I could, but of course it has to go over the bounds). I have the structure done. External is about 2/3 done. Internal is only about half done. It's a community lot despite the mailbox and trashcan still sitting there, designed to be a general-use lot for a college, but it will definitely work for regular 'hood use.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/72u99w.jpg)
My college is all built to match and complement this lot (http://www.modthesims2.com/download.php?t=309385) by Stoffelsim.

(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/fullfrontal.jpg)
Completely gutted and re roofed. Attempted Awsomespec. Plenty of huge windows to display expensive acquisitions. Pool moved outside and patio retained on boring level. No pictures on the walls. Cost nearly 250 000 simoleons!
(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/2ndfloor.jpg)
floor plan of boring level with 3 beds for spawn,family bath,main bed with en-suite shower and alien viewing deck and small attic room for whatever.
(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/topviewgroundfloor.jpg)
Viewing deck consists of entrance with games of hustle, public bathroom, study, menagerie with own patio, live music area, TV room, kitchen and dining.
(http://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/tvlounge.jpg)
TV room
(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/study.jpg)
Study with one desk and huge aquarium
(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/rooftop.jpg)
rooftop basketball with burninators.
(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/petbreeding.jpg)
View of pet breeding patio, outside pool, and workshop area behind pool.
(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/back.jpg)
back
(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/front.jpg)
front
(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/gamesofhustle.jpg)
entrance with lockable stairway
(http://s675.photobucket.com/albums/vv119/GTBenade/Gondola%20way%20redux/patio.jpg)
Barbecue area showing one exit to back
If you want it, I have posted on the exchange http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/lot_detail.php?asset_id=801954 (http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/lot_detail.php?asset_id=801954)

So, this is my first post at MATY & my first attempt at renovating an "EAxis" house. Feel free to point & laugh. :D

GONDOLA GRANDISSIMA
Price: §161,957
Bedrooms: 1 master suite, 4 kids/teens, 1 nursery
Bathrooms: 3 full, 1 half

No CC. I tried to meet AwesomeSpecs as much as I could, e.g., perimeter fencing, lockable stairs & kitchen, main viewing deck, etc. I have all EPs. For SPs I have GL, H&M, TS, K&B, IKEA, M&G.

Front Overview
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww321/allon_midbar/Sims%202/Gondola%20Grandissima/01_front-overview.jpg)

Back Overview
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww321/allon_midbar/Sims%202/Gondola%20Grandissima/02_back-overview.jpg)

First Floor Plan
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww321/allon_midbar/Sims%202/Gondola%20Grandissima/03_first-floorplan.jpg)

Second Floor Plan
(http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww321/allon_midbar/Sims%202/Gondola%20Grandissima/04_second-floorplan.jpg)

Slideshow: http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww321/allon_midbar/Sims%202/Gondola%20Grandissima/?albumview=slideshow (http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww321/allon_midbar/Sims%202/Gondola%20Grandissima/?albumview=slideshow)
Download: Gondola Grandissima.rar (http://www.4shared.com/file/95400741/913817f8/Gondola_Grandissima.html) (932 KB)

EDIT: Corrected foreign language gender disagreement & updated all links.

Gillianagain, that looks really different and creative!

1) download not working
2) which expansions and stuff packs do you have?

Nursery is a bit cramped and you left out the now all-important skilling table, which has a higher baserate than lesser toddler items.

Yes, I agree the nursery is cramped, although it wouldn't be difficult to expand along the back of the house or into the backyard. (As it is, I would've removed the wall on the right to add a little more space, but it was one of the original exterior walls.) And I didn't know about the skilling table; I only recently purchased FT & haven't had much ... free time ... to play any families, so I wasn't even aware of the item's utility.

Gillianagain, your concept is interesting and original. However (I may be mistaken) but I thought that in order to increase the difficulty of the challenge, the rule was that the pool could not only not be omitted but that it could not be moved to the outside area. Keeping the garage was allowed to be optional, but not the pool.

Have all expansions, family fun stuff and teen stuff

My bad, so focused on not removing veranda, forgot about pool. Still it is a Bonus rule. However if it is disqualified I will whine until provided with "noose of confusion ending"

LOL No phoul no phail. This is not a contest after all so you can't be "disqualified"! Besides, nearly anything is a step up from EAxis Phail. Point and laugh is the worst that happens here, and your effort comes nowhere near deserving of that ignominity.  ;)

Traditionally, the bonus rule can be considered optional. We haven't disqualified entries before for not following it. Not that this is a real contest, anyways.

I'd like to enter this month's challenge, but I have a question I'd like clarified.  We must leave the original exterior walls, but can we leave them in a different form?  Can we turn full walls into greenhouse walls, or the half-wall with the bars on top?  Are simple half-walls a no-no?  Where does the rule allow some give, or does it?

As I understand it and have done it the walls can be replaced with another type of wall (eg half-walls or greenhouse walls as well as making additions of extensions to the basic house) so long as the original footprint remains unchanged within any new footprint.

I'm inclined to think any loopholes are begging to be exploited. I don't regard the rules as hard and fast, except for the footprint, I love seeing people's visions made concrete.

Mines coming... slowly. 

So far I have a greenhouse, a home-bar and a basement :D

Thank you, that helps  ;)

Nevermind me, not going to make it in this month, too much random stuff going on.  Sorry guys.  Got a ways through my house, and the game crashed, lost a good attempt at it.  I'll see if I can squeak it in though.  This renovating is fun!  Hard, a pain in the butt without cc, but fun.

Mine is all but there, pictures taken and all. Then I had to go and have a bright idea for grandstanding, so it will probably take me another whole evening.

Psst, don't tell anyone, but I wouldn't mind a smaller house next month.  :D

Sorry you lost one Pentabet, that's really frustrating.

Last offering from me this month is a straightforward family home - no home business, no funny business. It will accommodate a family of 6, but it doesn't come cheap.

Havenot Hall - a snip at $179,420, wanded and cleaned.

Conventional facade, a well-stocked garden, and generous greenhouse, which is large enough to generate income, if someone in the family would rather dig than go out to work.

Public rooms on the ground floor are: entrance hall, dining room and bathroom. Private rooms are: nursery for two, kitchen, and skilling room with stairs to the first floor.

Upstairs are two double bedrooms, one twin children's bedroom, two bathrooms, family room, and front balcony with lookout telescope.

Playtested over the time it took my tester to produce baby, throw a rave-up wedding party on terrace, have baby age up to child, and get pregnant again, this time with twins. So much for my 'no population increase' policy. We had a few clogged toilets, but this is a messy family. Otherwise, no problems, apart being the only person at her wedding in grubby old pants and a maternity smock.

Sample shots:
Front
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3395384528_b0d66901cb.jpg?v=0)

Back
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3394573835_d9a4279e18.jpg?v=0)

Entrance hall
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3447/3394575997_d8428dafd9.jpg?v=0)

Dining room
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3395382382_290450c74f.jpg?v=0)

Family room
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3394647591_89bf3b97d6.jpg?v=0)

Bedroom
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3394647405_de87fdd41a.jpg?v=0)

I have all EPs and M&G SP.

Slideshow: http://tinyurl.com/dzf3ys (http://tinyurl.com/dzf3ys)
Download: http://tinyurl.com/c3ko9a (http://tinyurl.com/c3ko9a)

Jim, that's really well done!  I like how clean and airy that bedroom looks.... it's all the same color giving it this washed out/beachy feel.  Verra nice. I won't be entering any of my houses for this month at all, but I will probably be yoinking quite a few of these entries.

Jim; I like that house. The manor theme off of M&G really make that place shimmer.

I had four more teens to send off to college, so I finally got off my ass and finished the lot. Named, rather plainly, Community Center and available >>>>here (http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=d5515f661319125de7c82ed4b8f0c3805f5a8fef19691ccc5be6ba49b5870170)<<<<. Lot was primarily designed to be a student union type lot in a college, but will fit in your main neighborhood and was built in the main neighborhood.

Features:

• Open-air pavillion set up for small concerts
• Basic store selling clothes, magazines, and groceries
• Small gym
• Pool and showers
• Spa/masseuse
• Library and mini-museum
• Artist's studio
• Skydeck
• Various seating areas

Pic time (may contain robot-munching alien):
(http://i40.tinypic.com/x1nn0k.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/2rdgbi1.jpg)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/b6at09.jpg)
Tested by: Billy Goldhammer, Olivia Zelenka, Charles Zelenka, and Darrien Zelenka. Robot-munching by Trinity Nejem.

Requires: All EP. M&G SP also suggested for full display. Ikea, H&M, and K&B also owned but no objects from these SP should have been used.

I like both to the last minute entries. Very nice house Jim, if a bit pricey, but with a foundation that size it is going to cost. The community center is great. I just made one for my new starter neighborhood, but yours looks fantastic.

Any ideas on next month's house? I want to give this phail house thing a try.

Right, with just 40 minutes to go NZ time, here is this month's entry for March. It was actually ready about 2 days ago, but no, I had to decide to hold a ball. 500MB later, I had enough Edwardian and Victorian clothing to outfit my sims - with a soupçon of southern belle.  :D  But more of the ball later.

I have all EPs and nearly all of the SPs. There are about 6 bedrooms and around 5 bathrooms. There is heaps of room for expansion in the cellar, I didn't end up creating the family skeletons. I can't find the bit of paper I wrote the price of the house on but even wanded I think it comes to just under §250k.

I've tried to make it reasonably Victorian, but as we all know, that's bloody hard without CC and with EAxis mismatched woods and furniture. Still, I think it does have a somewhat old-fashioned look.

Here we go then.

Front
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_042.jpg)


Rear
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_003.jpg)


Basement
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_004.jpg)


Ground floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_006.jpg)


1st floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_007.jpg)


2nd floor
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_008.jpg)


Lounge
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_015.jpg)


Swimming pool room
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_017.jpg)


Housekeeper's living room
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_022.jpg)


Master bathroom
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/090328_030.jpg)


Ball
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/Ball001.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/Ball003.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/Ball004.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/Ball007.jpg)

Slideshow (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/74GondolaWay/?albumview=slideshow) with MANY more pictures.  :P

Download (http://www.box.net/shared/blnlhd08v9)

I love the period style Witch.

Looks like my effort will be late again, it's built but not tested and I'm not sure when I'll get the chance perhaps at the weekend. Can we have a smaller lot next time please?

This is a great house, witch, as always.  However, noting the lack of a visible trash can in the front, I now blame you for the disappearance of all trash cans throughout my game.  This may be totally unjustifiable, but it makes me feel better.

Also, it is not really a big issue.  I have become amused by angry sims kicking nothing, resulting in an explosion of garbage and roaches all over the front pavement.

Will download house later, trash can or no.

Here's my last-minute entry.

(http://i43.tinypic.com/302vzuw.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/xpn6zq.jpg)

Ground floor: entry with the One Desk, living room, pool area, dining room, kitchen, nursery, three bathrooms.
(http://i39.tinypic.com/afbou9.jpg)

First floor: skilling area, master bedroom with bathrooms, three bedrooms, bathroom.
(http://i43.tinypic.com/200woqp.jpg)

Second floor: Empty space for job rewards etc.
(http://i44.tinypic.com/35mpc74.jpg)

Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/file/ommlyyhmylu/74GondolaWay.Sims2Pack (http://www.mediafire.com/file/ommlyyhmylu/74GondolaWay.Sims2Pack)

@Cucumberpie is there possibly to be a download link? ???

My trashcan is hidden behind the fence running alongside the driveway.  :P

Although all the trashcans in my actual game have turned invisible. I did read why but have since forgotten.  ::)

I don't know if the house is actually playable, by the time I had 32 residents it was lagging quite badly. I did originally create a proper Victorian family and packaged that before I mauled the rest. I may put that up in peasantry once I've given the family their bios and so on.

Hmmm.  Interesting.  I had read about an invisible trash can mod from MTS2, and went so far as to download it so I could seek and destroy the file (needed to know the filename).  Search came up blank, so I suspect it's something embedded in a lot somewhere.  As I said, it's not a big deal.

If I delete all my lots, all my cc, etc., I'm almost sure to have a hood that has trashcans again.  Not sure that is worth the fuss.

I'll test to see if your house is playable.  The design suits my purposes, as far as style and size goes.

If I understand it correctly, the invisible trashcan @MTS2 is a simple "recolor" and should not affect any trashcan other than the one it is applied to. I downloaded it but have never used it. However, I did see it included in the original "flat lot" some house I downloaded from this thread this month. I deleted the file for a clean install, but then I noticed my trashcan was invisible in Aggie's foundation swap lot until I exited and reentered it. It has been there perfectly visible ever since though.

All I can say is "not me". I don't have that. I do have the buyable mailbox/trashcan, but not on the account I use to build for sharing. That account's Downloads folder only has the magicwand and collection.

Right, next months house, do we have any nominations?

Edit: Corrected sentence.

:o We haven't even had any nominations yet.  :P

Must be someone else's turn to go looking. Don't forget I found a half dozen or so in the last couple of month's threads, there were some there that looked promising.

I forgot that. I've added one now.

25 Toboggan Way was second favourite from the lots witch found in February.

7 Carriage Lane looks small and boring, but it's essentially featureless, so would need some extra rules. (Maybe requiring that it can't be more than one floor above ground, or has to be a community lot, or accommodation for vampires/plant sims/witches/whatever?)

Amazingly, that lot is already flat.  However, do we want to do another OFB lot?

For reference (Witch's pics):

7 Carriage Lane
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/bluewater%20residential/Bluewater_250209007.jpg)	(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/bluewater%20residential/Bluewater_250209008.jpg)
25 Toboggan Way
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/bluewater%20residential/Bluewater_250209013.jpg)	(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/nz_witch/bluewater%20residential/Bluewater_250209014.jpg)

For 7 Carriage Lane, I'd say keep the tree and the sidewalk. It definitely needs a redo, but is utterly uninspiring. Nothing's really wrong with it structurally, it's just blah. It also has those crappy rooflines that make me want to smack whoever designed it for having no taste whatsoever. Even in basegame, they could have done better than that.

For 25 Toboggan Way...I can see what could be done with that. I'm seeing a seedy motel if I had my cc. Probably apartments without. I'd recommend requiring that the outer porches/walkways and stairs are kept.

I like 25 Toboggan Way.  Agree that the stairs, porch, and walkways should stay, but I think the pond should stay as well (arguably, it's size could be altered, but a pond with part of the original edge should stay).  That has some interesting possibilities.

I vote for 25 Toboggan Way.

Too late.  Next month's challenge is already posted.

She voted for the house that was chosen anyway :D

Yeah, I saw that right after I voted. LOL

Yes I know that March is over and we are now well into April. I am doing a makeover for April which I do intend to post on time, however I wanted to go ahead and post this one I did in March. I actually had it finished before the deadline but didn't get it posted because my grandpa passed away on Sunday morning the 29th :'( and I didn't feel like doing anything with the Sims.
Here are pictures:
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_76e7b31f.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_b6e7b357.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_56e7b382.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_76e7b3b5.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_d6e7b398.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_36e7b425.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_16e7b4bf.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_76e7b417.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_96e7b40e.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_96e7b49a.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_d6e7b47f.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_d6e7b44e.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_d6e7b459.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/snapshot_0000001a_d6e7b46b.jpg)
http://s592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/?albumview=slideshow&mediafilter=slideshows (http://s592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/WeezySueWong/?albumview=slideshow&mediafilter=slideshows)
http://www.box.net/shared/togt5dj7tf (http://www.box.net/shared/togt5dj7tf)

WeezySueWong, lovely makeover, but what's with the random curtain floating by the barstools in the kitchen?

Sorry about your Grandpa.

Gee, I don't know how that curtain got there. Maybe the house has a poltergeist? Actually I had moved some around and "hung" them in air intending to put them back on windows or delete them if not. I just somehow must have missed that one. LOL
Thank you for your kind sympathy.


Oh, and by the way, the windows around the pool are supposed to be white, I don't know why they turned red, but I just now noticed it lol.


Moderator edit: double posting fixed

I started this house, but got distracted halfway through. I might post pictures still. ;)

Weezy, those red windows act strange in my game too. When I work without my download folder (no CC), then there are several color options for those windows. When my downloads are in the game, those windows only have a red option. Freaky.
Sorry to hear about your Grandad.

Salix, try updating your CEP files. If you have the old CEP version then it will break these windows.