For my contest entry, I've decided to submit my "2x2 Colonial", which had started out as an experiment in budget family housing. In essence, I wanted to see if I could fit a functional, traditional style suburban family house with basement and garage on only a 2x2 lot.
I've playtested this 3 bedroom house with a family of 4 (the target family size) and with a single vampire. The only issue that I found was that sims prefer to enter the garage from outside rather than the inside entrance. A bit unpleasant for the vampire with a day job, but otherwise no biggie.
For the contest, I've furnished the house for a family of 6 plus an infant or toddler. At this family size, I think the place is starting to get a bit 'cozy', but should still work. In keeping with my original budget housing concept, I mostly used cheap furniture. The exceptions are refrigerator, stove, and beds. For beds, I really don't like using beds with an energy rating less than 6 without a good reason. For the stove, the gas stove gives a much better bang for the simolean than the cheap electric stove. And I went up one step from bottom on the refrigerator too, because who wants to run to the grocery store every day?
Even furnished for a nearly full family, I've kept the basement mostly empty, so there's room to expand without any structural modifications. And for further expandability, more living area can be added over the garage.
As for aesthetics, it's not the Taj Majal, but it's hardly an eyesore. It should make a nice downtown suburbia dwelling.
The cost, furnished and landscaped as shown, is $53,402. Stripped of plants and furniture, the purchase price drops to the low 20s. It may be possible to drop the price below 20K, with the removal of the driveway and wall textures, but I haven't tried yet.
I've uploaded this house to the Exchange. I guarantee it free of any hacks or custom content, via the simple expedient of removing my downloads folder before packaging :p
http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/lot_detail.php?asset_id=385479Uni and Nightlife are required.
Now then, last but definitely not least, the bribe. See my reply below.