It's the eyes, isn't it? That top one...oi.

I'm of the belief that they just need a dumbed down version of it to understand. Those big words and legal terms are confusing to them.

arrgh, thanks! I just had to figure out where to do it. The sad thing is, I like building so much that I have a few more on the go. I'm waiting (impatiently) for AL to finish so that I can finally make my condo development. Boy, if there was a mod or something to simulate road work, it would be just like my hometown! The town I live in is smack dab between the two hosting cities for the 2010 Olympics. Fucking Olympics.

cookiepirate, where in the world did you find those house numbers that you used on your lot? I've been searching for some, and only found ones that came on a plaque. I obviously need to take landscaping courses from you and FilthyPriest. Those lots are both gorgeous (as is the sim!).

Got my fingers crossed that this works.

I've completed 11 Chinook Drive and I think it's ready for consumption. The Testaverti family (Alpha, the father; Beta, the mother; Release Version, their teenaged daughter; Doggie, a giant mutt; Kitteh, the cat from hell) fully enjoyed their stay in the house and helped to point out a few pathing issues for me. The divider has been removed from around the fireplace, the couch and television have been moved in the media/family room, and the toilet in the downstairs bath can officially be used. Toilets all flushed, tubs and showers were used, mac'n'cheese was successfully made in the kitchen and consumed in the dining room, and the animals even had fun tearing down the furniture (though their heads kinda sink into the 45 degree chairs).

In the interest of fairness, and because I wanna call myself Baskin Robbins, just with a lot less flavours, there's four versions of the house: a fully CC version ($84,968), an unfurnished CC version ($30,119), a no-CC ($91,918)  and fully furnished version, and a no-CC unfurnished version ($32,439).

Note: I have all expansions and stuff packs installed, save for Apartment Life *glares at slow torrent*

Slideshow link, once more, of the CC and furnished version of the house: 11 Chinook Drive

11 Chinook Drive - No CC - Unfurnished.rar
11 Chinook Drive - CC.rar
11 Chinook Drive - CC - Unfurnished.rar
11 Chinook Drive - No CC.rar

Shopping list of CC items are as follows (just in case it's needed or anyone wants just the particular items):
Chimney Recolors: Simply Siding set by Kimsie
Independent Expressions / Single Door by MaryLou
Homey Touches: The Walls and Floor Set / Painted Plaster by sweetswami77
Recolor of CTNutmegger's Colonial Style Fireplace by PWidow - Original mesh here
Shrubby Shrubs by HystericalParoxysm
Liberated Plastic Flowers by HystericalParoxysm
Unlocked IKEA Lights by Havelock, reposted by Surelyfunke

So far as I know, no warning flags went up about the items included in the CC lots (i.e., able to share), but if I'm wrong and someone is offended/wishes not to have it included/sees something in the notes that I don't, please tell me and I'd be more than happy to remove it and try to find an alternative. If any of the links don't work (I tested them, but you never know), lemme know.

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. Now I'm off to start my collection of Stawamus townhouses set.

Just so I'm sure I understand this: for instance, the wall color I used is from a rather large set of them. It's better to package the house, remove download folder, install the house with ONLY the files that I used in my "clean" download folder and then repackage? Or would the wall color not matter and only the stuff like the fireplace and (possibly) the door?

Sorry, complete noob to this. I just rediscovered the package lot button. I did always wonder where it had gone.

Oi, those fucking stairs. I followed a tutorial to use fencing as a stair rail, since the railing for those stairs looks like hot shit on a stick. It turned out more complicated than I had hoped, but essentially:

The whole house is built on a foundation. Once I figured out where the stairs were going to land, I took out the foundation beside them. I built the wall next to them (on the level of the flooring, NOT the ground, yay for floaty walls!...what is it, four clicks difference?), fencing ontop, and lowered terrain (CFE cheat, of course) on them until the wall matched up with the stairs. Replace foundation, and I put a wall on the back of the stairs, to match the rest of the house. It took me about three hours on that fucking rail, with much cursing and poker-smoking cigarettes until I was satisfied. I ended up with the split-level stairs only because, once again, hot shit on a stick without it. Unfortunately, you can't have your bastardized railing/wall go to the bottom square of the stairs. Normally, I just throw a flat bit of fencing there, but I didn't like the look. It did, unfortunately, give me a slightly bigger opening on the second floor, but I just fenced it off and told myself that Sims like hanging over the edge and waving at people as they ascend the stairs. Though the download suggested would probably be less of a headache than my routine. I, also, can't recall what it looks like with walls-down view. That might be an issue.

Honestly, it was a happy accident. I'm gonna load up the game first thing tomorrow morning and see if I can reverse-engineer that step building process, because something isn't sitting right with me about those instructions. I'm not sure yet if that buggers actually playing it, but that's my experiment for tomorrow.

Missbonbon, my list literally took up half of a standard index card when it came to the CC. Essentially, the fireplace, the chimney recolor, the shrubs, the front door, and the wall colors. I found suitable replacements for the wall colors, though I admit that they don't look as nice as the painted plaster CC ones, the door was easily changed to the same as the interior doors, and the shrubs to Maxis ones. The fireplace is the only thing I haven't replaced in the non-CC house, as I'm partial to the one in there. I think I also have  Lord Darcy's multi-deco slot in my game, which might be the only needed thing (then again, clutter is easily deleted. I just like the homier little touches).

falln_angel, cheers! It'll be nice not to have a red line under all the words with extra u's.

Fake edit: Mwah! I see where I cheated. Rather than just leave that extra wall on the back of the stairs, I built a bathroom there. It seems that the fencing isn't visible when first floor walls are up, only second floor walls, but it still looks decent, just dangerous.

Wow, thanks guys! After the day from hell at work that I had (hey, it's not every day that you tell your boss that you're about ready to walk out), that definitely made my night! Y'all are great for the ego. On the upside, I now have my two days off, so I should be able to finish up and properly play-test the house, before possibly releasing it to the public. As to where to do that, I'm at a loss. MTS2 crossed my mind, but damn, most of the houses I've seen there are far better than mine (especially with the landscaping, which I've learned is not my strong suit).

But for now, I can haz slide-show! The full 11 Chinook Drive (minus the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies and apple pie) :
http://s308.photobucket.com/albums/kk330/Miss_Ria/?action=view&current=d638895f.pbw

I re-did the walls throughout, changing them instead to a rather nice blue, chose a new rug, did a different kitchen floor, and finished the upstairs, which is now complete with a master suite, and en suite bath, two guest rooms (or kids rooms, for a family), and a public-y bath. Shots of all included.

I do, however, have a few questions. I did use some CC in the house, 5 altogether that I can count and all from MTS2. They're somewhat focal points to the house, such as the fireplace, walls, and shrubs outside. Is that a deterrent to people when it comes to downloading or does it not matter, so long as it includes a shopping list? I put together a quick non-CC version of it as well, but it doesn't seem to have that same feel to it that I like about the CC'ed interior. As well, it's a 2x3 lot, and comes in at a whopping $85, 434. Too expensive? I wanted it to screamwhisper a quiet elegance, but as I have never downloaded a house and build my own boxes, I haven't a clue.

I think I found my new love/obsession. I can barely recolour, can't mesh worth a shit...but I did learn earlier today that I rock at muttering, "Oh, go get fucked up the ass. Lube optional," to my boss as I walk by. He must've thought I said something nice, because he gave me the double thumbs up and called me a rockstar. Heh.

Damned Firefox. "Colour" is correctly spelled!

I'm a little apprehensive after seeing the gorgeous lots before in this thread and its parent, but I figure that what I did was better than the stuff in the Ugliest Paysite thread, so...

I've never been much on building, but I followed a plan this time (http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=29708) and have sadly learned that I think I kinda suck. The outside looks all right, if not slightly boring, but the back of the house, and the interior is...meh, at best? So, I come to all of you, hat and rum in hand, in hopes of some real constructive critiques. Do your best/worst with me, people. I'm thick-skinned.


As I was saying, the front of the house looks all right, if not a little bland. I figure some more landscaping, since this is a work in progress, and some deck clutter would help a little. My idea of landscaping is usually throw a tree in the corner and call it a night. Heh. Unfortunately, the few little inspired touches I put in don't show, like using a darker ground cover under the decking area, to make it a little more shadowed.


zomg, side view, and yes, the bottom of the chimney matches the rest. I'm guessing that's just a shadow, because it matches on the back view. Again, hints for landscaping?


And the mighty back, which is...the back. And boring. I'm all about symmetry, so if I were to add a deck to the master suite, I would also need one for the other side, which is the en suite bathroom. The house is almost on the back of the lot, because I was using a narrow house plan that's intended to take up the whole lot. But still, there has to be something that can be done.


I probably spent almost an hour getting this little corner right, and I'm rather proud of it, but it's about the ONLY good furniture setting that I can see in there. The opposite side looks bland and boring.


Opposite side, including the entrance and the stairs to the second level.


Not bad kitchen, boring as hell dining room.


AND ground floor shot. I have no clue as to what to do with the big empty space there, whether to leave it, separate and clutter the area, or what.

I haven't done too much on the second floor yet, aside from the master suite, because I'm not sure whether I'm going to keep struggling with this, or just call it a loss. I like it, a little, but I was really hoping to get away from my usual "throw a box on the ground, separate with walls, throw on a roof, yay insta!house!" routine. I already know that I have to re-do the en suite because I somehow stopped following the routine of the sort of understated colors and kinda connecting theme and made my dream black and white bathroom instead, which really doesn't match the master suite.

So...please be honest? Love or hate it? Any advice, ideas, or helpful hints?

Oh, and if it's too graphics-heavy, lemme know, and I'll try to figure out a slideshow instead. That could be an experiment all in itself without throwing in a picture of the Vegas trip, although baby tiger cubs might be better on the eyes. Heh.

We played something similar when we were kids. Only we used lawn darts. And it wasn't so much bruised knuckles as it was bruised toes and bloodied noses. Actually, come to think of it...we were a lot safer when Pogs became popular.

Although I'm still pissed that you can't buy REAL lawn darts anymore. Those cheap plastic ones won't stick in the ground at all!

It is. As is this:



Stars added by me. Because the nips were frightening. Of course, on s/h/it's website, there was a star over the left nipple...and that was it. Full glory nipple-age at the bottom.

Oh, I definitely care. *glares at CD/DVD burner that can be better used as a coffee cup holder now* Fucking SecuRom.

I've never seen a tree do the hula before. It's hypnotizing.

The "Pshaw! Who needs a ribcage!" look?

Um, I do. Thanks.

...and to think, once upon a time, when I was young and impressionable, Liana was the ONLY clothing in my downloads folder. Heh. Live and learn.

Holy fuck! That brought back the hangover...

I think Carla Niven's crap just scared me out of my hangover. Holy hell, those sleeves...