Right now, I'm working on customizing Bridgeport, and my favorite "starter home" in the set so far is actually nothing more than an underground sewer system, complete with "vile surroundings" moodlet. After I built that lot, I decided that I'm probably going to play the sim who'll live there. It's just more fun for me when you can tie the lot into the sim's backstory and personality, and custom build it for that sim.
This is extremely cool and very realistic. It's inspired me to completely re-do my basements. Thanks for posting it. :thumbup:
Back in Sims 2 I just about always built my own houses, but in Sims 3 I actually prefer the challenge of playing Sims in an EA house and redecorating to fit their (and my) needs.
That said, I LOVE to redesign the EA houses, and am forever building new community lots. I think I was much more creative in Sims 2, but I try my best in Sims 3. It's just that silly CAStyle tool -- of course, it's the best thing ever, but I find it harder to be creative with it because there are just SO many possibilities, and ones that my brain never sees. My biggest trouble is with walls and floors; because of CAStyle, it doesn't really matter what you even pick out of the catalogue, but how you change it.
For some reason, my brain is still stuck in Sims 2; I look at the catalogue, I know it like the back of my hand, and I love to use what is right there in front of me to create works of art. It's hard for me to see how that plain floor tile could become anything other than a red plain floor tile, or a blue plain floor tile, or maybe a checked but still mostly plain floor tile.
Even so, I'm forever working on improving, and I think this past year I've made huge improvements in my CAStyle use.
Still, I love to work with EA premade things; I'm even redoing each of the EA worlds in CAW (and then Edit Town) at the moment. I want all of my worlds to stay exactly the same, but be bigger and better!
It's a little ambitious.
a.k.a. Erin
Check out The Simdex—my PDF guide to all of the Sims 3 Store content (last updated September 2015)
I'm not good at coming up with my own house plans. I usually look at a build by someone else then re build it for myself. Giving credit still of course. Decorating is my favorite and landscaping is my least favorite.
Use to I either used a pre-made house (with their decorations) or a house I'd do a lot of begging and talk my husband into making for me. I tried building early on once and it turned out a horrible mess.
I found a few tutorials and learned a few tricks, and - while I still have some learning to do - I built and decorated my first home not to long back. Since then I've built a 3 bedroom starter house that is cute for under 20K (maybe even under 18K) and I've built another home that's 2 bedroom. I'm actual quit proud of them. My first is on the exchange. It's not bad at all for a first, my other two I just use for me in game. I don't have pictures of the last two, but here's a couple of my first one.
I make most of my own houses as well as many community lots. The only houses I don't make very often are starter houses, but its much easier to get my families established when I do. This is probably because I make my starter houses with necessitiese only and EA gives them a lot of decorative architectural features.
I do run into dilemmas with what I want and what my computer likes. When build a stunning house with lots of CASt and MOO and ConstrainElevation, the house tends to slow down my game. When I build houses with expansive nectar cellars, they slow down my game. If I keep my basements small then I have no issues. I find adding basements is a huge hassle and only use them for my wealthier sims anyway. I'm always trying to find a balance between beauty, function and playability .
I usually start them off in a starter home, then when they move, I'll build them a house. I do sometimes get bored of building and need to take a break. I'm very particular about everything when I build so it takes me a while. When I have them live in pre-made homes, I always redecorate. I can't stand how most of them come decorated.
I built a lot more in The Sims 2 than The Sims 3. When I first started with TS3, I built a few using the blueprints to see what they were like and I liked them but I thought with the expansion packs I would get get different blueprints so I got bored with them when I didn't. I actually like A LOT of the premade houses in The Sims 3. I usually just redecorate and add on to them if I need to. I'm really impressed with them in TS3.
I don't normally build in the town except to add lights where they are needed. I have added some lots I got from The Exchange a few times (love them) but I generally leave the town the way it is. :thumbup:
shakeninsane - I really love your shots, especially that last picture in your set. I'd want to live there myself.
Aww, thanks guys!
FryeGuy, that's a really cool sewer system area! I like making lots like that but I never thought about a sewer before!
I sometimes make homes that look like they are above an old and closed restaurant. Like, just a two story house but the first story is decorated like a restaurant that's been closed for some time. Or sometimes it's a "shop" instead.
I'm thinking of maybe making a house that looks like an un-used hotel.
To the Original Poster:
I actually build WAY more than I play. I love to build, it is my favorite thing. I am not sure how many things I've built, but a lot of them are in my Studio.
Here are a couple of photos:
ALL my builds are CC free, by the way, and if anyone wants to see more photos and/or get the Exchange link for the build, just go here and see post two:
P.S.
For those of you who do NOT like to build, click on my siggy and go visit the D.N.A. Request Team (of which I am a proud member) and request your dream house from us! We use only the EPs, SPs, and Store content that you tell us we can use.
ZooProfessor3 You've shown some great builds and I've done a lot of my own building since TS2 where I built apartment buildings and TS3 where I build most of the things my Sims use including the festival lots and even the worlds I play in which I've done three of them in CAW.I've got my three legacy games all taking place in my custom worlds.
Here's one starter home I built recently on a 50x50 lot for a single parent with one child for 17000$ in the game.
Full view from the front.
Full view of the back.
Full view of the side.
Full view of the inside.
I build more than I play for sure 8) I build for fun, rather than actually going in-game a lot of the time. I'm quite good by now. I have over 100 houses on the exchange, more or less. I have 293 creations in my studio, and many of them are houses I build for friends, build for fun, build to upload, build to play... And so on!
I much prefer to build my own homes to using a premade. I built a lot in Sims 1. I had mostly Community Lots on the exchange there and some did very well. I built less in Sims 2 and uploaded less still to the exchange. When that site went down I only had one house on the Exchange there. Whatever little else I did, was culled shortly after uploading. I loved building in The Sims Online, I made many different lots.
Here is a pizza shop I made, a money lot for making pizza money with friends..
I learned to do roof art, the hard way. The roof on a lot owned by my sim who was a crafter - his name was Avalanche Wolf, therefore the picture choice:
I built a lot that I kept less than a day just to play around with 3D roofing, I made a rose..
I had many welcome type lots, this one was my summer camp. Some friends stopped by and we spent the night getting the ghost to come and make us pee ourselves. And shooting each up with cannons..
I absolutely love building in Sims 3 thanks to the inclusion of CASt. My studio has less than 30 houses and a handful only of community lots, five I believe. I do have more in my game that haven't made it to the exchange, mostly community lots. Most of my homes are very traditional in style, typical American suburbia I guess.
Here are pictures of several of my homes and community lots...
I'm still holding out for a Sims4 that is at least as customizable as is the Sims 3. If it isn't, I don't see me doing much building at all. But who knows.
I mostly build for myself and have from the beginning, sims 1. I'm a decent builder and have had a couple of houses that I was particularly proud of do reasonably well on the exchange but I'm definitely not the caliber of builder like Jessa, Zoo and Rflong. Their creations are crazy good.
I enjoy decorating as much as building but the one thing that continually makes me pull my hair out is the dang roofs. :x Still working on that.
Edit because I can't spell this morning.
In my house, dog hair sticks to everything but the dog.
I used to be very bad at house-making, so I would only make homes for Sims I didn't like to live in. My homes aren't amazing now, but I am proud of having some of my favorite Sims call them home. :P
Just some interior work I did for my performance Sims couple in Evansdale County (custom world from mysimsreality):
Yes, that's an apple bobbing tank trying to look cool.
Custom chairs for everyone! No one sits in the chair designed for them though...
I currently live in an apartment, so having my own laundry machines is something I look forward to. So I put some effort into putting them into nice looking rooms. :P
Yes, subway train doors for their master bathroom doors.
This is the view out the window when they wake up. Lot placement is something I've worked on for a while, as it bothered me that some of my old lots had windows that just looked out into the side of a hill, into a bunch of trees, or into an awkward part of a nearby lot.
I still am working on it, as there's still lots I can improve on, but quite satisfied for now. :P
I mostly build for myself and have from the beginning, sims 1. I'm a decent builder and have had a couple of houses that I was particularly proud of do reasonably well on the exchange but I'm definitely not the caliber of builder like Jessa, Zoo and Rflong. Their creations are crazy good.
I enjoy decorating as much as building but the one thing that continually makes me pull my hair out is the dang roofs. :x Still working on that.
Edit because I can't spell this morning.
Thank you for the lovely compliment! You have some very cool stuff in your Studio. I especially like what you've been doing with the roller coaster pieces.
When I first started playing the sims 3 I just used the pre-made houses in the game and expanded/changed them around to fit my sims needs and to help me get used to the building tool. Once I felt more confident in the tool I started building my own houses which usually turned out as boxes/rectangles until I started watching tutorials/house building videos. Now I almost always create my own houses.
Comments
This is extremely cool and very realistic. It's inspired me to completely re-do my basements. Thanks for posting it. :thumbup:
That said, I LOVE to redesign the EA houses, and am forever building new community lots. I think I was much more creative in Sims 2, but I try my best in Sims 3. It's just that silly CAStyle tool -- of course, it's the best thing ever, but I find it harder to be creative with it because there are just SO many possibilities, and ones that my brain never sees. My biggest trouble is with walls and floors; because of CAStyle, it doesn't really matter what you even pick out of the catalogue, but how you change it.
For some reason, my brain is still stuck in Sims 2; I look at the catalogue, I know it like the back of my hand, and I love to use what is right there in front of me to create works of art. It's hard for me to see how that plain floor tile could become anything other than a red plain floor tile, or a blue plain floor tile, or maybe a checked but still mostly plain floor tile.
Even so, I'm forever working on improving, and I think this past year I've made huge improvements in my CAStyle use.
Still, I love to work with EA premade things; I'm even redoing each of the EA worlds in CAW (and then Edit Town) at the moment. I want all of my worlds to stay exactly the same, but be bigger and better!
It's a little ambitious.
Check out The Simdex—my PDF guide to all of the Sims 3 Store content (last updated September 2015)
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/29937214@N05/9684583456" title="Screenshot-1200 by jenfox114, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/9684583456_068794cb05_z.jpg" width="640" height="512" alt="Screenshot-1200"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/29937214@N05/9736082015" title="Screenshot-1265 by jenfox114, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/9736082015_e6b74a1153_z.jpg" width="640" height="512" alt="Screenshot-1265"></a>
Original house here
The last house I built 100% myself:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/29937214@N05/13461042114" title="Screenshot-248 by jenfox114, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2910/13461042114_27b17e5d8f_z.jpg" width="640" height="360" alt="Screenshot-248"></a>
But I didn't finish... Too small for me to do anything with it.
S3 simblr: http://simplysimming.tumblr.com/
S4 simblr: http://simlogic.tumblr.com/
Then in Sims 2, I would create my own houses, and those were huge, square, and mostly empty since I played with major cheats.
Now with Sims 3, I build ALLLL the time. I build everything. And not just squares, actual semi-decent looking stuff that doesn't look empty
I found a few tutorials and learned a few tricks, and - while I still have some learning to do - I built and decorated my first home not to long back. Since then I've built a 3 bedroom starter house that is cute for under 20K (maybe even under 18K) and I've built another home that's 2 bedroom. I'm actual quit proud of them. My first is on the exchange. It's not bad at all for a first, my other two I just use for me in game. I don't have pictures of the last two, but here's a couple of my first one.
Front of My 1st house:
[img]<a href="http://s1032.photobucket.com/user/s_thompson_76/media/Screenshot-24_zps842a20f9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a407/s_thompson_76/Screenshot-24_zps842a20f9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Screenshot-24_zps842a20f9.jpg"/></a>[/img]
Living Room:
[img]<a href="http://s1032.photobucket.com/user/s_thompson_76/media/Screenshot-28_zpse593fb98.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a407/s_thompson_76/Screenshot-28_zpse593fb98.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Screenshot-28_zpse593fb98.jpg"/></a>[/img]
Master Bedroom:
[img]<a href="http://s1032.photobucket.com/user/s_thompson_76/media/Screenshot-30_zps5e706893.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a407/s_thompson_76/Screenshot-30_zps5e706893.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Screenshot-30_zps5e706893.jpg"/></a>[/img]
I really do love this house. I have a family I'm playing in it. This house is in my studio.
I do run into dilemmas with what I want and what my computer likes. When build a stunning house with lots of CASt and MOO and ConstrainElevation, the house tends to slow down my game. When I build houses with expansive nectar cellars, they slow down my game. If I keep my basements small then I have no issues. I find adding basements is a huge hassle and only use them for my wealthier sims anyway. I'm always trying to find a balance between beauty, function and playability
Thank you so much for the nice comment! I'm glad you were able to find something inspiring in it.
It's been fun seeing everyone's different styles, and seeing what they like to build for their sims. So many talented simmers out there!
I don't normally build in the town except to add lights where they are needed. I have added some lots I got from The Exchange a few times (love them) but I generally leave the town the way it is. :thumbup:
Free Toddler and Kids Items | 100% FREE store items| Missing Store Stencils
Aww, thanks guys!
FryeGuy, that's a really cool sewer system area! I like making lots like that but I never thought about a sewer before!
I sometimes make homes that look like they are above an old and closed restaurant. Like, just a two story house but the first story is decorated like a restaurant that's been closed for some time. Or sometimes it's a "shop" instead.
I'm thinking of maybe making a house that looks like an un-used hotel.
I never build my own home.I build occasionally, but I don't ever play my own lots.
https://graceymanorsims3.tumblr.com/
I like doing different things...
To the Original Poster:
I actually build WAY more than I play. I love to build, it is my favorite thing. I am not sure how many things I've built, but a lot of them are in my Studio.
Here are a couple of photos:
ALL my builds are CC free, by the way, and if anyone wants to see more photos and/or get the Exchange link for the build, just go here and see post two:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/559434.page
P.S.
For those of you who do NOT like to build, click on my siggy and go visit the D.N.A. Request Team (of which I am a proud member) and request your dream house from us! We use only the EPs, SPs, and Store content that you tell us we can use.
Here's one starter home I built recently on a 50x50 lot for a single parent with one child for 17000$ in the game.
Full view from the front.
Full view of the back.
Full view of the side.
Full view of the inside.
Here is a pizza shop I made, a money lot for making pizza money with friends..
I learned to do roof art, the hard way. The roof on a lot owned by my sim who was a crafter - his name was Avalanche Wolf, therefore the picture choice:
I built a lot that I kept less than a day just to play around with 3D roofing, I made a rose..
I had many welcome type lots, this one was my summer camp. Some friends stopped by and we spent the night getting the ghost to come and make us pee ourselves. And shooting each up with cannons..
I absolutely love building in Sims 3 thanks to the inclusion of CASt. My studio has less than 30 houses and a handful only of community lots, five I believe. I do have more in my game that haven't made it to the exchange, mostly community lots. Most of my homes are very traditional in style, typical American suburbia I guess.
Here are pictures of several of my homes and community lots...
I'm still holding out for a Sims4 that is at least as customizable as is the Sims 3. If it isn't, I don't see me doing much building at all. But who knows.
I enjoy decorating as much as building but the one thing that continually makes me pull my hair out is the dang roofs. :x Still working on that.
Edit because I can't spell this morning.
I used to be very bad at house-making, so I would only make homes for Sims I didn't like to live in. My homes aren't amazing now, but I am proud of having some of my favorite Sims call them home. :P
Just some interior work I did for my performance Sims couple in Evansdale County (custom world from mysimsreality):
Yes, that's an apple bobbing tank trying to look cool.
Custom chairs for everyone! No one sits in the chair designed for them though...
I currently live in an apartment, so having my own laundry machines is something I look forward to. So I put some effort into putting them into nice looking rooms. :P
Yes, subway train doors for their master bathroom doors.
This is the view out the window when they wake up. Lot placement is something I've worked on for a while, as it bothered me that some of my old lots had windows that just looked out into the side of a hill, into a bunch of trees, or into an awkward part of a nearby lot.
I still am working on it, as there's still lots I can improve on, but quite satisfied for now. :P
Thank you for the lovely compliment! You have some very cool stuff in your Studio. I especially like what you've been doing with the roller coaster pieces.
The roofing tool is definitely a challenge to use. If you are interested, Ruthy (ruthless_kk who is a great builder) taught a Zoo U class on roofing. You will find it here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/527220.page#8220944
Most of my houses that I've built since getting involved with the creative corner are here
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/712200.page
and I have plenty more in my studio from before
http://www.thesims3.com/userExchange.html?selectedAsstType=all&persona=cmbaker16
Edit: my favorite build so far would have to be the house I made for my sims as their future home...
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/225/712200.page#11850193
OMG! Rflong I want this in my game...... Where can I find it!?
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/95026884@N06/11533706046" title="samiamEcoM1 by Berlin Serpentine, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/11533706046_d415cf8a3f.jpg" width="499" height="500" alt="samiamEcoM1"></a>
This one was featured so you may have seen it on your launchers 8)
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/95026884@N06/10991523743" title="Screenshot-8242 by Berlin Serpentine, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/10991523743_d54bd0de6d.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Screenshot-8242"></a>
Always liked this one
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/95026884@N06/9854766574" title="MESS by Berlin Serpentine, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/9854766574_c1c9d524d6.jpg" width="439" height="439" alt="MESS"></a>
Had fun making that :shock:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/95026884@N06/9723604027" title="Screenshot-8052 by Berlin Serpentine, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/9723604027_bace1b9d4e.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Screenshot-8052"></a>
Loved making this! All are little houses, on one lot.
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/95026884@N06/9314761698" title="Screenshot-7614 by Berlin Serpentine, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/9314761698_4564da3b41.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Screenshot-7614"></a>
Went futuristic...
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/95026884@N06/13176681984" title="Presentation1 by Berlin Serpentine, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/13176681984_9b22093a77.jpg" width="500" height="373" alt="Presentation1"></a>
To very eco friendly.
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/95026884@N06/12654200395" title="Present1 by Berlin Serpentine, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7383/12654200395_4fa9b8f5f1.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="Present1"></a>
And very modern!
All are in my studio should you want to take a look, and are CC free
Studio:
http://www.thesims3.com/mypage/YellowJane/mystudio
Creative Thread over Creative Corner.... It's easy to locate my most recent builds there, since I begun the thread!
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/736107.page
Hi
Thanks!
I made that one years ago for my Moon Base world. It's still in my Studio and it's only 1 bedroom.
http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=4275568