Eco-Friendly Modern Family Home

[rinirae]

Hi everyone! :)

I've had this house finished for a while, but never got the chance to post pic and to be honest, I've been a bit nervous posting here because it's the first house I've considered submitting to MTS. I spent a really long time trying to make sure I was absolutely satisfied with everything and now I think I've gotten to the point where I feel it's ready. :P It's play tested and completely functional.

The house is based on one I found on floorplans.com while working on my senior project. Here it is:
http://images.builderhouseplans.com/common/plans/images/DDA0/DDA445/DDA445-FR-RE-CO-LG.JPG

And here's my house:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/937/screenshot106yn.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/5895/screenshot115m.jpg
The main eco-friendly features are hidden in the back, so they don't distract too much from the facade.

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/1511/screenshot116v.jpg
Bird's-Eye view of first floor.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2444/screenshot117v.jpg
Bird's Eye view of second floor.

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/8827/screenshot107w.jpg
View of kitchen and dining room.

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/1663/screenshot108y.jpg
First view of living room.

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/6805/screenshot114z.jpg
Second view of living room.

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2033/screenshot110w.jpg
Bonus Area

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/7764/screenshot112f.jpg
Master bedroom and master bathroom.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/4430/screenshot113g.jpg
Extra bedroom (ready for a boy, but with a few decor changes it can be for a girl) and nursery.

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9968/screenshot105et.jpg
View of backyard.


Eco-friendly features include: "built with wood" and wood flooring, lots of plants, open floor plan, ceiling fan and fireplaces (which help cool/spread heat IRL), Eco-friendly appliances and furniture based on descriptions, lots of windows, garden area, clothesline and no dryer, solar panels, wind turbines, bikes, and a Prius. :D

I've tried to keep it as low as CC as possible, but like most simmers there are somethings I just really want to add. My EPs/SPs: Ambitions, Late Night, High-End Loft Stuff, soon to be Pets. Some of the store pay CC may be gone once pets comes out if I like it enough. :)

Store Content (free):
-Prius Eco-Pack
-T-Mobile Promotion

Store Content (Pay):
-Coastal Cabinet
-Scene in Four Parts
-Elegant Swirls Wide
-Elegant Swirls Lite
-Elegant Swirls Deluxe
-BahHaus Garage Door v.1

3rd Party CC (all MTS content)
-Auto-Breeze Ceiling Fan
-Modern Rug
-CASt yourself a Painting
-Clothes Rack
-Gamer's Posters
-Backless Shower


I actually have a couple questions about uploading too. First, is it ok that I'm using content from a previous promotion? The t-mobile pack uses the dock/speakers that I really like, but the promo ended a while ago. Second, since these files are being uploaded in a .zip format, could I upload two versions of the house (one that contains CC and store content, and one that is EP/SP only)? Or should I just stick with a CC version only?

Hope it looks good, would like critique/feedback though. I posted it on another forum and didn't get any suggestions, but I'm always open to different views. ^^;

Thanks! :D

[Volvenom]

I'm not sure I can come up with any good feedback. It's a very clean house, all seems to follow the same style. Do you have a sims view picture of the back? The BahHaus garage door is really good, I use it a lot. Did you get those windmill or what they are called among the store content?

If the t-mobile pack is pay now, you probably have to list it as that.

I've been putting my Bialetti on. I was just thinking the inside is very clean and tidy, but the backside garden may perhaps look a bit cramped. I'm also not sure about the 2 rounded stone beds at the front. Any house would look like there is someone living there because there are little bits and pieces not fitting the style. That makes them look more inviting so to speak. It might be only me though.

[~Dee~]

It's a shame you didn't use a larger lot for your house, I really like it but the back garden is too small, I would get rid of that big plaything.
In the front the stones around the trees I think might be a bit too large, I would place smaller ones or just a low border or no border at all, depends how it looks with or without.

The inside looks very nice, I wouldn't change anything there, overall a lovely house, nice work.

[Perfectionist]

Ya I agree with Dee, place it on a bigger lot and make the driveway and back yard larger. I also agree the yard is cramped. But that's about it. You should take closer and bigger images too, like the picture of the front is taken too far away. That is all!

[rinirae]

Sorry for taking so long to respond... been busy with school. But thanks everyone for the feedback! It was really helpful! Here are some of the changes I made.

I moved the house on to a 30x30 lot, when it was originally on a 25x25. This is nice because it's a more common size in worlds and in-game. But now I'm not satisfied with the landscaping... it feels a bit empty to me.
I also want to see what Pets has included with it before doing anything else. Hopefully I can eliminate most pay content.

Currently there is technically someone living there, but she's my tester sim. Of course I'll move her out when I submit the house and clean up whatever she left behind (newspapers, plates, etc.).

The T-Mobile pack was originally a completely free promotion, but now the stuff isn't available at all. It's not pay store content. The Prius pack is free too. And I think it's been updated to add more stuff (not positive though).

Here are some updates. :)

Front view of house:

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/4214/screenshot94u.jpg

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/552/screenshot88r.jpg

http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/9789/screenshot96t.jpg

Changes: The fence... the black one felt busy to me, but this one doesn't feel modern enough to me. Which one should I keep? (More views later) I like the longer driveway! :) I also changed the shrubs around the garage. They're shorter now.

Backyard

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/6952/screenshot98w.jpg
This is with the fence up... what it would actually look like, but this isn't very helpful for seeing what the back looks like.

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/8105/screenshot97d.jpg
Here is the back fence down.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9139/screenshot84b.jpg

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/707/screenshot87h.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3744/screenshot93ng.jpg

Like I said, this part of the backyard is bothering me. Should I leave that space open? Or should I add something there? Originally the play thing was there. I tried fitting in a slide and swing, but it looked cramped and forced. I'm not going to add anything like a firepit, BBQ, pool, etc. that would be considered un-environmentally friendly.

Misc. views

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3346/screenshot95m.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1337/screenshot118qe.jpg
I've fixed the dirt overflowing from the garden plot. I thought it would made a good path, but I didn't like it. Now it's gone.

After enlarging the lot, I was able to re-organize stuff and move it around. Now all the wind turbines and stuff are on the same side. :)


http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/449/screenshot119wj.jpg

I also made more things made out of wood including doors, siding, baseboards, etc.

Thanks everyone so far for all the feedback!

[armiel]

The front side looks great with the tiny windows, I think you should consider doing the same at the back too. The huge windows look kinda unattractive to me. BUT. This is just my opinion :)

[Myshia]

You might want to add a few more plants (the more greens the better, right?).. but definitely leave that open space.. i can visualise a lovely family gathering and the children having room to play and run around ;)

[~Dee~]

I think most houses of that type have large windows in the back, to show off the view to the garden, but the windows in the back on the top floor should maybe be the same then the once at the bottom.
To unify the house I would use the same windows in that area.

The garden looks great, you don't have to fill every empty space, otherwise it will look cramped again.

Still would change the stones around the trees in the front, they look a bit to bulky I think.

The all over look has certainly improved.

[rinirae]

This will probably be my last update until I have Pets... but I've made a few changes so far.

@Dee, Armiel: The purpose of large windows in the back of eco-friendly homes is to let in lots of sun for light and heat. I really wanted to keep some large windows for that purpose, so I decided to take out the large windows by the dining room (there's a tree there anyway, not much light would really make it in...) andkept the windows on the other side in the master and living room. To keep them the same style, I got rid of the Ventana Del Alma windows and put in Regifted Windows. I really don't have any other good windows. :/ The small ones get covered because of the eaves of the roof. I don't even have any good CC windows that match the style.

I also got rid of tons of fencing. Now it just borders the backyard and garden.


http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9467/screenshot87q.jpg
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/7002/screenshot89e.jpg


@Dee: When you said the trees in front, I thought you were referring to the ones on the sides of the garage. Fixed those. I like it now; it looks neater.
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/9907/screenshot88x.jpg

@Myshia: OK! Should I add more plants inside, outside, or both?