May I ask @Pebblerocker if the beds are usable? If so, is that with or without mods? I see that Judge 2 thinks they may be a problem. I presume the possible issue is with the unusual bedding in the larger bedroom. (I'd quite like to know where you got that.)

In my play-along version of the downtown house, I retained the original position of the double bed, which is only usable with an inaccessible beds mod, but I've had Lamare's mod for several months now, so it is usable. Graeme usually sleeps next to the wall, and he leaps over Tom with a fairly spectacular (and athletic!) animation to get in and out of bed.

In my play-along version of the ranch house, I have again placed the double bed against a wall, to give my Sims a bit more space in their living area. Since this was the original arrangement in the downtown house, I presume it's OK to use a mod to make beds usable. Of course, since I am only an unofficial play-along, I suppose I can do whatever I like. Provided of course that my Sims like it too! They have the final right of veto!

Congratulations @Treehawk in getting your entry in despite all your problems!

Knew about LS Bundle just recently. So... Now in my game they won't be blank. Thanks Michelle for links provided.

And, do you know about the rest of the LS stuff? Compiled and tended to by Shasta: https://sims2artists.com/index.php?topic=5122.0
It'sa beautiful thing.

Welp, okay, I'm withdrawing. When signing up, I thought I might not be up for it because I'm not very good at building; turns out, I failed to consider that I'm far worse at noticing that time passes and keeping deadlines x'D
I was already on the fence about withdrawing, but thought I'll at least try to do what's left now, or at least take a photo of what's done to show outside the contest - but, in reason #123456789 why I laugh hysterically every time I see someone talking about windowed mode being "more stable", the game decided to do what it likes to do best while in that mode on my laptop and totally froze. Launching it again would eat most of the time I have right now, and then it'll be at least 12+ hours before I'm at the computer again. By then I feel like my entry would be way overdue, and I don't wanna make the judges have to go score again so late - not to mention how slim would be then the chances of finishing the nest round in anything resembling timely manner - so I think it's best to call it quits.
Good luck to everyone else!

To the judges: I mentioned in the caption to the picture of the downstairs bathroom that there is a window - visible on the plan view - and a wall vent, though I didn't manage to find a photo angle that would show the vent. In the upstairs bathroom the open window is so large I didn't think a vent was necessary. The bed deco leaves the beds fully functional - more details below.

The bed decor is variations of Jonesi's Bed Blanket, deco items which don't obstruct sims using beds, though they can look a bit silly when sims get into bed and the sim and Maxis bedding clip through the deco blanket. To fix that issue, Lamare's Unmade Bed mod hides the deco objects when sims are using the bed and makes them reappear when sims make the bed again (the mod also includes the Inaccessible Beds mod with a nicer animation than the original version). The particular versions of the meshes I got are from Aelflaed's updated bed deco bulk download, which recategorises everything to Seating/Misc and upgrades all the meshes to work automatically with Unmade Beds without needing to select them with Lamare's cube each time they are placed.

Aelflaed's edits are in large zips with many files in each, some of them repositoried to Jonesi's blanket, some to Maxis bedding, some to another CC object and some to I don't know what. I've had to rummage a bit in finding the ones I want to use! AndrewGloria, if you want exactly what's in my Downtown blue house, you need the MASTER Jonesi Bed Blanket mesh from Aelflaed's Round 1 zip and:

For the artfully rumpled green blanket in the green-brown bedroom, the mesh Jonesi Bed Blanket 5 from Aelflaed's Round 3, and the Teal recolour from iCad's Jonesi Coarse Linen set.

For the flat floral blanket in the blue and grey bedroom, the mesh hkaw-sfvsher_Sherry500gift_blanket-REPOJonesiBB_AE-AllowRelax.package from Aelflaed's Round 1 - and I can't link to where I got the texture, as Garden of Shadows appears to be down, but it was bedblanket_asian_graycherryblossoms_CCL by LuckiLavender from a long-ago Asian monthly theme.

I highly recommend Jonesi's blanket - you can get so many recolours, and there are so many meshes repositoried to the texture, so it makes it easy to get everything to match nicely! Curtains to match the bedding, couches upholstered in Jonesi fabric... the patio umbrella behind my blue house is also repositoried to Jonesi.

As for my round 3 entry, I'm afraid I may miss it entirely - I ate into this week's build time by being late last round, taking a day off building to worry about RL stuff, and haven't had any brilliant ideas. I'd hate to miss out, so I'm still having a try, but with a friend arriving tomorrow to stay a few days and weekend events I won't have much time to finish!

I must admit that I'm finding it very hard to complete each round in a week. I'm still working three days a week and have lots of activities in the evenings. The house looks a mess because I've used that time to build and decorate.

@Gwathgor - I'm sorry you must withdraw. I loved your Adobe Club, and was looking forward to seeing more builds from you. Thank you for letting us know. {{{hugs}}}

@Pebblerocker - I will ask if judges 2 and 3 want to alter your 'decorating' score, in response to your explanation above.
I hope you can find the time to build the last round. You are creating some beautiful builds!

For everyone:
This "fast" contest is different on purpose. There will be a place after Round 3 is over for your comments and feedback - both positive and negative.
Please wait until we are done with the contest, to post your Contest Feedback. (That way it will all be together, and easier to refer back to!)

Things changed so far since the Sims 2 just been released. Different emotions, different possibilities, different techniques, different kind of joy when building.

Omg your Ikea inspired beddings are all so gorgeous! Obsessed!

To the judges: Thank you. Very happy with my score; find the comments quite fair - and, yes, Judge 3, it will be uploaded soon (appreciate that as a very positive compliment) and sorry about the window in the bathroom, but the cc shop is closed).

Of course I knew I was throwing some points away - but, on seeing that lot for the first time, my contractor immediately thought - mansard roof. And, as far as I am concerned, it was worth every point I have lost

Thank you so much

Just a note for round 3, to everyone using CC or mods that make things reachable/placable/walkthrough-able - please clarify it in the house description so there's no guesswork around it. If a thing is not normally reachable/placable/doable in a vanilla game, and you haven't said anything about which mods/CC you're using to make it happen, that could mean unfortunate minus points if judges are unsure. Please also clarify if you've playtested potentially problematic areas, since it's not always easy to see if a sim would get stuck in a narrow area just from the pictures (ingame cheats are fine, but please playtest and tell us about areas potentially affected by cheats, because it's often difficult to tell from pictures).

Like stated in the rules, if something isn't in a "vanilla" spot, please also tell us if it's placed for deco purposes or if it's usable.

(I know about Jonesi's blankets and Lamare's hacks - but since the same blankets also come in variants that make the beds inaccessible, especially if the mod isn't used, hence the "clarification needed" for such items. Same with the microwave oven and other usable items in unusual spots, or with centerpieces on tables, if you use mods that change the placement of objects. Unless otherwise stated, it most likely will be considered inaccessible)

The Fleming family have moved into the renovated ranch in Monopolis, and seem quite happy with it. Andrew is there with them, and I trust he will deal with any issues that arise. (More likely he'll just tell me to fix the problem PDQ!)


I'll post pictures of them in the ranch as soon as I can.

I will second this. I know some mods have been around for such a long time that it can be hard to even know what is a mod, but if it looks unusable I will assume it is.
Also make sure requirements are easy to see. I wear glasses, my eyesight is not sharp enough to easily see the top of a phone or a sliver of a kitchen bin.

Couple questions since I'm having trouble getting the adobe to work right. It loads in my game with missing parts of walls, etc.
Can I turn all the necessary parts of the house and such that are cfe foundation walls into regular foundations and make the pool be a real pool? I wonder if there's a way to still make the windows on the one side with foundation walls? I would make the buildings the same, just want real foundations instead of cfe.

It should not be missing parts of walls! There are places around the perimeter that have the rock fence in place of walls - maybe that is what you are seeing? I did that so that you wouldn't need to use the Lot-Adjuster to modify it. (You can't put a "real" foundation 1T away from the lot-lines unless you use the Lot-Adjuster.)
The pool IS a real pool - made with the pool tool.
https://thumbs.modthesims2.com/img/...g?cb=1777662426
So long as you recreate it so it looks the same, go for it.
And yes, you can add windows on the side walls.

Thanks for answering. I'm sticking on a couple pics to show you some of what I found when I put the lot in my game.



See? It's missing parts of the back wall that shouldn't be cut out. Isn't that like the bottom of the walls above your foundation? So weird.



This is why I didn't realize the pool was a real pool. No pool wallpaper, the pool slants down on the one side. All the wallpaper is missing in this area despite I could swear that alien looking stuff is in my catalog.
So, I think I'll leave the pool as is and work my idea into that as best as I can and redo the main building part to kill off those hole-y wall spots.

I'd rather hammer off those eeky walls and draw another one on place with constrainfloorelevation cheat turned on. Because window masks are something which is connected to wall height.

Pool wallpapers we also absent before I built there.

The wall - a graphic glitch perhaps?

Great to see your entry in, @Treehawk And what a lovely lot it is too.

I assume I can post my entry for Round 3 since the scores for Round 2 are out? I did get the lot done, it is not as complicated as my first one, but I actually like it better.

Also, I have not had time to post much this week, but I just want to say to my fellow contestants: you guys are spectacular. Honestly, it is amazing how you all bring something original to the lots and how they all have something special about them.

Hopefully, my entry will be up a bit later then and wishing you all a great weekend (time zones, but it is already noon here on Friday)

The missing walls for the pool and inside the house are from Life Stories. I thought maybe the wall being wonky was due to unleveled walls, but even removing them from my game the walls are correct still.

And apparently the Life Stories build bundle was made to not show the *, which I had never realized.

I didn't use Numenor's Unlevel Wall #90 at all in this build. (I've kinda quit using it all together.)
And I thought I had used the same Adobe walls inside the pool, as on the outer walls. *shrug*

Thank you for posting the pictures. That is really weird!

Your Abode is still puzzling. But the most interesting builds here are made from those. Just my opinion.

We have 32 C now (89.6 in F) i am meltin' 🥵

This is a specific Contest thread, you may get more discussion if you post over in:
Sims 2 Random Thoughts or
Stupid/Random Questions V4

...but Yes - I have: St. Louis St. Corner Shops


And - ETA - @Detherella, I don't know what this section is, in your picture?
There shouldn't be any space between the 'dug' basement room and the Living level/floor.
Maybe you should re-DL a fresh copy of the lot?

ETA - Oh wait! I see what it is now... I used 2 different unfinished walls. LOL.
But these... are just regular walls. They should not have the wrong window/mask.
And I did use the LS wall in the pool - it shoulda been the same as the building's Adobe.
And I meant to use the 'Stack 'em Up' stone wall on the base, near the pool. (Not the KB/LS? one.) Sorry!

May I create 2nd version of Strangetown Adobe for the 3rd round? I kind of like it.

Sorry... but no, you need to choose a different one for your round 3 contest entry. You can, of course, do another Adobe reno just for funsies - like AndrewGloria's play-along.

Entry - Round 3 Belladonna Cove Courtyard

CC - none
The lot has been turned into a community lot.
The original walls of the shell were kept
I think the lot is mostly playable. I am not sure if sims can view the statues in the front through the arches and did not have time to test that.
Since this is a community lot, plants are not accessible.

There is a narrow 1-tile path around the lot, and sims don't really have any reason to follow it, but if they do, there are escape routes.

I am not sure what the safety requirements would be for a community lot, but this one has the community telephone, a fire alarm in the kitchen (it only has a microwave) 2 outdoor trash cans and some of the trash chutes inside. There is also a fire escape at the back.

For the toddlers, a mod is needed, whether to get them there or to teleport them in. (It slipped my mind, I have had the mod for such a looooong time).

Intended to be used as unowned.

The Directors of the Board of Visual Arts have studied the proposal of my contractor for a while. Some of them were not convinced that such a fun lot would do anything to advance art in the community, but after an undisclosed number of meetings, the vote took place - and it was unanimous.

It is my privilege to show you around! Welcome to the new Art Gallery,

Kids, toddlers and pets are all welcome. We are aware of the fact that our previous group of visitors left some pet and other stuff around and have put out a notice that they should come and collect it all.

One of them seems to have turned one of the statues in the front around - I will have to confirm that, and the Board will have to get somebody to turn it back.

I hope you enjoy the tour with me.

1, Front of the Lot





Thank you for taking the tour and remember, if you don't understand something - it is art.