Simspiration 1

SUMMER EDITION 2010 SUMMER COLOURS

Rooms flooded with Sun

PATTERNS

Re-decorate with the latest Looks

GARDENING TO GREATNESS

Learn how to use Terrain Paints

GREEN SPACES

Using Indoor Plants as Decoration

LEARN FROM THE PROS

Apple shows you how to create patterns using TSR Workshop FASHION REPORTS

Glamrocker or Military Chic?

ALL CUSTOM CONTENT INCLUDED! Unlock and download all content used in the Magazine with a serial key!

Simspiration Exclusives

Unlock custom content serial code:

See www.simspiration.com for more info

editor‘‚`s letter

“Here we are in the middle of a new era after a whirlwind of developments in the Sims community and at The Sims Resource especially”

A

fter an initially disappointing time where we believed custom content would not be possible for Sims 3, tools across the community started to emerge, one of which was TSR’s Workshop. Brought to us by the talents of Johan Isacsson and Micke Sundberg, it has evolved into a powerful program offering a perfect and beautifully simple GUI yet some pretty advanced features under the hood. We now have a trio of excellent beginner tutorials at TSR for meshing, texturing and using the Workshop – each of them comprehensive, step-by-step guides bringing Sims 3 custom content creation in reach of everybody for the first time.

The Sims 3 Wiki, of course, is a wonderful tool that was dreamed up with the help of many artists and staff at TSR. They worked on the Wiki to bring you everything you would need for game play and creation in one space. Loads of hours dedicated to achieving that goal with Steve Bonham leading the way.

And TSR itself is evolving too! We’re at the beginning of a new and exciting venture for information with the birth of TSR’s all-new Resource Centre being developed by Per Burström. You may have noticed some brilliant new Resource pods on the home page; well, these are just the very beginning of an entire fullysearchable information resource that will bring all our Wiki articles, tutorials, useful forum information, links to external programs and other resources together with loads of questions and answers so you’ll only ever need to search one place to access anything and everything.

Which brings us to our newest large venture: TSR’s Simspiration Magazine. With a layout by Sasilia, graphic design by Thomas Isacsson, and a push from Nanshi_Nibble, many talented artists have gladly contributed to this very first issue to bring you some humour, ideas, and tips for design and game play. So here’s to the first of many issues to come. We all hope you enjoy this first edition of Simspiration Magazine!

published by sson Thomas Isak urce.com so re ms thomas@thesi 270 14130 phone: +46 0 569040 fax: +46 27 graphic desi Thomas Sasilia Apple_

gn

photographer B-Bettina Madaya74 Gosik

s

contributors Angela Cazarupt CycloneSue DOT Francien Hatshepsut Midnight222 MsBarrows Mutske PenelopeT RicciNumbers Shino & KCR Tdyannd Mutske VanillaSim

s Resource. ©2010 The Sim ed.

All rights reserv

Ricci Numbers Editor

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Living 06

BRIGHT IDEAS with DOT

10

SUN DRENCHED Rooms

14

PIMP YOUR ROOM with Patterns

48

MAKE OVER Bathroom

51

KITCHENS Find your favourite Kitchen

64

WALLS AND FLOORS Patterns

10

t n e t Co n

n 2010 o i t i d E r e Summ

Houses 17

HOUSEBUILDING from the ground up

44

FLIP THE HOUSE CHALLENGE Winner Report

Beauty 27

GLAMROCK Find the Rocker in you

32

MILITARY Chic

36

BEACHWEAR

Garden and Plants 08

GARDENFINDS

22

GARDENING TO GREATNESS Terrain Paints

27

Regular Features 05 WATCHDOG Cyclonesue reveals the

shocking truth in our consumer watchdog series 15

DESIGNERPORTRAIT Angela SPECIAL REPORT Misfortune or Malice

39

GARDEN MAKEOVER with Francien

42

56

GREEN SPACES with Mutske

25

TRUSTED REVIEW by Cyclonesue

60

TRAVEL DESTINATION Champs les Sims

62

REAL ESTATE Houses for Sale

Sims 2 58

FINESSING YOUR FENESTRATION

column | watchdog

D

o you see what I see? You probably don’t, and that’s why I’m here to help you. Are you tired and disenchanted with the standard of your purchases? Do you remember a time when everything was dependable, products reliable, fabrics durable, people happy, weather sunny... [sniped]?

Well, you know me already. I tell it like it is. My rust IS rust and make no mistake about it. Yes, it’s rotten, it’s junk and it’s unserviceable, but at least I tell you!

And so, that’s what I’m going to do from now on. I’m tired of seeing you hapless people falling for all the hype, the fancypants designer names and the glossy photos. I’m going to look behind all that to show you what you really get. My camera never lies!

Not all chairs are equal

If you walk into a furniture showroom and there are dining chairs pushed under dining tables, ask yourself WHY. I asked myself ‘why’ when I saw the Liam chairs pushed underneath a table too, and this is what I found. I cannot fault the actual design of the chair, but a closer inspection revealed very hardto-see faults as pictured on the right.

Side Board

More conspicuous was the very hidden-away sideboard, and what I found there added a whole new dimension to the word ‘board’. As you can see from my more realistic photo below, I uncovered the fact that this set piece is little more than driftwood (partially) bolted together. Designer indeed!

Weak

When questioned about shoddy workmanship, and misrepresentaI thought I’d make a start with contion of goods, Angela’s excuses were temporary designer Angela and her weak: “When creating Sims furniture, the famous and ubiquitous Liam’s Corner durability of the materials is not a factor series, and in particular the popular and my furniture did NOT look like that!”

Liam’s Corner Dining Room designs.... So, another designer in denial, mean-

ing you’ll never get your money back.

Remember: you have been warned!

Of course, Angela rather hopes you’ll ignore me and go check out Liam’s Corner for yourself - or that her lawsuit will reach me before this review’s publication date.

ESS MEANINGL Rating:

2%

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living | lighting

TEXT AND PHOTOS: DOT LAYOUT DOT/THOMAS

BRIGHT IDEAS

PHOTO APPLE_

Great lighting around your home really brings out those little points of interest that might otherwise be missed.

A footpath decorated by Garden lanterns makes visitors to your home feel welcomed - whether day or night. Add little accents of light around functional decor such as House Numbers, Name Plates or an illuminated Doorbell to make visitors feel that you want them to be there. Exterior lighting offers subtle hints on what the visitor might find inside, drawing them inwards with interest. Experiment using custom colored light settings on the outside of the home. This home is illuminated using the colour ‘Flame’ giving the property a warm glow.

Soft & Warm Candle light in reusable glass containers are perfect for that romantic setting. Use ‘White’ task lighting at the bedside for reading - such as the lamps pictured: OreshaHoh and UreleOresha. Don’t just switch all lighting to bright to ‘Check Yourself Out’ in the mirror, because you‘ll only be wasting earth resources. Try all the different light settings offered, such as dim, normal, bright, plus custom point light settings. Be sure to look at the custom color ‘Flame’ (my favorite) shown here at sunrise. Use of light settings will enhance the beauty of the home.

Going Green Use natural light in the home. Taking full advantage of the sun or starry moon lit night gives ambient or mood lighting to the home. Use full size windows when possible, making use of shades or curtains on summer hot days.

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living | lighting

Four Levels of lighting make dark shadows disappear.

There are many lighting styles to choose from: from Modern Twist or Knot Shades to Recessed or Directional ceiling lighting - lamps are an easy answer to decorating with lighting and colour. Combine an almost unnoticed Recessed or Directional ceiling light fixture for clean fresh lines. Correct lighting in the home illuminates seating, art and dark corners. Experiment using lighting‘s custom colours inside the home. Pattern VanillaSim.

Is it Art or Lighting? Recessed ceiling lighting accents any area of the home drawing you to the space. Use recessed lighting as task (create, work, bright, white) lighting throughout the home from the kitchen to the bath. Utilizing Joque or ClayBall Lamps as the art in a room, sprinkled with pieces of your favourite objects sets the mood. The look is effortless when the right lamps are chosen.

Candle Glass lighting displays a warm and inviting mood no matter what your style.

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e l b a t s i s e r r I 5 garden | finds

Garden Finds

Text, layout and images by Apple

1.

Al Fresco

Outdoor dining set by Cazarupt

2.

Little Fairy Statue Sculpture by lisa9999

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garden | finds

3.

TAJ Light

Birdhouse

Outdoor decoration by Apple

4.

Thyme Vases Decorative vases by cemre

Outdoor light by senemm

5.

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living | colours

SUN DRENCHED Far and wide glares serenity.

Sensual Colours give rooms a

dreamlike bountiful holiday flair.

PHOTOS MADAYA74 LAYOUT AND TEXT SASILIA

10 |

[Stocklist] Round Flokati abuk0, Sunflowers anahirocio, Abigail Dining Flowers Angela, OMSPs Angela, Hallway Shoes Angela, Lucca Office Cabinet Angela, Romantic Teenroom Curtain Angela, Toxic Tulips Apple_, Carpet Pattern ayyuff, Sculpture Plant BlackestDigitalArtist, Table BlackSweety, Figura DiningSet Oil and Vinegar Cemre, Poor and Happy Set Open Magazine Cemre, Recess Lighting Lamp DOT, Door Bell Light DOT, Oranges DOT, Orinoko Dishes Gosik, Orinoko Plates Gosik, Orinoko Small Bowls Gosik, Scarlet Kitchen Dining Table hudy777, Spring Lillies lisa9999, Spring Tulips lisa9999, Emma Bedroom Prints LDG, Fairmont Bedroom candles LDG, Katie Bedroom Deco Chest LDG, Katie Bedroom Dresser LDG, Katie Bedroom Journal LDG, Katie Bedroom Train Case LDG, Notebook and Pen LDG, Purple Botanical Print LDG, Window Sill for the King Quing‘s Window mutske, eames chair n-a-nu, Lamba Cocktail n-a-n-u, Saarinen Lamp n-a-n-u, Saarinen Table n-a-n-u, Concrete-Praline Praline, Knotty Pine Praline, NordenDining Fruit riccinumbers, Norden Dining Canisters riccinumbers, Norden Dining Lights riccinumbers, Shabby Chic Tea Set riccinumbers, Trento Halfwall Sasilia, Trento Milkbottles Sasilia, Trento Salt‘n‘Peppa Sasilia, Silver Inspiration Painting shadow66, Aveline Fruitbowl Shakeshaft, Aveline Kitchen Knife Block Shakeshaft, Aveline Petal Wall Clock Shakeshaft, Aveline Storage Jars Shakeshaft, Utensil Rack Shakeshaft, Greenhouse Lemon Plant Shakeshaft, Greenhouse Orange Plant Shakeshaft, Greenhouse Strawberry Plant Shakeshaft, Richmond Basket Shakeshaft, Richmond Scatter Cushion Shakeshaft, Small Basket Shakeshaft, Bathroom Nr. 1 Blinds Shino&KCR, Jackies Kitchen Herbs Basil Shino&KCR, Jackies Kitchen Herbs Chives Shino&KCR, Jackies Kitchen Herbs Parsley Sino&KCR, Modern Bathroom Table Lamp Shino&KCR, Royal Bedroom Pattern Silverleaves Shino&KCR, The Backyard Teacan Shino&KCR, Tilton Deco Orange Bowl SimMan_123, SDS Abstract Kitchen sim3shter, KARLSTAD Sofa Tiro22222, Panorama Window wideopeneyes

living | colours

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living | colours

S T

sunny, bright und bloomy. It‘s easy to make an open kitchen with a neighbouring living room even more comfortable.

trio.

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rendy colours Papaya, Mallow and Lemon impress the atmosphere as a blithe

living | colours

E

xtensive and with colourful contrasts the colours unfold a harmonious airiness. Spend your holidays at home with your friends.

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living | patterns

Pimp Room your

TEXT AND PHOTOS ANGELA LAYOUT AND DESIGN SASILIA

Weave fabric: channel1: fff0e7 Channel2: ffffff Cemre

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Are you sick of your old Furniture? Why get rid of them when you can experiment with TSR’s Patterns? We will show you a pattern makeover for Mutske’s Trenton Living Room, using VanillaSim’s and Cemre’s Textures.

Bleach ed Pin e: Channe l1: fa 8e32, Channe l2 and Channe l 3: f 5f4f7 Vanill aSim

Fleurette: 8165 Channel1: 9c 0d00 1b : Channel2 im aS ll Vani

portrait | artist

Angela

Intere sts: H ome im Hair: provem Blond ent Favour ite Fo od: St Housin eak, m g: Wee edium k end co Job: H ttage omewif e Listen s To: P op Person ality: Sweet Starsi gn: Ca pricor Style: n Jeans and tshirt P HOTOS: SASILI T A EXT: A NGELA

Angela surrounded by her Latis-Outdoor Furniture

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portrait | artist

[Top right] Angela‘s Nola Bedroom and Flowers Shino&KCR [Top middle] Bathroomclutter Angela‘s Latis Bathroom [Top left] Angela‘s Lucca Dining Candles, Flowers *n-a-n-u*, „Natalie‘s open book„ SimMan_123

O

[Above] Angela‘s Abigail Bathroom [Right & Below] One of Angela‘s extraordinary livingrooms is the Latis Livingroom, Saarinen Tulips n-a-n-u,

h my, what can I say about me? That was the first thing that has gone through my mind since they’ve asked me for this item. Even after thinking about it, I wouldn’t know. Just like any other creator *or so I think* I tend to create objects and sets which are inspired by real life and would love to see in my game, I started uploading them as I thought other people might like it too.

I know The Sims ever since Sims1, which I only played might I add. Completely forgot about it, until I went on maternity leave when expecting my oldest daughter. Sitting at home, and having a natural lean towards home improvement and interior decorating I had refound Sims and started building and decorating again, this soon ended up in learning how to mesh for Sims2.

As some of you might know, a lot has changed since, Sims3 came out and after 1 peek at it I was quite sure I loved it more than I did Sims2. Since then I have put all effort into re-learning meshing and mapping in particular to improve the meshes I do for Sims3. I hope you all can see the love and effort I lay in these and hopefully you will enjoy having them in your game. Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

16 |

tutorial | housebuilding

HOUSE BUILDING From the ground up

Have you ever wondered how I manage to transform those empty plots of land into homes fit for a sim family to live in? Just how much work goes into making one of those desirable residences?

Well come on, grab some coffee and I’ll show you!

Let’s build a house right now!

TEXT AND PHOTOS HATSHEPSUT LAYOUT AND DESIGN THOMAS|TSR

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tutorial | housebuilding The building process begins with levelling the land. It is at this stage I decide if I want steps leading up to the door or a level entry. I then lay down some floor tiles to keep the ground level while I start to add walls or foundations.

1

2

I start by shaping the front elevation of the house and estimating the floor area to be used.

Once I’m happy with the size and shape of the lower floor, I then start to build and shape the upper floor.

I don’t really want the back of my house to remain a flat wall so I now shape the rear of the house.

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3

4

5

6

tutorial | housebuilding Next comes my favourite bit, adding the roof! I start by placing as many of the roofs that share the same pitch as I can, and then I delete them all! After using the slider tool to change the roof pitch I hit the undo button and all my original roofs reappear and I can now add more roof sections at the new pitch.

I repeat this process until the entire roof is built up.

Once the roof is on I can start adding doors/windows and painting walls. Beginning to look like a house now huh?!

7

Time to get rid of those unwanted floor tiles and start planning the interior rooms.

8

I usually find the most difficult part is fitting rooms around a staircase and it can take me a few attempts to get it right. At this stage the rooms are still subject to change once I start moving in the furniture.

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tutorial | housebuilding With the rooms planned I can now get my hands mucky with a bit of gardening. The front of a house has to give a good impression, it’s the first thing people will see so good landscaping is essential.

Now here is my blank canvas for the back yard, let’s see what we can fill it with.

Not bad for a few hours work. Note the subtle use of terrain paints; they can make a big difference to any garden.

Back into the house I can start planning the layout of the rooms by placing basic furniture then adding more detail to each room in turn.

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9

10

11

12

tutorial | housebuilding

13

www.thesimsresource.com/artists/b-bettina

The interior-design design is matching the house-style. I have chosen mahogany furniture for the bedroom in combination with a royal blue carpet and accessories.

The kitchen is the centre of the house.

For a warm and friendly style I decided to a Tuscany-style kitchen. Windows and shutters provided by Mutske.

Find more traditionalstyle houses at hatshepsut‘s minisite on The Sims Resource.

Exclusive Male and Female Hairstyles Only at www.thesimsresource.com

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gardening | groundfloors

to Greatness

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS MIDNIGHT222 LAYOUT SASILIA

W

elcome to the first article of Gardening to Greatness. In each issue I will take you though the transformation of a garden from nothing to finally a little piece of paradise using a different tool each issue.

In this first article we are going to cover terrain paints and the multiple uses you can put this superb tool to.

This handy tool can change bland to beautiful or even beautiful to ewwww if the grungy grotty look is what you are after.

Both the Sims 2 and Sims 3 have this nifty gadget.

For The Sims 2 you can find it in the build mode and then click the shovel icon and then the grass icon. For Sims 3 look in the build section then click on the patch of grass.

You have taken the first step in getting rid of that boring grass and creating something unique!

First of all be amazed by the many terrains available, from dirt to sand, grass to flowers and even flagstone to cracked paving, there are a wide variety that can turn your lot from ho hum to wow.

EA have done a reasonable job in providing a decent range of terrains but if you can’t find that certain look you are after then check out TSR. For The Sims 2 you have a choice of 3 brush sizes.

To erase terrain in The Sims 2 you need to hold the ctrl

button as you use the brush. For the rest of this article I’ll be concentrating on The Sims 3 version of the terrain tool.

To the right of the terrain patterns you will find the brush dynamics. As you can see you have a choice of round or square with various sizes for each. The slidebar also offers a differing degree of brush strength from hard to soft or anywhere in between. The harder the brush the more detail and straighter edge you will get.

This is great for defining distinct areas such as garden beds and walk-ways. The softest setting gives a more blended look. You can use this to great advantage when creating a ramshackle look or for the transition from a dirt bank of a pond to the grassy lawn of your lot.

Also note under the paintbrush is the eraser tool which offers the same dynamics.

1

22 |

Meet James and Jessica Johnson two city yuppies who want a touch of country in their home. They have just bought their first renovation property that they want to turn into a wonderful family home for the upbringing of future children. James is an avid fisherman who would love to have a fully stocked pond while Jessica loves to cook and wants to be able to harvest fresh vegetables and fruit from her very own patch. Although handy around the house James is clueless when it comes to landscaping hence he contacted Midnight Designs to help create the family a dream garden. In this issue I will show you how to use the terrain tool to create a wonderful vegetable patch.

gardening | groundfloors On arrival to the property I note that it has some scattered terrain that just has to go. So using the eraser tool I gleefully sweep across the yard to create a clean slate to work with.

So Jessica where would you like the vegetable patch to be? Oh good choice, near the house for easy access from the kitchen James is renovating.

2

Now you will notice that when you select the terrain tool all those square footprints disappear. This is great to take screenshots but the downside is it can get tricky to paint in a straight line, especially after a caffeine fix when your hands then get the shakes! A simple solution is to use flooring on either side of where you wish to place your terrain.

In this case I want four rows for the different types of fruit and vegetables so I place five rows of flooring. Next I choose the dark soil. I love the rich earthy look of this paint but ultimately the choice is yours when creating your ideal garden. Next I choose the brush size. I’ve chosen the medium square brush. Medium is a good size for this part of the project to get nice coverage without too many sweeps.

Then I slide the brush dynamics all the way to hard to achieve that nice crisp edge mentioned previously. It’s time to paint! As you use this tool you will notice its spray paint qualities as you sweep it across the ground. For this project I will paint in between each row of flooring.

3

When you have finished grab that sledgehammer and pound away the flooring in between. Oh the thrill of destruction! I’ve decided on a nice contrasting sand walkway between each row so Jessica can easily reach all her plants without getting her feet muddy. This time place the flooring over the top of your dark soil rows you have just created. Next select the dark sand terrain or if you don’t have World Adventures choose another type you like. Using the medium brush, again, with hard dynamics, sweep along the rows. As before demolish the floor tiles to leave an alternating sand and dirt stripe.

Now start to decorate your newly created vegetable patch. Here I have used Gosik’s plant signs and Apple’s wheat sheaves as well as edged it with some wooden garden edging.

Please note!

It is recommended by EA that a maximum of 4 terrain paints be used per lot

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gardening | groundfloors

[Objects] Terrains EA, Wheat, birdhouse and wishing well Apple, Vegetable and Fruit signs Gosik, Fence Seating AnoeskaB, Flowers sim_man123,soil fertilizer and seeds Cemre

24 |

4

Here is the final product. A wonderful property of terrain paints is the ability to create curved paths.

Notice the background path that will lead to a future elevated gazebo. That path has been made using a medium sized round brush with medium dynamics, and curves gently away from the house, something that can’t be achieved with pavers. Congratulations you have created your first vegetable patch! With this technique you can create all types of patterned terrain features. When using the flooring if you press ctrl f you can get an angled look perfect for winding formal gardens and military precision. Fencing can also be used as a guide for your terrain painting when creating garden beds and other wonders requiring a distinct edge. Start practicing today to see the different effects you can get with the different brushes and blending properties of the brush dynamics. With a little practice and plenty of imagination the sky is the limit with this simple but versatile tool.

trusted review | toilets

Independent, reliable and unbiased reviews by Cyclonesue

W

elcome to the first in a series of speciality reviews that give you the low-down on the best products available to you. I’ll leave no stone unturned to ensure you receive the FACTS in an unbiased way.

Comfort

2/10

Build

2/10

Flush

1/10

2/10

Urban Concept Alabama

First up is the Urban Concept toilet by Sasilia. It’s modern (ie cheap plastic) and as expected failed the Durability Test where the lid is taped down and then forced off again. Sadly, the lid cracked in two pieces without breaking any tape, confirming a failure for durability.

Of great concern was the apparently prominent flush. Our test candidate was blindfolded and nailed to the doorframe in order to carry out the Accessibility Test, but despite much arm-waving and anger the tester failed to reach the flush on the other side of the room. This flush might LOOK prominent but our accurate and fair test proved otherwise.

The Quadro

Next is the Quadro toilet by Gosik.

Another modern-style toilet, this time finished nicely with splintered wooden seat, but concern arose over the sturdiness of the wall-mounted design. After a mere TWO WEEKS of jumping up and down on the toilet continually for our proven Stamina Test, it came away from the wall. Clearly, this toilet is not fit for purpose.

Alarmingly, there was worse to come.

Before breaking the toilet, our independent reviewer photographed this lizard lurking in the pan which clearly fails our stringent Health Hazard Test.

Ordinarily, when we put a lizard in the toilet, it should NOT lurk in the pan but hide neatly inside the pipe somewhere.

This toilet clearly has problems.

UN

ED M R A H

Comfort

2/10

Build

1/10

Flush

2/10

2/10

English Country Winner!

We have a clear winner with this country high-flush by Cyclonesue.

The design is authentically based upon generations of antiquities and it has nothing but practicality in mind because your bottom DOES NOT CARE about style!

Comfort

10/10

Build

10/10

Flush

10/10

Our expert reviewer noted that the model is floor standing and so cannot be ripped off the wall, there is no cheap lid to snap in two pieces, and reptiles remain firmly lodged in the ubend out of sight The long-chain flush was easy for our blindfolded tester to strike with a long mop and some assistance, and so it is this independent reviewer’s pleasure to award the coveted Toilet Winner trophy to Cyclonesue!

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THE WORLD‘S LARGEST THE SIMS COMMUNITY www.thesimsresource.com

» Over 600,000 free quality creations for Sims 1, 2 & 3

» Over 60,000 premium creations of unmatched quality for Sims 2 & 3 *

» Established in 1999 as the first The Sims fansite

» Submissions accepted » Content added daily » Free Membership * requires a subscription

fashion | glamrock

Outrageously In Fashionistas in the City.

Find TSR's hottest Party styles at the following pages. Queen of Bling wears saliwa's Elfin Dress, Hairstyle newsea PHOTOGRAPHS AND WORDS SASILIA AND PenelopeT

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fashion | glamrock

28 |

[Right] Attractive Dress Simsimay, BalmainHighHeels CyrilK, Love Affair Hair newsea, [Bottom right] Evening Dress Nia, Valentino Shoes Rosette noxeen, Mimi Female Hair newsea [Middle] One Shoulder Dress simsimay, Balmain Inspired Heels UM_Creations, Bliss Hairstyle newsea [Bottom left] Slighty Chic Dress saliwa, Starfish Necklace NataliS, Chanel Classic Flap Bag NataliS, Valentino Shoes noxeen, Shangri-La Hairstyle newsea, [Left] Top natef005, Tennis hairstyle newsea

fashion | glamrock

30 |

fashion | glamrock

[Left] Satin Romper Harmonia09, Trashy Bikinitop Harmonia09, OSSA Rocker Trousers SandraR, Sassy Dress Nia [Above] Glam Heels simsimay, Swimsuit Modern_Sims, Lack and Oil Pants Modern_Sims, BalmainHighHeels CyrilK, One Shoulder Dress simsimay, Dodge Charger 1969 FreshPrince, Factory Windows Cyclonesue [Right] Striped Top with Skinny Jeans Harmonia09, Striped Mini Dress Harmonia09, Mimi Female Hairstyle newsea, Fox Female Hairstyle newsea, 4Chanel Flap Bag NataliS, Hermes Kelly Bag NataliS [Bottom] Jean Shorts skystar5,

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fashion | military chic

Military chic PHOTOS B-BETTINA MODEL DARIA WERBOWY

Dress Katelys Stockings Maxis/Basegame Shoes aniaorazova Earrings Annihilation Nails NatalieS

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fashion | military chic

T-shirt Ekinege Pants Ekinege Shoes b-bettina Gloves Maxis/Basegame Handbag NatalieS

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fashion | military chic

Dress UmbraSims Gloves Maxis/Basegame Bag NatalieS Pumps Playful

34 |

fashion | military chic

Bra Harmonia09 Pants Ekinege Boots Drew Necklace Wideopeneyes

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fashion | beachwear

Bold statement

Light pastel colours against dark streaks of colour are fashionable for males on the Sunset Valley beach.

Bold shapes reflect these bold colours, as is seen here on these board shorts.

#8aad94 #332725 #dfbb97

Exclusive!

These shorts were made especially for this edition of Simspiration magazine, and are now available on the website!

Search Apple on TSR to get your board shorts!

36 |

fashion | beachwear

Text, layout and images by Apple A splash of vibrant colour is definitely the fashion for females this summer.

Highly saturated colours of blues or yelows are sure to make your Sim stand out from the crowd.

#707070 #03178a #161412 #ffffff

Bold is in. Polkadots in vivid colours are what’s hot with women’s swimwear this summer.

Co-ordinating hair pieces make this Sim look co-ordinated as well as very stylish.

#d4d219 #17150b

Content used:

Content used:

- Summer Dress by Ekinege - Designer Slingback Shoes by b-bettina - On-head sunglasses by cemre - Flowers necklace by NataliS - Pearl gem bracelet by NataliS - Hair Fashionista 3 by Ulker

- Fresh bikini by Simsimay - Hair Fashionista 8

by Ulker

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ABOUT MY MODERN HOUSES Known as modern houses seems nice, but they aren‘t useful.

But I‘m careful for making useful houses like I‘m living there.

So you can use my houses easily.

If your sims like luxry life, certainly do not hesitate.

Have Fun!

ABOUT MY COUNTRY HOUSES If your sims like natural life, this places for you! This houses useful and comfortable.

If you download them, You’ll have got a nice home with Flowers, trees and sky!

Have Fun!

GARDEN MAKEOVER

gardening | makeover

How to make a nice looking natural garden TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS FRANCIEN LAYOUT SASILIA

F

iona Blue bought her first house, she liked it a lot only she didn’t like the garden, there was not much green and flowers in it, only weeds and some old plants. She searched for a gardener who understood how she wanted her garden, she came to see me. After asking her wishes, I started out. Fiona wanted more privacy and a place where she could enjoy the sun or take a nap in the shadow, also a place for the BBQ and some grass for playing hand football. A pool was also one of her wishes.

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gardening | makeover Starting with Bougainville trees I began with adding some fences and a Hardwood floor. Beams are connecting the fences. Buying three Bougainville trees and putting them at the corners into the fences gives the idea of hanging flowers over the fence.

Using moveobjects on gives you the opportunity to place them into the fence, rotating them will show the other side of the Bougainville tree which makes it more natural. You can do so with all your plants.

Shades dispenser Two trees; one Olive tree & one Cinnamon tree gives the shadow. It’s also great to have some higher trees/ plants standing at the back, it will give more volume. Now you can buy some bushes, I chose the blue Hydrangea this plant is great for shadow and sun and the colour is making every dark place lighter. Did you know when putting some rusty nails in the ground near the Hydrangea that they keep the blue colour?

Choosing some plants with different size of leaves makes everything more interesting. I also added some green bushes and little flowers. I liked to put them together without a gap and not standing in a row.

40 |

gardening | makeover The pool and a final makeover Digging the pool which is divided by a wooden path and putting a small fence above it to hide the ugly white border. The wooden path between the two pools is a simple way to give the illusion of a kind of bridge.

On the side of the house I created a place where Fiona could BBQ or just sit and read a book. After hard work I used some groundcover and mixed and matched them together. Fiona is satisfied so far and has added some furniture on her deck and is trying out the pool.

Vegetables and Fruits Fiona also wanted a place for vegetables and fruit trees, the garden was looking rather nice and a plot with vegetables would maybe look disturbing. I used the fences to separate the area so it is not visible at first sight.

At the border of the pool I put three fruit trees. The front yard was quite simple with a path to the front door and garage.

Making two boxes, one with flowers and the other covered the bin and mailbox.

The Entree Adding a fence and a wooden awning makes a nice entree where Fiona could put a garden bench.

[Objects] Fences and Awning Eryt96, Woodpattern Madaya74, Flatcementrooftrim Cyclonesue, Plainhalfwall Cyclonesue, Gardening Boots Murano, Gardenearth and Pots Shakeshaft, Lawn Mower Cemre, Garden Gnome Cyclonesue, Old Mower Cyclonesue

| 41

special report | gossip

Misfortune or Malice t reports tha e m o s n e e b There have Agnes ey resident l l a by V t e s n u S is haunted e s u o h s ’ m o tly’ Crumplebott ho ‘apparen w d n a b s u h ir her dead dent on the i c c a g n i n w ro dy died in a d ust a trage j s i h t s I re honeymoon. omething mo s e d i h t i annd or does eporter Tdy r g n i v o r r u sinister? O s. e t investiga

TEXT TDYANND LAYOUT SASILIA

Tdyannd: (into camera): Let’s see if we can get some more information out of her!, Mrs Crumplebottom?

Agnes: What?!

Tdyannd: We heard your house was haunted? Would you mind talking to us about it?

Agnes: Yes. Tdyannd: Yes, it’s haunted? Or yes, you mind?

Agnes: Go away...

Tdyannd: Mrs. Crumplebottom, why are you so grumpy? Are you not getting enough sleep because of the hauntings?

Agnes: You’re definitely a reporter. You’re about as stubborn as they come.

Tdyannd: Is it true your husband is rummaging through your house at night?

Agnes: It is his house, too.

Tdyannd: So, your house is being haunted by your dead husband?

Agnes: Taxi! Taxi!

Tdyannd: Well, there you have it...is she getting senile in her old age? Or is the house really haunted?

42 |

Sources sa y that Agn Crumplebot es tom made a n emergenc phone call y to the Sun set Valley Police sta ting that her home w being haun as ted by the ghost of h late husba er nd. The po lice arriv to find Agn ed es frighte ned but we unable to re arrest the culprit at this time.

special report | gossip

The parents of Bella Bachelor have taken an idea to City Hall to ask that the public school system teaches children better time management on the telephone. Sources say this idea emerged after an enormous number of minutes were used between the Goth and Bachelor home phone lines.

The Landgraabs were seen leaving City Hall last week.

Sources say the aging Geoffrey Landgraab signed his completed will that leaves his entire fortune to his son, Malcom Landgraab, in the event of his death.

Tourists were seen gathering around Sunset Valley Central Park. Some sources claim they are planning an invasion to take over the city, other less paranoid sources claim they were just having a nice picnic. | 43

flip the house | winner report

The winner of our Flip this house challenge is announced now. We had a lot of fabulous house make overs but at the end the winner was clear.

You can find all challenge houses here.

simromi is the winner of our “Flip-the-house-challenge”.

She is a well-known member of the TSRcommunity and creates for Sims2 and Sims3 since 2006. In the first instance she creates fashion for simsladies and kids. Here is her profile: * Interests: The Sims * Hair: Blond * Civil Status: Married, with children * Favourite Food: Chinese * Housing: Tent * Job: In Office * Listens To: Rock’n’ Roll * Personality: Cuddly * Starsign: Cancer * Style: Average Joe/Jane

44 |

I

decided to flip a small house, since I personally find it a challenge to work with small houses. The custom content used is referenced in the story below. So here is my entry.

We were looking for a starter home with a large yard so we could add on later as our family grew. We found this pre-fabulous home on 55 Water Lily Lane which was perfect for renovation (or the wrecking ball) and the price was right at $12,675. The backyard was large with no landscaping or shade to speak of. The front yard was large, and it definitely needed a bit of sprucing up. The flamingos though had to go!

flip the house | winner report

Makeover of Livingroom and Kitchen The living room and kitchen were open which we really liked but were a bit on the small side. Also the railing around the kitchen looked out of place. It looked like they were trying to corral the counters so they wouldn’t get away. It only needed a gate to complete the look.

We decided we needed more room for the kitchen so we started by tearing down the wall to the bedroom and moved the wall in a couple of feet.

There’s nothing like taking out a little stress with the sledge-o-matic. Then we tore out the shower, sink and toilet. We tried to sell it on-line but we didn’t have any takers. We even tried to leave it on the sidewalk with a sign that said FREE but the only interest was from a dog checking the toilet for water. | 45

flip the house | winner report Selling old furniture is a good opportunity to dispose of it The original kitchen cabinets were country fried and out dated and in a U shape which made the kitchen feel small. We were able to find a buyer for the old refrigerator and stove since they still worked, but ended up taking the cabinets and railing along with the shower, sink and toilet to the dump. While we were there, we saw Cyclonesue (I think she owns the place).

Afterward, we found these wonderful contemporary Dolormite cabinets and appliances by Sasilia.

We created an L shape kitchen to open it up so we could fit a table and chair set in the kitchen. We found this lovely Tilsia dining room table and chairs

by Mutske that fit perfectly. A nice contemporary floral fabric was chosen for the chairs in brown and blue. To bring it together a warm, rich “Mexican Clay Octagon� tile pattern by Irevelas18 was ordered in neutral colours of brown to match the carpet and laid.

For the living room we found this fabulous Richmond sofa, loveseat and armchair by Shakeshaft and used the same fabric for the armchair that we used for the dining chairs. A monstera plant by Angela and an overachieving bookshelf (more like over priced) from the EA store were added to the room.

We also put down a nice throw rug with the same floral pattern and some scatter cushions also by Shakeshaft in both floral and solid fabrics to bring everything together. We added wallpaper to the walls in blue, brown and cream strips to match the colours in the fabrics of the furniture.

46 |

New carpets in fresh colours In the bedroom The flooring was torn up and carpeting by ayyuff was laid in the bedroom, and later in the hallway and living room. The walls were painted in a neutral cream with dark moulding to bring out the richness of the wood throughout the house except the bathroom.

Short Mistral curtains by Mutske were also used throughout the house. The bedroom was decorated using EA furniture to give it a more contemporary feel and look. An Ultra Lounge shelf was put up above the bed and framed the window nicely. A plant, table lamps and wall hangings finished the look.

Now that the inside was renovated it was time to work on the outside. We removed the ugly green paint on the siding and found lovely wood grain underneath and stained it to bring out the natural beauty. The windows and doors were painted to match. We put up fencing around the house (where it belongs) and stained it to match the wood on the house. The old driveway was torn out and a new circular driveway was created.

flip the house | winner report

A light post was put up to add outdoor lighting along with a nice hedge Various vegetation was planted around the mail box in front of the circular driveway. Maybe if the mailman can’t see the mailbox we won’t get any bills. It’s a thought. The walkway and those darn pink flamingos in front of the house were torn out and pavers were laid down to match the driveway. The old flower bed was removed and we landscaped the front of the house with various decorative rocks, hedges and other vegetation, such as the fragrant lavender plants grown by Shakeshaft.

A pair of trees was added to the left side of the driveway for shade.

In the backyard we built a nice deck with a back wall and roof so the deck could be used more often though out the year. Patio furniture was set up on the deck along with some outdoor lighting, candles and plants. A nice paved patio was added in front of the deck which included a grill, table and chairs with an umbrella for shade. A nice garden was planted around the deck and patio to add colour as well as a few trees for shade. We took some before and after photos during the renovation. Looking at the photos, you wouldn’t believe it was the same house!

New Challenge „Trash this House“ is the slogan of our new Challenge.

Take a look at TSR-Forums to get more information here

| 47

renovation | bathroom

OBJECTS: Abigail bathroom towels, bath and sink Angela, Shelf 4 and 5 AnoeskaB, Alpine full window and Alpine counterhight window Cyclonesue, Bordeaux bathroom soap Gosik, Quadro wall mirror, toilet, bidet, toilet paper stand Gosik, Orinoko reed diffuser Gosik, Fellow vases Gosik, Sol y luna sculpture bottle glass Pilar, Bathroom No1 blind short and medium Shino&KCR

COLOUR CO-ORDINATED PHOTOGRAPHS GOSIK LAYOUT AND WORDS SASILIA

PATTERNS: Wood 1 AnoeskaB, Aura porcelain tile series plum wall tile, porcelain tile series plum floor tile, porcelain tile series plum and black deco tile Cemre

Bathroom

48 |

before

renovation | bathroom

Before - a dated en-suite in need of an overhaul

S

cuffed wall tiles and ugly wall-colours, un-matching floor tiles, grubby sinks and a bathtub with a hideous bath curtain - that was the face of the old bathroom.

After - a colour co-ordinated bathroom in beautiful colours and many eye-catchers

T

he new face of the bathroom is terrific with the colours plum and noisette. The room is now very bright and a shapely tub invites you to take a bath. An ivy tree in room height brings some nature in the bathroom and the wash area provides enough space for two. Other eye-catchers are the wooden floor tiles made by AnoeskaB and also the wall tiles by Cemre which are stunning. Just enjoy the new bathroom ideas.

| 49

living | kitchen

KITCHENS Tuscan style or puristic, shabby look or colour sizzling. Find your personal kitchen with creative examples and proposals on the following pages. We picked out five kitchens for you.

PHOTOGRAPHS SHINO&KCR LAYOUT AND WORDS SASILIA

| 51

living | kitchen

French Flair

Let a breeze of France into your life.

With „Juwel“ of Shino&KCR your kitchen will become the centre of your home.

Crepes

8 * Cooking Skill: ce * Quality: Very Ni * Veggie: Yes t, Brunch * Serve: Breakfas * Single: Yes * Group: Yes x2 * Requires: Fruit

52 |

This kitchen is designed to give a warm and homely atmosphere. A big kitchen island fills the centre. Here the meals can be prepared and enjoyed in pleasant surroundings. Accessories such as bottles, chimneycups and glass vases give the “Juwel“ kitchen a personal note. Special eye-catcher is the big cooker hood with special slots to place some nice clutter on. With 21 objects you have the freedom to build your perfect French style kitchen. Try several wall colours to match your taste. Our suggestion: use bright colours or nice tapestries for the walls and wooden floors.

[Objects] Regency Small Roses Cashcraft, Tropical Bottles cazarupt, Blue Blossom EasterEgg lisa9999, Emma Bedroom Homework LDG, Plants Addons Mutske, Saarinen Tulips n-a-n-u, Sculpture Pilar, Vintage Jofaia Pilar, Herritage Kitchen Clutter Board riccinumbers, Norden Dining Glass Containers riccinumbers, Jars Shino&KCR, Easter Pitcher Shino&KCR, Jackies Kitchen Clutter Shino&KCR, Sophie Kitchen Clutter Shino&KCR, Oil and Vignairette Shino&KCR

living | kitchen

Tuscany Style With the terracotta wall and floor tiles Gosik‘s Bilma-kitchen radiates the typical Tuscany charm.

This kitchen is the dream of every Tuscany enthusiast and hobby cook. With the straight white lines cleaning is very simple. Pinewood and terracotta tiles bring a Tuscany touch into the Bilma kitchen. Enjoy “la dolce vita“ with this treasure for your home.

[Objects] Modern Kitchen Window Angela, Orinoko Dining Gosik, Finca Tile Pattern Praline, Glamour Walltools Shino&KCR

Spaghe

tti

* Cookin g Skill: 4 * Qualit y: Nice * Serve Cos t: FR EE * Veggie Alt.: Wit h Veggie S a u * Serve: ce Dinner * Single : Yes * Group: Ye * Requir s es: Tomat o

| 53

living | kitchen

Hightech-Kitchens The freestanding kitchen island dominates the room. The kitchen furniture is designed as the workbench and connects functionality with elegance. Cooking and cleaning are so easy because the workbench is reachable from all sides. The Modo-Modo kitchen from the designer Cazarupt is conceived for a single. The dining area has space for two Sims.

[Objects] Modo Modo Kitchen cazarupt, Smeg Fridge cazarupt

Sushi ill: 4 * Cooking Sk ice * Quality: N : FR E E * Serve Cost * Veggie: No ner * Serve: Din * Single: Yes * Group: Yes Any Fish * Requires:

[Objects] Dani Office Calculator LDG, Dani Office File Double Boxes LDG, Pilars Cuisine Pilar, Ceramic Tiles II Praline, Aveline Stove Shakeshaft, Glamour Kitchen Walltools Shino&KCR, The Backyard Cup stakes Shino&KCR, The Backyard Sugarpot Shino&KCR, The Backyard Teacan Shino&KCR, The Backyard Teacup Shino&KCR

54 |

Colour brewing is Roan’s Flexy-Kitchen. Clear lines and hot red let every hobby-cook’s heart beat higher. Black counter tops and a steel-cooker hood round up the cool kitchen design. The kitchen island for two Sims invites for smalltalk and having snacks. Eye-catcher is the “cuisine“-sign on the wall.

living | kitchen

Romantic Touch Let some romance in your life and home with Pilar‘s romantic „Sassi“ Kitchen.

This kitchen brings romance into your life. With it‘s white wooden surfaces, open glasscabinets and the glass cooker hood you get some airiness into your kitchen. The kitchen island invites you to have breakfast and the big dining table is for great dinners and comfy evenings with your friends.

[Objects] Dining Cosimo Pilar, Helencho Pilar, Sculpture Tarros Pilar, Sopero Pilar, Vintage Jofaia Pilar, Godmorgan Bath Plant riccinumbers, Tulips Red Vision Roan, Baking Deco Sasilia, Cookbook Sasilia, Milkbottles Sasilia, Easter Placesetting Shino&KCR, Glamour Cooking Pot Shino&KCR, Glamour Dishes for Shelf Plates Shino&KCR, Dishes for Shelf Tease Shino&KCR, dishes for Shelf Terrine Shino&KCR, Glasses for Shelf Tumbler low Shino& KCR, Shelf Shino&KCR, Jaques Daisies SIMCredible!

Baked Angel Food Cake

* Cooking Skill: 10 * Quality: Great * Serve Cost: FR EE * Veggie: Yes * Serve: Dessert * Single: No * Group: Yes Flame Fruit * Requires: Egg x2,

| 55

living | indoorplants

GREEN SPACES TEXT MUTSKE PHOTOS SHINO&KCR LAYOUT THOMAS BLOOMING PLANTS

[Left] For a beautiful centrepiece, use plants with colourful foliage or blooming plants. You can use a plant stand or nesting tables to have a great eye-catcher in your room.

Plant Addon 3 Mutske, Plant Addon 4 Mutske, Pillow Shino&KCR, Plantstand Mutske

“Plants make beautiful additions to any room's decor. I use them constantly in my own home and promote to others who want to hear. Here are a few tips for decorating with plants you might find helpful.” - Mutske [Left] You’ll find great success in your decorating and add continuity as well if you choose plants for your home that co-ordinate with the style of decor you are using. For instance, if you have a contemporary style, choose plants that have clean lines are sleek and have long, slender shapes. However, if your home is Victorian in style, you’ll want to choose feminine, frilly ferns. But in a Southwestern style, you’ll probably want to use plants from the cacti family. Here the choice of cactus is perfect to go with the Southwestern style.

Glass Lamp DOT, Plant Addon Mutske, Nesting-

GO SOUTH WITH CACTI 56 |

table Mutske

living | indoorplants

GREEN CORNERS

[Left & Top] Grouping your plants for extra impact is a great look and an easy way to fill up a corner. Make sure the plants in a group vary in height for the most pleasing outcome. If you’re using live plants, choose plants that have similar lighting and watering requirements to make life easier. Then you can keep them on the same watering schedule.

Nottingham Sideboard AnoeskaB, Plant Addon Mutske, Window Colonial Mutske, Window Sills Part 2 Mutske, Selle Mirror n-a-n-u

MORE PLANTS Can be found on Mutske’s minisite at The Sims Resource.

[Bottom] Balance and scale are important when placing plants in a room.

You don’t want to overpower a wall, but neither do you want your plants to look lost in the space. Choose plants heights and fullness based on the space and the height of other elements in the room, such as windows, armoirs, doors and so forth.

Leaves Pattern Apple, Curtains Mutske, Plant Addon Mutske, Trenton Chair Mutske, Shuttered Windows Addon Mutske, Window Sills Mutske, Selle Tablecandles n-a-n-u, Abigail Picture Angela

PLANTS IN WINDOWS | 57

sims 2 | fenestration

O

ne of the major issues to be aware of in planning your window layout is that of style.

You want to either choose a style of window suited to the building you plan to build, or, conversely, plan a building that suits the style of window you wish to use.

Windows such as Cyclonesue’s Alpine Window set suggest a very different building than Windkeeper’s Tokyo Windows or MsBarrows Old World set.

Finessing your

Fenestration WORDS MSBARROWS PHOTOS SHINO&KCR LAYOUT SASILIA

O

nce you’ve determined what style of window and building you want to make, the next thing to think about is whether you’re more concerned about the layout of the windows being attractive from the inside of the building, based on your room layout, or from the exterior. This, too, is often heavily related to style. A showcase mansion that is visible from all sides will typically have its windows and doors arranged to be pleasant from any exterior angle of view, while a house built for an urban street is most likely to only have a pleasing exterior layout from the street view and have a letthe-windows-fall-where-they-may interior-based layout on the sides, with the rear view of the house going either way.

When building houses, I generally find it useful to start by puttingup my walls and exterior features such as porches, towers, bays, or balconies, then do the fenestration of the wall or walls that I want a good exterior window layout on (most typically just the front elevation of the building). Next, I divide up the house into rooms and hallways, and place stairwells. Finally, I do the window placement for the remainder of the house, based on the interior room layout.

I most commonly like to either have one window, a pair of windows, or a row of windows centred in a wall (number depending on the dimensions of the room), or two windows with one just in from either end of the wall and/or to either side of a central feature such as a bed or fireplace.

58 |

It’s also important to pay attention to the size of the windows. A floor-to-ceiling window is great to use in making a bay in the living room or dining room, but in the kitchen a counter-height window is more suitable.

When doing an exterior-based layout, you will frequently find that you may have to accept some window placements that seem odd from an interior view in order to have a usable room layout. Things such as a row of windows divided by an interior wall, windows off-centre in the wall or even a single window in the corner of a room in order to finish off a balanced exterior view. And there are times when you may purposefully want something asymmetrical, such as placing a single ornamental window to one side of the front door.

sims2 | fenestration So to summarize, with any building, the four things you want to keep in mind are that your style of building and windows is a good match, determine what views should have interior- or exterior-based window layout, which will influence the actual placement of your widows, and finally make sure you use appropriate sizes of windows.

Bathroom windows are typically smaller then any other window in the house, and, at least in real life, frequently have textured glass, slats, shutters, or at least a curtain to further ensure privacy.

[Fireplace] Brick Wooden floor Murano, Books n-a-n-u, Candles n-a-n-u, Fireplace n-a-n-u, Rocking chair n-a-n-u, Latiatree n-a-n-u, Rug Padre, Potted fern Shino&KCR, Deco with Tabaccopipe Shino&KCR, Drapes Shino&KCR, Trunk Shino&KCR, Beachhouse Kitchenwindows simtomatic [Bedroom] Curtains Birgit 43, Small Artwork LDG, Mission Bay Bedroom LDG, Candles LDG, Paneling Murano, Woodfloor Murano, Rug simtomatic, Belangie Windows windkeeper [Kitchen] Morrigan Fruit DOT, Manorhouse Collection phoenix_phaerie, Cuttingboard Shino&KCR [Livingroom] Neverending windows Cyclonsue, Modrian Carpet Murano, Mondrian Coffeetable Murano, Mondrianshelf Murano, Lami Floor basket n-a-n-u, Lami Floor lamp n-a-n-u, Mao Tropic fern n-a-n-u, Nabu teacup n-a-n-u, Asiana Kitsch wallpaper padre, Peculiar Clarke Sofa and chair padre [Diningroom] Vintagecharm etcetera Cashcraft, Caged birdfern DOT, Carpet jsf Large artwork LDG, Maxisplants Addon Mutske, Sisal chandellier n-a-n-u, Wrought iron endtable padre, Diningtable Shino&KCR, Springdining chair and pillow Shino&KCR, Sophie can and cup Shino&KCR, Naturals spider plant simtomatic [Bathroom] Bathtowels cashcraft, Light blue chaz Mondrian carpet Murano, Solar bathroommat and ceilinglamp Murano, Universal bathroom Murano, Latia floorpillows n-a-n-u, Latia wicker armchair n-a-n-u, Marlou starfish n-a-n-u, MH kitchen dishes phoenix phaerie, Pottery Barn Bathroom Accessoiries Shino&KCR, Axortablemirror Shino&KCR, Axor-candles Shino&KCR, Coffeetablebook simtomatic, Helios privacy windows windkeeper

| 59

travel | report

Champs les Sims WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS CAZARUPT LAYOUT SASILIA

O

ur travel-correspondent cazarupt visited a charming location with stunning architecture, beautiful scenery and plenty of adventuring to be had! He wrote us a letter and sent us beautiful pics:

60 |

travel | report

Dear Readers, The charming façade of the Champs Les Sims base camp is the first thing to greet you when you arrive in this charming town. Unless you are fortunate enough to own a home here or have decided upon camping (I hear tents can be purchased from De Goncalves General Store), Base Camp is the only option for accommodation in Champs Les Sims. Fortunately, I found the accommodation to be comfortable and spacious. After dropping my possessions off at my room, I moved swiftly on to discover more of the town. The town square was my first stop.

A quick 2 minutes around the corner on my Kenspa motorcycle took me to my destination. The town square was beautiful: olive trees, lavender, and of course the stunning architecture that this town is famous for. The main part of the town crowds around this square: The Bookstore, General Store, Café & Relic Store. The relic store sells various antiques and collectables, and of course you can trade in your own. From the bookstore I can buy books on Photography and Nectar Making – two things that are specific to this region.

As well as exploring the shops in Champs Les Sims, I can also take a trip to the Nectary or the Art Gallery. Both of these are perfect for Sims with refined tastes and interests – but what about those who wish for a more challenging activity? They should apply for adventures using the Adventure Board at base camp. From here they can find a variety of short and long adventures that are required to be done throughout the town. One Adventure, A Trivial Affair, required someone to go to the Old Celtic Ruins to retrieve something for Margot Petit. However, having no Visa Level left me with only 3 days to explore the whole town. I decided to look around more before jumping deep into the town’s mysteries and secrets. Poking around, and a quick chat with a local revealed to me that there was in fact much more to be seen! The old Landgraab mansion is said to hold many secrets, and an exploration of the Old East Forest is said to hide even more.

Unfortunately, my quick snapshot of Champs Les Sims did not hold enough time to explore these mysteries. My time in France was quickly over, and it was time to return to Sunset Valley. But there’s one thing for certain – I will definitely be returning soon.

Cazarupt

| 61

for sale

Real

Estate

l tip: Th is mo nth's specia

a 10 good reaso n s for y house in the countr and water bills 1. Lower utility or air quality do in r ie th al He 2.

3. Tax benefits e tate resale valu es al re er gh Hi 4. nce and less maintena ty li bi ra du ed ov 5. Impr sent to landfills e st wa d ce du Re 6. otect ecosystems 7. Enhance and pr resources restore natural d an ve er ns Co 8. e environment 9. Better for th -cycle of a home 10. Optimize life

62 |

for sale

The Cabin, 91589 Twinbrook Price Unfurnished: Price Furnished: Furnished: Decorated: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Stories: Lot Size: Housedesign:

72169 112303 Fully Throughout 4 4 2 30x30 Aloleng

Clean and crisp home located in Twinbrook. New kitchen with stone counters, marble tile in bath, heated in ground pool, completely fenced in yard, and more. 5 minutes from Yale, highways, hospital, and the famous Mirabello Street.

The Asher, 90551 Riverview Price Unfurnished: 85880 Price Furnished: 138875 Furnished: Partly Decorated: Throughout Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 Stories: 1 Lot Size: 40x30 Housedesign: Alyosha Charming 3 bedroom 3 bath Ranch remodelled in 2009 with new roof, hardwood floors, new tile, appliances and new furnace, walk to Riverview DC, close to all amenities and highways.

Hillside, 90358 Sunset Valley Price Unfurnished: Price Furnished: Furnished: Decorated: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Stories: Lot Size: Housedesign:

47522 73404 Fully Throughout 3 2 2 30x30 ayyuff

With captivating vistas, and the world class tarpon point estates address, this is a one-of-kind residence you’ll be proud to call home.

| 63

workshop | pattern

Walls and floors

Ever wondered how to make your own wall and floor templates?

Want to explore beyond basic patterns? This article reveals all...

TEXT IMAGES AND LAYOUT APPLE_

Inspiration

I was flicking through my heaps of bookmarked texture pages a few days back, when this gorgeous Victorian tile caught my eye. I instantly fell in love with the design and the rich colours.

As an artist, I’m always seeing things through an artistic eye, often thinking to myself ‘That would look gorgeous in watercolour’ or ‘I wonder how I could recreate that texture using mixed media?’ This time I simply thought ‘How awesome would that look in The Sims?’

e il t a r e n ia r o t ic V e in iv d A

Gathering notes...

The design was great, sorted, but would it actually work in the Sims 3? The first thing I thought of was the number of palettes... was it right for the game? This tile has 3 main colours, so that was all right.

The next thing was tile-ability; and as you can see this one didn’t require much thought as the source image is definitely-tileable.

‘Am I capable of drawing this?’ was the next thing that struck me. I’ve done this sort of thing before so I felt comfortable in giving it a try. The key word to creating is

First Steps

I and a few others are beta testing this feature in Workshop now (the ability to create your own wall and floor templates), so I won’t give you the Workshop specifics at this point, but I’ll write about that in a tutorial on release day.

The principles are simple, you need the same textures as object creating’ a multiplier, mask, specular map and possibly overlay.

I like to do the multiplier first; the base for 64 |

Never tried creating before? Don’t worr it! Give it a y about try... express yours just elf :)

enjoy...

This is more like it!

Not bad, but lacks depth

workshop | pattern

the other textures. The complexity of your design determines how long your multiplier takes. A simple scuffed stone tile like mine took me all of 5 minutes, but a Moroccan mosaic could take hours to complete.

Don’t rush with creating, take your time.

Go at a relaxing pace and enjoy yourself, you might surprise yourself how much better you perform when you’re relaxed!

The beauty of a piece of work lies in the detail...

Faded shading

The Multiplier

The multiplier holds the design of the wall / floor you wish to create. You can see that I started off with something very simple, and here are the steps I went through to get to the stage I’m at now:

- Created a new 256x256 image - Coloured the image in block grey, with the hue 128,128,128 - Made 4 squares roughly the same size, & added a bevel to the layer, using layer styles - Used a rough brush to edge away some of the edges, to create a worn variation - Use a rough, grunge brush on a low opacity to create the faded parts

A dding cracks adds realism

, too

This colour must be precise to get the optimum and precise colours showing on your floor or wall.

Anything lighter or darker will make patterns appear lighter or darker when applied; the true colours are not displayed.

I did this to give each tile some personality, it’s own shape. It’s the small details like this which adds authenticity to your creations.

The Mask Colouring the mask

Finished mask... Psychadel lic

!

The mask determines where each pattern goes. Walls and floors can have up to 4 patterns, using an RGB Mask like the one on the left.

If you’ve made a pattern before, you’ll know how this works, it works the same as masking out a pattern, with RGBA channels.

A good mask can take a while, but don’t be afraid to use an image to draw on top of.

You can see that I used the original | 65

workshop | pattern image to draw on top of. Take your time again with this. Rushing it can lead to mistakes or rough edges, and that wouldn’t do the piece justice.

The Specular Map

This image controls the shiny parts of your map (when a shiny material is applied). You can see on mine that the white areas will be shiny, however I don’t want the grouting to be shiny, so I made that very dark on the image.

Although this feature isn’t released yet, get ahead of the game and start preparing files now... polish your skills ready for the grand release of the new TSR Workshop.

The revolution is near...

Shiny, or not shiny?

Stand back and admire...

And before you know it, you’ve made yourself a gorgeous tile that is versatile, works well and looks fantastic in the game.

Gorgeous...

All of the tips in this article have helped me to recreate the magic that the original source image has.

Thank you for reading through my article. I hope you’ve learnt something along the way, and I hope my article has given you confidence to try making your own templates!

66 |

Looking good in TSR Workshop...

The perfect accent in my Victorian hallway

» Create new Objects, CAS content and Patterns » Real-time high quality 3D preview » Intuitive user-interface » Built-in pattern browser » Playable CAS animations » Automatic sun-shadows & wallmasks » Editable geostates and slots » Editable light parameters » Editable morph meshes » Integrates with other popular tools through an easy to use SDK » And much more, always in development

http://www.thesimsresource.com/workshop

AUTUMN EDITION IN OCTOBER 2010 WWW.SIMSPIRATION.COM

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