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lytefoot
14th Jul 2011, 02:58 PM
So I've been building some mansions, and there are a couple of build tools that I'm having real trouble getting to look good.

The most aggravating one is the big grand staircase (I think it's from MGS). It's gorgeous, but even in a stonking great mansion, it takes up a ton of space. It seems like it needs a whole room dedicated to it on both the upper and lower floors, and it usually ends up looking tacked in. Does anyone have any screen shots of something they built where it looks right? I think maybe I just don't know how it's supposed to be used.

The second thing is two-story columns with a balcony on the second story. What I *want* is an effect where the balcony seems to go part-way into the columns, but doesn't cut all the way through. Is there a way to do that and still have the columns rest on the foundation? Or is it just one of those things that's impossible with the sims? Any way to make two-story columns with balconies look good, or should I skip them?

The last is garages. I don't like the look that attaching the garage gives, so I'm trying to figure out a way to arrange the grounds so an unattached, forward-facing garage looks good. It always ends up looking... kinda sad and dinky, next to a stonking great mansion.

I've read a lot of build mode tutorials, and I've done quite a bit of building (mostly in Sims 3 before I went back to Sims 2 because the CC is better)--I'm not looking for technical tips, but aesthetic ones. Any advice anyone can give would be marvelous. Thanks!

Mootilda
14th Jul 2011, 07:41 PM
I don't build mansions, so I can't be much help, but...

Garages for large houses often house multiple cars and have a second story which contains a workshop, playroom, studio, or something else that doesn't fit into the main house. They can also be set back in the back yard, away from the main house.

Phaenoh
14th Jul 2011, 09:54 PM
I've used them once and I did it with a large open balcony. See http://thumbs2.modthesims.info/img/1/0/5/2/6/7/5/MTS2_Phaenoh_1065644_snapshot_00000002_38945522.jpg

ekrubynaffit
17th Jul 2011, 07:04 AM
Ive used them before, nothing that Ive uploaded so dont have pics. But along the same lines is using 3 sets of stairs and making it L shaped stairs which takes up as much room if not really more, such as what i did in my Oakridge Manor. http://modthesims.info/d/351563, have made a few other mansions that have elaborate staircases, I find the trick is walling them in and not leaving them stuck out in the open with nothing round them as then it tends to look quite bare. Also instead of doing a whole garage you could try a fancy carport like this http://www.modthesims.info/d/430324, or even just a driveway area http://www.modthesims.info/d/309329, and also to keep the garage out the way you could have a side one at the back of the house http://www.modthesims.info/d/309329. When building mansions take care to fill them but not over the top and do lots of experimentation! Especially wth the CFE cheat to be able to make interesting levels.