My Great Debate

[Glitchie]

While looking over the web the other day, I came across a blueprint/floor plan of what is SUPPOSED to be The House of Seven Gables. Now, I'm pretty new to the Sims still, but have been tinkering with building things, none of which I've saved yet, but I know how to add walls and wallpapers and such, so I'm debating on whether to make this a residential lot, or a community lot, because, although I've not been there yet, and will be going this summer, The House of Seven Gables is supposed to be a museum/gift shop. What do you think? Should I make it a community lot with a gift shop, or a residential?

PS. I actually started as a residential, then deleted and started as a community lot, with a gift shop separate from the floor plan since I don't know how they have the gift shop set up yet, so my gift shop is a separate building from the house.

[Peni Griffin]

Make it as residential, first, with all the old-fashioned stuff; copy it; remake it as a community lot. That way you can try out each version and see which you prefer. Also, if you decide you like it well enough to share, you can upload both versions and people can download according to their needs.

[Glitchie]

How do I copy it?

[VerDeTerre]

Yes! Yes! Yes! Make it both! I forget how the gift shop looked, too. It was either just a part of the main entrance (the oldest part of the house where you find the walk in fireplace) or just off of that on the side street side. The house borders two streets and sits in the corner of them. It's a beautiful place and a fun tour. There's a secret passage from the dining room (just past the closet for dishes) that leads to the attic. It was probably used for the underground railroad as so many houses in New England were. The garden is one of my favorite. There's a view of the low bay and arbors for grapes. Enjoy your visit! I'm looking forward to what you come up with.

[Saturnfly]

You can put it in the lot bin, then you'll have unlimited copies, although I think that feature came with an ep, maybe nightlife?
You can change a residential lot to commercial by going into the lot, opening the cheat console (shit+ctrl+C) and typing:
changelotzoning community then click save.

[Glitchie]

This is the floor plan/ image I'm going off of. Like I said, its SUPPOSED to be The House of Seven Gables. Honestly, it reminds me of The Witch House that I did get to tour last spring.

http://historicbuildingsct.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/0001.png

I've also been trying to figure out how to do the basement doors as they are accessed from outside the main house and probably actually open up like the storm cellar in the Wizard of Oz, LOL something I don't think you can do with Sims.

@VerDeTerre: This summer is my second trip out to Salem. I will be staying at the Waterfront Hotel IN Salem this time, whereas last time, we stayed in Haverhill and drove down into Salem every day (except one where we went to Boston) when we were there for a week. I'm going to write this trip off as well, like I did the last one, (at least my half) as its for research for a book I'm writing. I just wish the college would be more cooperative. Ugh! :faceslap:

[FranH]

By the way, the cheat is exactly like this:

changeLotZoning community (the capital letters are required)

You can change any lot into another type from residential. You should save it as a residential first, then change it to the type you wish to develop it to.
The community lot zoning is a bit harder to convert to residential, and the apartments zoning is very tricky, if not just a headache.

[Peni Griffin]

Yes, by copying I meant "put it in the lot bin," or you could package it. You're going to need M&G to do that house and will still have to make compromises, I can see that. Still, a worthwhile and fun endeavor. Go for it, and don't forget there's a creator's forum where you can go for advice if you're having trouble with the compromising.

[Glitchie]

@FranH Okay, thanks for the tips!

@Peni Griffin Ah, okay. Yeah, I have all the Sims 2 EPs and SPs so I can work with it, but yeah, I know what you mean by compromises :)
But its so nice to have a hubby that at least took a drafting course to help with the measurements on a plan like this that doesn't give the numbers! I do think I will leave off the basement access on it, and just build it on a foundation though... a basement in this design is such a pain!

Guh! :wtf: :cry: This is going to give me a migraine, I swear! I'm trying to build this http://mikeinside.modthesims2.com/building/stairwall2/index.html inside http://historicbuildingsct.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/0001.png and its confusing as all hell! I built the foundation and shaped it like the ground floor of the floor plan, and was going to put in the stairs and I don't know if I should have done it that way or not because now I'm confused, and the stairs aren't working. This is like building backwards, LOL! :cry: :help:

[VerDeTerre]

@VerDeTerre: This summer is my second trip out to Salem. I will be staying at the Waterfront Hotel IN Salem this time, whereas last time, we stayed in Haverhill and drove down into Salem every day (except one where we went to Boston) when we were there for a week. I'm going to write this trip off as well, like I did the last one, (at least my half) as its for research for a book I'm writing. I just wish the college would be more cooperative. Ugh! :faceslap:

I've never stayed there since Salem is within driving distance. I love that town - it's a hoot to visit. I've noticed a change over the past few years with less Wiccans and more commercialism, but it's still fun.

I don't remember a basement entrance to the house. It's on flat land. You can see it if you google images. The plans seem about right, but I don't remember a bedroom on the first floor. The "parlor" entrance was the old part of the house with the walk in fireplace. I really do think the store was there, but they will tell you during the tour. Enjoy your visit! Highly recommended is the Salem Brew Works for the food as well as the micro brews.

[Glitchie]

I still haven't figured out how to put in my stairs on this floor plan. Can someone please advise?