[Tutorial] Creating a sunken room with floor-to-ceiling windows

[Beefysim1]

This is a quick and simple tutorial for creating sunken rooms with full-walled windows. One major problem with sunken rooms is having that awful looking foundation edge all the way around; this is also covered in this tutorial. The final result is something like this:

http://i.imgur.com/UzBRRPN.png
http://i.imgur.com/LsKSCsU.png

Whether this has been covered I am not sure, but here goes:

Step 1: Create an area of standard foundation to your size specifications.

http://i.imgur.com/GNINWRL.png


Step 2: Enclose the foundations with walls (it doesn't have the be done exactly this way, this is just demonstrating the key concept).

http://i.imgur.com/fWWFBxi.png

Step 4: Cut out the area of foundation you want to be sunken (I used ctrl-hold for removing the foundation area).

http://i.imgur.com/WW9MViw.png

Step 6: Cut out the corners of your foundation area as shown below (this is to avoid the error bubble you will get if you leave that area of foundation around the edge)

http://i.imgur.com/evVkEaH.png

Step 7: Wall in the area underneath your foundation-level walls (don't wall in the edges you cut out).

http://i.imgur.com/zZzLL7o.png

Step 8: Fill back in the corners you cut out with the foundation tool.

http://i.imgur.com/EO5ssM9.png

Step 9: Create an outer section of foundation one tile away from your structure as shown below (you need to type in the cheat 'constrainFloorElevation false' for this to work)

http://i.imgur.com/oar86cm.png

Step 10: Place your windows as show below (make sure the object placement grid is pointing outwards). Additionally, as feldynn and nedumaran have pointed out, make sure you paint your room before you place your windows. If you do not, you will have a hard time painting them after you place them; you will also get the 'unfinished room' moodlet if you fail to do so.

http://i.imgur.com/lBz9Hef.png

Step 11: Place the windows for the ground level as shown below (make sure the object placement grid is pointing inwards).

http://i.imgur.com/IngULBP.png

*Note: The windows above need to be positioned the opposite way to the windows below, otherwise you get an ugly effect where the windows appear to intersect each other and create texture fragmenting.

That's it! Voila:

http://i.imgur.com/hRnhlBl.png

I hope this was easy to follow. Please post any queries and I will make an attempt to clarify them. It may also be interesting to add that sometimes it is not necessary (with careful placement) to create the extra foundation around the edge; sometimes the windows can be placed without any difficulty on both levels.

[Lavandula]

Thank you so much for the tutorial! :D It's very easy to understand! :)

[feldynn]

That's a really interesting tutorial and building technique, Beefysim1! I'm going to have to give that a shot, thankyou! :)

[QBUILDERZ]

I just wanted to inform you that I used your technique in my tutorial, and I did reference you for it. Thank you for the tutorial, and you deserved the credit ;)

[lewisb40]

Cool and makes a new window look. Fabulous!!

[girlfromverona]

Sweet! I'm definitely going to try this out. Thanks. :)

[fido]

It was very easy to understand, and worked like a charm. Ok, like so many Sims building techniques, it's one of those, not what you do, but when you do it kind of things; well I got the order wrong first time, and it didn't work, but a quick reread and it worked a treat. Thanks a bunch.

Fido :up:

[lewisb40]

Worked perfect for me, had to come back and thank you again. My self-sim have a beautiful sunken livingroom and master bedroom, with gorgeous views by the beach!

[~Dee~]

What a great tut, is the sunken room functional...can sims use it?
Thank you so much.

[lewisb40]

Yep they do! I love it, It should be great to showcase your creations Dee.

[~Dee~]

Thank you so much lewis...yeh,once we have a tool to make sims 3 objects...a setting like that would look stunning.:)

[Atmoz]

Thank you for the tut !
Sorry for my bad english, but is possible to build a sunken room without foundation ?

Thanks

[ZimZ]

oooh, nice tut thanks! Once question though... Would this method work for the floors above the ground floor (floor 1, 2 etc.)?

[Mehrlicht]

Just discovered your tute and didn't yet give a try,but reading the thread makes me happy,I already know that it works fine.You have paid a great contribution to the game.I enjoy in advance...Thank you so much.Big hug.

[Beefysim1]

@Atmoz: I'm actually not sure; it sounds like it would be possible. You might have to start by digging a hole (of the correct depth) into the ground then filling it in by some kind of means of which I cannot even fathom. Sorry I couldn't be more of a help; try snooping around the 'Sims 2' building tutorials, I hear most are interchangeable with The Sims 3.

@ZimZ: 'This' method certainly wouldn't work, but it could be possible. I think you can put foundations on the upper floors with some weird method, so you could put foundations everywhere except for where you want it to be sunken, and you would have a sunken room (in effect). I'm really not sure, though.

@Everyone: Thank you for the positive comments! I'll see if I can integrate this into the chateau I'm working on; though, I can't imagine these solid windows fitting into the style of a chateau (we'll see, though).

[I'mSimalicious!]

^Beauty. Finish it!

[QBUILDERZ]

Wrogn forum to ask, post it into CF

[Nedumaran]

Great job!

One issue though, when my characters go to the sunken area, they get the negative "unfinished room moodlet, because the game treats the sunken area as another floor, and hence the the "floor above" will always be unfinished.

Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

[feldynn]

I'm working on a house right now using this technique, I just dumped my test sim in to check and I think I've figured out what it is. With the full length windows it's easy to miss, when applying a wall covering you have to be sure that the bottom short wall that the windows are on also gets painted.

I applied paint to all the walls I could see (holding Shift to paint whole sections at a time) and since the side of the foundation is painted with brick it only painted over the brick area but left the short wall with the windows on it blank, I knocked out a window to see and paint the short wall and that cured the unfinished moodlet.

[daistarr3]

Thank you for taking the time to write this tutorial. :)

[Zandrama]

Very nicely done...thanks for the good work!!

[Nedumaran]

@Feldyn:

Thanks for checking it out! It IS easy to miss out the window base.

[mahonereh]

Thank you very much! Will definitely try when I start up the game. :)

[festiveplague]

Hey, I'm kind of new to building stuff in Sims 3, first off. I tried your tutorial but I had a bit of a problem. When I went to delete the foundation on the outside of the house, that little wall in front of the windows... It wanted to build foundation all the way to the top of the windows. I did the constrainFloorElevation false code, and it didn't seem to help. Any ideas what I did wrong?

[Beefysim1]

Hey, I'm kind of new to building stuff in Sims 3, first off. I tried your tutorial but I had a bit of a problem. When I went to delete the foundation on the outside of the house, that little wall in front of the windows... It wanted to build foundation all the way to the top of the windows. I did the constrainFloorElevation false code, and it didn't seem to help. Any ideas what I did wrong?

I don't see how it can build the foundation up if you're deleting it? Have you tried using the sledgehammer tool? Describe it a little more if you can, it might even be helpful to post a screenshot.

[newgamer6]

Just wanted to let you know, used your tutorial and it worked to perfection!!! Thanks for all. My kitchen and den are both sunken lol

[festiveplague]

Actually I found out that using the 'constrainFloorElevation false' code is what was messing me up! I turned it back on and it worked great! Thanks anyway. :rofl:

[Fallenindarkness]

Okay so I can't put the second floor walls directly on top of the windows because it says it has no support so I took some columns and placed them close in order to be able to do this. However, When I do this, it leaves a gap between the first floor windows and the second floor walls. Has anybody else had this problem? Am I doing something wrong, because the pictures of the house in this tutorial do not have this gap.

[Sick`]

Okay so I can't put the second floor walls directly on top of the windows because it says it has no support so I took some columns and placed them close in order to be able to do this. However, When I do this, it leaves a gap between the first floor windows and the second floor walls. Has anybody else had this problem? Am I doing something wrong, because the pictures of the house in this tutorial do not have this gap.

I just finished a house in which I used this tutorial. I came across a similar problem to this. It's an easy fix, really. Use the 'constrainfloorelevation false' cheat and lay down a foundation under the section in which you want a floor/wall. That way there is no gap. After you lay down the foundation, make sure to 'constrainfloorelevation true' before you delete the foundation or you may mess something up.

[PuppyLust]

ive had this design...for a home for atleast eight months now that involves a sunken floor for the living room never knew how it was possible tried it on CAD programs but it never looked right...but i thought OH ill use the sims3 :D and then realised i didnt know how to do it there either XD but i read your tutorial and it made so much sense and was easy to follow :) thanks

[newgamer6]

Hi, i used your tutorial and had great success, but i do have a ?. When going to the 2nd floor i was unable to place floor tiles over the area above the sunken room hmmmm, any idea how i might overcome this. thanks

[John1946]

Hi, i used your tutorial and had great success, but i do have a ?. When going to the 2nd floor i was unable to place floor tiles over the area above the sunken room hmmmm, any idea how i might overcome this. thanks


Do it before you sink the room, also the second story walls if added before works fine.

[dawnrayne]

thank you so much! very helpful

[MyInnerGodzilla]

first: nice tut, Beefy! it's already in play.

second: i think i stumbled on an easier way. instead of using the cheat code and laying down foundation (Step 9) just place floating floor tiles along the inside edge of the walls (in place of Step 9) then follow Step 10, making sure to reverse the direction of the window's placement grid (Step 10; inside, Step 11: outside). after doing Step 10 remember to sledgehammer the floating floor tiles. then follow step 11 (see last parenthetical). this might alleviate some of the problems people are having with placing the second story as well. i was able to place a second story just like normal; no cheat codes, no columns, no foundation pieces.

[Beefysim1]

first: nice tut, Beefy! it's already in play.

second: i think i stumbled on an easier way. instead of using the cheat code and laying down foundation (Step 9) just place floating floor tiles along the inside edge of the walls (in place of Step 9) then follow Step 10, making sure to reverse the direction of the window's placement grid (Step 10; inside, Step 11: outside). after doing Step 10 remember to sledgehammer the floating floor tiles. then follow step 11 (see last parenthetical). this might alleviate some of the problems people are having with placing the second story as well. i was able to place a second story just like normal; no cheat codes, no columns, no foundation pieces.

That's actually how I usually do it as sundry times there is no room to place a foundation around the edge of the house.

[tipix.7]

This is so much easier than the method I was trying to use! Thanks a million!

[TroubledDayDreamer]

Is this house for downloading?? the one on the top. Its very nicely made =)

[Twizler]

Very nice tutorial, but is it me or does the wall covering cover up the windows too when you rotate to where you can see the inside of the room?

edit: Nvm, I just had to take the window off the wall and place it again. Weird...

[MarceloTF]

Beefysim1 your tutorial is great, congratulations!

[Marisa1954]

Great tut....Thank you

[chanyounancy]

Thanks!But I cannot create foundation besides the window.So,I cannot make a complete room!

[Inge Jones]

I have not understood the purpose of creating that temporary strip of foundation outside the house?

[sheilab38]

Very good tutorial and easy to understand. Thank you.

[AyameS]

I have not understood the purpose of creating that temporary strip of foundation outside the house?
Beefysim1, have you tried using the leveling tool so you won't need the temporary foundation. That's what I always do.

Btw, great tutorial! :up: You have inspired me to make some new houses. I've made 2 so far, just experimenting and getting familiar with the technique. Soon I hope to make something nice. :D

[guyluvnthegirl]

I love the tutorial. It was the easiest I have seen anywhere. THANKS! Now I am new to building homes and I want to do the same thing as this but with a octagon front faced room but I am having some problems. I keep getting messages like " This space is occupied by floor tile, and Terrain attached to the wall." Any help?

[Euphorialqueen]

Wow. I wish I had seen this before I built a house with a sunken living room. It would have been so much better using this method. EQ :rolleyes:

[Winterhart]

Thank you so much for the tutorial. It is very clear and simple. I thought I'd share what I did with it.

[Winterhart]

Hey, I'm kind of new to building stuff in Sims 3, first off. I tried your tutorial but I had a bit of a problem. When I went to delete the foundation on the outside of the house, that little wall in front of the windows... It wanted to build foundation all the way to the top of the windows. I did the constrainFloorElevation false code, and it didn't seem to help. Any ideas what I did wrong?

I had the same problem. I figured out that you must do constrainFloorElevation true before you delete the foundation on the outside of the house.

[virgosims]

I have a doubt build ye I explain, I am building a home for the Pinfall sims, and what I want is put on the 2nd floor, one bedroom with two heights but not a plant if not half-height, i.e. as when you list in the directly on the Foundation with a low stairs floor but I tested has do so in the second plant and not leave me, not is if there is a trick to do so or something, well this is my question, not is thank if I I explained, if someone has idea and I can help you.
and thank you anyway

[Save_the_whales]

This sounds stupid but I don't get it.... Like where do you put the windows, and what is the outer thing of foundation for ???

[lewjen]

Save-the_whales - It doesn't matter whether or not you understand why the foundation needs to go there, just place it there. I myself don't even know.
Regarding the placement of the windows - 'Step 10: Place your windows as show below (make sure the object placement grid is pointing outwards). Additionally, as feldynn and nedumaran have pointed out, make sure you paint your room before you place your windows. If you do not, you will have a hard time painting them after you place them; you will also get the 'unfinished room' moodlet if you fail to do so.' (See picture below step 10).

[Beefysim1]

Save-the_whales - It doesn't matter whether or not you understand why the foundation needs to go there, just place it there. I myself don't even know.
Regarding the placement of the windows - 'Step 10: Place your windows as show below (make sure the object placement grid is pointing outwards). Additionally, as feldynn and nedumaran have pointed out, make sure you paint your room before you place your windows. If you do not, you will have a hard time painting them after you place them; you will also get the 'unfinished room' moodlet if you fail to do so.' (See picture below step 10).

To clarify, you do not 'need' to put the foundation around the edge; however, sometimes the foundation level will magically have no floor guides, and you won't be able to place the windows easily. It can be done completely without them, but I included it so beginners can grasp the concept without any issues.

Sorry for my conveniently late reply.

[coolryno]

Help! I'm attempting to do this tutorial and I'm having major problems with step 7. It won't allow me to create the wall. It keeps saying "attached to wall" and I don't know how to solve this. Any help? Please and Thank You!

[anjogumafelix]

thanks for sharing! nice tutorial :)

[chelle021]

Hey, I'm kind of new to building stuff in Sims 3, first off. I tried your tutorial but I had a bit of a problem. When I went to delete the foundation on the outside of the house, that little wall in front of the windows... It wanted to build foundation all the way to the top of the windows. I did the constrainFloorElevation false code, and it didn't seem to help. Any ideas what I did wrong?



I had that same problem, I turned off the constrainfloorelevation cheat then deleted the foundation, seemed to work fine for me..

Hope this helps :p

[King1gangsta]

sup new to sims 3 do i have to enter "false" at the end of constrainfloorelevation ?

[Pyrafeline]

Thx so much for the tutorial!! It simply a beautiful way to enhance our sim homes...

[kyth]

i love this tutorial. you don't know how many houses i've made with this tut!

[bradyseitz]

@ King1gangsta--First of welcome. Secondly, yes you need to put false at the end to turn the restraints off. You will more than likely get an error message saying the cheat is not recognized. TS2 made it a little easier by only needing on/off at the end of cheats. Think of it this way: true for on, false for off. I have yet to use many cheats in TS3 as I am working to get my new world landscaped and such but used it several times in TS2 as can be seen in many of my lots.

[jracheal88]

You can't see the pictures. It's kinda hard to see what's going on without the pictures.

[Beefysim1]

You can't see the pictures. It's kinda hard to see what's going on without the pictures.

The permissions on the host server were compromised by some toothy rodent.

[amozaincam]

Is the final result pics from an actual home on this site?

[elnicaela]

Wow! that's amazing. thank you for the tutorial :D i think it would be better if you have a pdf of this though :)

[mykke11]

this is great. very clear images! inspiration for a greenhouse. thank you!

[shadyladynz]

hi,
Finally managed to make this work.
Thanks for posting! :gjob:

[boodamomx6]

Thanks for this excellent tutorial I used it and love the look of it in my houses. The other thing I liked about this it was so easy to follow and boy do I like easy tutorials.The last thing I need to say is keep up the good work!

[Heidelberg]

Did you take all the photos for this tutorial down? All I get is Image is not available, or does not exist. It's kind of worthless without the photos.

[Beefysim1]

Did you take all the photos for this tutorial down? All I get is Image is not available, or does not exist. It's kind of worthless without the photos.

I have re-uploaded the images.