Created by: Sterling DT
The FoxGlen Manor is a very nice statehouse build on elevated grounds and surroundedby various trees. Using trees as natural fencing instead of walls is a nice way to blend a house with the natural surroundings. Many of the neighborhoods in lower Sunset Valley do not offer the space necessary for a manor like this, so such a lot is better suited for the vistas overlooking the town.
Don’t neglect your Sims’ painted creations. You can get great environmental bonuses from your Sim’s personal paintings.
The Grounds
By turning on Build Mode and pulling back, you can see how the lot was textured to build a sort of “pedestal” for the manor. Raising the land to create a multi-tiered lot like this is very easy with the Terrain tools. Use the Raise Terrain tool to pull the land up. Then soften the rough edge with the Smoothing tool so you create natural-looking steps instead of a harsh landscape.
Decorate the various steps with flower and small trees. To highlight these trees at night, drill lights into the soil at the bases of the trees.
The front of the house features a nice walk-up. Sims will walk up raised ground on their own, but the stairs add refinement. To stretch stairs over the incline, just anchor them at the top level and “pull” the stairs in the direction you want them to drop.
If you create elaborate grounds, use large windows (Ye Olde Window is pictured here) so you can see the splendor from inside the house.
Exterior balconies overlooking the grounds are another good feature. This Sim may want a chair out here to sit and read. That would help get a Beautiful Vista moodlet. This balcony would also be a great place to paint.
The Kitchen
The kitchen in FoxGlen manor is large and loaded with nice equipment. Interestingly, the counters and cabinets are not all exact matches. Mixing elements keeps an environment from looking too similar. It’s inviting to the eye because you are trying to see which elements are slightly different without being too intrusive on each other.
This kitchen is very attractive, but it does not splurge on objects. You do not need to buy top of the line all of the time, especially if you are not developing a particular skill. This kitchen is huge and pleasing to look at, but does not go crazy with small appliances, disposals, or dishwashers. It keeps an elementary look so the designer could spend Simoleons elsewhere, such as on those impressive exterior grounds.
Fireplaces
No large manor is complete without a fireplace. Fireplaces add warmth to your Sims’ lives (the Cozy Fire moodlet is a easy pleaser), but they also add a central point in a house for you to build out from. From this Fireplace 2.0—complete with the ability to change the color of the flames—you build out into a sitting room where Sims will enjoy lounging with a book. A skill book, perhaps?
See how having a focal point like a fireplace anchors a room? Now you have a “starting point” for building out, which helps with creating symmetry.
Fireplace chimneys automatically stretch to the roof of a house, no matter if it’s two stories or seven. This constant anchor gives you a reference point when constructing an upper floor above the main level. Here, you can see how two bathrooms look appealing when built symmetrically on each side of the chimney. If desired, you can wall off a chimney without any worry of a fire hazard.