Subscriber Build – sim

A modern home for Retro sims

Retro sims is a fantastic builder, a Twitch streamer and a YouTube creator, and now a subscriber to my Twitch channel. When he was gifted a subscription and I asked him what he wanted me to build, his only request was a modern house — so I took that and ran with it!

Retro sims’ builds are often light and airy, with soft wood tones and a beachy vibe, and so I made this modern build less starkly white and cold than I often do (it’s an aesthetic I’d never want to live in, but I love to build). A Selvadoradan vibe exists throughout, including the pool tile and the kitchen furnishings.

The roof deck (I love roof decks) is the standout feature, with its hot tub and outdoor kitchen and view of Oasis Springs’ commercial strip. The dinosaur, that does not come with the build. 😉

I’m glad he liked the build, which can be found on the Gallery as “Elevated Modern,” ID michele_blue. These subscriber builds are close to my heart. Thank you, Retro!

A Gothic Home for misunderstoodmami

When I approached misunderstoodmami (youtube here) about her reward build for subscribing to my Twitch channel, she requested a Gothic house, perhaps suitable for a future Let’s Play. Two adults, one child, one teen.

For inspiration, I chose a remarkable Victorian Gothic home in Holly Village, Highgate, North London, part of the first gated community in England. This little community has a fascinating history and a TON of inspiration for Simmers — see here for more details and photos.

My chosen inspiration – isn’t it gorgeous?

Of course, the Sims has a lot of limitations when it comes to aping historic architecture. I made the changes necessary to match pathing, staircases, and windows, and came up with this:

“Remodeled Gothic,” Gallery ID michele_blue

I decorated the interior in a brighter, more modern style than I usually choose for Victorian builds, but one of my favorite aspects of historic homes is that they aren’t static, frozen in time. They still *work* for modern use, modern furniture, and modern families.

The master bedroom on the house’s second floor

Finally, misunderstoodmami requested a creepy backstory with this build. So, as requested:

The Turners came to Holly Cottage with the best of intentions. They spruced up the old “cottage,” remodeled it for modern family tastes, and welcomed neighbors into the newly furnished, colorful interior. Only a month later, with the mail piling up and the Turner child truant at school, Windenberg constables visited the house only to find no trace of its human inhabitants – though no clothes were gone from their closets and a half-eaten meal sat, moldy and rotten, on the grand dining table.

The Turners haven’t been seen since.

The house is open again, for sale as-is. Will your Sims dare to become the new owners of Holly Cottage?

(and thank you misunderstoodmami for your Twitch subscription!)

A Bookstore for Oxfordsplice

I can sometimes go a bit…overboard. When it came time to complete a subscriber reward for Oxfordsplice and she requested a bookstore, all restraint went right out the window. I’ve been so lucky to have Oxfordsplice as friend, Twitch channel moderator, and someone with whom I seem to have a ridiculous amount in common. #teammichele/michelle!

First things first, I needed inspiration. I finally settled on a historic bookstore in St Andrews Scotland, J&G Innes Ltd. The store sprawls across three formerly separate properties with connections to Scottish publishing.

Photo credit here. Creative Commons non-commercial license.

When it came to my Sims 4 version, I couldn’t possibly replicate some of the elaborate window and façade details. I relied heavily on the Get to Work and Get Together packs, as well as a *whole lot of debug*. Club emblems replaced university seals, a lion fountain replaced St Andrews, and I did the best I could to show both the historic site and the continuing, modern use.

The second floor of the existing bookstore is a gallery, and brighter and more open than this. But I was in a woodwork fugue by then, and there was no going back. A gathering space, modern art, and a coffee corner followed.

I’ve no idea if the bookstore contains an actual kids’ section, but children often get short shrift in the Sims, so here they get a space just for them.

I could spend a lot of time in a place like this.

I’m genuinely pleased with how it all turned out. I filled the empty corners of the lot with a narrow old clinic and a coffee/tea stand, as well as a few back gardens. It *feels* like a high street, which is what I wanted to give Oxfordsplice, and I’m now hoping I can visit St Andrews someday to see the beautiful inspiration building in person.

Available on the EA Gallery as “O&S Booksellers,” ID michele_blue.

A Café for Peru_Queen

One of the benefits I’ve chosen for my Twitch subscribers is that I’ll build them a — well, a whatever, as long as it fits on a lot sized 30×20 or smaller. My friend and fellow creator Peru_Queen (youtube here) was my very first subscriber, and she requested a café.

I chose a bright, modern exterior and a more traditional interior, including chess and books for entertainment. It isn’t an elaborate build, but it’s a great setting for a Let’s Play scene – which she’s already done! Find this build on the Gallery as “Charee’s Café.”