Takissis Shell Challenge - October Challenge
October Shell Challenge Entries due by October 31, 2020. There is a theme for this month. This month I would like to see this simple home turned into either a fall scene or a spooky home. I loo...
Forum Discussion
@LionessInMN, Okay, I'm able to look more in depth now. I think I'm going to make a save file for each of the challenges and fill up Newcrest with them. Unless they don't fit, then I'll have to think of something else. :tongue:
**General Disclaimer - I debated when I put the challenge together, whether or not I would offer feedback with my opinions on what worked and didn't. I decided that although I'm still learning and very new at this, I want everyone's opinions regardless of skill on my creations. Therefore, I'll offer mine, and those I'm critiquing can either take them or leave them. They have the option of asking for no feedback in the entry. Everyone should be aware that these are only my opinions and should be taken with a grain of salt. **
And, my apologies, this is a bit long. I tend to be rather verbose if y'all haven't figured it out. I also tend to ramble off subject, so...here we go.
Starting with the exterior, I like how you kept the theme very dark and Gothic but still added contrast. You even used a slightly different shade in the roofing on the sides, so it stood out. I like the accents on the roofing you used, which you didn't overload on. You kept with the dying landscaping without it looking patterned or repetitive. You did add to the exterior walls and change the back wall, but I like the change, so good job. I've been dying for a build to use those gates from the debugs. I'm glad you added them. It adds to the overall feel of the lot. I so love the small crypt in the back. It looks almost like a Gothic shed (please know that is not meant derogatorily. It's cute in a creepy and spooky way.
I think I would have tried to line up the right side roof as that break in the roof is a bit distracting, but that might have been intentional on your part. (Specifically, on the right side of the building the right edge of the smaller and larger roofs do not align). I would have pulled out the eaves on the front two third level top rooms (I forget what they are called). It seems the only place you didn't and it looks off. I would suggest that when you are doing the terrain landscaping, you also do a small edge under the building itself. It makes the edges looks more built there instead of placed. You did so it around all the landscaping, which looks good, but it might have added an additional touch to it. The only changes I might have made to the balcony is to add just a little more color too it. I like the touch of red from the candles, but I think I would have tried to add a little more red just to add just a bit more contrast. Maybe the creeping vines with the red roses? It doesn't do much, but might be just enough.
Speaking of the spooky crypt. I love it. I love the colors, the use of red. I'm generally not a fan of warm lighting, but I like what it does in this room. You do have two small places where the rose bush clips through the walls. But other than fixing that, I wouldn't change anything.
First Floor
First off, I love your clever use of space. I would never have gotten all this into that little bit of room. I need to work more on that. Good job at keeping with the navy, white, and black theme in all the rooms. Cute touch with the flower troughs above the cabinets. And I like how the color in the kitchen is predominately white with hints of blue and black. It brightens it up. (Side note, figuratively, we could argue that vampires don't need a kitchen, therefore it could be bright, but that's just the silly voices adding to the stories in my head.) I like the corner edges you added to the kitchen as well. It's not something I would have thought of doing, but I like the result. It allowed you to put the bar as you did, (which I just love) without having to try to square together a cabinet edge next to it. Which would have made it look all wrong. Oh that's a half wall behind the stove. Even cooler!
Looping together the main room on the floor, again, awesome use of space. I like the lady statue in the center as a centerpiece. I also adore the little touches here and there, such as the red keg next to the bar (I'm going to assume there is a tru blood concoction in there of some type.) I love what you did with the fireplace, with the fairies on both sides on a complimentary tile; again a nice touch. The use of lighter colors in the bathroom is an interesting choice that works well. It adds a very Victorian feel to the room that stays in theme, but is unexpected. It totally works. I am so stea...erm...um....using the entryway as inspiration. I like the idea of having a small sitting area there and the double arches.
What would I have changed?.....I really struggled to find anything I didn't love on the first floor. The only thing I might have done is add fish to the fishbowl (which I will admit, I haven't done in the past, but was recommended to me that I should). Everything looks like it placed right. There are no gaping blanks anywhere. Hmm...Okay, I might have tried to find a theme/color matching flower to put in the vase next to the back door. But then again, the vase looks good there too.
So, no, love the first floor.
Second floor.
Okay, at first glance, the llama statue looked like a dragon. So from now on, I will consider it a dragon, which to me makes it 100 times cooler. There is more gushing to be done on the second floor, just like the first. I like the little art room. I didn't even realize there was a blue easel option. Nice little balcony over the back door. Let's see, you've got a toddler, child and probably teen or young adult room. I like each of them. The decor is limited, but I imagine, in keeping the theme, it would be. I want that castle IRL. I'm gonna have to buy my daughter a similar one. My favorite of the three is the child's room. Though, I want all the toys in the toddler's room. I am curious how all three feel about having to go through the teen's room to get to the bathroom though. With three mirrors, I assume you were going for shared space. There's even a ottoman to sit on while one waits to get a free sink. I don't think I've seen that rug in the bathroom before. I love it.
Hmm...changes. Not a lot I would have changed here again. I might have tried to have a hallway entry to the bathroom, but that's just aesthetics. I can see why you wouldn't want a lot of posters and such on the walls, as you were keeping to a theme. I might have tried to add a bit more in that regard, but I understand the limitations of the "rules" you were following in your decor. I think I might have tried to make each of the rooms just a little bit more different by using different wood tones in each, just to add a little variety. However, that might just be me.
Third floor
Nice little details in the master bedroom and good use of space again. I like the two mirrors on each side of the bed. The radiator used as an accent on all the floors, I have to say I love. It adds an ancient feel to it. I always struggle on what to do with all the space in large bedrooms. Having the two coffins there instead of having them in another room is a cool addition. It means the room is actually used, instead of just a facade for the neighbors. Of course, they shouldn't be up here anyway, since...well, ya know the coffins, but you know what I mean.
Okay, what would I have changed? You have three or four different shades of wood in here. I think I would have tried to match those a bit better, but that is honestly the only thing I can think of.
So..I told you this would be long. If you read this far..umm...welcome to the peek into my strange mind? :tongue: I hope you got something out of all that. Overall, I love it. I had to call my husband in here to take a look at it because I was gushing so much. Thank you for participating in my little challenge. I was really afraid no one would do it. Lots of love!
**General Disclaimer - I debated when I put the challenge together, whether or not I would offer feedback with my opinions on what worked and didn't. I decided that although I'm still learning and very new at this, I want everyone's opinions regardless of skill on my creations. Therefore, I'll offer mine, and those I'm critiquing can either take them or leave them. They have the option of asking for no feedback in the entry. Everyone should be aware that these are only my opinions and should be taken with a grain of salt. **
And, my apologies, this is a bit long. I tend to be rather verbose if y'all haven't figured it out. I also tend to ramble off subject, so...here we go.
Starting with the exterior, I like how you kept the theme very dark and Gothic but still added contrast. You even used a slightly different shade in the roofing on the sides, so it stood out. I like the accents on the roofing you used, which you didn't overload on. You kept with the dying landscaping without it looking patterned or repetitive. You did add to the exterior walls and change the back wall, but I like the change, so good job. I've been dying for a build to use those gates from the debugs. I'm glad you added them. It adds to the overall feel of the lot. I so love the small crypt in the back. It looks almost like a Gothic shed (please know that is not meant derogatorily. It's cute in a creepy and spooky way.
I think I would have tried to line up the right side roof as that break in the roof is a bit distracting, but that might have been intentional on your part. (Specifically, on the right side of the building the right edge of the smaller and larger roofs do not align). I would have pulled out the eaves on the front two third level top rooms (I forget what they are called). It seems the only place you didn't and it looks off. I would suggest that when you are doing the terrain landscaping, you also do a small edge under the building itself. It makes the edges looks more built there instead of placed. You did so it around all the landscaping, which looks good, but it might have added an additional touch to it. The only changes I might have made to the balcony is to add just a little more color too it. I like the touch of red from the candles, but I think I would have tried to add a little more red just to add just a bit more contrast. Maybe the creeping vines with the red roses? It doesn't do much, but might be just enough.
Speaking of the spooky crypt. I love it. I love the colors, the use of red. I'm generally not a fan of warm lighting, but I like what it does in this room. You do have two small places where the rose bush clips through the walls. But other than fixing that, I wouldn't change anything.
First Floor
First off, I love your clever use of space. I would never have gotten all this into that little bit of room. I need to work more on that. Good job at keeping with the navy, white, and black theme in all the rooms. Cute touch with the flower troughs above the cabinets. And I like how the color in the kitchen is predominately white with hints of blue and black. It brightens it up. (Side note, figuratively, we could argue that vampires don't need a kitchen, therefore it could be bright, but that's just the silly voices adding to the stories in my head.) I like the corner edges you added to the kitchen as well. It's not something I would have thought of doing, but I like the result. It allowed you to put the bar as you did, (which I just love) without having to try to square together a cabinet edge next to it. Which would have made it look all wrong. Oh that's a half wall behind the stove. Even cooler!
Looping together the main room on the floor, again, awesome use of space. I like the lady statue in the center as a centerpiece. I also adore the little touches here and there, such as the red keg next to the bar (I'm going to assume there is a tru blood concoction in there of some type.) I love what you did with the fireplace, with the fairies on both sides on a complimentary tile; again a nice touch. The use of lighter colors in the bathroom is an interesting choice that works well. It adds a very Victorian feel to the room that stays in theme, but is unexpected. It totally works. I am so stea...erm...um....using the entryway as inspiration. I like the idea of having a small sitting area there and the double arches.
What would I have changed?.....I really struggled to find anything I didn't love on the first floor. The only thing I might have done is add fish to the fishbowl (which I will admit, I haven't done in the past, but was recommended to me that I should). Everything looks like it placed right. There are no gaping blanks anywhere. Hmm...Okay, I might have tried to find a theme/color matching flower to put in the vase next to the back door. But then again, the vase looks good there too.
So, no, love the first floor.
Second floor.
Okay, at first glance, the llama statue looked like a dragon. So from now on, I will consider it a dragon, which to me makes it 100 times cooler. There is more gushing to be done on the second floor, just like the first. I like the little art room. I didn't even realize there was a blue easel option. Nice little balcony over the back door. Let's see, you've got a toddler, child and probably teen or young adult room. I like each of them. The decor is limited, but I imagine, in keeping the theme, it would be. I want that castle IRL. I'm gonna have to buy my daughter a similar one. My favorite of the three is the child's room. Though, I want all the toys in the toddler's room. I am curious how all three feel about having to go through the teen's room to get to the bathroom though. With three mirrors, I assume you were going for shared space. There's even a ottoman to sit on while one waits to get a free sink. I don't think I've seen that rug in the bathroom before. I love it.
Hmm...changes. Not a lot I would have changed here again. I might have tried to have a hallway entry to the bathroom, but that's just aesthetics. I can see why you wouldn't want a lot of posters and such on the walls, as you were keeping to a theme. I might have tried to add a bit more in that regard, but I understand the limitations of the "rules" you were following in your decor. I think I might have tried to make each of the rooms just a little bit more different by using different wood tones in each, just to add a little variety. However, that might just be me.
Third floor
Nice little details in the master bedroom and good use of space again. I like the two mirrors on each side of the bed. The radiator used as an accent on all the floors, I have to say I love. It adds an ancient feel to it. I always struggle on what to do with all the space in large bedrooms. Having the two coffins there instead of having them in another room is a cool addition. It means the room is actually used, instead of just a facade for the neighbors. Of course, they shouldn't be up here anyway, since...well, ya know the coffins, but you know what I mean.
Okay, what would I have changed? You have three or four different shades of wood in here. I think I would have tried to match those a bit better, but that is honestly the only thing I can think of.
So..I told you this would be long. If you read this far..umm...welcome to the peek into my strange mind? :tongue: I hope you got something out of all that. Overall, I love it. I had to call my husband in here to take a look at it because I was gushing so much. Thank you for participating in my little challenge. I was really afraid no one would do it. Lots of love!
