We went and picked it up this morning and I could not be happier. Well, ok, I could be happier, but I am super happy. I think I paid exactly the right amount for what I got.
Part 1:
As you can see there’s extensive water damage on the lower level. Or is it water? When I was trying to wash it there was a distinct smell of…pee. Hmm. There is also pen scribbling on the floors and roof. I hate that, why do kids want to wreck their toys? While I admit that I wrecked a bunch of my sister’s clothes when I was a teenager, I never, EVER wrote on my toys.
Part 2:
These are the 2 lower levels for the dollhouse I grew up playing with. My plan is to make them into a studio type space, complete with rooftop patio and garden. I originally thought I would just have them side by side, or maybe in an L shape configuration but now I think I like them layered, off set slightly. These are in better condition than the main house but are still quite damaged by water and previous renovations. There was paper on the lower half of the upper walls which I immediately removed. The roof will be covered in astroturf and gritty sand paper.
So, what needs to be done? I really almost don’t even know where to begin. I’m going to stop by the dollar store on my way home for sand paper, glue, low tack painter’s tape, balsa wood… The studio space will be designed for a young couple, maybe planning their first baby. Maybe they have a nice dog and are artists. The main house is for a family. A couple kids, pets. I have to think about their stories.
Good thing I am practically not working anymore. Lots of time to really put some effort into this project.
hahaha.
This is so amazing and reading how excited and happy you are about it makes me giddy and excited for you!
Watching this project of yours grow is gonna be fun. How girly!
Might be mouse pee?
Very exciting!
I like the layout! I hope you’ll keep us posted about your renovations. I’ve had some ideas for making intricate dioramas for awhile but am unsure where to begin with it, and it seems like it’s relatively similar to dollhouse work. Most of mine seem like they’d be pretty difficult, though, as whenever I go through miniatures there’s nothing that suits my ideas, even in the catalogues, alas.
I am planning the rooftop garden right now. It’s got hedges all the way around in planters, one end is a veggie plot, tubs with tomatoes. Room for a table and umbrella and maybe a hot tub!
LA!
Oh, Rach, it IS hard to find a modern type doll house, I know. I found one kit that I liked, it’s neat because it opens on more than one side.
This one:
http://www.thelittledollhousecompany.com/LDCRgtcontemporaryranch.html
Ash-it’s a LOT of pee. I’d be more inclined to guess the house was stored near a litterbox.
i think i love you!
this is such a cute thing to do. i’m totally envious!
I designed the rooftop garden tonight, it required 3 sheets of paper and lots of markers. I also painted 2 cardboard cones (the kind that yarn is wound on) green for fir trees.
2 fat rubber babies are on the roof now, one is eating and one is chilling in the hot tub.
OMG. I am so excited for you and can’t wait to see lots of pictures. Where did you get this from? Craigslist?
NOPE! It was listed on Kijiji. I used Shannon’s Craigslist hunting tool to find it-it’s on his page and it works super well, although I found it hard to figure out initially and was glad he sits beside me all the time.
If I did what I was thinking I’d mostly just be using one square room so I wouldn’t need the actual house, but finding the right pieces is a pain! I’m not sure why there’s not someone out there making a bigger variety of miniatures. Most of the sites I looked at when I went through my initial phase were just offering, for instance, one white man and one white woman, one black man and one black woman, one elderly man and one elderly woman, etc.
I think you could turn the lower levels into a pretty kick ass 50′s style bungalow.
I have (almost) the same dollhouse, from when I was a kid. Looks like yours has the little electrical outlets, too — mine used to have little working lights that plugged into those, but they broke and I can’t really find new ones, unfortunately. But maybe you could. :)
I’d love to see what it looks like when you’ve redecorated it!
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I designed my own dollshouse out of two sets of book-cases after reading “The Secret in Miranda’s Wardrobe” — it occupied me and my sister for years, decorating the rooms, placing furniture, creating knick-knacks from scraps found around the house and food from Fimo. Make-up compacts make great vanity dressers! We even had tiny LED lightbulbs put in by my dad and run off a car battery. It was a thing of glory and by the time I was 13 or 14, my friends would still want to play with it whenever they came round.
Well, anyone that feels like sending me pictures for inspiration, PLEASE do! It’s so cool how so many people are excited about this!