Advice on which DH to buy

[Bex]

Hi there,
I've been googling 'Doll's Houses' for the past hour or so as I'm looking for one for my daughters for Christmas and am getting myself all confused. I came across your forums and I'm hoping you can help me - you seem such a nice bunch!:)

My kids are 3 and 5 and I want a DH that is -
1) Big enough for them to play alongside one another and 'do their own thing'
2) Painted on the outside
3) A 'Classic' design; not too girly. I want something that they can make their own - perhaps decorate it when they're a bit older.
4) It needs to be robust enough to withstand my 3 year old!
5) I don't want to spend more than £100
(I live in Ireland so postage and packing charges are quite a consideration)

The Dartmouth looks like the sort of thing I'm after in terms of size and design but here's where I get confused. The prices quoted for exactly the same DH vary so much from site to site. Also, I can't decide whether buying furniture as part of a package is a good idea. I like the idea of my girls collecting bits and pieces over time.

Any advice would be gratefully received!

Bex

xx

[wombat]

hi bex...welcome to the forum......i don't have the dartmouth so i can't say if its a god house or not but have you looked at the dolls house emporium range for children...the only reason i suggest this and not a 'real' grown ups dolls house is because of the age of your little ones.....lots of the bits on houses and the furniture are not meant as toys and thefore possibly aren't as safe as they should be.

of course its onlt my opinion but if it were me in your position....knowing what little fingers are like....i would buy a dhe chidrens house as these are designed to be more sturdy and safe for little ones.

hope this helps

[kath]

I always think the Classical from DHE is suitable for little girls of that age....It's not too girly or baby looking but it is the kind of house that is robust and strong enough for now while they're small yet it can grow with them and become a more collectors piece as they get older.
Lots of houses look like bargains at first glance but when you think about it they aren't really suitable for young children....with the Classical it's roof doesn't lift up so it won't bang down on little heads,
there are no internal doors which are going to be broken off and the stairs go right up the middle with no spindles or newel posts to snap and get in the way whilst playing.The Quickstyle comes ready painted and you can always wallpaper as time goes on. Hope that helps it would certainly be the one I would consider if my girls were little still......

Here it is to look at and under budget too! :)

http://www.dollshouse.com/images/products/1034.jpg

http://www.dollshouse.com/dhe/product-details.aspx?code=1034

[kath]

Forgot to say welcome to the forum too! Hope you enjoy being with us :)

[wombat]

well done kath....good idea on the classical!!

[St.Vale]

Welcome to the forums Bex and I hope you find the right house for your lucky children!

[Bex]

Hi ladies - thanks so much for your advice and your best wishes. You've convinced me that I need to get something simple, robust and purpose built. I'll let you know what I end up buying.:)

[Winston's Mum]

Hi Bex welcome to the forum, not sure if i have welcomed you lol but must say the advice that Kath and the others have said is so right i think the Classical is just about perfect everything she said is so true, i have 2 grandchildren, well i have 7, but these 2 come the most and i have a kiddies dolls house here for them and that has a roof that opens and over time that roof has now pulled off out of edge of the wall so dont get one with opening roof plus if it falls it will hurt them, good luck with your hunt, dont think you will beat the Classical cos it WILL grow with them ha ha

[mad-on-miniatures]

Hi bex,

My friends Daughter across the road from me has the Classical Dolls House from the DHE.... and has had it since she was small.....she's 13 now....and has been the sort of thing that.....has grown with her......:D

[caz]

Hi Bex,

Follow your own heart & instincts.