What houses do you own and what projects are you working on?

[VickyL]

I thought it might be a nice idea for us to have a place where we can tell each other a little bit about what we're all working on, and what we're planning to do.

I'm currently working on a house I bought from DHE about 8 or 10 years ago but never really got started on, the Cournty Store and Berkeley basement. I've chosen a modern theme, which I've found is becomming a lot more popular since I first started looking for pieces. I've built the shell, and have a fair amount of furniture now (my favourite is probably still the working grandfather clock that I bought about 8 years ago - not modern I know, but I just say that it's a family heir loom if anyone asks).

Although it's the Country Store kit, I'm making it into a house, with the ground floor (what would be the store) being a large lounge diner. The basement holds the kitchen, and the young daughter's bedroom, the first floor is the master bedroom and bathroom, and up the top is the nursery and the son's bedroom.

[Melanie]

Hello Vicky,

I'm on the verge of getting one of my first two houses built - Jenny Wren's, which is most likely to become a rural village post office, set during WWII and once that's built, I also have Magpies, which is to become the village shop, also set during that period!

This is something I've wanted to do for years and I am currently dithering a great deal over whether or not to have an indoor bathroom in Magpies! I love the tin baths and the outhouses that the DHE do, and if I decide to have my shop owners rather behind the time in their modernising their living quarters, then I can have a children's bedroom. If I do go for the indoor bathroom, then I'm thinking of losing part of Magpies and using this residentially and therefore I gain an upstairs room so I can have a children's room and an indoor bathroom.

Decisions, decisions!

[lilsmudge]

:DI've just started my grand plan, which is built from scratch. Using the floor layout from a book. The shell is made out of reinforced cardboard. Its going to be a mix of baroque, gothic, egyptian and william burges. Its only the ground floor at the moment. Which will consist of a libary/study, hall way, living room and egyptian shrine.
The person that lives there is an ecentric victorian egyptologist by the name of Lord john flowertot-fitzwilliam, Welsh man with scotish ancestry.
The 1st floor will have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom based on the bathroom in cardiff castle. At the back will be a great banquet hall.
Should take me a few years to design it let alone build it.
All fun.

[Melanie]

:DI've just started my grand plan, which is built from scratch. Using the floor layout from a book. The shell is made out of reinforced cardboard. Its going to be a mix of baroque, gothic, egyptian and william burges. Its only the ground floor at the moment. Which will consist of a libary/study, hall way, living room and egyptian shrine.
The person that lives there is an ecentric victorian egyptologist by the name of Lord john flowertot-fitzwilliam, Welsh man with scotish ancestry.
The 1st floor will have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom based on the bathroom in cardiff castle. At the back will be a great banquet hall.
Should take me a few years to design it let alone build it.
All fun.


This house sounds like such fun! Good luck with the process!

[lil_amybrean]

i`m brought the mongomery house and i`m making it into a hotel , when i get time. i` have only brought a couple of things but what i have saw is excellent

[Heather]

Hi Vicky, I am just finishing off Springwood Cottage which has taken me about 2 years. I am USELESS at building or making houses or miniatures but the kit was really straighforward.
I wont even tell you how long it took me to finally build and finish the garden kit!!
I am also in the process of furnishing the Retreat which I have turned into a Beach House. Thankfully my Dad built the kit for me otherwise it would still be sitting in a heap on my kitchen counter! I am using modern furnishings and wanted to put a kitchen in too but there really wasn't enough room for a full one. So I was delighted to see the modern self contained kitchen in the new catalogue which should fit in just nicely.
I am OBSESSED with everything modern at the moment and plan to make the Lake View kit my next project. Hopefully my Dad will build it for me (he has just retired and has been looking for things to do....honest!!! lol )

[Suzanne]

Hi, I`m afraid i don`t have a classic dolls house but mine was hand built 50 years ago when i was 3 years old by my father. I remember seeing it for the first time and feeling overwhelmed as it had working lights in every one of its five rooms and all the furniture items and accessories right down to the little blue teaset. The poor house has been jostled about from the attic to the garage over the years, painted all sort of colours by my then young daughters and later taken apart and bits everywhere. About 2 weeks ago i worke up one morning and the first thing i thought of was my dolls house. I decided to `renovate `it ! Took me days to find the parts but the shell is still holding togerther with the original pieces of wood my father used all that time ago.
Needless to say the lights no longer work and bits are missing and it has cost me a small fortune to buy the new hinges, lights, nails etc. to start doing it!
The only problem is the rooms are 8" ins by 8" and i am cannot find a staircase to fit.
It has to be 5cms wide and 21cms long or there about. I thought of trying to make my own but I`m no chippy! Anyway i`ll get there...hopefully :)

(sorry for the long thread but i wanted to share my dolls house story) :)

[jennyedlington]

Hi Suzanne, take a look at the staircases in the 'Builders Merchants' section of the catalogue, they are made from MDF, and so are very easy to cut down to size.

[Suzanne]

Thanks Jenny, I did look through them but i didn`t realise they would be easy to cut down, I`ll take another look.... :)

[kath]

I am just about to start decorating a little pub. I've been collecting bits and pieces for ages including a lovely flock wallpaper! It is a Tudor building and has three rooms. The ground floor will be the main pub area, I'm going to have a piano and billiard table on the next floor and I have ideas for making two doors leading off into the 'loos' .....I hope to have a delft rack with a collection of toby jugs and other such pub related crockery and brassware. Can't wait to get started now!
Kath :)

[jennyedlington]

Thanks for sharing your ideas with us, the little pub sounds great, just make sure to post some pictures when it is finished!

[Gerry]

I packed all my dolls house stuff away when we moved about 2 years ago, although I hadn't done anything to them for at least a couple of years - too many other hobbies! I have a DHE display house (no longer made) and a small bow-fronted toy shop, both of which I've just started to put back together. I've decided to re-do the roof on the house, which I originally did with tile paper, but I can't make up my mind whether to do it with textured sheet, or use tiles.

The shop has a flat roof, and I'd like to get a room box to fit on top eventually, for extra accommodation. My other two houses are in the attic at the moment - one a Lines Bros house, which I rescued froma jumble sale, and a Hobby's house which my dad made for my older daughter about 20 years ago. I'm afraid they'll have to wait!

[topcat]

I purchases a sid cook shop from ebay a couple of years back

saw one already built and this looked just what I wanted with backroom space on a turn table

the kit was a bit distastrous and wished for a while I never saw it but now its looking good

have to say that though its nice having windows in the sides from the outside its less practical inside

I made the top floor into one big christmas shop and had some spare stairs from the pub which now go up to the roof storage space which has been filled with boxes of this and that spare bits from all over the show

i made most of the toys from jan harrops book first time I made very much myself but enjoyed getting into it

the middle floor I moved the partition and doors and made one side ladies corset and the other fine china

much of the stuff for the china shop came off ebay one seller in the states in particular but I try to go for one off hand made stuff

the ground floor is grocery

I changed the back wall so it was flat and one end behind is the lady in the office taking the money

still have a few odds and end to finish the back stairs and hall will be odd items of furniture

spent ages dressing the windows and have veg outside and eggs

one thing I would like for the floor is mosaic

did an mosiic floor for the priory took ages got from ann marie tiles

but have a sainsburys book and see how they colour coordiated their early shops and would like to do something similar

but unable to find tile pattern of sufficient size to copy

I wanted to make a street christmas scene but thats beena disaster

had some fleece for the snow and my cat sandie took it over and won't let me use it so hes won

[topcat]

Run out of space and wanted to try something different so made this little sweetshop in quality street tin

looks a bit dull in the pictures but really quite nice

made the counters and shelves myself from wood because the scale is a bit addrift and bought counters were just a bit too big for the job

I had a page of striped DHE wallpaper left so used that the mauve and tan

but an thinking and changing to the pink and grey and spaying the shelves and counter cream

would like to install a couple of lights bu bit expensive to buy a transformer for 2 lights

not sure if there is battery option that would be cheap to run

[topcat]

forgot the picture

[dollshousemad123]

i have six dolls houses, and am still on the look out for more i have just finished a 1/16 scale thatched cottage with a little garden, and am half way through dhe house , my poor husband is dreading taking me to the nec at the end of the month to the dolls house show he says just remember weve only got a small car! i tend to go for old houses rather than kits but i do like the dne ones i have also just bought a very old cigar large case with a glass front so im going to make it into a tobaconist shop, and i found an ols 60s dolls wardrobe but i dont really know yet what to do with it, im also looking out for a fairytail castle but carnt seem to find one.

[jennyedlington]

Thanks for letting us know about your impressive collection. Have you seen the Cumberland Castle available exclusively at www.dollshouse.com it would make an ideal fairytale castle.

[Mini Restoration]

I am currently working on a three story house for a friend - I designed it myself and have built it from scratch. Spent the other eveing building a traditional kitchen - Very chuffed - had some great photos of some tiles that I have adapted and they make a fantastic splash back - Had great fun making the ceiling roses with plaster of paris.

The kitchen needs sanding again and then final paint finish. Probably marble top.
The alcoves in living room will have lights - the hearth built uisng 12th scale bricks - I also will have real smoking chimneys

Love peoples views on my work so far - but be kind -

[kayjay]

Mini Restoration: Your house so far looks fab, would love to see more as you do it :)

[Mini Restoration]

Well am a bit bored today so thought as one person has asked for more pictures then I should do as I am asked.
The finish is still rough but gives the idea of what I am trying to achive - the concept of an old house that has been modernised by its new owners

[jennyedlington]

Thank you so much for sharing your photo's your project looks amazing

[mad-on-miniatures]

I thought it might be a nice idea for us to have a place where we can tell each other a little bit about what we're all working on, and what we're planning to do.

I'm currently working on a house I bought from DHE about 8 or 10 years ago but never really got started on, the Cournty Store and Berkeley basement. I've chosen a modern theme, which I've found is becomming a lot more popular since I first started looking for pieces. I've built the shell, and have a fair amount of furniture now (my favourite is probably still the working grandfather clock that I bought about 8 years ago - not modern I know, but I just say that it's a family heir loom if anyone asks).

Although it's the Country Store kit, I'm making it into a house, with the ground floor (what would be the store) being a large lounge diner. The basement holds the kitchen, and the young daughter's bedroom, the first floor is the master bedroom and bathroom, and up the top is the nursery and the son's bedroom.

Hi Vicky,

I've had Fern Villa for two years and haven't started it yet so I,m going to have a go.......SOON.

I've had to dismantle my other dolls house though :( in order to make room, I bought it ready built from a local shop but it seems as though it may be 16th scale as the windows are smaller than Fern Villa but the furniture fits more or less okay.

Still, it's down now and I'm really looking forward to buliding Fern Villa. I'm going to do it in my own colours, though not sure what, I like the colours of Mimosa Cottage, I think that's the same frame as Fern!

I'll have a go at posting some piccies, as to my progress, we could have a Gallery for everyone if there isn't one already ? : ) :) :)

[VickyL]

Well am a bit bored today so thought as one person has asked for more pictures then I should do as I am asked.
The finish is still rough but gives the idea of what I am trying to achive - the concept of an old house that has been modernised by its new owners

Wow!! I love the recesses around the fire place, reminds me of a house that I used to rent a few years back (i.e. an old house that's undergoing modernisation). :)

[Mini Restoration]

thanks vicky- they also light up - I am about to install smoking chimney - will post images when done

[Lindy Lou]

Hi
I've just signed up. I am currently building my third major dolls house.
I have already built The Classical with the Berkeley basement, also The Country Store ( as a grocers store) these both take pride of place in my lounge.

I have now started work on Eaton Square but have only got as far as building the shell and starting to work on the stairs, a long way to go with that one particularly as I have the basement kit too.

I have also built a one roomed shop, kitted out as an Ironmongers. I have been building dollshouses for nearly 8 years now, a nice hobby to have after bringing up two boys and living in a house full of model railways.

I attach pictures of The Classical and The Country Store.

[jennyedlington]

Hello, and welcome to the forum, it sounds like your hobby is keeping you really busy. We would love to see pictures of your Eaton Square when it is finished.:)

[mimmy]

hello every one!

you have a newbe on the page! lol
great to hear from other dolls house people

i am also working on a new dolls house. its very very large with 68 rooms ( honest) and it opens on all 4 sides. it started life as the cottsmore, and then 2 cottsmores back to back and then i added side bits ect. its in the middle of the room and makes a great center peice.. been working on it 2 years but its no where near done. still doing the real stone on the out side, takes ages. but will be worth it. its a victorian country home 1880 ish with a children and a master that obbsessed with ships and the sea ect.

great to hear from other people!

mimmy:)

[tinah]

Wow, Mimmy that sounds like a very big project.:eek: would love to see some photographs of it sometime.:)

[mimmy]

:)hi!

thanks for your reply! i will post pics when i can! just moving house at the mo and so all a bit messed up!

what are are working on?

mimmy

[dollydiva]

thank you Mimmy for convincing me that i am not mad as my best friend and i are working on a very large house also. it has 114 rooms and is called castlediva court it is the home of lady georgina and family ive always wanted a stately home of my own now i have one its great!!!! Some of the rooms include the Grand Hall covering 3 floors with a chandlier based on the one from the film phantom of the opera with 1283 hand beaded crystals (6 weeks of sheer torture to make but so worth it) , Theatre, Chapel, Ballroom, Tudor Banquetting Hall, State & Semi state rooms, Stables &servants quarters to name but a few will post some pictures shortly.xxxx

[mimmy]

hello!

that sounds amazing! wow !!!!


i love the bigger houses. i only ever had 6-9 room ones before and started to get board with them.

so i take it the castle is todour? would love to see my pics.

with the cottsmores and extentions, i have a funny jutty off end part, so i want to make the corners smoother by adding cornor wings. will look a bit like a squished 50p i hope to tie all the roofs togther. iv only just decided that last night and it will also provide another 20+ rooms. have no idea what to put in those!

did you buy this huge kit or did you make yours from parts/scratch? would love to hear from you about it!!!!

mimmy
X:o

[mimmy]

sorry about that , message should have read,

so i take it the castle is todour? would love to see SOME pics.


thanks!` ;)

[dollydiva]

its a georgian country estate the west wing is tudor, east wing and Theatre tower is mid to late georgian based on versailles the north and south wings and towers are early georgian . The house is 7 floors high, With most of the ground floor rooms which include the ballroom and banqueting hall are double height. The entire structure is 14' x 12' and 5 1/2' in height with a cenral fountain courtyard. We would love to hear more of your house and see some photographs. x x x

[Pinky]

Hi Everyone!..:)

Just joined up...I have completed one dollshouse..mind you are they ever complete???..Its the Ashburton my hubby bought me for chrissie about 3 yrs ago..I decided from the start it was going to be a Tea~Rooms..My hubs very kindly helped me build it...then I had a great time painting and choosing wallpaper..all from DHE..I love their designs..My friend Lesley made me some beautiful gingham tablecloths and curtains....also bedding,parasols.slippers...Shes soooo clever!!..:D...The upper levels are living accomodation for the owner Milly and her pet cats..!!..who incidently are no good at catching mice as there are two sat in the kitchen on an orange box!!!..:eek:

My work in progress at the moment is a lovely cottage...With a spooky twist...I've actually thatched the roof from kids brooms that the shops sell for Halloween..I'm really pleased with the result!!....I'll post some piccies of my houses when I figure out how to do it!!!

Pinky x

[jennyedlington]

Hi Pinky, your project sounds amazing, and I'm sure the rest of the group would love to see pictures when it's finished.

[PJsweetest]

I'm working on Springwood Cottage with basement, (not that you can call it work, I'm totally addicted! lol :D )

I'm doing a modern theme, similar to my family home. I've got a boys room (for my son Cameron,) an adult bedroom (my room) and a pink girly room complete with bunk beds (for my daughters Nicole and Hannah!)

I have bathroom, living room and kitchen in the main house. The kitchen is in progress, I'm making a modern fitted kitchen as I have mini 'Miele' battery operated cooker, microwave, dishwasher, fridge and washing machine in silver. ( I got these from E-bay.) I've hand-made the cupboards and worktops and may make a kitchen island.

The basement is going to be a cake shop to mirror the cake business that me and my friend started in April this year called 'The Sweetest Thing - Speciality Cakes.' I make tiny cakes from fimo ready for the doll's shop to open and I'm going to make on of our business cards with the logo on it into a swinging sign for the front of the shop.

I love making things from scratch, whether working with fimo, wood, odds n ends, material etc. Anything I can get my hands on really and let my imagination go wild. :)

I just wish there were more hours in the day as my head is filled with so many ideas that I haven't got time to do them all!! lol :rolleyes:

[jennyedlington]

Hi PJ, your projects sound amazing! we love to hear from people who enjoy making their own furniture and accessories. You are a real inspiration to other collectors, and we would all love to see pictures of your work.

[emilyc2000]

I have recently finished building Magpies and Jenny Wrens with my mum. It was really easy to build. We made Magpies into a large toyshop called 'Playtimes' and we made Jenny Wrens into a general village store. :) The next project we are hoping to get started on is Wentworth Court. Allthough I really like the look of the new Lake View House!
Emily :o:rolleyes:

[DottyC]

As well as Montgomery Hall I have two Sid Cooke roomboxes, one is a craft room (which I am tempted to transfer into the left basement room of Montgomery Hall!) and the other is called "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" which is a living room complete with Christmas tree and paper chains (made from quilling papers).

I am working on the Christmas one at the moment as I promised a church group I'd take it back to show them when it was done - as they meet this Thursday and are expecting me there I ought to be doing something to it instead of sitting here! :)

Off to Dolls House Emporium this afternoon (or Dolls House Heaven as it is known here:) :) :) )

[jennyedlington]

Hi Dotty, we would all love to see your Christmas room box, please post some photos.

[DottyC]

Just started a thread in the Home Sweet Home forum Jenny (hoping that was the right place! If not, just yell and I'll repost them.) :)

[amchoor37]

Hello,

I know a lady who I met on ebay who has made all of my tudor furniture, the pieces are all lovely and I only have to send her a sketch of what I would like and then she sends me a photo to see if I like before I pay. Here is her email address amdcrafts@hotmail.co.uk .

[jennyedlington]

Wow , what an amazing project...can't wait to see the photos!

[tre]

hello at the minute im working on market cross and the pavillion.im turning them into a graveyard with a witches hideout in market cross.ive been doin this one for about 3-4 months.my parner made me my fences and gates out of metal

[lauraashley]

:othanks for this thread i dont know how to put photos up so nice to be able to explain what i,m doing with my house.
its my first house i,m not sure of the name of it as i bought it in a gift shop.
it has 6 rooms two on each floor.
i love lauraashley so i,m going to do some rooms in that type of flower print.
i,d also like a black and white some with heavy print.
downstaires is the kitchen and sitting room.second floor is 2 bedrooms.and in the attic a bathroom.and i,m not sure about the other room maybe a sewing room.
it has two blaconies so i,d like to put ivy and flowers on them.
at the moment ihave one room painted and two floors layed and i mad a fake pelmet and curtains for the bedroom.
best of luck to everyone with their houses.
.lauraashley

[coodencat]

:)Hi all the postings are sooo inspiring makeing you own furniture that is real dedication. And I love the toy shop idea would never have thought about that.
Having just got a "cheapy" kit with just four rooms and loft with no doors/lights, as have said in a previous posting am thinking of getting Marshall and Snellgrove.. Also what has inspired me is that some of you have taken quite a while to complete your houses. I did rush to finish my exsisting one and made many mistakes. A question, are the kits easy to assemble and are the windows painted as think would be difficult to paint such small ledges around the glass.:(
tc CC

[sharen]

hi coodencat
the kits are fairley easy to put together its always best to dry build so u can mark out where you want lighting etc.
the windows are not as bad as you may think...the glass should come out to make painting or varnashing lot easier..
all this depends on what house you buy and where from ....if you do go for marshall as its a dhe house the glass will be able to pull out and the instructions on building are great so easy to follow..hope that helps :)

[coodencat]

Hi Sharen Thanks for info. Dry build? Do you mean contructing with maybe tape to hold in place? Yes is the one from DHE there is a very good deal with them at the moment. I have been watching for many months and appears to be the best price yet.
You have been very helpful thank you. :) Was a bit concerned regarding the painting as am not to good on small pieces. :( I take ordinary satin finish is ok to use. I used that on my other house and seemed to be ok, but as this house is a little more expensive do not want to wreck it before I start. . :(
tc CC
PS Forgot to ask do the kits come with glue ?

[batian]

hi,
dry build does mean building it using masking tape to hold it together and not glue.that way as previously stated you can mark the pieces as to where you want holes for lightning etc.all the dolls house emporium kits do come complete with glue.their instructions are very clear making them very easy to put together.

[coodencat]

Hi Ok thanks I did think that is what it was (dry build) Being a novice I had not thought of that .
All tips picked up gratefully recieved.
And clear instructions are very helpful.
Sorry have realised have high jacked this thread. As was meant to be a disscussion on all your projects.
Once again apoligies.:o
tc CC

[julia]

Hi i use eggshell paint rather than satin wood its not quite as shiny finish and give a little sanding in between coats. Of course this is just personnal preference

[sharen]

hi all
i perfer matt paint but its what ever YOU like and how you want the house to turn out :)

[coodencat]

I am currently working on a three story house for a friend - I designed it myself and have built it from scratch. Spent the other eveing building a traditional kitchen - Very chuffed - had some great photos of some tiles that I have adapted and they make a fantastic splash back - Had great fun making the ceiling roses with plaster of paris.

The kitchen needs sanding again and then final paint finish. Probably marble top.
The alcoves in living room will have lights - the hearth built uisng 12th scale bricks - I also will have real smoking chimneys

Love peoples views on my work so far - but be kind -

Hi Can you tell me what you make the furnture of.? Also Marble top what do you use for that.? The bricks have seen on line but used for a greenhouse, what a great idea to build a fireplace too. I am coming round to the fact that you don't need to buy "special" things but adapt/create things yourself. Taken me along time to think that way lol but at my age brain cogs take a little longer to think !!!!
tc CC

[sharen]

hi mini resturation
i would love to know how you do real smoking chimneys :)
your work what youve made sounds great would love to see some pics :)

[mad-on-miniatures]

:othanks for this thread i dont know how to put photos up so nice to be able to explain what i,m doing with my house.
its my first house i,m not sure of the name of it as i bought it in a gift shop.
it has 6 rooms two on each floor.
i love lauraashley so i,m going to do some rooms in that type of flower print.
i,d also like a black and white some with heavy print.
downstaires is the kitchen and sitting room.second floor is 2 bedrooms.and in the attic a bathroom.and i,m not sure about the other room maybe a sewing room.
it has two blaconies so i,d like to put ivy and flowers on them.
at the moment ihave one room painted and two floors layed and i mad a fake pelmet and curtains for the bedroom.
best of luck to everyone with their houses.
.lauraashley


Hi Lauraashley,

Your avatar is the same as my other house, this one is currently sitting in the loft though, will start it a soon as my Fern Villa is finished.............back off my hols now so no excuse....
m-o-m

[Maxie]

Hi at present I am working on an Anglesey Dolls House. I bought it a few years ago at the NEC. Decorating was started but not completed. The house is L shaped.
The interior has 6 rooms 2 on ground floor - to be kitchen and lounge, 2 on the floor above these are to be the main bedroom and as the other room is 19 inches from front to back it has a dividing wall with an archway cut into it.. This is to be the childrens room/s. One of the attic rooms is to be the bathroom but I have not made a decision on the other large attic room.
It will not be set in a particular period but hopefully with a cottage style feel. :)

[mad-on-miniatures]

Hi Maxie,

Don't forget the pictures, we're all very nosey :) I've had mine a few years too, come to a stop again now, as I've not got enough lights in it.........waiting for the NEC fair then hopefully this will inspire me to get going again.........

I've not decided to do mine in any particular period, I just want it to be pretty and nice..........having three boys I miss the colour pink ! ! ! :D

mom