Well, I think I’m the only one that actually has a dollhouse to show you today from Emily’s original group of participants. I’m amazed though by the creativity and hard work that was put into dollhouses by the people following along with this whole crazy project! (Thank you, everybody.) Here are some of the people I’ve noticed, but please leave a link in the comments if I missed you.
Go Haus Go • With Two Cats • Warm Hot Chocolate • The Creative Salad • Change of Scenery • Silly Eagle Books • Redesign • Whiteowl: Found •Fleurishing • Coccoon Home Blog • My Mod Style • Call of the Small
I’ve been working on a Walton dollhouse, courtesy of Melissa and Doug. It’s been fun to follow along with this challenge, but I’ve really been making it for Eleanor. She loves it already, even though she’s a little young for it at just two years old. I hope she’ll enjoy it for years to come. I’ve tried to source things below but unless otherwise noted, you can assume everything came from eBay. Here’s a closer look inside…
The Kitchen and Dining Room
I bought a kitchen set and only intended to use the stove and fridge from it, but I ran out of time and just used the sink that came with it as well. I have a farmhouse sink that’s really cute, but it needs to be assembled. I’d also like to eventually make some cabinets and counters, sew a little skirt for the sink, and put up a backsplash. The dining wall also needs some large art, and a table! I rested a gift box lid on those little metal chairs. The light is a knob that I’ve had for years from Anthropologie, and the table settings and food all belonged to Brandon’s mom and grandmother. The paint color is Dill Pickle by Benjamin Moore.
The Living Room
The tiny Jonathan Adler vases are from the Adler Barbie couch set we already owned for me Eleanor. The credenza is awesome and handmade, from OneFortyThree. It was my big furniture splurge in the dollhouse. The white wire chair is an ornament from CB2, and I already owned the mini Barcelona chair. The tea cart was a gift from Cassandra (thanks!). The gold folding screen and little accessories belonged to Brandon’s mom and grandmother.
The wallpaper is one of my favorite things in the house. Tiny houses! I also had some amazing wooden flooring to go in the room, but it’s going to be labor intensive, so I left it white with a sheet of woven scrapbook paper as a rug.
The Office
This room was going to be the nursery, but then I switched things around at the last minute. I already had the chair and chaise, but there’s no desk (oops). The accessories were in with the other little things from Brandon’s mom and grandmother. The rug and bookshelf were eBay finds. And eventually I’ll finish the stairs throughout the house. The paint is Ribbon Pink by Benjamin Moore.
The Bathroom
I showed you a lot of the bathroom before. The tile, dresser, and mirror were from eBay, and the slippers and ‘His and Her’ towels were from Brandon’s mom.
The Bedroom
I intended to sew bedding, spray paint the bed, and make some art for the room, but I ran out of time before the deadline. I made the rug out of leftover furry fabric from Eleanor’s Halloween costume. Again, I already had the chair, but added a kitty to sleep in it. I painted the dresser pink and hung a toy camera from the knobs.
The Kids’ Bedroom
This was going to be an unfinished attic, and the kids’ bedroom was going to be what is now the nursery, but then I realized that the two beds wouldn’t fit in the other space because of the stair opening. I made the mattresses out of two pieces of foam core, sandwiched together with fabric on top. I intended to make bedding, crafty pendant banners, cute artwork, and so on and so on. This room is the least finished of all. There’s a wee dollhouse though! And an Eames rocker that I had. The paint is Benjamin Moore’s Pink Peony.
The Nursery
The bird pattern is wrapping paper, and Eleanor chose the crib fabric. I had that white chair already, and the dresser was an eBay find. The rug is the same as in the kids’ bedroom and the living room: woven scrapbook paper.
The (Almost) Finished Dollhouse
I will eventually finish the things I wasn’t able to get to, without the pressure of a deadline. Eleanor (and August, if he’s interested) is still young, so there’s plenty of time. I didn’t do the stairs, which I had put so much thought into, and I didn’t even touch the exterior! I’m really happy with the end result (so far) though, and Eleanor is over the moon about it.
Steph
December 15, 2011 at 5:19 pmAwesome, awesome. Wonder how many people upon first glance would think this was real.
erica p.
December 15, 2011 at 5:22 pmIt looks AMAZING! I want to live there. I think my favorite detail is the tiny cat napping in the bedroom! Great work, and I can’t wait to see it when it’s ‘done’ done!
barbara@hodge:podge
December 15, 2011 at 5:26 pmI can’t believe all those amazing iconic pieces you have in dollhouse size! Fabulous!
Laura
December 15, 2011 at 5:29 pmI love it!!!! I would kill to have a dollhouse like that. My fav. detail is the bottle on the floor by the crib. So cute. I hope the other participants finish up soon – someone will need to do one big post that shows all the houses. Like a dollhouse “walking” home tour.
NicoleD
December 15, 2011 at 5:34 pmJob well done, as always! I love, love it!
Like a Peeping Tom: A Peek Inside the Dollhouse | Making it Lovely
December 15, 2011 at 5:38 pm[…] it LovelyTransforming a so-so house into a lovely home.« Pink ChristmasA Dollhouse Made Lovely »Like a Peeping Tom: A Peek Inside the DollhouseDecember 15, 2011Here’s a little peek […]
Michele
December 15, 2011 at 5:40 pmAmazing!
I have my old dollhouse still and I want to make it over SO badly!
Lauren @ chezerbey
December 15, 2011 at 5:41 pmIt looks great Nicole! Eleanor is one lucky lady!
Katie
December 15, 2011 at 5:42 pmRidiculously adorable. I want to live in it!
Melissa
December 15, 2011 at 5:47 pm…..so so so amazing! You are BEYOND creative! I scrolled thru and read-every-last-word…and looked at each picture for so long.
This 30 year old woman…..staring and living vicariously thru your doll house.
SO amazing!
Kristín
December 15, 2011 at 5:47 pmawesome – absolutely amazing. Love the quality of the pictures too.
I just wanted to point out a “typo” “sew a little sink for the skirt” I guess the words got mixed up.
Your kids will love this dollhouse for sure, again – it’s amazing :)
Making it Lovely
December 15, 2011 at 5:49 pmOh, ha! I’ve fixed it, thanks.
Carey
December 15, 2011 at 5:49 pmOh my heaven, that is THE most amazing doll house I have ever seen. I just love the nursery room wall paper.
Erin Q.
December 15, 2011 at 6:02 pmIt truly IS lovely! Well done!!!
Lydia
December 15, 2011 at 6:02 pmNicole – that is adorable, just like your real house. i’m so glad you posted your pictures, i’ve been so excited to see everyone’s finished products. i got hung up on details and didn’t finish mine, but here’s what i’ve done so far.
http://fadeintobleu.blogspot.com/search/label/dollhouse
my new deadline is NEXT december, now that i understand exactly how much work is required.
Katrina
December 15, 2011 at 6:13 pmIts so darling, great job!!
Jody
December 15, 2011 at 6:45 pmWow! This is incredible! My little Eleanor would love to have a dollhouse like this too, when she’s bigger. She’s only 1 now but maybe I should get started!
Lisa@ Trapped In North Jersey
December 15, 2011 at 6:48 pmThe whole house looks fabulous, but I LOVE the nursery–that wallpaper just looks so good.
Julee
December 15, 2011 at 6:51 pmWow – it’s amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing (and for linking to my dollhouse too!)
JayEssJay
December 15, 2011 at 6:56 pmI’m so impressed with your house tour! I’m so inspired. Maybe when I go home for Christmas, I’ll pull out my childhood dollhouse again.
Beatrice
December 15, 2011 at 6:57 pmThis is incredible. Wow. You did such a fantastic job and I am sure Eleanor will treasure it forever. I really love the wallpaper in the living room.
Sara
December 15, 2011 at 6:59 pmAMAZING WORK! I’d love to make one of my own someday, especially if this baby in my belly is a girl :)
emily @ go haus go
December 15, 2011 at 7:02 pmThis looks so amazing! I I think my favorite things are the nursery wallpaper and the dark tile in the bathroom. You rocked it! And thanks for including me in your list. Yay for dollhouse-in’!
Stephanie
December 15, 2011 at 7:04 pmUm, cutest dollhouse ever?
YES! I wish I was doll-sized so I could live here.
Giulia
December 15, 2011 at 7:12 pmAmazingly pretty and creative. Wow! Some great purchases, interpretations and looks like you had a good source for all the little accessories.
Amanda
December 15, 2011 at 7:31 pmI’m so blown away by this. I never in a million years would have imagined it was possible to create such a stylish dollhouse! I am kind of obsessed now! :)
Sheila J
December 15, 2011 at 7:32 pmReally great! I’m sure it will be treasured for many, many years
Sarah
December 15, 2011 at 7:41 pmIts absolutely fabulous!! well done and just gorgeous – I love the colors and the bathroom is divine! Good job! I LOVE dollhouses and have one that was handmade in Vermont – the exterior is purple and green and it was wallpapered with curtains – it still looks ok, though the curtains have yellowed. I will have to fix it up though at some point…your project is very inspirational!
Katrina
December 15, 2011 at 7:44 pmThis is stunning and SO inspiring!
My mother customized a doll house for me when I was a little girl and I have so many fond memories of playing with it.
I hope your daughter enjoys this as much as I enjoyed mine.
I am already getting ideas for my daughter’s doll house – and I’m only 5 months pregnant (and I don’t even know if I’m having a girl)!
Rebecca
December 15, 2011 at 7:44 pmGreat job! When you add to it & such, please show us.
Maddy @ Somewhere Splendid
December 15, 2011 at 8:01 pmThis is the most amazing dollhouse ever. If I still was a little girl, I’d have some serious dollhouse envy…
Christy
December 15, 2011 at 8:29 pmThis is unbelievably awesome! I am normally way too lazy to comment but this is so spectacular, I couldn’t resist. I want to move in to this house. If this was a contest, I sincerely hope you win. You deserve it!
Yuliya
December 15, 2011 at 8:30 pmThis is seriously amazing. What a fun project!
Christina
December 15, 2011 at 8:35 pmThis is so incredible. I can’t believe you did that in such a short amount of time. Mine is as finished as it’s going to get for now. It still has a long way to go and I’ll keep working on it, but I put a few pictures up tonight.
Ann
December 15, 2011 at 8:39 pmOh fantastic! Your daughter is such a lucky little lass. You should also check Chinoiserie Chic, I think you would dig it. Between the two of you, I so want to run to the hobby shop. How hard was the pure construction aspect? Did the finishing and remodeling take long?
Mommy G
December 15, 2011 at 8:52 pmAbsolutely breathtaking. You did wonderful Nicole!
Carrie
December 15, 2011 at 9:00 pmI love it! My favorite bit is the beautiful toy dollhouse in the kids bedroom. Oh, what a find! I also really like the pops of pink amongst the bold patterns and those awesome chairs throughout the house! (So nice to have at least one really nice chair in each room. I like that idea for my real house!). Thanks for the link to my site too. :)
Holly
December 15, 2011 at 9:02 pmSo beautiful! I wish I had one like that as a little girl :) Is some of the wallpaper from Paper Source? I think I recognize it from work
Ann
December 15, 2011 at 9:36 pmOh just thought of another question – kind of strange: So how many sheets of paper does each room take? Just wondering if I ever decided to take this on as a niece/nephew gift. Kind of like wallpapering in the real world!
LeeAnn
December 15, 2011 at 9:51 pmYou did an incredible job! It’s hard to pick a favorite part, but the wrapping paper wall paper in the nursery really is amazing. The woven scrapbook paper as carpets is really deceiving as a photo. I would have really thought it was fiber of some sort. A family treasure for sure!
Jen @ Rambling Renovators
December 15, 2011 at 10:01 pmOh, I love this so much! Every room and detail is so perfectly thought out. I love how you’ve accessorized the place. But I think the my favourite part is how many of these items belonged to you or Brandon’s mom or grandmother. It’ll be such a treasure for Eleanor to have these mementoes of the women in her life.
Chrystal
December 15, 2011 at 10:30 pmOMG! I love this so much. I always wanted a dollhouse when I was little, but the best I had was the barbie house I made out of a fridge box. LOL What a wonderful thing to be able to pass to your children!
RebeccaNYC
December 15, 2011 at 10:36 pmADORABLE!!!
Melissa
December 15, 2011 at 10:51 pmReally fantastic job – the unfinished bits don’t even look unfinished! I’m 21 and I’d be over the moon to be given something like this, so I just know it will be appreciated by your kids.
kristin
December 15, 2011 at 10:56 pmIt’s gorgeous! I’d live there.
Julia@a-living-space
December 15, 2011 at 11:16 pmWOW it looks amazing!! I love all your wallpaper choices, and how it feels cohesive as a whole, but each individual room has its own unique flavor. All the little details are awesome. I’m so impressed that you pulled this together so quickly!
And don’t forget me! I’m just about to post a few of my final pics. I don’t have time to edit all my photos tonight since it is way past my bedtime, but I’m proud of myself for actually finishing on time, yay! Lots more pictures of my little dollhouse will be up tomorrow!
http://a-living-space.blogspot.com/search/label/Dollhouse
Emily
December 15, 2011 at 11:25 pmWow! The dollhouse looks amazing! Nice work!
Jules
December 15, 2011 at 11:45 pmAdorable. My boys have shown no interest in dolls or dollhouses, so this isn’t anything I will be able to do. Hmmm. I do have a 2 year old niece. Maybe in the next year or so I can start working on one for her!
Oh, and please do update everyone when you make progress! :)
Dulce@lavitapetite
December 16, 2011 at 12:12 amI had not seen any of this before today. it has come out so lovely! I ordered the bentwood chairs from ebay 2 weeks ago and the seller said that someone bought a bunch and now they are back-ordered. i wonder if yuo beat me to it :)
Oh and you did miss me. here is my progress, since I am not finished:
http://lavitapetite.wordpress.com/category/im-a-giant/
Rachael Olson
December 16, 2011 at 12:51 amSo cute! The decor totally looks like it blends with your home. I LOVE IT!
Ija
December 16, 2011 at 1:09 amCute to the max!!! I studied interior design in college.. And have to do soooo much model for an interior space.. If only i could just do this one like yours it will be so much fun!! But when i was in college, making a model was the one that stressed me out the most! hahahaha!
sophie
December 16, 2011 at 1:11 amThis really is so amazing! It’s inspirational and so fun – I LOVE the tiny houses wallpaper! Kudos for sticking through and giving us a big reveal. (I have to admit, I was following several other bloggers and was super bummed no one got around to it.)
Modern Mini Houses
December 16, 2011 at 1:21 amCongrats!! I LOVE the bird wallpaper. The house is absolutely lovely. Your kids will definitely get years of use out of it.
I didn’t get mine 100% done in time for the deadline, but close enough.
I’m so glad one of the original crew posted photos. I can’t wait to see what everyone else came up with.
http://modernminihouses.blogspot.com/2011/12/im-giant-crazy-person.html
mini smiles,
megan
Sarah M.
December 16, 2011 at 3:48 amThis is so incredibly, awesomely amazing! I’ve had a dollhouse for 25 years not nearly in such a finished state, and this definitely inspires me to start making one for my little girl. This is INCREDIBLE! Well done! You’ve been so clever with your materials, decorations and sourcing the furniture and stuff. The house actually looks LIVABLE! I’m so jealous and impressed. Hooray for dollhouses!
PS. What are you going to do about a family to live there? I thought the one thing that really brought down my own dollhouse was the quality of the people figures (at that time; the early 90’s were not a golden age for dollhouse people), and I didn’t want such ugly dolls messing up my beautiful house. I’m curious to see what you come up with!
belinda
December 16, 2011 at 4:19 amgoodness that is INCREDIBLE! Go you – If I could shrink myself I’d happily move in. I so desperately wanted to join in the challenge and took before pics. And that’s about it. One day I will get around to starting – and finishing – Layla’s dollhouse. Hopefully while she’s still young enough to enjoy it! Eleanor will have so much fun playing with this – lucky girl! x
Chedva
December 16, 2011 at 4:48 amIt’s so beautiful!! I’m having a hard time picking a favorite home – it’s all incredible!
Tory
December 16, 2011 at 6:08 amSo, so sweet! I love all the wallpapers!
Call of the Small
December 16, 2011 at 6:36 amReally excellent, gorgeous work! I see we both like the Paper Source…I always find something there! I like how you combined modern furnishings with more traditional ones. Congrats on completing it all on time (even though the challenge has been extended until Feb.!) Thanks for the mention about my blog, too!
Adventures In Babywearing
December 16, 2011 at 6:53 amIt’s fabulous. I do love the attic bedroom and the living room wallpaper! Wonderful job.
Steph
Susan
December 16, 2011 at 7:28 amWow, amazing! I love the living room wallpaper! Thank you so much for mentioning me…I’m flattered! :)
Diana @ Boy + Girl
December 16, 2011 at 7:34 amI’m in L.O.V.E. It’s all fantastic! I’m sure your kids will spend many hours playing with this little house!
-Diana
Steph
December 16, 2011 at 7:38 amBest. Dollhouse. Ever.
Beth Connolly of Chinoiserie Chic
December 16, 2011 at 7:59 amMy very Chinoiserie Chic dollhouse is done and I have been showing one room a day on my blog Chinoiserie Chic.
http://chinoiseriechic.blogspot.com/
Stop by and see it. Yours is great.
amyks
December 16, 2011 at 8:27 amLove, love, love it!!! It is so sweet. Eleanor is one lucky girl.
Laura
December 16, 2011 at 8:35 ami love your dollhouse! especially love all the wallpaper you used!
Ashley B
December 16, 2011 at 8:44 amI’m drooling all over my cubicle! I’ve been silently observing as you pulled everything together. You’ve got a very lucky little girl!
Sara | stinkerpants
December 16, 2011 at 8:52 amYour house looks FANTASTIC! I have that wallpaper in the bathroom too. Gorgeous gold! And good job finishing on time! I for one am glad the deadline has been extended. Stripping dollhouse wallpaper = no joke!
My friend Reichel (http://www.copycatchic.com) and I (http://www.stinkerpants.com/weblog) are also participating. :)
Marlena
December 16, 2011 at 9:20 amI am so impressed! Wow!
amy j.
December 16, 2011 at 9:37 amAbsolutely adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Melissa
December 16, 2011 at 9:53 amThat is crazy cool. Even “unfinished” as you call it it looks so neat. How lucky for Eleanor!
Kate
December 16, 2011 at 10:03 amI absolutely love this! Especially the kitchen! So CUTE! I also love how so many of the things in this house are exactly like their larger counterparts in your house! (Jenny Lind crib!!!) Great job!
Jaime from Design Milk
December 16, 2011 at 10:28 amThis is amazing Nicole! And so perfectly you.
Daria
December 16, 2011 at 10:34 amThis is simply amazing! I have no better words for it, but amazing it is!
Jessie
December 16, 2011 at 10:47 amWell its looks awesome of course!! You are lucky to have such cool chairs already, I am so glad you got to use them in the house! (I know you have had those for awhile.) Thanks for linking to my blog and sharing the other links. :) I love the little dollhouse, that has to be one of my favorite things. Also the doorknob as a light fixture! I probably should have started with the interior inside of the exterior. lol Oh well! This was still fun and now we don’t have a deadline.
heather at wordplayhouse®
December 16, 2011 at 11:20 amB E A U T I F U L .
Ours you may share…made with an old ironing board pad, a lining of a pocket in a pair of pant…but we don’t think you would know if I hadn’t said so:
http://www.wordplayhouse.com/2011/12/dollhouse.html
Andrea
December 16, 2011 at 11:42 amyou are amazing! my dad built a dollhouse for me when i was younger, but never finished everything. the roof still needs shingles and my mom and i only finished decorating two rooms…but this is definitely inspiring for when i have a little girl. i’ll revisit my own dollhouse and make it her own! kudos on a job very well done! =)
Jill Browning
December 16, 2011 at 11:42 amAbsolutely adorable. What a wonderful thing you have done for your children!
barbara
December 16, 2011 at 12:12 pmSo nice! Lucky Eleanor!
Elaine
December 16, 2011 at 12:15 pmoh my goodness, I love it! so sweet and charming. Great job!
jbhat
December 16, 2011 at 12:43 pmI am freaking out about how freaking amazing this is. Seriously. It’s the best dollhouse I have ever seen, hands down and VERY inspiring…for my REAL life house.
jbhat
silly eagle books
December 16, 2011 at 1:29 pmWow, Nicole! This is just stunning! I especially love your wallpaper choices and that tiny dollhouse in the dollhouse! What a fun detail. I can’t wait to show my daughter–she will go nuts for this. :)
Thanks for linking to our project, too! I appreciate it!
vanessa
Ellen
December 16, 2011 at 1:56 pmToo amazing for words.
Beth C
December 16, 2011 at 1:58 pmThis is so beautiful, Nicole! You did a great job. I’m sure Eleanor is going to love it for many years to come.
The wallpapers in the bathroom and nursery are stunning. And a bar cart! *Swoon*
Amy
December 16, 2011 at 1:58 pmThis makes me want to dive into a dollhouse-design project. Who needs children to have an affair with a dollhouse?
Molly the Waffler
December 16, 2011 at 2:01 pmSo fabulous! I especially love that bird wrapping paper — wish it really was a wallpaper pattern!
coucoumadame
December 16, 2011 at 2:12 pmamazing and fantastic! what a special, special thing for your daughter!
Erica
December 16, 2011 at 2:22 pmAmazing. For realsies. Amazing.
brooke
December 16, 2011 at 2:25 pmI kind of want to live there.
machenblog
December 16, 2011 at 3:22 pmSo awesome. Really.
My Love List No. 3 | Ciao Bella!
December 16, 2011 at 3:27 pm[…] However, there were three that really stood out. I’m loving the nursery’s wallpaper at Making It Lovely. The birds are so cheery and colorful! The exterior of Go Haus Go‘s House is gorgeous. The […]
Crystal
December 16, 2011 at 3:44 pmIt’s lovely! You did an amazing job. When can I move into the house?! :)
Elizabeth
December 16, 2011 at 4:15 pmHi, found you via Poppytalk.
That kitchen set! From ebay? I have a dollhouse needing finishing myself (waiting until after the holidays) and I love that kitchen set. I probably have more things than will actually fit in but I’m sure I need a fridge and stove!
Rachel @ I'm Loving Today
December 16, 2011 at 4:43 pmAbsolutely ADORABLE! Wow… I am completely jealous of the lucky dolls who inhabit this house. I’m just floored by your creativity and sense of style in the tiniest of places. So fun, so cute – I love it!!
Allison
December 16, 2011 at 7:46 pmAmazing!!!! From the wallpaper to the adorable tea cart – it oozes style, creativity and love.
christina
December 17, 2011 at 12:04 amIt looks gorgeous! Congratulations on getting so much done by the original deadline. My house has very far to go yet :) You could stop now and your house would still be lovely! Thank you so much for the mention too! <3
Karin
December 17, 2011 at 5:12 amI am speechless. Doesn’t happen very often. AMAZING.
ileana
December 17, 2011 at 5:52 amthis is fantastic. you must have had so much fun making this.
Jill
December 17, 2011 at 9:56 amWhen I was a kid, my dad bought a basic dollhouse kit that he put together for me (I think it was made out of balsa wood – very basic). It was sort of the test run to see if I was even interested in having a dollhouse. He used rug remnants from my grandparents house. Since shag carpet was all the rage at that time, that’s what I got in my little doll house. So when I added little people to the house all the carpets came up to the knees. I LOVED that house so a few years later he built me a much larger dollhouse (this time with plywood). We spent hours together adding clapboard siding and stone work to the outside. Making Christmas cookies and a turkey out of Fimo clay. Picking out furniture, carpeting and wallpaper. I have so many fond memories of that house. Thanks for reminding me of the magic of a dollhouse. Yours turned out beautifully.
Laura
December 17, 2011 at 3:25 pmOh my goodness, I am so completely in love with this. Fabulous work, Nicole! I would love to live in that house, and short of that, would love to spend hours upon hours playing with it! Eleanor is so lucky to have such a talented, thoughtful mommy.
Emreen
December 17, 2011 at 10:32 pmThis is the prettiest doll house I have ever seen !!
beth lemon
December 18, 2011 at 12:51 pmI finished mine but haven’t written a post yet.
I just love what you did. Very pretty but not too girly. I wouldn’t mind living there!