The dollhouse is starting to take shape! Figuratively speaking. The actual dollhouse is still very much in its flat-pack form. I’ve been waiting to assemble it because the instructions recommend painting and wallpapering first. So that’s what I need to concentrate on now: choosing paint colors, determining the layout, and deciding which wallpapers to use where. Here’s the plan so far:
I’ve shown the pink/lavender bathroom fixtures to you before, and the dollhouse wallpaper and stair runner choices too. As for the layout, there’s an eat-in kitchen on the first floor, along with a large living room. The second floor will house the bedroom (with a bed like this, perhaps?), bathroom, and nursery. Two kids are sharing a bedroom on the third floor (inspiration photo here), but I’m not sure what to do with the other room up there. I thought about leaving it as an unfinished attic, complete with boxes and miscellaneous stuff strewn about, because come on. That’s funny. Right now I’m leaning toward making it into an office space, or maybe a craft room. Any ideas?
Natacha
November 10, 2011 at 3:04 amYou can get 1:12 wireframe beds just like your inspiration pic for the bedroom – you’d just need to paint it.
Example: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dolls-House-Furniture-Single-White-Wire-Bed-12th-scale-/310266482223?pt=UK_Dolls_House_Miniatures&hash=item483d52ce2f
Looks so exciting what you are doing – love the stair runner idea. My vote is for either gloss white stairs or limewashed stairs!
Kristín
November 10, 2011 at 4:15 amThe attic idea is brilliant, this must be so much fun, although I can imagine it must be a bit tricky with a toddler and a baby. Good luck – I’m really excited to see the final outcome :)
my honest answer
November 10, 2011 at 4:38 amOooh, I love the unfinished attic idea! Although I have to admit I’d go for a craft room, complete with tiny sewing machine, and a pile of remnant made from teeny-tiny folded scraps of fabrics. The would be amazing.
Bethie
November 10, 2011 at 4:59 amHaha. Love the idea of an unfinished attic! Eleanor would probably have more fun playing with an office, but the attic would help develop her sense of humour . . . ;)
Melissa
November 10, 2011 at 6:17 amI love following this project! When Eleanor gets a little older, you have to read her the book – Doll People by Ann M. Martin. I just read it to my 6 year old daughter. You would really enjoy it – especially because you are creating your own doll house. Check it out. As far as your extra room – how about making it into a craft room??? You could have a little sewing machine, fabric bolts, skeins of yarn, paper, etc.
Sarah
November 10, 2011 at 7:52 amI love the idea of the unfinished attic, with Christmas decorations coming out of the boxes!
Janette
November 10, 2011 at 8:00 amI TOTALLY vote for the unfinished attic! I bet 50% of the other girls will have some sort of office/craft room, but that’s such an original idea. Lots of tiny boxes, chests and random fixtures (all coated with a fine layer of dust) and a bare lightbulb from the ceiling… how hilarious!
Trisha
November 10, 2011 at 8:09 amattic but with a mini version of the same doll house stored in with the boxes and insulation up there :)
Cherie
November 10, 2011 at 12:35 pmA storage space is rather brilliant, and as far as the dolls actually playing there, some of us did grow up with a playroom in the midst of storage. Our playroom was always a conglomerate of odds and ends, and really added to the creativity factor in our play. There was always a spot for hide and seek or dress-up out of an old trunk. The spare cot was used as a trampoline, and drama was in full force with old sheets and a few chairs for the audience.
Natalie Stetn
November 10, 2011 at 8:29 amI like the layout of the dollhouse a lot. I think it flows well. As to the office space, I have to vote for a craft room. I think creating the miniature materials would be a lot of fun and who wouldn’t want a craft space all to themselves.
Jessica
November 10, 2011 at 8:35 amthis is cute! my CLARA would love such a fancy doll house… i am thinking about this in great detail.
Vanessa
November 10, 2011 at 8:39 amWhat about a playroom? It could work nicely right off of the kids room – perhaps a little secret door to get into it from their room. Could be very cute.
Eileen
November 10, 2011 at 11:55 amI also vote play room but love the unfinished attic idea too. Would love to see a fake Christmas tree up there.
Tara Jane
November 10, 2011 at 8:46 amI was thinking of a playroom too, with its own little dollhouse….
Amanda
November 10, 2011 at 10:38 amOhhh that would be super cuute!
Lindsay
November 10, 2011 at 9:04 amI also think that an unfinished attic would be funny, but not that fun for Eleanor to play in and isnt that the point? My other idea was a playroom. My grandmother built me a dollhouse when I was younger and I loved it, I still love it. I think this is a great challenge!
Julie
November 10, 2011 at 9:11 amI agree that it would hilarious to see boxes and general disaster in the attic space!
Love the inspiration, I can’t wait to see how it shapes up!
susan
November 10, 2011 at 10:18 amI’ve seen a dollhouse done with the attic papered in tiny newspaper. THAT would be cool.
annelies
November 10, 2011 at 10:32 amHow about a home movie theatre in the attic? A music room with a mini drum set? A ballet studio with mirrored walls and a practice bar?
Amanda
November 10, 2011 at 10:34 amIn the new season of Sarah’s House (Sarah Richardson) she did a craft room and it looked amazing. And she seemed to have a lot of fun with it, so that would be super cute, and you could have little spools of thread and little tiny scissors! It would be super fun to play with that.
But I really got a kick out of the unfinished attic! You could have notes from previous owners in there, and old wallpaper samples that are stained (use tea, or coffee to get the effect). Ohh the options are endless! It would be very unpredictable & so.much.fun.
Maritza
November 10, 2011 at 10:35 amI love my two dollhouses! I kept them pretty simple and made most of my own furniture from kits. You can get incredible things on line from dollhouse suppliers or at miniature shows but I always liked the DIY route myself. once you start making your own lamps and furniture, every piece of flotsam and jetsam has possibilities. Those little half and half containers? Lampshades! Small vending machine plastic bubbles? Ceiling fixtures! It gets nutty but it’s a lot of fun. Good luck!
Courtney
November 10, 2011 at 11:04 amattic = genius. With an old globe, dress form, boxes and piles of old clothes for the dolls to play dress up with! Now I want to build a dollhouse just so it can have an attic.
Jessie
November 10, 2011 at 11:28 amI painted most of my walls before I put the house together! It’s like 100 times easier that way!!! I have put my house together now, but still have a few rooms to paint inside. It’s going to be tricky!! I am at a stand still on my house, because I can’t find any furniture I like. Most of it is so expensive! I hope to find some stuff at some antique shops. I won’t be done with my house for a long time!! lol
http://mymodstyle.blogspot.com/search/label/dollhouse
Licia
November 10, 2011 at 12:07 pmWhat about making the spare room a family-friendly library with shelving, seating for the entire family, some play space, and even a tiny doll house!
Caitlin
November 10, 2011 at 1:09 pmI love the idea of a craft room with tiny crafts!!! A library would be really cool too! It all looks great. So fun!
Melissa
November 10, 2011 at 1:23 pmI’m seriously crushing hard on this dollhouse. Can’t wait to see what else you’ve done! :) I’m a 30 year old (that wishes I had a little daughter…to make a doll house for).
Srednivashtar
November 10, 2011 at 1:24 pmI disagree with comments that an attic wouldn’t be fun to play with. If you fill all the storage boxes with a conglomeration of other tiny hidden treasures I think it could end up being the most fun!
Molly the Waffler
November 10, 2011 at 1:48 pmI’ve been seeing so many great craft spaces/rooms on Pinterest. I think my vote is for a “creative space” — lots of craft materials, but also a stage for performances, a mini-microphone, etc.
Chelsea @ Adorning Alabama
November 10, 2011 at 2:17 pmLove the idea of the unfinished attic! But, like one from the movies, that’s dusty and warm, filled with boxes, but still a place for imagination and adventure.
brooke
November 10, 2011 at 3:24 pmSewing room?
Amy Smith
November 10, 2011 at 4:12 pmI vote for the attic to hold decorations for the different holidays. A Christmas tree, mini pumpkins, christmas lights, that she can use to decorate the dollhouse. So much fun!
The famous dollhouse in Chicago has an attic and i thought it was one of the most fun places in the whole house.
Dawn
November 10, 2011 at 8:13 pmI like the idea of a play room. Kids would love handling the miniature-sized toys.
Christina
November 11, 2011 at 7:35 amI love the unfinished attic idea. The stair runner is super cool too.
Laura
November 11, 2011 at 10:46 amI vote for a mini version of your office/studio, complete with a mini mini version of this dollhouse :) Love all the ideas though, would love to do this if only i had time :)
natalie meester
November 11, 2011 at 12:41 pmhow fun! I have been looking on ebay for a dollhouse for my 8 year old daughter and can’t wait to decorate it with her!
hugs,
natalie
Sarah
November 11, 2011 at 1:37 pmLove the unfinished attic idea! A haunted attic would be even better – flickering lights, things that go bump in the night. Or you could furnish it simply with a wardrobe filled with fur coats a la The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Nakisha
November 14, 2011 at 1:02 pmAttic space yoga room/ home gym?
sierra - closet full of happiness
November 15, 2011 at 6:18 pmI love the idea of an unfinished attic. When I was young our house had a walk up attic for storage. We loved playing there and even hatched a newspaper al la little women. i think it would be cute if it was unfinished but showed signs of children playing there, esp since it’s right next to the kids room?
Melissa
November 16, 2011 at 7:10 pmHi Nicole,
I sat next to you and we chatted briefly at Camp Mighty. I was returning to your website, to check it out again, what a feminine and beautiful aesthetic you have! I thought you might enjoy this link to a friend’s dollhouse blog: http://jen-spec-industries.com/
Best,
Melissa
zainab
March 9, 2012 at 9:19 pmI love the idea of an unfinished attic. When I was young our house had a walk up attic for storage. We loved playing there and even hatched a newspaper al la little women. i think it would be cute if it was unfinished but showed signs of children playing there, esp since it’s right next to the kids room?
zainab
March 9, 2012 at 9:20 pmi love this becase when we were small we did not get the stuf
if i had a houce like this would be cool
Kaitlynn
September 9, 2013 at 4:24 amI am looking for a doll house to build for my daughter for Christmas. We love this model. Was this a kit u bought or your own creation ? I would love to know the name so I can get one for my 4 year old.