Archive for the 'Construction Techniques' Category

Dollhouse Interior Finishing

Victoria's Farmhouse interior room

The outside of a Dollhouse is its introduction, but the inside… that’s where the action is – that’s where the doll house is used for play, for decorating, for miniature collecting; it’s the part of the dolls house that’s most alive!

Doll House Interior Finishing involves so many choices! Will it be a child’s play house, or will it be an elegant miniature display? Does it need to be robust and washable, or does it need to be photo-realistic. (more…)

John, Julio, and Pat (the Dollhouse Builders of Westview Meadows) had a plan to build the biggest, fanciest dollhouse they could manage in the tiny workshop they have.  It would be finished inside and out, electrified, and (with the participation of the whole retirement community) decorated everywhere. They have made scores or houses for others, but this one they would keep.  This one would be a focal point for all their neighbors to enjoy, share with visitors, and re-decorate for every holiday.  They chose the Bostonian for its size, sturdiness, and many surfaces for decorating, and they asked me to help with the wiring. (more…)

Yesterday, I talked with a first-time dollhouse builder who was pre-reading the instructions (super!) and asking about the details.  I am always touched by the excitement of the first-time builder.  It’s filled with the dream of the finished dollhouse and, sometimes, it’s also a dream of the process; the hands-on delight of doing something together with a child or grandchild.  There’s often a story of a doll house “when I was young”… It’s really dazzling!  I usually get involved when they see all the pieces and wonder where to start.  Here’s my 5-step plan for making dollhouse-building easy for the first-time builder: (more…)

I’ve been doing a taped assembly of a General Store Kit, just checking the parts to make sure everything fits the way it’s supposed to, and, as luck would have it, a builder emailed me to ask how to do faux-wood finishing on MDF (and here I have an MDF floor right in my hand).  What a good subject for a demo! 
The Faux-wood finish has to be applied before assembly of the General Store.  Here’s the process: (more…)

A Boston Lap is a way to finish the peak of a shingled Roof.  (more…)

“The Gable Front for my dollhouse is warped … what should I do”
Almost every front opening Gable Front panel gets springy when it is painted, but I can’t remember the last time I had to replace one for warpage. If it is twisted or if the shape has a kink in it, then it should be replaced – but if it’s a straight curl, it is probably just confused by moisture. Wood is a reactive material and the moisture in paint or the inequality of being on the table with one side aimed to the free air (more…)

Dollhouse Hinges are tiny, and that old screwdriver in my utility drawer just won’t do the job when it comes to putting in the screws.  Driving screws in MDF makes the size of the hole and the fit of the screwdriver even more important.  Here’s how I do it. (more…)

I have no talent for putting colors together. When I look at those tiny little paint chips I just can’t imagine how one color will look next to another in a finished dollhouse. BUT then I discovered the Sherwin William’s web site with a COLOR VISUALIZER where you can experiment with different house exteriors, paint color and trim color right on the screen – kind of like a grown up coloring book, and it’s SO EASY! Just click on an exterior house style most similar to your dollhouse project… then sit back and have FUN!

Enjoy and have a good day! – Chris

Oops

How many times have I said that!  I may be the world’s foremost expert on taking things apart.  I have taken damaged parts off of more dollhouses than I can count: nicked windows, gouged trimstrips, demolished railings.  But even more often, it’s something that has been assembled crooked, up-side-down, or inside-out.  Then, I just want a “do-over”.  (more…)