House Remodel -- small scale

Just so you know . . . I made a new blog and moved all of my posts from LemonFloss to StillwaterStrings.blogspot.com       Updates on this project (and new projects) may be found there!


The dollhouse.

I have always been fascinated by miniatures.  This Summer (2018) I learned about polymer clay for making miniatures (if you love tiny things, check out Sugar Charm Shop on Instagram and YouTube).

On our way back from a hike at Memorial Falls, we stopped at a wonderful antique and junk shop.  In his extra shed, the owner had a dollhouse kit.  The DuraCraft FH 505 Farmhouse.  He had built most of it to the point of gluing in the walls and floors.  He also said his wife had purchased it for him so he would have something to do after retirement.

All the pieces were still with the kit; however, he had purchased plastic windows in lieu of building the wooden windows which came with the kit.  I popped out the windows and then removed the floors and walls.  The inside had to be gutted and new pieces glued in for the floor bracing.  Plus, I didn't like losing two rooms to the stairs, right in the middle of the house.  I wanted a larger kitchen, and I wanted the stairs off to the side.

I read somewhere that people who get into miniature dollhouses, are actually living out their wish lists for their own homes.  I suspect this may be true!

The gutted house, ready for the floor braces to be glued in.

Some of his shingling!  

The "new" set-up.

In the photo above, I have everything ready to be re-glued.  I filled in the original stairwell holes and made new holes in the floors and moved the stairs to the side of the house.  I also changed the shape of the stairs by adding a turn and landing instead of leaving them straight.  I moved the bottom left wall over so that the kitchen could be a bit larger.  I moved the wall over to the left on the second floor above the kitchen to make it more of a hallway, and allow the center to become a bedroom or something else (I am thinking of adding a false wall there).

The stairs will both be removable to make wiring or changing wallpapers easier.  I have been making "stones" for the chimney (pictured in front of the house) out of drink cup holder trays and egg cartons.  I was using my jack plane for a straight edge to hold the walls in place as the glue set.

The house has since been relocated from our garage to our basement so that hubby and I can continue working on it as the weather turns cold.  I have glued all walls and floors in place and painted the inside with primer in preparation for wiring for lights.  I'm almost finished modge-podging the "stones" around the base of the house.  I need to finish the shingles next.  Then flooring and wall color or paper or texture . . .