Because you guys have been asking how this massive scale (but additionally, small scale – ha!) renovation has been going, I assumed I’d share our second dollhouse progress. And for those who missed our first tiny home makeover, you can check it out here.
Sure, this dollhouse completely reminds all of us of our own house, which has been particularly enjoyable. And our nine-year-old daughter has been performing as the overall contractor, the inside designer, and the architect, which has additionally been a blast. From serving to with portray and artwork to picking colours, arranging the furnishings and brainstorming future undertaking concepts – she has been on the helm… WHICH HAS BEEN SO ENJOYABLE FOR MY HOUSE-LOVING HEART TO SEE (I’m additionally very glad to play the position of the dutiful assistant / funds realist – ha!).
This home will in all probability be in progress for the subsequent few years as we add extra furnishings, and lights that actually work, and perhaps even a spiral staircase that leads as much as the attic (squeeee!). However despite the fact that there’s just about all the time an ever-growing checklist of stuff we’d love so as to add, it has already come such a great distance. Right here’s how the entrance of it appeared once we obtained it (you may hear the story of the way it got here to be ours on this podcast episode):
We just about simply gave issues a recent coat of paint since our daughter wished it to stay white as a result of it appears to be like a lot like our home. We painted the roof grey like our present roof – though our nine-year-old undertaking supervisor needs to make it seem like slate… so maybe we are going to get tremendous shiny paint and use these little cedar shingles to attempt to get that slate look down the road. Will preserve you posted on that!
In the meantime, the again of the dollhouse was a very clean canvas once we obtained it:
And right here it’s now, because of recent white partitions and flooring. I believe we have now a chip off the ol’ block scenario with the sunshine background selections our daughter made in right here, and I’ve to say it’s tremendous good as a result of it means daring furnishings colours (navy! turquoise! pink!), colourful patterned materials (just like the bedding and the couch upholstery), and even fake pink marble within the kitchen can layer proper in. Remind me to seek the advice of my children for each design undertaking that we do to any extent further, as a result of they’re sensible 😉
If we may blast ourselves with that Honey-I-Shrunk-The-Youngsters raygun, we’d get to stroll by the home, and eat on this cute little kitchen. I ADORE the fake pink marble island, and I’ll present you the way we made that in a second. We additionally had enjoyable portray all of the home equipment and cabinetry with light blue craft paint, aside from the little shelving unit that she wished to make navy. There have been even little brackets that got here with the lot of hand-me-down furnishings that we obtained with this dollhouse (I DIDN’T KNOW UNTIL THE MOMENT WE DISCOVERED THEM IN THE OLD DUSTY BOX THAT TINY SHELF BRACKETS ARE THE CUTEST THING EVER MADE ON THIS PLANET).
Oh and we made that little potted plant within the backside nook – simply by shoving some fake greenery (a tiny clipping from my favorite faux desk plant) into slightly bucket that got here with the dollhouse furnishings that we obtained secondhand. I believe it was an outdated bucket that went to a nicely… however there was no nicely. So we painted it grey and it appeared much more like a plant pot than a country bucket.
As a reminder, each single merchandise of furnishings in each this dollhouse and our first one is secondhand, and is from a “lot” of furnishings (that both got here with every of the dollhouses, or from one “lot” that we bought on Fb market individually). I get requested so much about discovering inexpensive dollhouse furnishings, and the reply actually is secondhand heaps. You will get a ton in a single field for below $30 and even $15! Then you may paint it or repurpose it or repair it up, and it’s so much cheaper than shopping for new issues individually (which might typically be $15 every!).
We additionally did a subway tile wall because of a fast picture search on-line for white subway tile, which we printed out a number of occasions till we obtained the size proper. We simply used a glue persist with fill all the proper wall with it from flooring to ceiling. THIS PROJECT WAS 99.99% EASIER THAN DOING REAL TILE, BTW.
Oh and we discovered those blue pots on Amazon. I promised to indicate you the way we made that island, so right here you go. The island is definitely a damaged fridge that got here with our other dollhouse. There apparently was once two vertical doorways that have been on the entrance of it (that is it laying on its again, as a substitute of standing up like a fridge would), but it surely made me understand that if we turned it over so the again that’s on the bottom on this photograph confronted up…. it might look a complete lot like an island.
And after I requested our daughter what sort of counter she wished on the island, pink marble was the reply. Did you even know that was a factor? I didn’t, however we google picture searched it, and it really popped up! So we printed it out, and glue-sticked it on. That’s it! DONE! Dollhouse kitchen renos are really easy they’re going to smash actual kitchen initiatives for me…
Right here’s one other angle to indicate you that cute little navy cupboard that was initially brown, however the blue is such a enjoyable contact, and all the little desserts and treats got here from the little deal with store the children obtained from my mother for Christmas (more on that debacle here). Besides that little tiered dish of macaroons on the island was one thing our daughter purchased on Amazon with a Christmas reward card. It is best to have seen our children rigorously weigh all the tiny choices for his or her dollhouse, and eventually choose the cutest issues (bear in mind in addition they picked out this cute gingerbread platter because of an Amazon reward card from their uncle?).
We additionally had some enjoyable making framed botanical artwork (clippings from {a magazine} that we “framed” by gluing them onto paper bag rectangles that we reduce barely bigger than the artwork). And we made these wooden slicing boards on the wall by simply slicing these shapes out of a web page in {a magazine} that had a wooden sample on the entire backside of the web page (we simply sketched slicing board shapes on the wooden a part of the image and reduce them out and glued them to the wall). Even the clock got here from {a magazine} – just a few slicing and pasting and we immediately had a strategy to inform time 😉
Let’s transfer over to the lounge, which is a gem of an area as a result of it got here with built-ins and a hearth! I KNOW! Hiya, dream home. We’ve been retaining an eye fixed out for some tiny birch logs to make slightly fake hearth within the firebox, however for now we have now a bunch of cute stuff on the built-ins and that incredible tiny model of some actual artwork we made some time again. Bear in mind this project?! Properly, my good friend Jessica over at Craftiness Is Not Optional despatched me slightly dollhouse shock care package deal for the kiddos! And we squealed once we noticed that she had made that mini artwork for us!!!
She additionally made that cool birch slice espresso desk, and the brass coat rack and the couch and chairs have been simply outdated furnishings that got here with the dollhouses, however I pried up the previously pink velvet seat of the couch and coated it with some daring material that our daughter picked out. Immediately made it really feel brisker and took 5 minutes! Actually I didn’t even sew it, I simply stretched it across the seat cushion, used a strip of duct tape on the underside to carry it down, after which glued it down with craft glue. INSTANT DOLLHOUSE UPHOLSTERY IS RUINING HOW MUCH HARDER REAL UPHOLSTERY IS! Oh and the blue mirror is one other journal cutout that we simply glued to the freshly painted wall. Free & enjoyable!
And take a look at the rug above. That’s SUCH a simple DIY. We had some outdated burlap scraps in my material drawer, and we simply reduce little rectangles of it, and frayed the perimeters slightly on every of the 2 quick sides. Increase. On the spot jute rug.
We’re additionally planning so as to add some {hardware} to the cupboards below the bookcases, and perhaps even some tile to the within of the firebox, but it surely’s fairly cute as-is in the intervening time. As for what’s on the built-in cabinets, we simply Tim Gunned it (“MAKE IT WORK!”) with some folded journal cutouts that seem like colourful playing cards, some random small issues like thimbles and tiny shells we had collected on the seashore, and even slightly bottle – any little small merchandise we had round obtained tried on the cabinets to simply see what labored. Oh and bear in mind you may see how I make small dollhouse plants here.
Right here’s a shot so you may see how the downstairs lobby and upstairs touchdown formed up. We used some tiny clothespins that we already had within the junk drawer to clip up some extra magazine-clippings-turned-art (hooray for me saving all of the tiny and cute issues that come into our home for some inexplicable motive! I’m positive you might purchase them at a craft retailer for those who haven’t saved them in your junk drawer). And that cute plant within the plant stand upstairs by the window is one other superb dollhouse reward to the kiddos from my crafty friend Jessica. All of us squealed once we noticed it!
Oh and as for the steps, we have now massive plans to make some kind of material or painted runner that leads up them. It’s a tiny tight house, so it’s arduous to cram your hand in there and entry a number of of the extra pinched locations, however I’m assured that my small handed undertaking supervisor will determine one thing out.
Oh and I snapped this photograph of our workspace on the kitchen counter, the place we have been laying issues out and brainstorming concepts. All the things from a bike-shaped paperclip to these aforementioned tiny clothespins and even some twine + {a magazine} clippings got here collectively to make little indicators, artwork, and even these little wood-look slicing boards. Free repurposing of on a regular basis objects = actually enjoyable in dollhouse world!
Right here’s one of many upstairs bedrooms, full with a tiny potted plant, our ebook (!!!!!) and a cute little geometric lamp…. all courtesy of… you guessed it, my crafty friend Jessica. She sparked so many concepts of our personal, like utilizing a bit of scrap wooden and gluing a colourful journal clipping onto it so we may make leaning artwork for the desk subsequent to the lamp. We additionally wish to make a number of books just like the tiny duplicate she product of ours. It’s only a block of wooden with paper glue-sticked round 3 of the 6 sides.
Right here’s a wider shot of that room, which additionally has that cute hanging plant from Jessica, and a few flamingo artwork that we made with extra scrap wooden + {a magazine} clipping, and the mattress that we simply reupholstered (the mattress got here with a pink cushion glued to the previously wood-toned body, so we peeled that off, painted the mattress white, and coated the pink cushion with patterned material that we duct taped in place from behind and glued again right down to the mattress with craft glue).
Oh and see these gold frames on the left wall? These have been outdated dingy frames with maroon and brown artwork that got here with one of many dollhouses (they have been glued to the partitions of our different one) so I peeled them off, popped out the outdated artwork, and we framed some extra tiny journal clippings of issues we thought have been cute (indigo dyed pillows, cropped into small squares = tiny indigo dyed artwork prints).
Over on the opposite aspect of the corridor within the center degree of the dollhouse is one other bed room, full with a small plastic cat we had leftover from some small toy our children have had for ages. We additionally made extra wooden artwork leaning on the mantel, and even reduce out that glowing eyeball wall signal that we present in {a magazine} (our daughter loves how the plug makes it seem like it’s plugged in behind the fireside).
And talking of that fire…. does anybody acknowledge it?! It’s a tiny duplicate that our UK good friend Lisa Harrold despatched us of our actual fireplace makeover from our last house six years in the past! I instructed you I save all of the miniature issues!!! Isn’t that incredible?!?! Our dollhouse has a reproduction of a marble fire that we really put in in our final home. HOW AM I EVER GOING TO GET OVER THAT?!?!
We reupholstered this mattress in the same manner – this time the material base didn’t pop off like the opposite mattress, so we simply wrapped recent material from our scrap pile proper round either side of the mattress and used duct tape to safe it across the backside of the mattress. SO EASY! Took ten seconds. And as for that tiny letterboard that claims GOOD VIBES, and the little gold coronary heart pillow – I can take no credit score. It’s my crafty friend Jessica again! Perhaps if all of us beg her she’ll open slightly dollhouse retailer and we are able to purchase all of her cute miniature issues as a result of SHE IS MADE FOR THIS!
Popping as much as the attic, we have now a bunch of outdated secondhand furnishings that we rescued with recent paint. The fireside obtained some rose gold paint (we used that so much in our first dollhouse makeover – my greatest tip is to tremendous shake it earlier than you employ it or it’s actually skinny) and the outdated secretary desk obtained some light blue craft paint (the identical shade we used on the kitchen cupboards & home equipment). The little wire chairs are issues we had purchased for our daughter’s very first dollhouse again when she was two (they have been little shelf decor gadgets from West Elm… however me and miniatures! I save them without end!).
And the pillows I made. No duct tape on ’em, I really sewed them! And I stuffed them with cotton balls! Ha! We additionally made one other tremendous simple burlap swatch rug for this house, and I’m not normally one to brag, however did you discover that this home has three fireplaces?! I imply…. HIGH LIFE. We made the artwork on high of the fireside (journal clipping glued to a barely bigger rectangle reduce from a grocery retailer paper bag) and the little potted plant on the mantel is a wooden bead + a fake sprig I reduce and glued into it (extra on making faux dollhouse plants here).
We additionally tried our hand at making a tiny pocket book and it was successful! The duvet is a clipping from {a magazine} that we discovered (it was an illustration of a small pocket book cowl that mentioned “Initiatives”, which sparked the concept) after which we simply reduce some white craft paper to make a bunch of inside pages and folded it and stapled that seam to make a backbone (and glued the duvet to the entrance). It is likely to be our daughter’s favourite factor in the home as a result of we made it ourselves and it’s so small and cute. The little coke bottle got here with this dollhouse, together with a ton of outdated furnishings and stuff.
Oh wait, however I simply realized I didn’t name out one other considered one of our daughter’s favourite issues in the home. Let’s revisit the lounge for a second. See that pizza in a field on the little pink desk by the window? That’s really AN OLD PIZZA SHAPED ERASER! It got here in a pizza field, and it’s some GENIUS SAVED IT WITH THIS DOLLHOUSE! So once we dug by the outdated field of dusty outdated furnishings it was in there and our daughter was SO PSYCHED. It’s a lot enjoyable with that little pretend coke can. Additionally, the imaginary residents of this home clearly have a soda dependancy.
Okay, however again to the third flooring, the place you will discover this cute little quaint rest room on the correct aspect of the house. I LOVE the outdated rest room tank with the pull chain, which additionally got here with this dollhouse. It was all brown and scratched up, so our daughter used extra navy paint for the bathroom, the seat, and the sink self-importance, which appears to be like AMAZING with the gold {hardware} and tap. Like stellar transfer. I’m HERE FOR THIS BATHROOM. We made yet one more little burlap rug for in entrance of the bathtub. Really easy.
Right here’s a greater shot of the bathroom pull chain. Is that not cute or what? You too can see some extra artwork we made (tiny clothespin + journal cutout), and I additionally sewed that little stack of towels that you just see on the gold chair. It was simply principally a number of folded loops of free material from our stash, and I used some white thread by the entire stack to “pin” them in place so the folded stack stays collectively.
I additionally reduce out slightly rectangle of the identical material to loop over the little gold {hardware} bar on the aspect of the sink as a hand towel. ALSO HOW CUTE IS THAT SINK?! I died over the little ceramic high and all of the gold touches. We additionally reduce out a gold mirror from {a magazine} and glued it on the wall above it. We wish to finally add extra actual 3D stuff (actual miniature mirrors, actual lights that work – perhaps even some actual sconces!!!) however for now, it’s a great begin.
Oh and might you see how within the tub there are little blue-green beads you may use as vase filler or no matter within the photograph above? They’re these little round disks, and the children LOVE IT within the tubs for his or her figures to take actual baths (minus actual water). Including little interactive issues like towels for hand drying and “water” for baths makes all the pieces extra enjoyable in these little homes!
So there it’s, a tour of our second tiny home makeover, and I promise to replace you guys down the street once we’ve accomplished sufficient to warrant some kind of massive replace. In different phrases, I gained’t do a put up all about how we made the slate roof – but when we redo the roof, add a spiral staircase, and set up some actual working lights for instance, I’ll replace you in a single massive put up.
P.S. These have been such a pleasure to work on with the children. I LOVE seeing their little minds churn with concepts, and I like exhibiting them that no matter they dream up can in all probability be accomplished…
… and possibly so much simpler and for a heckova lot much less cash than actual life renovating! Ha!
P.S. Don’t neglect to check out our first dollhouse makeover for those who missed that. And for the backstory on that incredible miniature fire made by Lisa within the UK, right here’s the full scoop (the Burger footage in that put up kill me).
*This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks*
