Chocolate Dollhouse Pieces

My darling husband took some time today to cut out the pieces I need for my bath/dining room extension and breakfast room extension.  Unfortunately, I will have to wait until later tonight or tomorrow before I can put them together as I have appointments this afternoon (it really sucks having to go for a massage!).  I just hope I planned and measured everything right!

The extensions are cut from 1/8 inch hardboard with a jigsaw on fast!  He even cut out the notches starting with a drill and finishing with the jigsaw.  I have to say this was way nicer than trying to cut that board with a utility knife.  Can anyone say ouch?!  

I'm eager to put this together!!

Breakfast room extension.

Bath and dining room extensions.

Beacon Hill Additions

Since I'm almost getting to the point where I can start installing the roof, I decided it would be a good time to get my additions built as I don't want to be messing with the house once that heavy roof is on.

Using poster board to create my templates, I started with the bath and dining room extensions which will add another 6 inches to each room.  I'll be using the bump out window that originally came with the house in the dining room, creating a long window seat there, and will add another window on the front.  I added a window to the side wall of the bathroom and am contemplating adding a second window on the front wall of the bathroom, although I'm not sure I like it.  It balances with the windows below, but maybe it's overkill?  I could also set that front wall extension back a couple of inches creating a little more space for the balcony.  Hmmm . . .

Note to self - don't forget to extend the porch and balcony!

The breakfast room addition comes off of the parlor through French doors and will add another 7 inches.  I'll be using the bay window that came with the kit in the middle of the side wall and French doors leading to a small garden out the front.

This is one of those times it pays to think ahead.  I wish I had cut out the wall from the bathroom through to the extension before I glued that side wall on.  Oh well, it will give me a chance to strengthen my muscles.

I'll be cutting (or rather Brian will be cutting) all the pieces from 1/8 inch hardboard, a suggestion from Caroline at Cinderella Moments who makes everything look so easy!

Debating with Myself

After going back and forth all morning, I decided to take apart the right side of the tower front so I could get a picture of the first floor staircase from the front.  It seems like such a silly thing, but I wanted a picture of that staircase for posterities sake.  After all, why put in all that effort for something you're never going to see?  I at least had to have a picture of it.

A word of advice . . . watch where your glue is going!  Even though I sanded it well, the stain didn't penetrate where the glue was.  How'd I get it so messy?!

And here's a picture of it from the side . . . again with the glue!

Tower front is now glued in place permanently!!

Stairway to Madness

After three days of head-scratching madness, I finally completed the staircases.  Thank goodness for Jenn at Jenn's Mini Worlds or I would have committed myself.  Her pictures of the progress of her staircase build were invaluable.  She's done a whole series of staircase documentation, so if you're having problems with your Beacon Hill staircase build visit her blog.

Building the second floor staircase was pretty straightforward, but again holding everything together until I could get the next piece on was nearly traumatic.  I did go out and buy some gel crazy glue as per Giac's suggestion, but of course it was after the fact.  Oh well, I'll have it for future use.

I also found some white glue that dries clear and holds much quicker than the wood glue I was using.  And it's a bit thicker so it doesn't run quite so much.

This is what I started with for the second staircase.  Some of this pile is trim for all the staircases.

This staircase went together fairly easily and the best part?  The treads actually overlap the risers by the suggested 1/8 inch!

Next I put together all the stair rails - two of these rest on the second floor and the other on the third floor.  I just love these little rails.  They're so darn cute.  That is until I went to install them.  They were too long!  WTF?!!  Anyway, after some finagling and cutting off about an 1/8 inch off the back posts, I managed to get them installed.  Brian said that for all the time it's taking me to build this house I could be building a real one . . . is that a compliment?

This is showing how to install those corner posts.  After fiddling with it for some time, I jumped on the internet and found Jenn's blog.  Those corner posts go on either side of the long end of the rail.  This is where Greenleaf should have added a few extra pictures in their instructions.  So anyway, now you know.

So after many hours of sanding, dryfitting, gluing, staining and installing, this is how the staircases turned out.  I'm pretty pleased with them (and myself - ha!).  The above picture is the first floor staircase in all it's glory.  The doors lead to the dining room.

Second floor staircase and rails.  That door leads to the bathroom.

And the third floor railing.

With the staircases finally completed, I was able to move on to installing the tower front.  This was not without its share of frustration (on my part).  I dryfitted it and realized that I should have cut out for the front door.  So I took it off and cut out the door opening.  Then I glued and installed it.  Satisfied, I turned it around to look inside and realized that I should have installed the wallpaper!  It would be really hard to install wallpaper around those staircases, so I pulled off the tower front and began wallpapering.  One should not wallpaper at 10 o'clock at night.  I cut one of the pieces wrong.  Ugh!!  Anyway, I got the first floor wallpaper installed and cut a template for the second floor as I ran out of wallpaper.  I have more on order but it will be a few days before it gets here.

So with the door cut out and the first floor wallpaper installed, I finally reglued and reinstalled the tower front, taping the corners to hold it together.  And I just realized I should have taken a picture of the front of the staircase before installing the tower front.  Darn!

After a long day I wound down by dryfitting the interior walls.  I decided that I will need to wallpaper the back and closet wall in the bedroom before I permanently install the walls as it will be difficult to wallpaper the closet once it's all together.  After rehabbing my first Beacon Hill, this I know for sure!

 . . . and then I went to bed.

Friday Finds

The chores are done, the front pasture is mowed and the kitchen is tidy.  So I think I'll spend the rest of the day playing with my dollhouse.  I've earned it . . . right?  I knew you'd agree with me!

I wanted to share a few special miniature shops I found this week.  I'm blown away by all the talent that is out there!  This is what being a miniaturist is all about . . . finding that one (or many!) special item that will make the room.  I hope you find them as beautiful and inspirational as I have.

Mollysue Miniatures - Sue makes everything with a 3D printer.  How cool is that?  Her eye for design and putting things together is awe inspiring.  Below is a picture of a cabinet she made (too bad it's sold - to me!  Brian bought it for me as an anniversary gift).  She has so many other beautiful things you'll want to visit her website (link above) and her blog for inspiration.

Photo credit ~ Mollysueminiatures.com

A Lavender Dilly -  This cute little Etsy shop supplies all those must have items for any well appointed kitchen or dining room.  Carrie makes decorative home wares in miniature, both her own original designs and reproductions of vintage and modern classics for ceramic pieces.  I purchased these gorgeous botanical rose cannisters from her (they're currently en route).

Photo credit ~ A Lavender Dilly on Etsy

Twelve Times More Teeny - This Etsy shop is simply delightful!  I am enamoured with her Old Country Roses line of china, but am holding off on purchasing anything until I get the dining room complete in the manor.  I'm sure you'll find something you love in her shop!

Photo Credit ~ Twelve Times More Teeny on Etsy

Be sure to take a few minutes (or hours!) to visit these incredibly talented women's shops and websites.

Main Floor Staircase

I have to be honest . . . I just about chucked the main floor staircase out the window last night.  Thank goodness for the pictures and good 'ol common sense or I wouldn't have been able to get the thing together.  I might as well have been reading Chinese . . . maybe it's just me but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the instructions were trying to tell me.

As if that didn't rattle my nerves enough, my patience wore thin with the hold fast glue I bought  that well, doesn't hold fast!  It took f-o-r-e-v-e-r for the glue to dry enough that I could move on to the next step.  And even then when I tried to place the next string, the other pieces would fall apart.  Grrrr . . .  Anyway, I eventually got the staircase together, glued the two trim pieces together and went to bed.  One can only take so much!!

The next step is to place the staircase in the house.  A few things have to happen first.  1. The first floor hall and parlor and the second floor hall and bedroom need to be primed.  2.  The staircase needs to be stained.  This has me concerned because the staircase is made up of several different kinds of wood.  The stain will likely take differently on those different woods.  I've done some research but can't seem to find the answer I'm looking for.  Anyone have suggestions?  3.  The left first and second floor walls need to be wallpapered.  4.  Insert staircase here.

And did I mention that the treads are not wide enough to leave the 1/8 inch overhang on the riser?  Well, they aren't!  I contemplated cutting my own treads but thought to hell with it.  Since the staircase isn't seen from the front or back of the house, I placed the treads with the 1/8 inch overhang leaving an 1/8 inch space between the tread and the riser.  Not pretty.  I'm thinking of placing a carpet runner on the stairs that will hide the worst of it . . . or I could fill with putty.  Might have to flip a coin on that . . .

Anyway, after a frustrating night I have to say that all in all the staircase looks pretty awesome and I can't wait to get it installed in the house.

Totally Unrelated Topic - have I mentioned that I live in a high traffic area?

I've Only Just Begun

Yesterday I broke open the box to my Beacon Hill and sorted out the pieces.  I have to say that I'm not all that impressed with the shingles and siding that came with the kit for this lovely lady.  It's been found wanting.  I mentioned it to Brian and he said "we can't have that".  I love it when he gets on board with a project . . . even if it is mine.  Looks like I'll be ordering new shingles and siding befitting a grand manor house.

Yesterday I removed all the pieces I'd need for the "bones" of the house.  I sanded each piece and set it aside remembering to number them as I went along.  I debated back and forth whether to prime the pieces first or wait until it was together.  I went with the latter.

I also remembered (well almost) to enlarge all the openings for the interior doors.  It looks like I might need to add 1/8" foam board on the walls that the new doors will fit into as the molding won't sit right unless I do.  A picky detail, but as this is going to be my one and only dollhouse, I can afford to take the time to do it just right.

I also finished the flooring in the butler's pantry.  I'm also debating whether to put the staircase in the butler's pantry or in the kitchen.  Since I don't have to install it right away, I might wait until I get some of the kitchen/pantry cabinetry done before I make my final decision.  What do you think?

I didn't like the way the door to the sewing room opened, so I spent some time flipping it around.  Another one of those picky details, but I can't stand a door that opens into the room instead of into a wall (so that it's out of the way).

Figuring out how to enlarge the kitchen and bathroom and adding on the conservatory is more than my brain can handle, so I'm going to leave that for another day.  That and I need Brian to cut the pieces for me!

So for now it's on to the staircases . . .

Stairway to Nowhere

I'm feeling a little bit like Sarah Winchester building a mystery house like hers in California.  The basement stairs leading to the main floor in the manor have no opening in the ceiling to accommodate the uppings and downings of the staff.  I thought about this and decided just to go with it.  In my mind's eye the stairs lead up under the main staircase and come out in the dining room.  The servants need to be able to carry the food upstairs into the dining room when serving dinner to important guests.

So with that settled, I'm going to put in a false door in the dining room to complete my illusion (or should that be delusion?!).

It took a lot of finagling to get the stair posts and rail right.  The kit I purchased was missing two treads, so I had to cut them from 1/8 craft wood.  Not something I particularly like doing.  When all is said and done, the staircase looks pretty good and now it's just a matter of adding the bottom newel post and staining it.  I think I'm going to put the cook's desk area under the staircase . . .

I ordered a different door leading into the butler's pantry . . . I just didn't like how it felt closed off from the kitchen.

I also worked on the kitchen floor and finished it today.  I decided to put it in straight rather than on the diagonal for a couple of reasons.  1.  Brian said it looked better (I do listen to his opinion once in a while) and 2.  I would have had to cut several pieces to cover the whole floor.  Sometimes less is more!

I also purchased more vinyl tile for the sewing room and wine cellar.  After several attempts at measuring, cutting, measuring cutting . . . I finally got it right.  I need a gray craft pen to cover the white edges of the tile so you don't see them when it's installed.

And the wine cellar got a marble like vinyl tile.  I just had to cut two pieces to size.  No grout lines in here . . . thank the stars!

All that's left for flooring in the basement is the butler's pantry.  I'm hoping to get that done tonight although my fingers are saying differently . . .

Contemplation

So as I sit here this morning waiting on a group for a tour of the farm, I'm contemplating the exterior colors of Pennethorne Manor.  I'm hoping to stay as true to Victorian style as possible, even though the colors can be somewhat dark.  As I was strolling through the internet I found this picture and my heart skipped a beat . . . inspiration!!

Soft green, cream, cranberry and a touch of gold around the windows . . . some of my favorite colors!

It's Here!

Well color me happy!  My Beacon Hill dollhouse kit has arrived!

Doors and tables and wallpaper . . . oh my!

I'm loving my postal lady today.  She delivered an armload of goodies to my door this afternoon.

Victorian dining table for the dining room . . .

Scrolled French doors for the parlor and dining room . . .

French doors for the second floor hall/balcony . . .

and wallpaper for the boudoir!

Still no sign of my Beacon Hill though . . . tracking says Out For Delivery Today.  Hurry up already!!