This is my dollhouse. A boyfriend from long ago and I made this dollhouse in the late 1970s. So, I am guessing it is about 42+ years old. This was not a kit. Rather, it was designed and built from scratch. The original house had lighting, including a red fireplace glow, all controlled by switches in the attic. When I think about our original creation, there was a ton of creativity. Now, after many years of being stored in basements, it is time for a rehab. This may take me awhile! But before I start, I’d like to start with a few pictures of what the dollhouse looks like today. I left everything as is, just like when Tarek and Christina go into a home they are going to flip.
The Living Room
the oriental rug (made from a handkerchief),
the chandelier (made from beads, fishhooks and some jewelry filigree),
and the fireplace.
The Living Room furniture was made from a kit.
The Hallway
The handrail is missing, but some rails can be seen
at the top of the stairs. Each rail was handmade.
The Kitchen and Dining Area
The floor was a stick on tile.
The wallpaper was bought. The wainscoting was handmade.
Bedrooms 1 and 2
The rug was a wash cloth.
The bedding is a wash cloth. The rug is a wash cloth.
The Bathroom
The main wall is aluminum foil.
The side walls are cut mirrors; the carpet is wash cloth.
The Outside
The siding was a clear plastic sheet spray painted white.
Windows were clear plastic sheet cut up.
The chimney was aquarium rocks glued to wood.
The Roof and Attic
Notice the switches for the lights.
spray painted grey, cut up and
individually glued on.
Where will I begin with this project? To start, I will empty out all the trash and everything in all the rooms. Then I will work on restoring the outside. The back side of the roof has needs to be nailed back on. I also plan to empty out the attic and remove the vestiges of the wired lighting system. The siding and the roof shingles have to be repaired or replaced.
I do not plan to restore the dollhouse to its original state, rather, an updated version; though, I hope to keep some of its most endearing features. As I update the dollhouse, I plan to do so in a creative, economical way, just as when it was originally built. I plan to reuse parts of it as much as possible, rather than just tear it all out and buy new.
I plan to post my progress as I go. I don’t know why I have always liked dollhouses, but I do. I’m really excited about this project. I hope you’ll come along with me on my journey and watch its restoration. I welcome your comments and suggestions.
Chambers on the Road 
What a neat keepsake. That looks like a great project to keep you busy. Have fun!
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Thank you! Yes, it will keep me busy and take my mind off that we aren’t traveling in our travel trailer. 🙂
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Oh the dollhouse made me smile. Enjoy decorating. That would be fun. Can’t wait to see your progress. The rooms when taking a pic, almost look life size.
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Thank you! I am glad it made you smile. Good point about the rooms looking life size. I will have to think about a way to add some perspective. The scale is the standard 1foot to 1 inch. I appreciate your enthusiasm. Have a great day!
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What a unique and fascinating project. I can’t wait to see what it looks like once you are finished.
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Thank you! It’s keeps my mind off that we aren’t traveling in our travel trailer right now. Stay safe!
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It’s been so long I had last seen a dollhouse, I almost forget about something like this I used to crave having during my childhood days. I loved watching them on tv so much and had known I will never get one for myself. Your dollhouse is so intricately made, it looks wonderfully real.
Thanks for this lovely post. It made me smile.
Best wishes from The Strong Traveller and have a great day
Do have a look at my blog whenever you find the time. There is some travel and lifestyle content which you may find interesting. Your thoughts will surely be very valuable. 🙂
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I am glad you liked the dollhouse post and that it made you smile. I will absolutely read your blog. I saw it last night (listed at the bottom of another post I was reading). It looked interesting to me, but I was getting sleepy. So, I clicked follow with the intention to read it later. I didn’t want to lose it! So, see you there. 🙂 Thanks for reading, and have a great day, too.
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Thanks for the appreciation 🙂
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I had the same bedroom furniture kit (canopy bed kit) in my dollhouse! Can’t wait to see the progress!
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Interesting! Do you have any posts that show pictures of your dollhouse?
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nope! I don’t have the dollhouse any longer either.
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