If you follow either the comments on this post or my Instagram account, you already know that Don bought the vintage dollhouse for me. We went to the shop and as soon as Don saw it, he was in. I tried out some furniture – it’s not quite to scale, but it will do. In the end, it was an easy decision.
And now it’s home.
As far as it being on the kitchen table, we eat dinner on trays in the den. We sometimes grab lunch at the table and there’s still plenty of room on either side of the house for a plate. We make all decisions like this one together, carefully considering all the options, and we talk the whole thing over until we’re sure in our choice. This truly is a partnership.
This is the other side that I neglected to photograph in the shop. This is very much a folk art house. The bricks are drawn on. The window panes are drawn on, as is the siding. But isn’t it charming?
The windows are made of glass (some are missing) and sometimes there is a scrap of lace on a window.
The porch.
The sides come off in sections. I’ll try to show you this as we go.
Upper floor exterior section off.
Lower section off.
And the center of the roof comes off.
And the other sides removed. I believe the room with the fireplace is meant to be the dining room. There’s another fireplace in the adjoining room, but it’s impossible to get a picture of it. That room is the living room. Although I might change that since I can get a photo of this side.
At the front of the house – a sun porch.
Sun porch and staircase. And the only thing left that is hanging on a wall – a mirror.
There are scraps of fabric in the doorways, meant to be curtains. For some reason, the builder didn’t make front or back doors. I see no evidence of there having been any in the past.
Kitchen, I believe, at the back of the house.
The dining room fireplace. Hand drawn bricks.
He/she put these half dowels in and the floors fit around them.
The sides, when inserted, are hooked into place with these little hooks. Pretty ingenious!
It’s very funky. One side on the upper floor is wonky and light shows through from the outside. It’s sort of impossible to get in some rooms, especially in what most likely the bathroom, and the stairway. It’s clearly handmade, though in the best possible way. I’m in awe of this craftsman and so wish I could talk to him and hear his story. Or her story. Did he model it after a real house? Was it his house? Did he make it for his children?
As I said to Don this morning, it fits together like a giant puzzle. It’s so cool!
I’m going to vacuum it out today and do some interior cleaning as best I can.
Hope you enjoyed the tour!
Don is under the weather again, so we’re going to hang out at home today.
Love it! Great find.
One of a kind, for sure, Barbara!
What a great find!! Do you have an idea of when it was built?
Marion
I originally thought about 60 years ago, but I think it was built in the forties – so 70+.
Thanks, Marion!
So cool!
Thank you, Wendy!
Wonderful thinking some father made this for his daughter, she must have been thrilled. Like you are no doubt.
Can you imagine the look in her eyes when she saw it for the first time? Thanks, Mary.
What a neat house! It’s going to be fun to see what you do with it!
I’m going to let it sit for a while. And ponder.
Thanks, Jane!
Claudia,
I smiled from the beginning to the end of this post (well, except the part where Don is under the weather). This is an absolute delight.
Thank you, Susan!
Some kind of wonderful!
It sure is! Thanks, Margaret!
I do love this one…I’m quite smitten with it, I guess, because of the detail that someone put into it. All the hand drawn lines for the siding, the windows, and the bricks. It is simply charming! A great find. Thanks for taking the sides off so we could see inside.
Hope Don feels better! ;)
You’re welcome. This house (and the one I got last year) are such labors of love. Thanks, Donnamae!
Oh Claudia it’s wonderful. Hope Don feels better soon x
Thank you, Fiona!
Whenever I see a hand made dollhouse, I always think that a Dad made it for his little girl. In the 1950’s my own dad made some simple doll furniture at my request, so that is where my thinking comes from. It appears to have been made lovingly. So glad you rescued it!
I think the same thing, in fact, I assume it. What an amazing gift! Thanks, Judy.
I’ve read the post and every comment… as I always do. whether I comment or not!
and I can’t help thinking…
I wish whoever made it for his or her child 70 years ago could KNOW how much it is loved.
how it was discovered in a shop of vintage things and it now has a permanent HOME on your dining room table. not just any old place… but a living breathing cottage filled with love and interesting treasures. and now the little home is a treasure itself!
bless you for rescuing it darling bean! and I hope your beautiful man is well again soon! xo
I’m so glad I found it. I hate to think of it being stashed away in some basement, or attic, or barn. It’s too lovely.
Thanks, Tammy.
OH…WHAT…FUN!!! Merry Christmas, and feel better Don.
I believe some things are meant to be and that sweet cottage finding it’s way into yours is one of them. No one would appreciate it or give it all the love and attention it deserves more than you and Don. I hope your sweet hubby feels better soon!
Thank you, Janet! We’re happy it’s part of our home now.
Thanks, Melissa!
Oh to think, someone may have actually even modeled this house after their own home! What fun for you to put your cozy stamp on this wonderful piece of art. Enjoy it!!
I will. Thank you, Priscilla!
hope don feels better soon and you stay well.
thanks for the tour of your beautiful folk art home (great photos, too). i am glad it is home with you now and know you will take good care of it.
happy sunday.
kathy in iowa
We’re very glad it’s here, Kathy. Thank you.
Claudia
I was in a consignment shop yesterday and saw an old doll house. I thought about you and how you could make it a “home” again.
When we were decorating for Christmas I moved the mug tree with the little white Hall mug with it’s beautiful foot. I whispered “You don’t have to do a thing, you’re perfect just the way you are.”Privilege of age to be able to talk to a mug.
Hope Don feels better. DH has had a rough year health wise and does not want a birthday cake. As my mother-in -law used to say “Life changes daily.”
As always, Best wishes from Best Bun.
I talk to my things all the time, my friend. I understand!
I hope your dear DH feels better in the New Year. Sending healing thoughts his way.
Thank you!
So cute! What a perfect gift. I love the green trim.
Thank you, Lynda! I love that trim, too.
So happy for you! What a wonderful Christmas present and great project for the wintertime.
Feel better, Don.
It is. I just have to decide how to protect its integrity as a piece of Folk Art and still make it my own. Tricky business!
Thanks, Lily.
Sorry Don has had a relapse; get well, Don!
Claudia, it’s a BIG house. Your photos are amazing; we can really get a feel for its interior now. Someone loved this house. Do you have any kind of bead on how old it might be?
I love the bank of windows in the front.
I think it’s from the 40s or early 50s. That’s my sense. They made curtains for the doorways from strips of ribbon. People stopped using those curtains in the fifties. Thanks,Vicki.
Have fun with the new dollhouse. It is love.y. Don is a great husband. So thoughtful.
Marilyn
He’s a good guy, Marilyn. Thank you!
A new home for Christmas . . . It’s charming and looks perfect on your kitchen table. The house’s trim even coordinates with the color of your teapot!
I don’t think any of your readers had the slightest doubt that this treasure would be coming to live with you and Don.
I guess you guys know me pretty well by now! Thanks, Janice.
I love it! Oh, what fun you are going to have and I am happy to watch as you bring it to life! A great Christmas gift, enjoy!
Thank you, Kelly!
Your new dollhouse is absolutely lovely – so happy that you both agreed to get it. A few months ago while at an antiques show I had looked at a sweet dollhouse in a vendors booth. The house had interior rooms which could only be viewed by removing the roof and some of the sides. I thought this was a very unusual design, and the dealer explained that many dollhouses were made in the exact floorplan of the childs home – hence the interior walls & rooms. The house looks perfect on your table and Iam sure you both smile everytime you see it.
How interesting! Maybe that explains this house! Thanks, Liz, for that piece of information!
What a delightful discovery! Very happy you brought home this sweet cottage. Have you named her yet?
Not yet! Thanks, Marcy!
Wow!! I can see why it is a true work of art just as it is. What creativity and innovation. I adore the scraps of yellowed lace juxtaposed with the somewhat rough timbering and the hand drawn bricks are so whimsical. There is everything to love about this, especially the mirror!! Congratulations!
It’s so interesting that the mirror survived. The lace didn’t, however. When I started to clean, they disintegrated – they were very, very old! Thanks, Nora.
You are going to have SO MUCH fun with this! I’m so glad it landed at the right home for its new home.
Sending get well wishes to Don!
Thank you, Jeanie!