It’s no secret that I’m jealous of the owner of the dollhouse. She has several things that I – let’s just say it – covet. A fireplace, an AGA oven, a wrought iron bed, a potting room/shed and….an office/studio in its own enclosed space. Yes, I have a studio/craft area here at MHC but it’s in the upstairs hallway. So, charming as it is, I can’t go in there and close the door. You see? Envy.
I decided early on that the room on the left on the second floor would be an office/studio. I knew that much. But getting to it took a long time. I didn’t have a specific look in mind, so I wasn’t sure where to start. I decided to start with the floor.
I wanted a painted floor so I went with gray. The idea is that the house is old and a fixer-upper, so sometimes the owner paints the floors, like in the kitchen and bedroom, rather than have them redone.
There are several irregularities in this room. You can see that the corner is a bit wonky. That made for some fiddling with the sticks that make up the floor – cutting and shaping them so they would work.
Still uninspired, the room stayed in this condition for a while, until one day I had an idea. I thought about it for several days before I went for it. I wanted one of the walls to be a planked wall. I see them all over blogland and I love that look. Using craft sticks, this time the ones that are the size of a tongue depressor, I went for it.
And there is the finished product. Adding this really made a difference. Though I flirted with the idea of doing all the walls that way, I decided to stay with one planked wall. So it was time to pick some wallpaper.
I found this French-inspired design on Itsy Bitsy Mini. It would have been too busy for an entire room, especially one without wainscoting, but thanks to the planked wall, it works.
Then I added the window and door trim, baseboard and molding.
What next? Another little idea I’d had noodling around in my head: a work surface that would extend the length of the planked wall. I measured and cut a thick piece of wood I found in a hobby shop, stained it, and this is what I came up with:
I used leftover spindles for the legs. My concept was that of a long desk that could be used for office work and sewing.
After that, the rest of the room took shape rather quickly. I bought an unfinished work table and painted it.
And then I found a bookshelf that was in my stash and painted it to match the worktable.
Then it was time to add some fun details – all from my stash. I love the deep pink/rose color of the flowers in the wallpaper, so I played around with my paints until I came up with something close to that shade. I grabbed one of the many shutters I have in my stash. This one had already been painted aqua (from the early days when I was experimenting with colors for the shutters on the outside of the house,) so I painted it in the new shade, sanded it to reveal some of the blue and hung it on the wall.
It can be used to hold postcards and notes and mementos. (Don thinks we should do something like this in MHC. I’m inclined to agree with him.)
Since I had the paint already mixed, I grabbed the other ‘window’ that I had on hand from an earlier project. It, too, got a coat of paint and was backed by some vintage wallpaper Elyse had given me.
Voilà! A pinboard for the owner, handily positioned above the desk.
And, of course, one of my favorite additions:
That black plastic dress form that I fashioned into this:
Speaking of fiddly work, this definitely falls in that category! But it was worth it. I painted the ‘metal’ part of the dress form with Rub n’ Buff in silver, made a spindle out of the wooden part of a Q-tip, and used some linen fabric that I had in my stash to cover the body.
I’ve also been making miniature books:
I have a lot more to go!
I made a MacBook Pro laptop (like the one I use to write this blog) from a printable I found online. Added a teacup and saucer and some paperwork. And, of course, the coat hook/rack that I made for the Mini Swap that I’m a part of.
And here you go! This is pretty much the current state of the room. Oh! I forgot the work stool that is a very recent addition. I got it unfinished from miniatures.com and painted/sanded it to make it look nicely aged.
Still have to get a rug. And some lights. And some bolts of fabric. And make more books. And….and….
You get the picture. It’s always a work in progress.
Part 6 will concentrate on the Potting Room/Shed.
Happy Thursday.
I’m jealous of the owner of this house too. Maybe you will get a rug in the swap. If you get one of my babies she can be a doll. So excited to get our packages and I don’t even have a doll house. I have a great shelf I am going to use to make little rooms. I’m afraid to get a doll house,hah.
Don’t be afraid, Debby! But using a shelf to make rooms is a great idea!
Good morning, Claudia ~
I wish the owner could fly out here and help me with my decor. ;)
LOVE everything… and am looking forward to the latest on “her” Potting Room/Shed!
xo,
Lin
I don’t think the owner has a credit card with which to book that flight, Lin!
It’s official. Your dollhouse is now nicer than my real house.
It’s nicer than my real house, too!
I love your little house. I wish I could crawl inside and play in that craft room.
Me too!
Love the doll house. I could move right in! !
Sigh. Me too!
Good morning, Claudia!!
I dearly love your dollhouse and all the things you’ve done. I am also jealous, it looks like so much fun and work, of course. You are so creative and talented.
I would really love to move into this house and live. Really love your decorating style!! Please keep sharing with us, I enjoy so much reading your posts and check out your wonderful photos everyday.
Hugs,
Linda
Thank you, Linda. I’ll keep sharing, that’s for sure!
Loving the shutter idea. Don is right and I think I need one too! A new project for some of my stash of windows, doors and shutters. My Mom thinks I’m running a reclamation yard here! J
But what a fun stash to have!
So much fun. Right now I want to know how you are making the books. They are fabulous.
Tana
I’m just printing out covers and covering some little mini books that I have.
Don is right, Claudia. Fix yourselves up a shutter somewhere in the house – you’ll be glad. One of my sisters has one in her kitchen – well nearer to the mudroom actually – and it is the cutest thing there. Not just useful but a real conversation piece. She found it in an old lumberyard while looking for a pedestal sink [I think]. What a treasure trove those places can be – right up there with estate sales and flea markets! :>)
I’ll get to work on it, Janet!
Love that room – absolutely precious!
Judy
Thank you, Judy!
I love how you can experiment with things…like the shutter…and hopefully you can fashion up the real thing! Great idea! Everything is so charming…and the details! You.made.books! Wowza! ;)
Well, sort of — I covered some existing books. Making them from scratch is something I have yet to master!
Claudia I love it all! Your color schemes just kind of all blend from room to room.
By the end of June I will be painting/papering the walls in my house. Would you recommend doing the floors at that time too. Before it is assembled? Also do the door frames and windows?
I know you couldn’t, but if you could have done it that way would you have?
Thanks for sharing your house (s) with u s.
I really don’t know the answer to the floor question, Trudy, as I have yet to assemble a house. You could google that question. I’d wait to do door frames and window frames until you’ve wallpapered.
Love the craft room in the dollhouse. I would say it is my favorite room in your dollhouse but then I look at the others and love those too. You are such an inspiration.
Aw, thank you, Julie!
Claudia, One thing…it’s easier to move the furniture around, love that part. I think the wallpaper is adorable. Just seems to fit the style of the house. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
Thanks, Susie!
This is so very sweet! You’re doing a great job and adding so much of your own personality to it. LOVE the computer…how perfect! Have FUN! Hugs, Diane
Thanks so much, Diane! HAVE to have a computer!
How nice it would be to have that room in life size Claudia..but I guess that’s part of the fun..creating things that you love but just don’t have the room or money for..I agree with Don on the shutter..in fact I have one sitting right outside the front door for decoration that just might be coming inside now..
Oh good, Nancy! Now I have to get one!
LOVE this room, and everything you’ve done with it – but especially the shutter … oh, and the books … uh, and the planked wall … I LOVE IT ALL!!!
AND, I am pleased to tell you that I now have a completely wallpapered kitchen in my dollhouse. It was much easier than I thought it would be! Thank you so much for all of your encouragement.
Yay for you! See? You just have to hold your breath and jump in!
Your creativity just knocks my socks off!!!
jane in tx
Thanks, Jane!
Claudia, its soooooooooo beautiful. I just love the colours you use and you are so clever making those tiny little curiosities. Love from me and the animals in (sunny for a change!) Scotland xxx
So glad to hear it’s sunny in Scotland – one of my favorite places to visit! Good to hear from you, Hayley!
Oh how I LOVE when you post pictures of your dollhouse!!! What a great idea for the wall. It looks so beautiful. I love all the little touches…well done Claudia!
Blessings, Joanne
Thank you so much, Joanne!
Loving this room! I too wish I lived in this dollhouse!!
hugs,
Linda
Thanks, Linda!
Claudia, what paint did you use to paint the worktable and bookcase? I wish you lived closer. I have a few rescued houses sitting around that I would love to have you play with! Hmm…. are there any dollhouse stores near you? I know the one by me would love to have help with all the houses people want to bring in that they want redone. That would be a fun way for you to make some extra money. Or you could just do your own advertising with the before and after pictures of your own house!
I used regular old craft paint that you can find at Michael’s. I mixed some colors together to come up with that shade.
No dollhouse stores in this area, I’m sad to say.
Hi Claudia. I was at the Habitat for Humanity Restore last week and saw a doll house kit. I have been so influenced by your lovely doll house work. I didn’t buy it, but I plan to make a purchase soon. I had a lovely doll house growing up that my dad made. We had so much fun. It had beautiful wall paper and a picture of my mom over the fireplace. I hesitated to buy a doll house because I don’t have a lot of room in my house of 3 kids and 3 dogs. But every time I see your work, I am encouraged to give it a try. Thank you so much for sharing! – Heather
You’ll find room, Heather. We live in under 1100 square feet and I found a place for the dollhouse! Go for it!
Love, love the wallpaper! Thank you for continuing your dollhouse posts. I’m still working on painting the outside of my house and can’t wait to get to the fun of decorating the inside. Right now I’m collecting info online and adding to my Pinterest dollhouse boards. Thanks for the encouragement and creative ideas, Claudia!
You are very welcome, Sharon!
Your dollhouse posts are my favorite! I’ve stumbled across many an amazing house on the internet, but your less is more style really speaks to me. And I love seeing your progress. Nice job! I hope that you don’t mind that I borrow ideas from you.
My favorite parts of the work room? The wallpaper and the work desk.
Thank you for sharing.
Peg.
Borrow away, Peggy!