Since that horrible dream left me feeling rather melancholy yesterday, I took control and sought refuge in photography. I find that if I can get outside and take photos, I see the world differently. I see my own situation differently. I captured lots of lovely images yesterday which I will be sharing with you over the next several days, including a treasure trove of birds at the birdbath. Goodness, they were active!
Also contributing to my mood change was a package that arrived in the mail for Little Z’s dollhouse. As you know, I’ve been contemplating what furniture – and it needed to be sturdy wooden furniture – to buy. Z is five years old, smart as a whip, and as determined as can be. He also walks with canes because of his disability and is working on using both hands equally. I wanted the furniture to be effortless for him, nothing that can break.
One day, I searched on Etsy and found this shop: upperairs. It’s David DiBenedetto’s shop and he handcrafts this dollhouse furniture. It was reasonably priced and was just what I wanted. And I love to support small businesses.
I was thrilled when I opened the package.
It’s as if it were designed by IKEA for this house.
The living room. Sofa, chair, fireplace, table, grandfather clock and television. I laughed out loud when I saw what was playing on the television! That’s Z’s favorite. He loves, loves, loves Mickey.
Kitchen: None of the doors open. Did you notice the faucet? It’s a cup hook. The table might be a bit too tall, I’ll have to think about that one.
Just like the kitchen in my dollhouse – the hardest room to photograph.
Bathroom.
Bedroom.
Don thinks I should leave the furniture unpainted because it goes so well with the house. I must confess, I’m not sure what to do. I am planning on making some cushions for the furniture and the bed.
Do I paint the furniture? Do I leave it as is until he decides what he wants? Do I put temporary wallpaper up that he could pull down if he wants to?
Meredith says that either way would be great, but she suspects I’d have more fun painting the furniture.
I’m going to think about it for a day or two and then I have to make a decision.
This furniture is so well made and it’s sturdy. Z can handle it, knock it around, move it in and out of the house without any worries about breakage. I want him to be able to do whatever he wants with the house.
Your thoughts?
I have one bird photo to share with you today – I saw this guy looking for food at the entrance to the big corral:
What a beauty!
Happy Saturday.
I love the furniture! It is perfect for the IKEA doll house. As a Grandma to a 5 yr old I would say paint the furniture. I think kids like color. It can also be a teaching tool. Maybe a color for each room (shades of blue, shades of green) etc. He would know what furniture goes in each room and rearrange to his hearts content! I want to do this for Scout when she is a little bit older.
Glad you are feeling better and I too find that being outside and taking photos of nature can calm me like nothing else. Happy Saturday Claudia!
hugs!!
It would be a lot of painting to get done before we go down there. I’m not sure yet what I’ll do!
Oh, show me a blue flower or a blue bird and I’m in! Lovely.
And you know how I feel about color…
I love color, but that’s a lot of painting!
Since my hearing/ear problems in the last few years, color is my music now, I think.
I understand.
Since I seem to be replying in one-sentence bits, today, I would vote for color in the form of a transparent stain, to show off that pretty wood grain!
I don’t know. I’ll have to wait until the Universe gives me some sort of answer!
I know – I love birds that are blue.
I think you need some people to go with it. A family and a dog to use the furniture. I vote for some color. Brightens everyone’s day. Very cute.
Probably not people. I’ll leave that up to him, Linda.
I say just add some accents in color….maybe the couch and chair cushions, the knobs on the furniture, a white toilet lid….nothing drastic but it’ll add some interest to the pieces.
Definitely in the cushions and bedding. Like the idea of the knobs on the furniture, Cheryl!
I love the play house! It will make Little Z so happy! Not that I would tell you what to do, but as a Mom and Mom-Mom, I know that kids (especially young ones) LOVE color. Have fun with it no matter what you decide!
Thanks, Cindy!
The furniture looks perfect for the house. I bet you had fun putting it in the rooms! It would be fun for him to have a couple of people to put to bed or sit on the bench. Maybe his name on the bed? Can’t wait to see what you do, he is going to love it!
I thought about framing a picture of him and putting it on the wall. I’ll leave the people for him/Meredith to find. I have a feeling he’ll be using his Paw Patrol figurines.
I love Linda’s idea of painting the furniture for each room a separate color so it’s easy for Z to put things back when he’s done playing. Wallpaper on the back walls would look great too. Have fun!
It would have to be removable wallpaper, so he could get rid of it if he didn’t like it.
Perfect! I just know that he is going to love it. My vote would be for color too.
Blessings,
Betsy
Thanks, Betsy.
Hi Claudia. I love the simple furniture. I think plain or colored any child would love to play with it. Love from Julie in Western Australia. Ps what sort of bird is that? Is it common in your area? It’s gorgeous!
That’s a bluejay, Julie.
Well I’ve worked with small children for many years and the first thought I had upon seeing the furniture was that it was perfect as is for a little boy. I think little Z will enjoy it just like it is. It reminds me of the plain wood cars and trucks crafters make. They always seem to fascinate boys. Maybe you could give it to him as is with the offer that you will paint it later if he wants. Either way Claudia, it’s such a thoughtful and loving gift.
Well, that’s what I thought, too. The bare wood seemed perfect for him. I might put up some wallpaper, though!
As an idea maybe let him color the furniture especially if he leans toward the artistic?
I’ll leave that up to him some, Trina!
I think it’s adorable. He is going to love it. What about asking him what he would like to do with the furniture. If it decides to paint it, it would a fun project to do with him. Just let him use his imagination. It doesn’t matter if it’s perfect. He’ll just have a good memory of the two of you doing it together.
That’s a good idea, Kathy!
What a neat gift for Little Z! I’d paint the back wall of each room a different color and leave the furniture natural. It’s going to get banged up and the paint will chip. Add additional color with the accessories.
I’ll probably wallpaper instead of painting the wall. It leaves room for removal, if Z doesn’t like it
I agree with Don, that the natural wood looks good with the house. However, I think that is the eye of an adult and the eye of a 5 year old needs lots of color. Basic colors that blend well together, yet appeal to a child. I know painting would be a lot of work, but I think the look on your little nephews face will be well worth it. Wish I was closer as I would love to help. Should be fun and can’t wait to see what you decide to do.
I’m going to wait and see what he wants. He may like it just the way it is and I want to give him an option.
I agree with your commenters who say that you should offer Z a choice and paint with him if he wants painted furniture. Mickey on TV…priceless! Glad you are getting out of your funk. Triple digit temps here….
Oh, yuck! Too hot, Wendy. Try to stay cool.
Oh how funny…we had a blue jay hanging around here this morning too! I vote for painting…but only a couple things. Take it down south…with paints and brushes…then maybe you could paint it with Little Z? Might be fun! It would certainly be memorable…and then he’s vested in the project too…it truly becomes his. Have fun deciding! ;)
Thanks, Donnamae! I might leave it up to him and see what he thinks.
Probably the best idea…what does Uncle Don think? ;)
Uncle Don likes the natural wood!
The furniture is perfect. It looks good as is but some color may not be a bad thing.
I’m sure little Z will have some ideas. So maybe be prepared to spend some time.
I realize that there is a distance issue. Does you sister like to paint? haha
Either way he’s going to love it.
Enjoy your touch of fall weekend!
monica
She doesn’t have time to paint, Monica! She’s crazy busy!
My thought. Let him paint some pieces, if he likes to paint. My granddaughter love, love, loves to paint. But girls are different than boys sometimes.
Yes, I don’t know if he loves to paint. We’ll see!
Paint. Kids love color and you have a great eye for color combinations. How about a loft in the bedroom? The table and chairs could be an office? Whatever you decide it will be fabulous.
That’s a neat idea, Kay!
That is a beautiful bluejay! I love blue birds of any type.
I like the furniture plain, but some colorful wallpaper would be good. It just needs some color somewhere. Little Z might want the furniture painted, which would be a fun project to do with him. :-)
Yes, I think I’m definitely going to use some wallpaper, Lily.
The natural wooden furniture is just perfect. Some colourful accessories would be fun! Etsy shop Miniatureville in the UK sells wonderful vintage miniature wallpaper and flooring that can be ordered with a glossy finish. It holds up really well against two-sided tape and the occasional small sticky fingers. Just love how this project is turning out – I think I know what the five year old great-niece will getting for Christmas this year!
I’ll check that out, Barbara! Thanks for the tip.
Photography sounds like a wonderful way to lose that mood…plus we get the reward of seeing the pictures you take!..win-win…lol…What nice furniture for a little guy …just perfect for the Ikea house…Some wallpaper is a good idea if it’s something little guy like…but that’s what I would like and I’m not Zach…I wouldn’t over think the whole painting/papering ideas Claudia..Just give it to him and see how much fun he has with it..if he says any thing about colors then consider your options..Don’t take the fun out of giving it to him by worrying about how much more he might like it if it were this way or that way…The joy is in the giving…relax and have fun!
I’m just going to leave them be and see what Z wants. But I may do some wallpaper.
In terms of aesthetics, I agree with Don about leaving the woods monotone. But I think what you also have to consider here is that it’s a very-small child actually playing with these pieces/house, and not just looking at it…and, from my limited experience around children but also speaking from what I can remember about my own childhood, kids respond to color. When I was his age, I only wanted books with big color illustrations.
I know of someone who, as an adult, bought an antique (late 1800s) merry-go-’round horse which is huge and has a prominent position in the vaulted-ceiling foyer of her equally-huge home. The ocean-view, hilltop house is decorated in the colors of its surrounding environment…beachy monotones…and she opted to leave the rescued merry-go-’round horse in its ‘stripped’ state (all the colors must have peeled and a former owner lovingly sanded it so that the horse is the most gorgeous bare wood, much like your Z-house, and with its blond mane and (I fear, due to its vintage, authentic horse hair) tail, the vanilla-esque feel to the horse is so beautiful in her light-filled foyer. But think of its origins: Merry-go-’round horses were for kids, right? At any year! And they’re usually gaily/brightly colored with every shade in the rainbow. Lots of reds, lots of yellows, lots of blue; those kid-friendly primary colors.
My vote for Z’s terrific house? Paint away, Claudia. Think of how HE sees it with HIS eyes.
What a nice thing you’re doing for him! He’ll be spellbound!
Yes, but I’ve decided I can’t assume anything about what he would like. If he likes color, then I’ll paint some pieces when I’m down there.
Meredith seems to think it won’t make a difference either way.
I think the unpainted wood is nice. Maybe you can apply a clear coat to help protect it and make it easier to clean. And instead of removable wallpaper, how about removable floor coverings? You could take some nice, colorful, study card stock and cover it in contact paper.
And if you are driving to Florida, take a detour to Gainesville to visit the butterfly rain forest: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/index.php/exhibits/always-on-display/butterfly-rainforest/visitor-info/ It’s absolutely beautiful. And then go down to Micanopy for a visit and have a meal at The Yearling: http://www.yearlingrestaurant.net/ I haven’t tried it yet, but I hear the sour orange pie is to die for. In fact, if Gainesville isn’t too long a drive from your sister’s house, take your nephew on a day trip. The natural history museum is fun for kids. Just don’t visit on a Saturday during football season.
We’ll definitely stop in Micanopy – I wanted to do that last trip, but we ran out of time! Gainesville is too far for a day trip, Bridget.
I’ve had some coaching jobs in Gainesville during football season, so I’ve spent some time there and I know what it’s like on game day!
Paint the furniture fun vibrant colors to stimulate his imagination and senses. The color you did in Don’s studio were so great. Meredith is right you will have fun painting the furniture and it will give Little Z your design essence. Can you tell I want to see what you do with the furniture 😀
I’ve decided to leave it up to Z, Karen!
Personally I think it would be a nice project for you and Z and the family to collaborate on. Maybe give him some idea or show him some pictures and let him help decide. You may not totally agree but it will be a wonderful activity to do together and make wonderful memories. You are a great Aunt Claudia. Have a wonderful time visiting with this sweet little boy.
I’m really looking forward to it, Catherine!
Well, I don’t have a drop of expertise on dollhouses or their furnishings, but I really like this furniture. Stout, sturdy, steady. Appears beautifully-made from the photos. Well-done, Auntie Claudia! Most of the furniture should probably be left for little Z, so he can “find his own look” – but some of the more mundane items [toilet, bathtub etc] could certainly be painted, if even just white. Then when you get together with Little Z, he can have the fun of picking out colors, wallpapers. Maybe he could even help with the painting? Maybe he’d like to start a “wish list” of other goodies he’s going to “need” for his house too. Pillows & blankets, food and kitchen equipment, plants, pictures, toys for the little occupant who lives there etc etc. All that fun home stuff that’s so much fun for everyone to choose, especially for the “first place.” Lots of fun ahead for you both.
Yes, I think I’ll take it down there as is, except for maybe a little wallpaper, but even that I’m not sure of. We’ll leave it up to my little guy.
How about painting one piece from each room for a pop of brightness and cheer? You can always paint more later if you decide to. ( :
Thanks, Jacki.
Love the house….I would leave it very natural, I love that look. Needs a dog or two in there…After all it is from Aunt Claudia who LOVES dogs. )Who doesnt?)
I think it’s going to end up having Paw Patrol figurines inside!
HI claudia, It’s as clear as it can be to me! How much does a 5 year old care if the furniture and wood match? How much does a 5 year old Love Color?
If he wants it changed later? Will that be so hard for you to do? :^)
Keeping it the way it is until he sees it, Judy.