Last year while walking through my parents garage I looked up and spotted my old doll house. My dad had originally built it for his mom and when she passed away it was given back to him. I remember playing with it as a child and I loved it. I tried to find a picture of me and it but I didn’t have any luck… I’ll keep looking.
My dad saw me looking up and asked what I was looking at and I said “My old doll house… I wonder if it can be fixed up for Olivia.” Guess that’s all I needed to say, because the next time I went over, it had been taken down from its perch in storage. It was in pretty bad disrepair having been up in their garage attic for the last 19 years. After taking it apart he decided he would go ahead and just replicate it. He got the wood and got everything cut out, but it was pretty slow going, as he was working 80+ hour weeks at his day job. That continued on for months. Finally this summer, things slowed down enough and he was back to working more reasonable hours, so he got back on track and really got to work on the doll house. I’m happy to report he brought it over to my daughter last Sunday and it was a big hit! I got out my oldest daughters old doll house furniture (which I had saved with this in mind) and we got to furnishing and decorating.
{Dad and Olivia the night he brought it to her}
We decided not to add in the stairs – as a child I remember they tended to get in the way, but the notches are there should we decide to do so.
My dad had purchased windows that open and shut, along with these really nice doors. But the doors didn’t come with door knobs, so I grabbed a couple of round wood beads from the Creativity for Kids Wood Kit my kids have and hot glued those on to use as knobs. They match perfectly and also do the job nicely!
And did you notice the floors of the doll house? They look like wood floors and it is the simplest little trick. My dad used a ruler and pencil and just drew lines down the length of the floor prior to staining!
{Look at those wood floors! They match my real ones!}
I also used mod-podge to add some wall decor to each of the rooms, some created by me, others downloaded from the web:
And check out that roof! My father had to painstakingly apply each one of those little shingles. But boy, it was worth it, huh?
If you noticed that I didn’t show any front exterior shots of the house, that is because it isn’t quite finished. We still need to add on the balcony banister. My dad also painted the house white so I am contemplating what I can do to dress it up a bit.
Have you posted about a doll house? I would love to see, share your link in the comments!
Kim is a Marketing Specialist with Inspiration Media Solutions by day and Blogger by night. She's a wife, mom of three beautiful children and two fur-babies, a Goldendoodle and a rescued Pibble. For even more Inspiration Made Simple, like her on Facebook and Instagram+.
I can remember as a girl that I made window boxes cut from cereal boxes and filled them with tiny artificial flowers. We also made a wreath for Christmas with one tiny little sprig of artificial evergreen. Old plastic thimbles were painted and filled with flowers as well. I loved moving the “pots” around and changing my landscaping!
This is adorable! Your little girl must be in heaven playing with this dollhouse! Your dad did an amazing job and I love all the little extra’s you’ve added.
I just pulled my old dollhouse down from the attic for my daughter. My brother built it for my mom and I remember playing with it as a little girl too. It’s also in need of repair and I have a woodworking friend who is going to take a look at it and see what he can do. I love what you did and I can wait to put my own touches on my very outdated dollhouse and give it to my daughter for Christmas!
Love this! It reminds me of the barbie house my sister and I grew up with! My grandparents made everything in it – my grandpa built it (complete with rooftop deck) and my grandma wall papered, carpeted, and furnished it! I think it was really the start of my sister and I being crafty! It wasn’t long before we were accessorizing the house and sewing trendy barbie clothes! it’s great to see that little girls now have the same opportunity!
My name is Kim, founder of Inspiration Made Simple, and I'm really glad you have stopped by!
I'm a mom, wife, fitness and fashion enthusiast. I love sharing simple and affordable ideas that help make your busy life easier, including craft tutorials, affordable fashion, printables, recipes, party ideas, and fun family activities. Learn more about Kim...
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I can remember as a girl that I made window boxes cut from cereal boxes and filled them with tiny artificial flowers. We also made a wreath for Christmas with one tiny little sprig of artificial evergreen. Old plastic thimbles were painted and filled with flowers as well. I loved moving the “pots” around and changing my landscaping!
How lovely! I do have an old doll house, it was my mother in law and was built by her dad.
In the next few days it will be a “haunted doll house”!!
http://inspirationrealisation.blogspot.com/2011/05/dollhouse-i.html
http://inspirationrealisation.blogspot.com/2011/05/dollhouse-ii.html
This is adorable! Your little girl must be in heaven playing with this dollhouse! Your dad did an amazing job and I love all the little extra’s you’ve added.
So so cute! I love the wood floor! Here’s one I did a few months ago:
http://craftingintherain.blogspot.com/2011/06/dollhouse-makeover.html
So adorable and I love the hardwood floors! The wall portraits are a nice touch, too. Awesome job!!
that’s great! You and your father did a wonderful job!
Those floors are awesome! I’m in the process of re-doing a dollhouse for a friend right now, and this gave me great ideas! Thanks!
I just pulled my old dollhouse down from the attic for my daughter. My brother built it for my mom and I remember playing with it as a little girl too. It’s also in need of repair and I have a woodworking friend who is going to take a look at it and see what he can do. I love what you did and I can wait to put my own touches on my very outdated dollhouse and give it to my daughter for Christmas!
http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2011/10/turquoise-lovin-8.html#comments
Would love it if you would link this up at my turquoise lovin’ party going on right now!! http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2011/10/turquoise-lovin-8.html sorry about that last incomplete comment!! LOVE your dollhouse!!
Love this! It reminds me of the barbie house my sister and I grew up with! My grandparents made everything in it – my grandpa built it (complete with rooftop deck) and my grandma wall papered, carpeted, and furnished it! I think it was really the start of my sister and I being crafty! It wasn’t long before we were accessorizing the house and sewing trendy barbie clothes! it’s great to see that little girls now have the same opportunity!
Such a fun idea. I love the idea of working together on a project like that.:) Your daughter will love it.
So cute! I made a dollhouse for my niece this year and loved doing it.