Designing and Decorating a Period Dolls' House (eBook)

CHAPTER 1

CHOOSING A DOLLS’ HOUSE

Choosing a dolls’ house is very exciting, especially if it is for the very first time. Some will go for their dream dolls’ house, some will look for one similar to the dolls’ house they owned during their childhood, while others have no idea at all what they want.

Choosing a dolls’ house is not always easy, especially for those who don’t know where to begin. A few aspects should be considered before any commitment is made to the work involved. Unfortunately this is a common mistake made by most newcomers to the hobby, who will often give up on the project at the very beginning.

There are a few options when it comes to constructing a dolls’ house. Most beginners would prefer to purchase a dolls’ house kit, as they consider this easier, and they can make their own modifications to the kit. Others want to design and build their own dolls’ house, and I can guarantee that this is not as difficult as some might think, even for a beginner. The possibilities for this method are endless. A few room boxes of the same size can easily be put one against another or stacked on top of each other, making a perfectly acceptable dolls’ house.

SIZE

The size and details of the project play a significant role when choosing a dolls’ house. Dolls’ houses come in different shapes and sizes, so the first thing to consider is where it is to be positioned; then take measurements of the area, and consider the surface or the piece of furniture where the finished project will be placed. This will give a clear picture of how big it should be. Sometimes it is surprising how large a dolls’ house can be, even if you might imagine it would have to be much smaller.

When purchasing a dolls’ house kit, always check the measurements of the finished building, either from the shop dealer, or as provided on the packaging. For a beginner I would suggest a four-to six-roomed dolls’ house as it is easier to handle and can be quite straightforward. A few beginners might only be interested in getting one huge twelve-roomed dolls’ house, but they might be better advised to try out a one-room box or a two-roomed dolls’ house before taking on a much bigger challenge. This will help to boost confidence and experience, it will give the builder a chance to learn from their own mistakes, and will give a better idea of what is involved in building a dolls’ house.

STYLE AND PERIOD

Like any normal house, dolls’ houses come in various styles and periods, and this is one of the most important factors to consider when planning to build a dolls’ house. You might prefer a period dolls’ house, which can be built in a particular era and time frame – though in this case make sure to keep to the period features, and never combine two different period styles unless the house is of a much later period, when a few earlier styled pieces can be added to the project. The décor of the exterior and interior of the house should be considered, as also the colour scheme and patterns, and the lighting, furniture and accessories that were used in that particular time.

If you are not sure of the details of a particular era, it is always best to do some historical research. The following is a guide to the different historical periods and the styles that distinguish them, hopefully making it easier for you to decide which you will prefer to work with.

Tudor (1485–1603)

Tudor is one of the oldest styles in dolls’ houses, going back to the time of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth I. Much of it is known as medieval, together with Renaissance and Gothic. Tudor-style houses are distinguished by their half-timbered buildings and their steeply pitched gable roofs, the decorative masonry of the chimneys and the leaded windows.

Georgian (1714–1830)

The Georgian style is typified by the terraced house dating back to the reigns of kings George I, George II, George III and George IV. A classical Georgian house was built in brick in a rectangular or square shape, with symmetrical windows and shutters. Baroque details might also be noticed in grand entrances, with columns, arches and high ceilings embellished with pediments and decorative mouldings.

Regency (1811–1820)

The Regency era goes back to the early nineteenth century when King George IV was Prince Regent. Even though it is considered part of the late Georgian period, the Regency style mostly applies to the interior design, and the way the rooms were highly decorated in a neoclassical style. Regency-style houses were typically decorated with vertically striped wallpaper, and furnished with elegant furniture and the fine arts of the period.

Victorian (1837–1901)

‘Victorian’ refers to Queen Victoria’s reign, however, many factors in architecture and décor that are termed as ‘Victorian style’ became popular much later during Queen Victoria’s era, from around the 1850s during the Industrial Revolution. During this period wealth increased and families could afford to live in a three-storey terraced house with steeply pitched roofs, painted brick walls, ornate gables and painted iron railings. Rooftops were finished off with church-like finials and octagonal or round towers and turrets. Bay windows and porches were quite popular, and a few houses also had a small garden. Most of the interior colour schemes were dark, and rooms were packed with furniture. A few styles overlapped during Victorian times: for example at the end of the era there was a Gothic revival, and buildings fashioned in Italianate and Queen Anne styles.

Edwardian (1901–1910)

The Edwardian period refers to the reign of King Edward VII and is influenced by eighteenth-century French décor, mostly famous for its neo-Baroque architectural style. Unlike the Victorian style, rooms were decorated in much lighter colour schemes, and decorative patterns were less complex. Art Nouveau and Art Deco were quite influential during the Edwardian era. Domed ceilings and wooden floors were very fashionable at the time.

Other Styles

Always remember that this is your dolls’ house and you can decorate it in any style you like. Besides historical periods, dolls’ houses may be built in a vintage 1940s, 1950s or 1960s style, and there are ultra-modern and contemporary styles for those who prefer a new, fresh and clean look. Some may go for a theme based in fantasy, or for something more festive such as Easter, Halloween or Christmas. Just leave it to the imagination!

SCALES

Dolls’ houses and miniatures are also referred to as scale models. Scales define the ratio of the small model to the real, full-size object, and are expressed with a colon between the ratio, or as a fraction. The first number represents the model, while the second represents the units of the full-size object. Dolls’-house scales are represented by 1in as equal to 1ft.

Dolls’ houses come in various scales: ‘1:12 scale’, also known as ‘1in scale’; ‘1:24 scale’, also known as ‘½in scale’; ‘1:48 scale’, known as ‘¼in scale’; and ‘1:144 scale’, also known as ‘micro scale’. Micro scale is mostly used to decorate a tiny dolls’ house for the 1in-scale dolls’ house – in short, it’s like having a tiny dolls’ house for the real dolls’ house.

In the past, dolls’ houses rarely had uniform scales, but in the nineteenth century most dolls’ houses were built in ‘1:16 scale’ and ‘1:18 scale’. Nowadays the most common is ‘1:12 scale’, where 1in on the dolls’ house miniature equals 12in of the original object that has been copied. The smaller the second number of the ratio, the bigger the dolls’ house model or miniature. Technically, in this case, a 1:12-scale model is twelve times smaller than the real full-size object.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

To build a kit or a handmade dolls’ house without any mishaps, it is essential that a suitable set of tools and supplies are ready to hand. The right tools make the process of building a dolls’ house correctly much easier. Below is a list of the tools that will be needed to build a dolls’ house, and their purpose. They can be found in hardware stores and craft shops, and can be purchased at a reasonable price.

Masking tape (1): Masking tape is essential when building a dolls’ house. Ideally buy it in two sizes, wide and narrow. The wide tape is useful for keeping the dolls’ house together when it is being dry built, and to cover the electrical wiring in the walls or floor grooves. The narrow tape covers windowpanes and small parts of the building that the...