Dollhouse Decorating

Miniature Decorating Ideas |Articles on decorating dollhouses and the history of this artform

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I have had a life-long love affair with dollhouse miniatures, and careers in art education and interior design. I hope to combine these life experiences to help other miniature enthusiasts get more out of this wonderful hobby we enjoy, a hobby that often reaches the level of an art form. Susan Downing

Posted on 28 November, 2015

 
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Josje Bouwts’ Slaapkamer. The chandelier is a small part of the room.

Josje Bouwts Slaapkamer Chandelier

This is from a Josie Bouwt post in her blog on September 29, 2011. It was titled “Lights, Camera, Action!” and is one of many reasons why I find her blog invaluable. On “A Beautiful World,” Josje not only shows you her gorgeous miniatures but how she brought them about. A periodic visit to this blog is always a “look and learn” experience for me.

 

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Josje Bouwts’ Slaapkamer Chandelier Close-Up

Chandelier Clos-Up

I was taken with Josie’s description of the chandelier: “When this was all finished I felt the room needed more lights. I didn’t want to wait until the next dolls house fair so I rummaged through my drawers and found an old silver … well, I’m not sure what it was, but I could call it a ‘jewelry finding’. I played around with it a bit, using some glass paint and silk string and made it into a very eclectic light to hang above the chest of drawers. It is a bit odd, I admit, but I rather like it”.

Here’s a link to another post I wrote on Josje Bouwts’s work: Fine Dining.

 

Susan Downing, with Patrick Owens

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I invite you to visit my Etsy Shop where I offer many accessories and pieces of furniture in 1:12 scale. 

 

Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: bedroom, Dutch, lamps, lighting


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Posted on 26 November, 2015

gottschalk-blue-roof-early-victorian-doll-house 

Gottschalk Blue Roof Early Victorian, which overlaps the Biedermeier period

Biedermeier dollhouses do not exist!

Don’t believe me? To quote Casey Stengel, the long-time manager of the New York Yankees, “You can look it up!” Use “biedermeier dollhouse” as a search term in your browser. A directory of furniture and decorating hits come up, but no dollhouses using the “B” word.

Biedermeier refers to a period of time, roughly 1815 – 1848. The Napoleonic Wars had drained the European economies. The German and Austrian middle classes longed for the good old days before Napoleon decided to rule the world. They wanted peace and quiet and stability, a comfortable home with lots of family around. That meant furniture that was comfortable and inexpensive.

(more…)

Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: Biedermeier, furniture


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Posted on 23 November, 2015

Blog-Subtle-Edwardians-Queen-Marys-library

Queen Mary’s Dolls House Library

Queen Mary’s Dolls House – In The Beginning

Queen Mary, wife of King George V. was an obsessive collector of ‘tiny craft.’She especially liked objects that had a connection to the Royal family. By her late 40s, the Queen had amassed a valuable collection of miniature items.

Princess Marie Louise, George V’s cousin, and Queen Victoria’s granddaughter was at an “at home” one Sunday afternoon at the height of the social season. Another party-goer was Edwin Lutyens, a leading architect of the day. The Princess later claimed that ‘on the impulse of the moment’ she mentioned that it would be nice if the Queen had some sort of large cabinet for all her diminutive treasures.

(more…)

Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: amazing miniatures, dollhouses, Great Dollhouses


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Posted on 20 November, 2015

Mary Payne's Barber Shop

Mary Payne’s LoBue’s Barbershop

 

Meet Mary Payne – Miniaturist

The picture of LoBue’s Barber Shop on my newsfeed caught my eye. The caption “A recreation of Mary’s grand father’s barbershop in Weehawken, NJ.”  got my attention because preserving memories by making room boxes has always been the key in my interest in dollhouse miniatures all these years.

I contacted Mary Payne and got this reply:

“I don’t have much of a backstory for it. I never saw that barbershop. The outside was reproduced from a couple of old family pictures. We have no family members left that remember the inside so I used elements from several pictures of old barbershops I found online. If you want to see more of my work go to [our website]. All my work is photographed and posted by my husband. Most of the stores are memorials [of] family and friends who are gone.”

And what a lot of great work it is. Besides the wonderful barbershop room box, check out the rest of Mary’s basement.

Mary Paine's Basement

Mary Payne’s Basement

I identify with Mary in that memories, and the emotions that flow from them, are the important part of my being a miniature enthusiast. If I can’t make everything myself or don’t have the time to learn to be a renaissance artisan, that’s all right. I’ll buy the wares of other skilled specialists in the dollhouse miniature universe.

Other enthusiasts have the desire to create museum-quality works of art, making all the items themselves. God bless them! I’m glad they have the drive and perseverance to make these wonderful creations. It shows me what can be accomplished and to show the heights craftsmanship it’s possible to reach.

Mary Payne's Room Boxes

Other room boxes by Mary Payne

Each of the room boxes to the right has a link to an expanded view. Click on the photo. It takes you to Mary’s section of the family webpage.

There is so much latitude in participating in the wonderful hobby .. or art form. Pick your spot on the spectrum. And knowing that we can change that niche whenever we want. Its just time and effort … and some skills.

 

Susan Downing, with Patrick Owens

_________________________________________________________________________

I invite you to visit my Etsy Shop where I offer many accessories and pieces of furniture in 1:12 scale.

Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: artisans, room boxes


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