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 29 March, 2016

astolat-castle-third-level

Astolat Castle third level

Astolat Castle – How It Came About

There are hobbies, then there are obsessions. When Elaine Marie Diehl’s customers entered her dollhouse miniatures shop in Sedona, Arizona, the nine-foot, seven-tiered, meticulously decorated dollhouse just inside the door gave them a clue about the owner.

Making dollhouses began as a hobby for Elaine. She would come home from her day job working in “display art” and play with her latest creation. The miniatures grew in size and price. People dropped by her home unannounced to see her latest creation. After one particularly profitable sale, she decided to give up commercial art and play full time, opening Minielaine’s Miniature Shop in 1981.

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Posted by Patrick Owens

Categories: artisans, Great Dollhouses


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Posted on 28 March, 2016

perfect-curtain-fabric

It seems the choice is unlimited. But out of all these bolts of fabric, the right one to use in a dollhouse miniature may be missing.

The Perfect Dollhouse Curtain Fabric

When looking for the elusive perfect curtain fabric, think beyond color. The weight of the cloth and its pattern or weave are critically important.  I feel that when we focus primarily on color and don’t consider the “technicalities” of pattern size and the weight of the fabric, we risk falling in love with inappropriate material. The color is gorgeous, but perhaps the pattern is too large, or the fabric too stiff and heavy.

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Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: curtains, fabric, pattern, print


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Posted on 24 March, 2016

tim-hartnell-luxury-hotel-miniature

Tim Hartnell and the 1920s Luxury Hotel

Tim Hartnell Miniaturist

Tim and his wife, Angela Hartnell are the owners of Anglia Dolls Houses, which specializes in creating fully decorated, 1/12th scale miniature works. Their standard designs are early Georgian through the Regency period; commissions are from any period.

1920s Luxury Hotel

A recent project is a replica of a 1920s grand hotel, such as The Ritz or The Hotel de Louvre in Paris. It’s huge, weighing 840 pounds and measuring 6′ wide, 4′ deep, 8′ 6” high. It was shipped to its U.S. buyer in 11 separate crates.

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Posted by Patrick Owens

Categories: Georgian, Regency, room boxes


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Posted on 19 March, 2016

faith-bradford-dolls-house

Faith Bradford Dolls’ House, exhibited at the National Museum of American History

Faith Bradford’s Dolls’ House

The curators at the Smithsonian Institution were delighted in 1951 when Faith Bradford donated her Dolls’ House collection to the museum. It would be a perfect addition to the Arts and Industries building as a miniature look back at life in the early 20th century. Imagine their surprise when they discovered that Faith Bradford ‘s turn-of-the-century, five-story, twenty-three room dollhouse was a portal to an imaginary world, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Doll, their ten children, two visiting Grandparents, five servants and twenty pets.

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Posted by Susan Downing

Categories: Great Dollhouses


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