Doll Houses?

To be honest, I bought a Pukipuki for the sole reason so I could build a dollhouse. I love dollhouses, but had no use for them, I love pukipuki's, but they didn't fit in with my other dolls. So, they were meant to be together!

Here's the WIP thread: http://www.denofangels.com/forums/s...zzlepond-s-House-on-Sabertooth-Mountain/page3
Unfortunately, I haven't had much time to continue working on it.



Do you think it would be worth the extra expense (buying furniture, getting wallpapers/carpets, keeping it clean, etc)?
Absolutely. It's a completely different hobby and it'll take a long time to finish if you want to build one yourself. But part of the fun is the creation. In my case, I've decided to use LaDoll clay to make just about anything - the floor tiles/bricks, the walls. I'm also using a lot of wood, partly for making some of the furniture I can't find myself (like the counter 'downstairs'). So no wallpaper, carpets etc. Just a lot of paint.

Furniture can get expensive, especially if you want great quality pieces and I treat the miniature buying the same as I do my doll-buying; I save up for particular pieces and then buy when I have the funds.

Is it a full house with different rooms or is it just a bedroom?
It's a full house. I've bought the Greenleaf Orchid kid, that you could turn into a four room tiny house. I've decided to only make two rooms, but add a custom tower and perhaps I'll add a basement as well.

Handmade or bought/custom-made for you?

Well, like I said, it is a kit, but I've modified it completely. Only a few elements are still original; enough to see what Greenleaf dollhouse it was supposed to be.

Is it for all of your dolls, regardless of size or do you reserve it for your smaller dolls?

It's only for pukipuki size.

Does it take up a lot of space? Do you put it away when you're not playing with your dolls to save space? Any tips for us that have space issues?


Well, my own appartement isn't big either, especially since I've had to make room for my sculpting studio. That's why I decided to go for the smallest dollhouse out there. I thought about a wall version for a while (you're able to put those up like a painting or shelf), but they were still too big for my taste. This dollhouse fits snugly between my book cabinet and coffer when I'm not working on it.
I have plans of creating the surroundings of the house as well. If I do, I'll probably buy a small table for it, so I can keep it on display (and as far away from dust as possible).

 

If youre tight on space what about a wall mount. The puki puki house would look cute as wall decor, save you space, and give them a house.
Guess that would really only work for a puki.
For bigger dolls maybe do shelves with a painted back ground to add depth? It may be cool to frame it out to make it look like a 3D painting your doll lives in...

 

Like I said, Pukipuki and the like are also perfect for this size of dollhouse. Some of the furniture is a little bit too big, but I think you'd be able to mod most of it. Dreamhigh Studio elves should also work out, I guess. For me, this size is perfect; I'm still able to build myself a dollhouse without it taking up too much space.

I took a picture of my studio, so you can see for yourself how big a dollhouse is. Mind you, the Orchid kit is the smallest one around.



This room is the biggest one in my house. I have a living room that is about the same size and a bedroom that's 7m2 (75 ft2).

As for cats, keeping the dollhouse in my studio works really well, because I don't allow my feline monster to come in there when I'm not around (too many clay parts he could mess with). So, when I'm not working, I close the door and everything is safe.

 

I wish I had a cool set up like this! I have mine on a shelf right now.. but these pics are some good inspiration!!

 

For those with dollhouses:
-Is it a full house with different rooms or is it just a bedroom?
I've only got one little bedroom (so far)
-Handmade or bought/custom-made for you?
I put it all together myself.
-Is it for all of your dolls, regardless of size or do you reserve it for your smaller dolls?
It's one specific doll's room, but all of my YoSD and smaller dolls hang out there.
-Does it take up a lot of space? Do you put it away when you're not playing with your dolls to save space?
It resides on top of one of my two dressers, so nope it doesn't take up too much space. I don't ever put any of it away, partially because I have no clue where it would go and partially because I love being able to just look over and see them set up in their little home.
-Any tips for us that have space issues?
Maybe you could use the inside of a cabinet or set it up in your closet (granted then you wouldn't get as much nice light in your pictures).
Here's a picture of my doll room:

 

Do you want one (just a bedroom or a full house)? Why or why not?
I would like more than one bedroom but not exactly a whole house


Would you want one for all of your dolls or just the smaller ones?
I'd like something big enough to keep all of them in


Do you just consider your room to be their room as well?
no, my doll is just sitting on a shelf, it doesn't look or feel particularly special.


If you've been browsing like myself, what are some cool ones or neat ideas that you've seen?
The best thing I've seen so far was a bookshelf/closet type thing that was converted to a doll diorama thing. But since Im sure I cant do that as of now, I'd like to reorganize my closet and make something of a doll house


Do you think it would be worth the extra expense (buying furniture, getting wallpapers/carpets, keeping it clean, etc)? Why or why not?
Well, most people ive seen doing dioramas made wall paper from scrap booking paper which isnt expensive, you can get carpet samples for free either from a home and hardware store or online, all you would have to do was sew and cut the pieces to fit the space. I don't think its so much as expensive as it is time consuming but I would probably enjoy the work.

 

Do you want one (just a bedroom or a full house)? Why or why not?
Well, I don't really have room for an entire dollhouse, but I may make something on a shelf or two on my bookcase.


Would you want one for all of your dolls or just the smaller ones?
I would probably do a bedroom for the ones that I have.. maybe a little more for my tiny one.


Do you just consider your room to be their room as well?
I do!


If you've been browsing like myself, what are some cool ones or neat ideas that you've seen?
I haven't really been browsing but I think the coolest one I have seen was a retro room with egg chairs. it was a long time ago. It was cool.


Do you think it would be worth the extra expense (buying furniture, getting wallpapers/carpets, keeping it clean, etc)? Why or why not?
I think it is different for everyone. I think that some of it would be worth it, but as far as to make an entire dollhouse, I think it wouldn't be worth it for me.

 

For those without:
Do you want one (just a bedroom or a full house)? Why or why not?

Maybe a bedroom but a dollhouse does not really interest me. It would have to be massive and I feel like these dolls are big enough to live in my house, no need for their own home.


Would you want one for all of your dolls or just the smaller ones?

Maybe some really small one but the smallest I own is a 1/6 and I think it is still too big for one.

Do you just consider your room to be their room as well?

Pretty much. They got their spots and if I were to pose them it be on my own furniture.

Do you think it would be worth the extra expense (buying furniture, getting wallpapers/carpets, keeping it clean, etc)? Why or why not?

For me personally, no, but I could see how if you really like dollhouses it could be. It be pity to have such beautiful detail oriented dolls in a forever bare home... the small details really make a difference.

 

I'm lucky because I only have tiny bjds so it's pretty easy to store them and making scenarios/dioramas. I also have a house that is perfect for them.

 

So my eternal work-in-progress progressed a little further this weekend:





Nice back walls! Finally! Next steps: Decoration, trying to hide the less perfect parts of the wallpaper adventure, and lamps. And a new nightstand for the bedroom, since the old one was transferred to the living room

 

For those without:

Do you want one (just a bedroom or a full house)? Why or why not?
I don't like a full house coz it take too much space, I'm easily bored so I need something that I could change around easy and very often (really, really often).
I use a bookshelf (so I can adjust a shelf to fit just right for each of doll size I've had)
I do store all furniture and deco. in storage box, and once in a while bring out and transform a scene on a bookshelf from time to time. (I make everything removable, floor, wallpaper etc.)


Would you want one for all of your dolls or just the smaller ones?
I've plan to make one room for each size, some may share room if it's go well together with not much different or look too funny.

Do you just consider your room to be their room as well?
Of course, I like to see them all the time

If you've been browsing like myself, what are some cool ones or neat ideas that you've seen?
Oh, so many I can't really name them all. If I have some free time I would use that ideas to create it for myself (oops! I mean for my doll) too.


Do you think it would be worth the extra expense (buying furniture, getting wallpapers/carpets, keeping it clean, etc)? Why or why not?
I'm willing to spend extra to get a really nice furniture or prop (if I can't make it myself)
and think ahead that it should easily match other furniture well in a future for any scene (I mean colors & styles).
It's really feel different when you take a photo shot or have to look at it everyday.

 

Since most of my dolls are SD or SD17, a big space for their things is a necessity. I put up closet shelving on two walls (we own the house, not rent). the first up from the floor was 30 inches. The floor became the space to put in 3 bedrooms. the 6 foot shelf became the living room, and the 4 foot shelf around the corner in another bedroom.
A shelf above is too short for doll rooms, but offers storage for extra "stuff".
Furniture is a mix of purchases from thrift stores, antique stores, ebay and even doll shops and shows. I did make a plain bed from foamcore, bedding, rugs, and pillows are also by me. I think my next room will be a dining room, as soon as I re-home the OT dolls on that shelf.

Do you think it would be worth the extra expense (buying furniture, getting wallpapers/carpets, keeping it clean, etc)? Why or why not
Guess I do, since I have been acquiring doll furniture as a hobby for almost 20 years, and have rooms for a LOT of OT dolls.

 

Do you want one (just a bedroom or a full house)? Why or why not? This is one of the things I definitely want to do someday. I collect doll sized pieces whenever I find them, and have a small collection of accessories going (no really exciting furniture or anything yet, save for some cute little "bag chairs" that are actually made to hold cellphones). I keep looking into materials for making a house with; I keep considering getting small tiles from Habitat for Humanity's store to use for a dollhouse floor. However, I am soon moving into an RV, so I will not have the room for one like I want to make for a while.

Would you want one for all of your dolls or just the smaller ones?
I would love to have one for all of my dolls, but of course there are time, money, and space restraints. The first one I want, however, is a 1/6 size alchemist's lab. I have little corked bottles to fill, and have been learning to make miniature leather books to put on the shelves that will someday get made. I want to take a skeleton-like doll and hang it up in the corner, sort of like those full-size skeletons you see in biology classes.

Do you just consider your room to be their room as well?
If I had a BJD right now, not really. They would seem so out of place with everything being so big!

If you've been browsing like myself, what are some cool ones or neat ideas that you've seen?
There are some beautiful ones. This is one I was impressed with recently.

Do you think it would be worth the extra expense (buying furniture, getting wallpapers/carpets, keeping it clean, etc)? Why or why not?
It totally is. Like someone else said, it's a hobby in and of itself. It also makes a great place for pictures, photostories, and just as an awesome way to display your babies.

 

Do you want one (just a bedroom or a full house)? Why or why not?
I would like to eventually have a large display case for my dolls, with rotatable scenary (so I could have one display section, but display my dolls in lots of different settings). Ideally, I wouldn't just have interior rooms, but also 'outdoor' displays.

Would you want one for all of your dolls or just the smaller ones?
I currently rotate my dolls - I rarely have more than 3 out at a time (since they are almost all Super Gems, and 70cm dolls take up a lot of space!). When I have a display case, I will probably stick with the same pattern. So I'd want a display that suited all my dolls (or at least one scene for every doll), but I wouldn't have them all out at once!

Do you just consider your room to be their room as well?
Nope, my dolls have a fictional world all their own, and my room is neither in scale nor the right aesthetic for them

If you've been browsing like myself, what are some cool ones or neat ideas that you've seen?
I love the idea of having a separate drawer for each doll. This would make it very easy to swap dolls in and out of the display. I would probably store my dolls' outfits/wigs/accessories in with them as well.

Do you think it would be worth the extra expense (buying furniture, getting wallpapers/carpets, keeping it clean, etc)? Why or why not?
I plan to mostly make my own furniture and wallpaper (and rugs, for the few scenes without stone floors). I would prefer a display with glass doors, so cleaning shouldn't be a hassle. It's more the expense of the display case itself that is keeping me from getting one right away (plus a lack of space at the moment!)

 

For those without:

Do you want one (just a bedroom or a full house)? Why or why not?
Yes, I want one. But just one, not for all my dolls. That would be nearly impossible I guess, with almost 40 dolls ranging from tiny to SD and beyond (tallest one I own is the Trinity Jude of 105cm).
The reason I want one is because I think it will be a nice extra touch to photoshoots. Just more possibilities and ways of being creative.
I don't think I want a full house... I like to move around while shooting, add lighting as I please... And some rooms in a normal house are not that important for me. So I think I'll just make a few rooms. And maybe not even complete rooms, but just a back wall, side wall and a floor. And ofcourse furniture.

Would you want one for all of your dolls or just the smaller ones?
I want to create a dollhouse for my incoming Chicline Dark Soo only atm.

Do you just consider your room to be their room as well?
Nope. My room is just the place where they are, but it is not really part of their world / their story. (for as far as they have a story... I don't really create background stories for my dolls)

If you've been browsing like myself, what are some cool ones or neat ideas that you've seen?
I really LOVE rooms with a theme. Like all black and white with sharp lines, or the more victorian old fashioned homes... And I saw a LOT of interesting tutorials on pinterest on how to make furniture pieces yourself.

Do you think it would be worth the extra expense (buying furniture, getting wallpapers/carpets, keeping it clean, etc)? Why or why not?
If I'd do it for only one doll like I plan to, then yes, I think it will be worth it. Like I mentioned before, it just gives extra possibilities for photoshoots. and so far I have been mainly doing portrait shoots, and I just like to expand it and use more props, furniture and even full rooms and decorations.
And besides that, I think it will be also a lot of fun to DIY those rooms and furniture pieces!