Two week transformation challenge - Part 4

I love a nice grey, a glance at my header will confirm that, but the manufacturer's grey on this roof (still visible on the dormer recess) was just too strong so it had to go. The replacement (Taubmans Beige Ash - not quite grey, not quite beige) will give you a hint of the exterior palette which hopefully will be fully revealed by the end of today. 

Thanks for following along - I can't possibly give up knowing you're watching over my shoulder :) 

Two week transformation challenge - Part 3

Goodbye Yellow!

Today's task is undercoating the exterior in preparation for the new colour. I don't want to risk any of hint of the yellow showing through and changing the look of the new paint colour so although it's a bit time consuming and unnecessary in a way in that the original paintwork is in good condition I think it'll be time well spent. (The patchy grey bits on the side are where I took the quoin strip off - I've decided now that it's going to be the same colour as the wall rather than an 'accent' colour as it was originally so could have left it in place after all).

I've also been to my local Bunnings hardware store and purchased the new exterior paint. (I think I nearly drove the unlucky paint company sales rep mad with questions about all the different paint choices but she managed to smile through it all.) I can't wait to get it on the walls now but there's more undercoating to do first...  

The two week transformation challenge - Part 2

How lucky that the sun is shining today after a dismal weekend. Perfect weather for painting. The inside surfaces now have a good layer of undercoat to seal the surface ready for the new wallpaper. 

I decided to follow the manufacturer's process of using a real wallpaper as it has the advantage of durability and speed of application. I went to the local wallpaper shop expecting quite a range of options to choose from but nothing on display was suitable at all. I explained to the owner that I only needed one roll, or even a part of a roll, in a light neutral colour with no, or a very fine, texture. When she returned from the backroom I didn't know whether to laugh or cry - 3 of the 4 rolls she had were almost exactly the same as what I'd stripped off! Yes they were light and neutral in colour but the texture was totally out of scale. 

The saving grace was the roll of almost white Scandinavian design paper from Fiona Wall-design in Poland. It has very tiny blue/grey specks that give it a bit of warmth. This paper will pick up any grey or blue in furnishings and accessories while at the same time providing a nice neutral backdrop for other colour palettes. And if will, of course, be possible to add another layer of paper over it in the future if desired. 

The next job for today is painting all the windows and doors, they don't really need it but I figure that if everything else is getting a 'face-lift' they deserve a coat of paint too.  

Thanks for all your encouraging comments so far!!  Now it's back to work for me ... 

The two week transformation challenge - Part 1

Two weeks to transform a big house with 7 rooms and an attic?!

Have I finally (and completely) lost my mind?! 

I've booked a trading table at the Penrith Dolls Bears Craft and Collectibles Show on Sunday 29 June - just two weeks away - and I've committed to do my very best to present a BIG house for sale. But what's a challenge if it's not a REAL challenge so I'm also hoping to get it furnished (at least partly) as well! I'm going to be the only miniaturist trading there so even if the house doesn't sell hopefully it'll be a point of interest and maybe even convert a few doll collectors to our mini world. 

For some of you out there who are fast workers this would be a 'walk in the park' but I'm one of the slowest builder-decorators in the world. However I have a secret weapon - a flat pack house I bought just before I started building the French shop and apartment. It's been sitting, in pieces, near my work table waiting patiently for attention and it's sure going to get it now! 

Step 1 - Removing the manufacturer's wallpaper

No pics of the original wallpaper sorry because I was in such a hurry I didn't think to take any but trust me, it HAD to go. What a mission that was! As per usual with wallpaper (this was the real stuff, not dollhouse paper) the outer layer came of easily but in spite of using what I think is the best wallpaper stripper in the universe the bottom layer pretty much refused to budge. Obviously some unknown adhesive from hell had been used here so I gave up on the plan to remove all traces of the original paper removing only what did lift and sanding back the rough edges of what was left once it dried. (Foolishly without wearing a mask so a lot of sneezing followed). 

Step 2 - Preparing the exterior for a new coat of paint

The main exterior colour of this house is too yellow. It needs a more neutral colour scheme in order to be able to blend in with the widest possible range of potential new homes so a repaint is a must.

I didn't fancy having to work around all those windows, and the balcony railing posed a real problem, so off it all came!

I was a bit shocked at how easily the windows in particular popped off. They'd been attached with hot glue which as you can see was only holding in a few places. They'll be way more secure when I put them back on again.

Well there's no going back now! I hope you'll have fun following along on this renovation journey but be sure to 'buckle up'  because it's going to be a wild ride! 

French bathroom, almost finished

For such a tiny room this bathroom has been a LONG time in the making but I wanted to get the details 'just right'. (Once the adjoining walls are installed it will be a major exercise to access the room to change anything.) With the exception of the sign everything on the shelf came from Synnove almost exactly four years ago, at last they're out of the little box and basking in the rays of the morning sun. The vintage-look  'metal' sign is an image printed on cardstock, edged with dark brown ink to create the rust effect, and covered with several coats of clear nail polish which gives it the look of having an enamel finish (although it doesn't really show up in the photo).

Upper hallway (almost) hidden cupboard

The image on the left shows how the bathroom looks through the window, and if you look through the doorway you can see part of the upper floor hallway. On the far wall you can just see the cupboard. It will be almost entirely hidden from view when the wall that divides the hallway from the bedroom in front of it is put in place. The only possible glimpse will be through the bathroom exactly as you see here. I suppose it could be considered, then, that it was a waste of time doing anything with this cupboard at all but I really wanted to do it properly for my own satisfaction.  It's very shallow (about 1 cm only) but I wanted to try out creating the illusion of proper depth.  I think it's worked fairly well.

I hope you've enjoyed these little peeks, hopefully I can bring you final pictures of both the bathroom and the hallway soon. It'll be such an achievement to have FINALLY completed the back of the house on this upper floor that I think some kind of celebration will be in order! 

My French chairs for sale

Add a little French charm to your miniature living room or bedroom.  These 1:12 scale chairs that have been handpainted and upholstered by me are for sale. The upholstery is decorated with charming vintage French aubusson images. The paintwork can be distressed on request if you prefer a more 'faded elegance' look.

The price is $65 for one or $120 for a pair (Australian dollars) plus postage.  For conversion to other currencies click here. 

Please note that except for the first two designs below ("Lovers" and "Rose Bouquet") which are both available in a pair I have only 1 of each of the others and it will be some time before there will be any more.  

Please email me (normabennett@hotmail.com) if you have any questions or to discuss a purchase. 

Sydney Minis Fair is over and I'm still alive ...

... but only just I think - it was fun though and well worth the effort.  I got very little time to look around so the plan to have some photos of interesting exhibits didn't work out, all I've got to share is one very quick shot of my own table (the only photo I took all day!).  I promise to be better organised next time! 

Oh yes, the kitchens! Well the report on those is that I did sell one, to a good friend who wasn't actually looking for a kitchen sink but just had to take one home and now will have to build a kitchen for it, bless her. The others, and various remaining armoire, sofas, chairs, etc will be available to purchase online shortly.  In the meantime feel free to email me if you have any questions. 

Sometimes just one kitchen sink isn't enough, but I didn't plan on five!

SOLD

SOLD

I was pleased to find ready-made kitchen benches that are almost exactly the same as the one I designed and made for my French kitchen so I thought I'd refinish and accessorize two for the Sydney miniatures fair. However, the first package from my supplier went missing in the mail, as did the second, so a third was sent and then all three turned up so I suddenly had six! I've kept one aside for a French cottage kitchen project I'm planning for myself but these will all be for sale. 

I don't expect to sell all of them at the fair, a kitchen bench is not the kind of thing you buy unless you're really in need of one, so I expect there will be some available here from next week if any of you have an interest. (Email me: normabennett@hotmail.com )

(Handwoven mats are by Glenda Howell; jams by Nina Eary; crockery decoration, tea towels and little tray of muffins by me).

A little bed goes to upstate New York!

This is a secret project I've been working on, a gift for my blog buddy Claudia (Mockingbird Hill Cottage) who lives in upstate New York (ok, technically that's not absolutely correct since she lives not all that far from NYC, but it's got a nice ring to it don't you think?). She has the cutest cottage style dollhouse but has been in need of a bed for a long time and I had a bed frame that I wasn't using so I couldn't resist making a dressed bed for her almost empty bedroom.  

The frame was originally shiny black but has been spray painted matte off white, not by me but by my son who is a dab hand at spray painting base coats for his hand-painted Warhammer models. Dollhouse meets Warhammer, who would have thought??!

Claudia chose pink toile for the main fabric and likes a simple 'tidy' look to her bed. I'm a bit more of a 'messy' bed kind of girl so it was a personal challenge to be so neat! I was hoping that the exercise might rub off in real life but one look in my bedroom will confirm that hasn't happened unfortunately.

I'm still frantically painting and upholstering in preparation for the fair in 3 weeks time.  Many thanks for your nice comments about my efforts so far, and for your good advice, all greatly appreciated.

Photo credit: Claudia Hill

Up to my ears in paint and fabric!

These are a few of the pieces I'll have for sale at the Sydney minis fair that's coming up soon - a bit too soon for comfort really because I still have LOTS more to do.

I'm sharing a table with Margaret (My Petite Parterre) - we're looking forward to seeing some of you there - please stop by and say hello! 

Those of you who live far away don't have to miss out completely - after the fair I'll be offering a few pieces for sale on a sales page I'll set up on my blog so keep an eye out for that.

This fair is a first for me - those of you who have done fairs before will no doubt have learned a few things - I'd really appreciate any tips/advice you'd be prepared to share. 

OK, I'd better get back to work!