Does anyone have a dolls house? As a hobby?

[ChocChipOwl]

I'm considering it and wanted to know if there were any enthusiasts out there

I have a lovely set of apothecary drawers on my now spare room and keep envisaging a genuine Edwardian or Victorian dolls house sat on it and then spending time sourcing period bits and pieces for it

Anyway, that's the current day dream and I wondered if anyone had a similar interest?

No but I love this idea!

No, but like you I have always wanted an Edwardian one, ever since I was a child.

No but I really want one

@UsuallySuze I know right? I've even spotted a Victorian mini metal bird cage. To go in my imaginary Victorian dolls house.

God you could even try and get original fabrics and carpet off cuts etc

I'm not at all handy btw

@PlaitBilledDuckyPuss has to be antique I think for sure! Victorian or Edwardian would be perfect.

Edwardian for me then you can legitimately have electric lights.

Yes! I love mine.

I've been collecting miniatures since 1996 and upgraded to a nine bedroom house (attic as well) some years ago.

Yes!
I bought a Triang dolls house from the 1950's, it's 1/18 scale rather than 1/12. It is tatty and unloved and cost a tenner from the local hospice shop. It has original windows, curtains, doors, wall and floor coverings. It gives me hours of joy, sourcing and/or making furnishings for it.

Make sure you know the scale of the dolls house you buy so you buy or make accessories the right size.

Ooh yes. Of course. And this is why I'd be useless at it as I'd end up mixing my periods probably!

Just keep thinking about how nice it would look and it's a little hobby that you can do at your own pace

@PollyAmour hmm now I understand scale but how would you know? By measuring your house?

The house I haven't yet got! I'm keeping my eye out for a bargain and I don't want to pay more than £100

Are you on Instagram? Have a look at marcialoisriddington. Her posts are mainly about the interesting, eccentric clothes she makes but she owns an antique shop and collects dolls' houses. I would love a dolls' house too but I don't know where I would put it. My Dad made my sister and I a 1960s modernist dolls' house and I hung on to it for years but I think it must have got lost in a house move.

My school friend's dad used to make them for a living. On play dates we were allowed to look but not play with them in his workshop. They were amazing.

@Battygirll 9 bedrooms! This is a mansion! Was it expensive?

No but I follow lots of miniature accounts on tiktok and instagram. They do dollshouses, scenes from movies/books etc or build ones from a box set. Looks relaxing and fiddly - perfect to zone out doing.

@CaptainMyCaptain I am indeed and will give that account a follow for some ideas.

I want to take time getting the right house so doing all the research I can . Starting with this thread

In theory you can furnish it with any period that's gone before, or a mix of periods; it depends whether you want it to typify one single period or to include a range of things you like - as you might nowadays have some Victorian/early 20th Century pieces in your 2022 home if you like antiques.

You could start by getting the plasticky sylvanian family type doll's houses from charity shops and giving them a makeover - wallpaper, carpet squares, paint the walls/outside, etc! Hot glue some flowers. Have a look on pinterest!

@PlaitBilledDuckyPuss that's very true. So an Edwardian home would likely to have Victorian items in it

@Keroppi now I considered that. And I also considered 50s/60s houses as there's lots of them about.

But I think my heart lies with Victorian or Edwardian.

I mean, I'd love even earlier but don't think they exist really or if they do, they'd be really tatty

Yes, absolutely - even today, unless you regularly replace all your furniture, you'll likely have things spanning a few decades in your house - in the days when furniture was properly made to last and there wasn't the throw-away culture there is now, that would have been even more common.

Auctions would be a good place to look.

Itssimplylou is another lovely dolls house page on Instagram, which might give you ideas

Yes, measure the house. When you've found the house of your dreams, get out the tape measure. Most dolls houses are 1/12, where one inch = 1 foot. It's when you get non standard sizes that the problems begin. I assumed mine was 1/12 until I carefully crafted a fireplace and found it dwarfed the room.

It's a brilliant and absorbing hobby though, and I am constantly looking for bits and bobs that I can turn into furnishings and decor.

My aunt (70s) still has the dolls house handed down to her as a child. She loves "playing" with it, redecorating it, sourcing new things for it.

I haven't had a dolls house since I was a kid, but I would love a 50s/60s style dolls house with little midcentury furniture!