DOLLS HOUSE

[Spring]

Does anyone know where I can buy a reasonably priced 'traditional' style dolls house? I've only seen one or two firms advertise them and they were over £250 - handcrafted.

I want to buy one for my dd's 2nd birthday but don't want one that is plastic and that she'll quickly grow out of. I quite like the idea that she could keep it, I know I was absolutely fascinated with them when I was a child but never had one.

You could try the Dolls House Emporium.co.uk I think it is. They have a lovely catalogue and even if the houses are too expensive they have some wonderful accessories which are very reasonable. Look in your local paper, or Loot for one. My MIL got someone to make ours. Don't ELC do a wooden one now? Good Luck.

I bought a really a really lovely one from the Great Little Trading company, it looks traditional, like a victorian style house, three floors including an attic. The doors and windows open etc. and it is ready decorated, but is sturdy enough for 2-3 years upwards. They do a good range of furniture and people to go with it. The house itself cost about £79 I think. Its lovely to look at and easy to assemble, the front comes off completely and can be left off if need be. You can go to GLTC from a link on Mumsnet and get 10% discount. They do a fantastic range of products, well worth getting a catalogue, the service is great and goods arrive very quickly.

Don't know where you live Spring. If it happens to be South London, there's a toy shop in Dulwich that sells Dolls Houses and accesseries. I think they have some more basic dolls houses - i.e. not the most expensive sort (but better than plastic). They have display cases full of all the furniture and bits & bobs (which my daughter loves looking at). They're probably not suitable for a 2 year old though.

Ikea do one, I think. I'm sure I've seen one on a recent visit, though it was being used in a display. Best check before you brave the excursion.

The one I saw was not what you'd call roses-round-the-door olde worlde traditional of course, it was mostly made of wood and MDF and but it looked big and strong enough to cope with the little prying fingers of a 2-year old and it was probably well under £250.

You could always customise it a little with paint and fabric etc. (antique gold paint details- very traditional). That's part of the fun. And buy more 'traditional' bits and pieces for the rooms. Let it grow with your daughter.

Ohhh I could go on all day! I was a dolls-house fanatic and adopted all my friends dolls houses as they grew out of them. Wrote my dolls stamp sized books for their library. The fun I had.
Can I come and play, too?

Back to reality. Work.

Bodo Hennig www.bodo-hennig.com make very nice dolls houses, all made from wood. If you contact them they will send a brochure and the places nearest you to buy from. We bought our 2 year old daugher one for Christmas and she loves it. If you look on their site it shows the styles, but not prices. But as guide line we have the 8 room, orange roof house which we paid 439CHF for which is about £180. EArly learning centre sell very nice wooden furniture sets for different rooms and wooden dolls. Again the pricing was about £10 for the bedroom set which was a bed, wardrobe, light, dressing table and stool and bed clothing. I managed to co-ordinate christmas gifts so that she recieved several differnt room sets at christmas as well so she would at least have something to play with in the house. Hope you find something you like and you all enjoy playing with it.

The early Learning centre do a very reasonable, wooden "chunky" style dolls house which I imagine is much like the Ikea one. My daughters were bought one from the Dolls' House Emporium. I think it was probably about £100 but then I suspect my mum also spent a fortune on furniture! I'd recommend getting a decent house and cheaper furniture to begin with whilst she's so young. My little one broke several pieces of the nicer quality stuff. However, my mum considers that all of the money was really well spent as the girls must have played with it every day for the past two years - and the house itself is still in excellent condition!

Thanks everyone for your responses, I'll check out all that you have recommended. I have about 7 weeks before her birthday so if you see any on your travels/whilst shopping let me know..........
Jw - I'm in Nottingham, there are a lot of Mum's on here South and South East London aren't there??

Spring, I see you live in Nottingham, but you might want to know that I've just read in Time Out that the London Dolls House Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday (12th and 13th May) at Kensington Town Hall. Tel 0208 948 1893. Over 100 craftsmen selling tiny artifacts and a display of dolls houses.

Brilliant, thanks Suew, I can pop in at lunchtime as I actually work next to J24 of M1, I think it's College Street I usually park in when I go to LE!!!! I had visions of you packing up your Thomsons Directory.

Also thanks Tigermoth, if we weren't already doing things this weekend it would be nice to have a day out in London.............

Doll's cots - can anyone help? I have been looking for a wooden or otherwise cot for my three year old daughter to put her dolls in but cannot find one anywhere. I remember having a cot when I was about three. It was like a moses basket on legs and had a hood. It was gorgeous and my mother made the mattress and blankets, etc.
The only one I have seen is from IKEA but the child has to bend down on the floor to put the baby to bed - adults don't do that so why should a child.

I use two mail order companies regularly they are: Dawson & Son (www.dawson-and-son.com) all wooden toys and games. They have two in their catalogue, a wooden rocking cradle for £39.99 and wooden bunk beds £49.99). The other company I use is The Hill Toy Company (www.hilltoy.co.uk) they have beautiful wicker moses basket and a tremendous dolls wicker pram.

Hope you find these useful.

Mima - Many thanks for those addresses. I will go in now and look.

Do you only post recommendations for that website, anythingoes?