Thursday, August 18, 2011

My Victorian House

I feel more than a little guilty about my Victorian house. I've had it for 21 years, the first of my collection but it has become neglected as I 've spent time on newer, more colourful projects.

Having decorated and filled it in the Victorian style it holds less interest than other lighter and modern styles. It feels gloomy inside, difficult to see things and rather depressing.
Yesterday the bathroom painting fell from the wall, the 20 year old pieces of Blue-Tak finally dried out and gave up their hold showing the discolouring to the wallpaper from the years - just as real life, I guess.
The Victorian house holds two of my favourite miniatures. My most treasured is the gate legged table with candy twist legs that my father made me in the early eighties. When he was very ill he made it on a tray on his lap and died shortly after he'd given it to me.
The other is a smoker's bow chair made by Colin Bird which I bought from him at his first London Kensington fair. It was the most expensive single item I'd bought but as the chair was a replica of one my grandfather sat in I just had to have it. Colin's furniture is exquisite and worth every penny.

The ground floor of the house has been a shop with toys and children's clothes but I've never been satisfied with the look of it. Too much wood panelling and wooden floors - too dull and uninteresting.

I'd removed everything from the shop this week, not knowing quite what to do with it when Oly came to visit and she came up with one of her brilliant ideas! I'll let you know more as it happens!




16 comments:

  1. I think your victorian shop/house is lovely, I built and decorated a mimmosa dollhouse kit back in 2008 which was supposed to be victorian but i decided wasnt dark and dingey enough inside or out but it was a significant time in my life and now i cant bring myself to change it so im going to have to get used to the lighter side of victorian hahaha...But i really love yours i love your chair and table too very special items no doubt i love your carpet too did you make that yourself?
    hugs

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Rachel, yes, I made the 'bunca' rug. Usually I stitch them. I've noticed the lovely stitched rugs on your blog! Gill x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Gill. I havent mastered making bunka rugs i have lots of bunka but i just cant get them right i think i need to practice more. Did you use a pattern or make it up yourself??

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hay veces que lo victoriano nos cansa y necesitamos un cambio, pero no se puede negar que siempre serán un clásico en las casitas de muñecas.
    La tuya es preciosa.
    Besos, Narán

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love it!! Specially the front of the dollhouse, is so real work!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rachel, this was the first bunka rug I made and it was from a pattern. You can use any pattern print of a carpet. Do you cut the pieces up really small? It works best.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ¿Es tan necesaria una reforma?. Tienes una casita preciosa y con unos muebles muy bonitos. Un saludo, Eva

    ReplyDelete
  8. A beautiful house and lovely interiors. I really like the hand basin in the bathroom. How wonderful to have two special pieces that hold such special memories for you too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tu casa es preciosa!!! y tienes unos detalles muy bonitos, ya nos iras enseñando los nuevos avances.Besos.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think your house looks nice. I really like the shelf your father made you. It's such a special addition. =)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Molto belli i particolari dell'esterno casa e dell'arredamento! Il tavolo che ha realizzato tuo padre è davvero molto elegante.
    Ti seguirò con interesse per vedere come allestirai il negozio.
    kisses from Italy

    ReplyDelete
  12. I realy like your house, it is beautiful, like the chape and that shop that goes arond the corner. I'm curious what you are going to do with it.........
    May I guess? a fabrics or quilt shop??
    * marlies

    ReplyDelete
  13. Marlies, I have collected and made so many ladies things, some modern, some old. I am going to put all the old style things into this shop and try to brighten it with pretty things and lighter coloured counters instead of the dark brown. All my toys will move into the Christmas House, which I also have to finish....... Gill x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ooh, beautiful idea, I look forward to see how it is going to be!
    * marlies

    ReplyDelete