The Victorian House Renovation

Slowly but surely the work has continued but since the summer arrived I managed to get the house outside and do the really messy sanding job. I removed all the lumps and slurries of dried plaster that were spoiling the outside walls. It is now smooth and ready for the new paint. I plan to add sand for some texture.

 The paving slabs have been removed but I shall keep the grey tiles on the roof.

The shop windows were held in with two screws so I removed them and was able to disconnect the roller blinds and will be able to put in new ones when I've made them.

My dilemma is whether to decorate the outside first or the inside. 

Any suggestions?

I hope you're having a sunny weekend,

Modernisation for the Victorian House

After two years of deliberation I have made the decision to modernise my Victorian dollshouse.
There are two voices to be heard here, 'No don't do it!!' and 'Why not, it isn't genuine Victorian'.
It is a sad thought that 25 years of work and love are to be destroyed but I wasn't enjoying it as much as I did. It is dull to look at, has very dark rooms, the furniture is dark and drab and the rooms too small, especially the kitchen.
My real life changes meant I had to part with several dollshouses so finding space for a new one isn't an option, so I'm sticking with this well made, strong George Parker house and revamping.

I'd never been happy with the shop because it was too dark to see into and the kitchen so small it was impossible to make it look interesting.
I began ripping off wallpaper and realised how dirty and stained it had become, just like the real thing. I started pulling down the decorative ceiling and they practically fell down. Ten years in the hot climate of Spain had dried up the glues. Most of the glass fibre parquet floors pulled up easily. Now that the walls and floors are uncovered you can see the copper tape wiring exposed. I hope it still works, I haven't plugged in the lights for a few years but now I have access to it all and can rewire where necessary and add or change light positions.

Many of the interior walls felt loose due to the drying out of glue and with a bit of wiggling and then brute force I was able to get most of the interior walls out.

Now that I've started I've got to keep going with the knowledge that I can make it look beautiful again.
This was my first house and was Victorian because that was the style that was largely available in 1990. The inexpensive, imported furniture was all dark wood and perfectly suited but in my heart I wanted modern and started making modern miniatures. I began filling room boxes and selling my modern miniatures at Dolly's Daydreams fairs whilst continuing to buy Victorian for my house. The response to the modern was amazing, I had duvets and carpets, cushions and decorations in styles from the 50s, 60's and 70's and 80s as well as current styles. The feedback from customers was encouraging as I realised many collectors were stuck in the past with Victorian, Georgian and Tudor. Naturally I had to have a modern house as I was making so much and had become really keen to keep a record of current styles and not just replicate history. I ended up with eight dollshouses, one a 1960s beach house which I still have but I have parted with all the others.
I was never brave enough before to change the Victorian house but now my space is limited I feel justified in doing it.
Watch this space, it can only get better!

 

Open House - Victorian

Happy weekend! It seems most places, in Europe at least, are enjoying summer weather. Doesn't it just raise your spirits, lighten your mood and provide perfect light for making miniatures? My husband has even been in the pool today!

A huge welcome to all my new followers, my blog now has 300 followers! Thank you, every single one for popping in regularly and keeping up with what I'm doing in this wonderful world of miniatures.

Like a lot of collectors in the past I started with a Victorian house. It's sadly neglected, partly due to it being 'finished' and partly because about 15 years ago my interests turned to more modern styles.
I thought I'd open the doors and let in some visitors!

In the kitchen is a chair I bought from Colin Bird, a very fine maker of furniture, during his first fair at London Kensington.

The Bathroom

The floors in the bathroom and kitchen are just paper which I covered with a sheet of clear, sticky backed plastic protects the paper and makes it look like lino or tiles. It's also easier to dust or wipe over with a damp cloth. The rug I stitched one holiday in Tenerife.

In just over a week I'll be welcoming my newest grandson, little Henry to my home for the first time. It's not a big deal for Henry but I imagine his Mum and Dad will be a little stressed travelling for the first time with their son and all the luggage the smallest in the family needs.

I shall spend precious time with my family and put away my miniature making for a while............
Well, maybe I'll have a little sewing to pick up when I'm not cuddling Henry!

Enjoy the sunshine and have a good weekend,

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!