Dollhouse Renovation Day 5 - Painting and Repairs

The painters arrived late this afternoon to paint the living room. Two rather scruffy little guys came with ladders and buckets of yellow paint. They threw some paint on the walls, primed the trim and then headed out.

Seems like they were in a big rush - something about a frogger band that was playing down the street? They said they would be back tomorrow to finish up. They were only here for about an hour. It got too dark for me to see if they did a good job.

Before they arrived I checked out the front door. I'm going to paint that. I don't trust just anyone to do that right. I tugged on the door, lifted it up and down a bit but it wouldn't budge. I want to take it down so I can properly sand and paint it. I don't want to break it either.

Since I couldn't figure out how to get the door off the frame, I searched for a tutorial and found this video. Isn't it wonderful that you can Google anything and find what you're looking for!



The batteries in my camera are too low for me to take any photos of the work in progress but I'll post some tomorrow. I really need to see this paint job in broad daylight anyway...

Sweet Dreams,
Kathi

Dollhouse Renovation - Day Two

I've been working on the roof of my dollhouse this afternoon. Why is it that I spend most of my mini-time waiting for glue to dry?!

Here's the before photo:


First, I primed over the red. Then I drew lines down the roof for my little sticks.

It was easy to figure out the scale because the RL metal roofing panels are 12" wide.

I can't believe what a difference a few sticks and some glue has made! From the side it really looks like a real metal roof! I'll paint it with the aluminum spray paint I got later.

I did all of this while it was pouring down rain outside! Couldn't do that on a real life house!

Hope you have a good evening and have a nice dry roof over your head!

Blessings, Kathi

Dollhouse Renovation - Day One!

I finally have something to show you!

I lugged my dollhouse outside this morning and started cleaning it up. There was carpet in three of the rooms and damaged wallpaper everywhere! I used a spray bottle with half fabric softener and half water to loosen the wallpaper. I soaked the nasty carpet too!



Then I scraped and scraped and pulled and pulled. I found my trusty 1 1/2 inch paint scraper to be very helpful. I also ruined my small Wilton icing spreader trying to loosen the wallpaper!

I had to use my fingernail or tweezers in the corners where I couldn't reach with the scraper. I also used a razor knife along the edges of the carpet. It came up in one piece in the living room! Not so easy everywhere else!





I was amazed at how long this took, but am pleased with the results! Down to bare plywood and ready for paint!

One of the rooms downstairs had glue-down wooden flooring that buckled and came loose with the water. I just took it out and it's sitting on wax paper under my heavy Home Depot 123 books. I don't know if it can be saved but I'll probably use it somewhere?

I sanded the exterior too. Several small trim parts came off but I've saved those too and will reinstall them later.



I need to sand the inside next so I can paint! I might add some wood to the ceiling in the attic bedroom? I got a practically free old bamboo blind at the Habitat Store! The bamboo slats are 3/8 inch wide. Might work, don't ya think?

I have some decisions to make now. What colors should I use? I could go with tradition and paint the house white? I love this one from Country Living!

Photo from Country Living

Or maybe I'll just go crazy and make it MINE!? I'm thinking I'll go with the latter! The more colorful, the happier I will be!


Stay tuned. There is so much more work to be done! Here's what the house looks like now!



I feel like I need to make a little bed to sleep in! I'm so tired!!

Blessings, Kathi