The Amberwood - Part Five

Thank you to everyone for your kind comments and ideas.
I realized that it was the acid-yellow paint and the black that I really disliked.
I painted over it all with a cream color and a brown antique wash.

I like it a lot better than before but it is not quite aged the way I want.

I need to add some more subtle colors and build the layers slowly.

I want to put this project on hold so I put a bunch of windows and doors to see what it would look like. (I know the windows are wrong for this type of house so I need to get some different ones.)

When I put the house back in the foyer, I noticed that the lovely bay window was hidden in the corner. I tried turning the table sideways, and although it does clear the front door it looks really odd in this location.

 Looks like this will be the first house going down to Willow Ridge.
This house will be continued at a later date.
Cheerio,
Sam

How To Ruin A Dollhouse -The Amberwood Saga - Part Four

But before I tell you about this tale of woe, I have to let you know what is going on with Kinsey's house.
Harley said that it would take a few weeks or even months to see any changes, so we just have to wait patiently and see what happens.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Amberwood. I thought a little bit of aging would make this house look good.
And, guess what - I made a rather big mess.
I was happily listening to some music and painting a color wash all over the exterior when. . . . one of my kids walked in to my office.
"Why are you covering your house in baby poop?" they exclaimed.
Suddenly the music came to a screeching halt and I stepped back.
What was I doing???

When my building inspector gave me THAT look. I knew it was NOT good.

I even tried to age the roof by painting it grey and then black.

I have realized something........
Subtlety is not my forte.

(But I do like the way the paint is getting into the crevices.)

I thought that a black antique wash over everything would improve the situation.
But it did not.
It made it all dark and murky - like a haunted house!

This was NOT the look I was going for, so I will go back to the drawing board.
Anyway, as my Mum always says, it is important to keep experimenting with your art in order to learn new things even if you destroy it in the process.

Cheerio,
Sam

The Amberwood - Part Three

I finished shingling the roof, added railings to the balcony, and applied stucco to the exterior walls. I undercoated the whole structure, and now it is ready for some paint.



Cheerio,
Sam

The Amberwood - Part Two

I found the perfect location for this house - in the entryway behind the front door.
(Yes, I know the Christmas green wall color is hideous. I got an estimate to have it painted, but because it is a two story foyer, it would cost around eight hundred dollars. Needles to say, I have learned to like the color!)

I undercoated the whole dollhouse and plan on using the Victorian windows.
I am going to stucco the exterior and I have added various trim for visual interest.


Cheerio,
Sam

The Amberwood Dollhouse - Part One

I saw a "homemade" dollhouse on Craigslist for $50 and I could not resist it.

It is SOLID wood and weighs MORE than a ton. Seriously!!! This has to be the heaviest house I have ever encountered.

After doing a little research, I found out that this house is called The Amberwood, by Jacqueline Kerr Deiber.


There are a lot of rooms but they are on the smaller side.


I could see inside the front dormer windows that there was a room in the attic but there was no way to access it. I grabbed my Stanley knife and cut through the shingles. I then had to pry the front panel open as it had been nailed closed and shingled over. What a waste of perfectly good rooms!!!!! There were hinges, so it was supposed to open.

Anyway, this should be fun to renovate.
Cheerio,
Sam