I’m super excited to start 2015 with a new “mini-series” — literally. Over the course of the next few months, I’ll be documenting the process of building, decorating and furnishing a 1:12 scale, split level, wooden dollhouse — made from an original 1955 Betsy McCall Do-It-Yourself Dollhouse pattern. Is anyone else as pumped as I am about this? I love my job!
Before we get into the details about the build, let me explain (a) why I am so excited and (b) what made me want to build a dollhouse in the first place. Let’s take a flash back to the early 1980s when I was a kid. My Dad has always been handy — a skill he began sharing with me at an early age — (above) just look at 18-month-old Kate wielding that hammer –watch out world! He had this great idea to make me a little playhouse using some leftover siding and supplies from the 1980 ranch house that he and my Mom built just before I was born. Needless to say, I loved the idea.
By Christmas, the playhouse was complete, and Dad set it up in our basement so I could play in it all winter before moving it out into the back yard in the spring. I absolutely loved that house, and spent many hours of my childhood hanging out in there hosting pretend tea parties and playing peek-a-boo through the shutters at my Mom. Thus began my love of miniature houses.
Fast forward a few more years, and yet another tiny house –built by my Dad — found its way under the Christmas tree. To say I was thrilled is an understatement.
Dad designed and built the dollhouse himself out of 1/2-inch thick plywood. It was furnished with all of my Mom’s childhood doll furniture and various tiny decor items she had collected for me to play with. Mom even sewed me some tiny curtains for the windows. I spent so many hours rearranging furniture, dreaming up imaginative story lines about the Barbie family that lived in the house, and loved every minute of it.
My obsession with miniature houses continued into adulthood, when I found a way to incorporate tiny houses and furniture into my “grown up” decor by building midcentury house shelves for my living room wall to display my miniature chair collection.
And of course you are all familiar with the midcentury Christmas Putz houses that I’ve been making for the last three years here on Retro Renovation — yet another manifestation of my miniature house infatuation.
DIY Betsy McCall dollhouse seems to have had a few versions
So then, it should come as no surprise that I became obsessed with the midcentury split level dollhouse I spotted in the bedroom of a stunning 1960 Toronto time capsule home we featured late last year. The moment I saw that dollhouse, I knew I had to build one. Thanks to a few of Retro Renovation’s readers, Pam and I learned that the time capsule dollhouse was likely made from a 1950s Besty McCall dollhouse pattern. The dollhouse in the photo above (from the Toronto time capsule) is slightly different than the pattern we found. Are there any dollhouse experts out there who know the model year of this groovy-yet-scary-staired version above?
Mere minutes after discovering the existence of the pattern, Pam went into search-and-acquire mode and spotted an original pattern on Etsy. To my delight, she bought it and had it sent to me with the promise that I would build the house and chronicle it on the blog — a task this handy, mini-house loving gal was more than happy to take on. Yes, it is now “my job” to build this dollhouse, documenting the process all along the way.
Making a dollhouse on a budget
Before I began, Pam gave me a few guidelines for building, decorating and furnishing the dollhouse:
- No using any ready-made, new dollhouse parts or furniture in the construction and decoration of the dollhouse — meaning I cannot buy roofing shingles, siding, flooring, etc. that is specified for use in a dollhouse. All such things must be made from materials I can find at the home improvement or craft store.
- All furniture must either be vintage or homemade.
- I have a $100 budget to furnish the house — a real challenge if you know the price of vintage doll house furniture these days.
- Pam sent me a few boxes of goodies from her hoard to help with covering floors and walls.
These rules ensure that I’ll have to be creative and also keep the project true to its humble, homemade retro roots, by repurposing items and using scraps that are already around the house with the goal of spending very little extra money to get the job done. Sounds like a fun challenge to me.
Tracey C says
Kate….you must find a baby Kate doll in blue coveralls and a white shirt to occupy the house! Baby Kate is soooo adorable.
Liddle Kiddles come to mind when I see your sweet picture:). I used to try to make furniture for my Liddle Kiddle Dolls from product packaging….like the long box the Prell Shampoo (in a tube) came in made a great daybed…sort of pop-art for back then. Looking forward to the mini-ness of it all!
Lynne says
Go down the scrapbook isle at the Michaels ot Hobby Lobby. Those big square sheets of paper will make for great wallpaper. You’ll just have to be mindful of scale.
Margie says
I remember looking at McCalls magazine as a child and there were pictures advertising this doll house and possibly an article describing how to make your own furniture from common items. (Pattern for house was available for many years but first came out in 1955.) For instance a chandelier was made with a ping pong ball. I would love to find these old articles if anyone has any ideas about which years(?1955) and months the articles were in. Another doll house I have(hand-made) used towels and wash cloths for carpet.
Steve H says
This is going to be a really fun project to follow. I love the vintage metal Marx dollhouses from the 50’s and 60’s. I own a Marx split level. Actually a lot of the vintage plastic Marx furniture can be aquired fairly cheaply, especially the more common pieces.
Kate says
I’ve noticed that Steve, though the Marx furniture seems to be a smaller scale than this house, which is 1:12. I’ve been having trouble finding vintage 1:12 furniture, it seems like it was less common than the 1:16 size…
Steve H says
Yes, most Marx furniture was half scale (half the size of 1/12 scale). They did make some furniture that was 3/4 scale, which was aprox. halfway in between half scale and 1/12. Some of those pieces might work.
Steve H says
Actually Kate, you’re so crafty I think you could make all the furniture from scratch and do an amazing job!
Kate says
I did buy some craft wood and dowel rods… 😉
Theresa says
Another link http://call-small.blogspot.com/2011/07/betsy-mccall-house.html
Theresa says
I like the idea of the the RR community pitching in to help furnish the house – kind of like a virtual housewarming party!
Here is some info on similar houses: http://modernminihouses.blogspot.com/2010/04/melissa-johnson-split-level-dollhouse.html
Tasha says
How fun, what a neat project! And the photos of baby Kate are so adorable, what a lucky girl you were. Because I love tiny things too I think I’m most interested to see how the furnishing goes!
Rhonda says
I received a balsa wood? doll house for Christmas in the late 70’s early 80’s that my grandfather put together. He was able to get old wallpaper books that were being thrown out & wall papered the walls. He used the extra fabric from having their furniture being reupholstered for the carpets. He put so much love into it. I love that I still have it along with the memories of grandma & grandpa’s house!
Kate says
Awww what a great story — thanks so much for sharing your memories!
Lynne says
Forgot to add in my previous post…sandpaper makes great roof shingles! You can get different grits and different colors. Cuts easily with scissors, glues down quickly,pretty much in 1-12 scale, and its inexpensive!
pam kueber says
Sandpaper for roof shingles, Katiedoodle!!!!!
Kate says
Sandpaper for roof shingles is actually what the instructions suggest…I thought about it, but think it might be a little hard to dust… 😉
pam kueber says
Makes sense… And especially after I tortured you over the siding (stay tuned, readers…)
Lynne says
Run the brush attachment from your vacuum over it. Just like you do on lampshades and furniture. A stiff paintbrush works too.
Lynne says
So Dollhouse are making a comeback? Back in the 80’s this was THE thing. I worked for a couple years at a dollhouse store, and belonged to a miniatures/dollhouse club ironically called PAMS (Peoria Area Miniature Society). I have made several houses from kits and several “room boxes”. For years we had annual shows!
If you need some help and inspiration, there were a couple of dollhouse publications that I’m sure you could find on Ebay or Etsy. One was Nutshell News, and the other Miniature Collector.
I still have two of my favorite room boxes carefully stored in the basement. Our houses even had little lights back then! The last time I was in Frankenmuth, MI, there was still one surviving dollhouse shop. I’ll try and think of the name and post it later.
Nina462 says
There is a miniature doll house museum in Kalamazoo, MI. It’s next to the Gilmore Red Barns …..which is full of vintage automobiles. Anyone looking for a summer road trip – this is a great day trip.
In fact, I’ve signed up for driving lessons this summer – to learn how to drive a Model A.
Diane in CO says
Are we talking out Hickory Corners way? My late mom lived at Gull Lake in later years and as much as I’ve banged around that area (grew up in Kazoo) I never knew there was a dollhouse museum — this is so interesting! My bro and his family live in Augusta so next time I’m back there I’ll have to do a field trip! Who knew?
How fun to drive a Model A! Good for you. Gosh, I love the countryside in that part of MI!
nina462 says
Yes, Hickory Corners. It’s a little white 2 story house, just as you enter the Gilmore Car museum. They do have a sign…but if you miss it, just ask at the car museum.