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.
Penny Trindle says
This is a great idea for a retro diy project and series.As Im sure many of your readers like I there is a fond remembering of such doll houses in our own childhood growing years. Not only did I have such doll houses to play with I had a Great Aunt Dot Who Made Her Own And Not Only That But Carved Her Own Minniatures As well Such As Furniture, People, Accessories , Decor , And Other Such Accents to A Life Like End Game. They were so real and authentic in look and feel as well as expertly crafted to meet every detail of the miniature that her work was well known in the community of minniature artists and even won a few awrds for her crafting of doll house niniatures. I never inherited such talent or the fine dexterity of my fingers and touch to be able to follow in my great aunts footsteps but my love for miniature dollhouses ,towns and miniatures have never ceased and remain within my heart even today as a retro mom and grandma.Cant Wait To Follow Along Step By Step Here And itll Be Great Fun As Well.Thanks
Penny T.
Pasadena Ca
Anna says
OMG, I will be watching every step of construction and decorating with baited breath!
I’m on my second scratch-built dollhouse – it’s based on a 1920s workman’s cottage, but I’ve given it some midcentury touches (there are work-in-progress pictures on my blog).
Kate, you will probably have to make a lot of things yourself to come in on budget (reupholstering/repainting cheap dollhouse furniture is also an option). Here are my tips:
*Sign up for the mailing list at miniatures.com – they send out coupons periodically, and if you’re patient, it’ll pay off (I saved 40% on my 1950s kitchen set this way – they also sell a resin “basic bathroom” set that looks a lot like the fixtures from my old 1950s apartment).
*Check Craigslist. It’s useless for miniatures where I live, but one dollhouse blogger, Otterine, lives in the Chicago area and has had pretty good luck.
*You can get a MUCH nicer finish on interior walls if you work on them as flat boards and then fix them into place instead of trying to apply paint and wallpaper directly to raw plywood. I use mat board, but thick cardstock is okay (and cheaper). For the neatest possible finish, where there is an open wall, wrap the paper around the cardstock. It’ll help prevent peeling over the years.
*I asked another blogger to share how she makes sofas – you can adapt her technique to make a midcentury style (I copied my real-life sofa using this post): http://josje-bouwt.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-did-you-do-that.html
*If you have Microsoft Word and access to a good printer, you can scale down and print out your own artwork (matchstick frames are easy to make). Otterine’s tutorial is for magazines and requires a scanner, but I’ve used this technique to make art, food labels, books, vinyl record labels, etc.: http://www.otterine.com/blog/blog1.php/mini-magazines
*If you are making your own windows, floors, etc., you must read this blog: http://tinydistinction.blogspot.com – the blogger, Emily, makes a LOT of her own architectural details, and although her houses range from Gustavian to Arts and Crafts, they may give you some ideas on technique.
*Be sure to apply clear, non-yellowing sealer to your wallpaper, artwork, and paint so it won’t fade!
*You will LOVE http://call-small.blogspot.com/ and http://minimodpod.blogspot.com/. Lots of great ideas – like making a platform bed out of a clearance soap dish!
KennyT123 says
I’d hit the recycle bin and make your own furniture out of cardboard cereal boxes. You can do a lot of MCM designed furniture with some scissors and spray it with clear varnish to give it strength. Brown cardboard makes wonderful walnut MCM dollhouse furniture.
Donal says
My passion ! oh my! I am a miniature Nut! I’ve been into dollhouses since forever. I think it all started with my moms love of dolls, my first Barbie and love of decorating. Ask me for tips on anything mini from furniture patterns to tools to food . I would use 3/8 thick wood for your house wood, floors & wallpaper-check out all the paper used by scrap bookers, save all tho’s little plastic cream cups for lamp shades and its amazing what old jewelry can become. I would like to share, and help out in anyway and will look over my nutshell news issues from way back for some decor in 50 and 60s designs. oh this is Exciting!!
David C says
This is going to be an exciting adventure to watch. I am anxious to see the family car of the lucky Mr. and Mrs. Doll who move into the newly completed house.
Lynda says
Hi Kate, you inspired me to try and find a dollhouse pattern like yours. I found one, and am waiting for it to arrive in the mail. So ,I will be trying to build one along with you. I can’t wait to get ideas, and tips from you. Thanks again for your ( and pams ) awesome site!
pam kueber says
Woot! I might have to make one, too!
Lynne May says
I love Betsy McCall items. I still have my full size doll from the 50’s. This is a blast from my past!
Beth says
I have several houses (a bomb shelter, my favorite… the Imagination house and I just got a left off ranch – all Marx to just name a few!) – iF you can find or you can make them too – I had extra picture frames that are part of the Imagination house. You can copy images and literally paste onto the frame. I made the Imagination house reflect our pictures, The Green Lady was one of them.
Also if you need a clock, one is easy to make using pins with colored ends and modeling clay – for the “Nelson Ball” effect. Corks (size that go into S &P shakers are great for a cork lamp…..just a few suggestions!
Happy making!
Donna Vaughn says
I might have a few vintage pieces I can donate from the correct era. Also..cut up sandpaper makes great roofing shingles, vintage contact paper covered in varnish makes nice counter or flooring. I am a miniaturist so, if you get stuck for cheap ideas..let me know.
Regards, Donna in Boise,ID.
marguerite says
Wow, This is the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Just last week while in an antique shop, I spotted a metal doll house similar to the one I had circa 1950s. Needless to say I shrieked with joy at seeing it. I also had a Betsy McCall doll, so I will await your final project with baited breath!