Retro Renovation putz house patterns — transformed to quarter-inch scale doll houses
Pam Kueber - Updated: October 29, 2020
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
The artist at home — hi, Kathryn!
Over the past several years, readers have made hundreds (thousands) of tiny cardboard putz houses aka glitter houses aka Christmas villages. Now, Kathryn has taken our putz houses to a whole new level — err, to a whole new size: quarter-inch scale dollhouses. She’s made an entire 1968 neighborhood of midcentury houses, complete with dolls and cars and just about every itsy bit you can imagine. So creative! Lets’ take a look >>
I have been using the patterns for your Putz houses and making them as quarter-inch scale doll houses. So far I have built 9 of them with the idea that I will create a neighborhood beneath one of the trees in my living room this year. They have interiors and lighting.
It all started with my husband suggesting that since I had retired, that it was time to start to build all the plastic kits I had been buying. I was going to have a downtown area with a train that ran around it.
In looking for things to fill the buildings, I discovered a whole online group of ladies who build in quarter scale. I thought that all doll houses were 1″ scale.
Above: This is the house that started it out. I found the plans online and it reminded me of the house that the parents of good friend in college once owned. It was in Lincoln City, Oregon in an area called Road’s End. Spent many a weekend and a summer there. Her parents were wonderful people. We used to joke that if you wanted privacy, better go to the bathroom as it was the only room with a door. It will part of the Christmas display.
When I found your website and blog, I was hooked on the mid century houses. My layout is set in October, 1968.
These are all built out of plastic. I take your (Kate’s) designs and enlarge them to scale and to allow for the scenes.
I have a whole binder with original plans, my adjusted ones and then pictures of the final product.
The furnishings are things I find on eBay, vendors in my online quarter scale doll house group or scratch-built to my designs.
Some things are also from Shapeways.
The scene in this house was from a workshop offered by Desert Minis. I had the mom and daughter already and it just seemed to fit. Mom has a big basket of apples and she is trying to make pies.
Daughter has all her books and paper dolls spread all over the living room but wants mom to stop and read her a story.
I love to research the houses and add little touches from homes I see locally.
The gable ends on the cape cod are from some homes close by.
The rick rack house has glass windows. That took some thought on how to pull it off. The flower planters along the carport are from a house I pass.
The free standing fireplace in the rick rack house and the beach house was made from bits and pieces of leftovers from my husband’s model train layout. No one makes one, and I really wanted one.
The ribbon icicle box was from a set of reproduction box tops by Tim Holtz. Recognize the house designs? They are about 1/4″ – 1/2: tall and wide. Made those last year.
Also from last year, remember the retro TV that WalMart offered in their Christmas decorations? They have it again this year. Great buy at $9.97. I removed everything but the lights and made a retro Christmas scene to go inside. Same scale as my houses.
This month, I am working on the outdoor Christmas displays for the neighborhood and midcentury mailboxes. The whole neighborhood is really going to get into their decorations.
Thanks for all the inspiration and ideas. Love it.
Kathryn
Oh my word: Email, I tell Kathryn this is all so amazing! She is SO creative. She responds very graciously, and explains, encouragingly:
Thanks for the compliments. I have only been building this stuff for the last couple of years. We won’t talk about my first experiences trying to build a building for DH’s train layout over 30 years ago. It was mostly glue and a little cardboard. DH had to rescue it. Mostly made quilts before but we can only use so many quilts.
Thank you, Kathryn, for sharing all these photos, and your ideas — putz houses bigger — and itsy bitsy in the diorama, too! This makes me so happy and I’m sure it will make Katiedoodle happy too! Send me photos when the Christmas lights are up!!!
In such a negative world, what a way to brighten our day!
Now, we all know none of this creative genius would be possible without 4-legged supervisors – whose nose is that?
Kathryn Asbahrsays
That nose belongs to our almost 14 year old basenji. He is my constant companion and he supervises all activities.
Nancysays
Love, love, love!
Katesays
These are fantastic Kathryn! I’m so impressed and I love that you made interiors for my designs as well! Seeing these made my day! I wish I could make some more houses but I’m up to my eyeballs in 2 year old temper tantrums and messes right now. Someday I’ll have the time and energy for this stuff again I hope!
Also, we spell our names the same! My full first name is also Kathryn! 🙂
Keep up the great work and I’ll be excited to see it all lit up for Christmas!
Retroskisays
These are so cool and creative! Such an eye to detail. And re Moms and kids, there is something heartwarming about the mom and daughter figurines because that is so true about Mom wanting to do something and the kiddo saying, “Mommy, read to me.”
Maybe Mom will take a break and read!
jcsays
The miniature houses are cool, but do you realize the meaning of the word “putz”? Personally, I wouldn’t use that word publicly.
Jaysays
Umm, “Putzes” originated in Europe and with the PA “Dutch” Germans who brought the tradition to this country. It’s what evolved into the modern train set and houses under the Christmas tree. The Japanese cardboard and cellophane houses were always called Putz Houses and are a big collectible.
Where does the term “Putz House” come from? Wiktionary says that it comes:
From Pennsylvania German putz; compare archaic German Putz (“ornament, decoration, finery”), putzen (“to clean; decorate”).
The story seems to be that, in Germany, families would create little holiday scenes — often nativity scenes — in their homes to celebrate Christmas. They would collect the bits and pieces for their tableaus for weeks… hence putzen=”decorate” became putzing=”taking your time to decorate” became putzen=”taking your grand ole time”. [ — Pam’s shorthand, hope I got this right.]
I am well aware there are other meanings. Whatever. I will continue using it to describe our little glitter houses.
Tarquinsays
I once lived in a neighborhood called Paradise Palms in Las Vegas. Houses there are very similar to these little house that Kathryn made. I am amazed by her talent. It’s hard enough making these in a one inch scale. I couldn’t imagine making a quarter inch. It’s so intricate, my fingers would probably reject the whole thing.
Wendy Krugersays
I loved that neighborhood when I lived there. 🙂 (I was about seven miles north. My neighborhood has changed so much since 1968-1972)
Melindasays
Wow! These are the best thing I’ve seen. I can’t imagine the time and care that went into making them. So many amazing tiny details. Thank you so much for sharing them with us!
Dansays
So completely charming and imaginative – I was put in mind of those wonderful winter scene Xmas displays once seen in dept store windows. Do hope we will have the pleasure of seeing your holiday display.
Christine Wsays
Oh my goodness – this is utterly fantastic Kathryn! I can’t begin to imagine how long it takes to make all those houses and prepare all the interiors. Such nice stories that you’ve made up to go with them too. I love the fireplaces that you made as well as the ideas you take from your neighbourhood.
Kathryn Wellersays
Absolutely amazing! To create one mini house, with all the fixings, is remarkable . . . but here we have an entire enchanting neighborhood. Yes, please, more pictures once the tiny town’s decorated for Christmas!
Paigesays
Blown Away!! Kathryn is so talented. Everything is so perfect. The best people follow and share on this blog.
Carolyn says
In such a negative world, what a way to brighten our day!
Now, we all know none of this creative genius would be possible without 4-legged supervisors – whose nose is that?
Kathryn Asbahr says
That nose belongs to our almost 14 year old basenji. He is my constant companion and he supervises all activities.
Nancy says
Love, love, love!
Kate says
These are fantastic Kathryn! I’m so impressed and I love that you made interiors for my designs as well! Seeing these made my day! I wish I could make some more houses but I’m up to my eyeballs in 2 year old temper tantrums and messes right now. Someday I’ll have the time and energy for this stuff again I hope!
Also, we spell our names the same! My full first name is also Kathryn! 🙂
Keep up the great work and I’ll be excited to see it all lit up for Christmas!
Retroski says
These are so cool and creative! Such an eye to detail. And re Moms and kids, there is something heartwarming about the mom and daughter figurines because that is so true about Mom wanting to do something and the kiddo saying, “Mommy, read to me.”
Maybe Mom will take a break and read!
jc says
The miniature houses are cool, but do you realize the meaning of the word “putz”? Personally, I wouldn’t use that word publicly.
Jay says
Umm, “Putzes” originated in Europe and with the PA “Dutch” Germans who brought the tradition to this country. It’s what evolved into the modern train set and houses under the Christmas tree. The Japanese cardboard and cellophane houses were always called Putz Houses and are a big collectible.
Pam Kueber says
See my research on how the word putz came about: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/12/11/vintage-putz-houses-a-history-and-online-guide/
In short:
I am well aware there are other meanings. Whatever. I will continue using it to describe our little glitter houses.
Tarquin says
I once lived in a neighborhood called Paradise Palms in Las Vegas. Houses there are very similar to these little house that Kathryn made. I am amazed by her talent. It’s hard enough making these in a one inch scale. I couldn’t imagine making a quarter inch. It’s so intricate, my fingers would probably reject the whole thing.
Wendy Kruger says
I loved that neighborhood when I lived there. 🙂 (I was about seven miles north. My neighborhood has changed so much since 1968-1972)
Melinda says
Wow! These are the best thing I’ve seen. I can’t imagine the time and care that went into making them. So many amazing tiny details. Thank you so much for sharing them with us!
Dan says
So completely charming and imaginative – I was put in mind of those wonderful winter scene Xmas displays once seen in dept store windows. Do hope we will have the pleasure of seeing your holiday display.
Christine W says
Oh my goodness – this is utterly fantastic Kathryn! I can’t begin to imagine how long it takes to make all those houses and prepare all the interiors. Such nice stories that you’ve made up to go with them too. I love the fireplaces that you made as well as the ideas you take from your neighbourhood.
Kathryn Weller says
Absolutely amazing! To create one mini house, with all the fixings, is remarkable . . . but here we have an entire enchanting neighborhood. Yes, please, more pictures once the tiny town’s decorated for Christmas!
Paige says
Blown Away!! Kathryn is so talented. Everything is so perfect. The best people follow and share on this blog.