oldhousefan

Lol Genevieve! I hear you about the Ebay thing! My husband (yes, he thinks I am "off') calls it "spite bidding" on my part, and I completely understand your righteous indignation. I, too, am appalled that some stranger would have the gall to bid on something that is rightfully mine!!!! It's tantamount to outright thievery! But, for me, its getting worse than Ebay. While the tape wire odyssey is going on, I "collect". My dear husband, with a subtle cough, says I "hoard". I think he may be right, although I would never tell him so (maybe I just did lol). Large Rubbermaid storage boxes are starting to accumulate, full of tiny treasures. There's stuff in there (beautiful and wonderful) that I'm sure I forgot I even bought, so once the house is ready, I'll have my own private holiday party and unwrap all of my treasures and not invite any other members of my family who make fun of me, hurl snide comments about the "monkey on my back that looks like the Psycho house". Oh well, they say admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery... I have a lot of vintage furniture from my dollhouse that I had when I was a girl, mostly Sonia Messer, that I can't wait to unpack. My own childhood house "died" in the flooding from Hurricane Sandy, but the furniture has been safely tucked away in the attic for a while now. Not sure which Rubbermaid box (more like "tub" really lol) its in, though. Sometimes I watch that show "Hoarders" just to validate that I'm not there yet, it makes me feel like Martha Stewart when I see how much stuff they have, and gives me a false sense of superiority lol. You, too, have a wonderful weekend. Greece must be magical, we're settling in here for a New York fall and then winter. Blech! Sun and the Aegean sounds like a lovely alternative! Gina

Hi Genevieve! I started this thread last year almost to the day and I still have not figured out how to post pictures! I finally have a table for the dollhouse (Christmas present that husband made) and I am presently, slowly, reluctantly tape wiring it. Or, at least my husband and son are, when I can get them too. I hate Hate HATE doing the electrical work, so I've been foisting that job on others, lol. I have not posted any pictures yet, but hope to as soon as my "guys" (reluctant laborers) finish the wiring. I keep changing my mind on outlets, locations, etc. so they are thrilled whenever I ask for "one more favor". In the meantime, I have been working on the grand staircase. It came with one, but it was kind of plain for what I always hoped the only Victorian (life-size or otherwise) I will ever own would have, so I have been working for a while on newel posts, balusters, fanning out the first step and curving the bannisters. My Glen Cove Villa did not come with the greenhouse/conservatory, so I have been flipping and flopping back and forth whether to get one, or seal up the doorway. I will try to post pictures soon, someone posted them on Pinterest (from eBay) and its my exact, precise house. I am not good at computers (or wiring, technology, math, science...) or I would post a link. There is a magnificent Glen Cove Villa with pictures on Bonnie Broel or House of Broel's website. If you flip through the gallery on that site, you will see it! Amazing house! Good luck with her, she's a beauty and I will try to post pics soon! Gina

FOLDING TABLE!!!!!! (slaps head in frustration) Of course, never even thought of that!!! Thank you! That would work perfectly!

Lol no its not done, it came fully assembled with the exterior done, the trim, etc. windows, widow's walk, chimney still have to be attached, I just don't know how long I can go without a dining room table. The interior is untouched but came with stairs, railings, etc. No wiring yet, so the wire tape odyssey will begin soon. I get nervous just thinking about doing the wiring! It's really hard and takes me forever to make decisions, so I'll have to decide where I want fixtures, outlets, etc. No easy task for someone as changeable as I am! I would love some sort of cart or table on wheels to work on it from, but have no idea what to get other than making something! I guess that's one more design decision I'll have to grapple with lol.

My dream house arrived last week finally! I was just wondering what people use as a table to display their houses? This one is a big girl at 48" wide and 21" deep, so a standard console type table is out. Does anyone have any suggestions? I will try to post pictures of it if the site will let me. It's currently taking up half my dining room table right now! It opens in front and back, with rooms accessible only from either side (front and back) so i would need wheels. Oh, and it weighs about 90lbs give or take (at least UPS charged me for 90lbs). Would love to know what everyone else does or any ideas?

I always loved the house George and Mary Bailey lived in in It's a Wonderful Life. It's my favorite movie... Buffalo gals won't you come out tonight and dance by the light of the moon... get's me every time!

Does EVERYTHING have to be put behind glass these days? What's wrong with people? I wonder if they take it out and handle it or look at it, without feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame? I hope it gets returned, not just for the artisan's sake, but for everyone's. It leaves such a sad, jaded feeling in its wake, that someone would do that. I haven't been to a miniature show in many years (not because of theft) and now if I think of going its kind of tainted now. I really hope someone does the right thing.

I've seen her Beacon Hill, and it is breathtaking! I never imagined the kitchen could look so beautiful, and authentic! I don't have her talent, much less her vision, to do that much with some of the rooms, they seem too small to accomplish what's in my head, but again, lack of vision, I guess. But her houses are eye candy!

Hello All! Still new here, and its been quite a Columbus Day Weekend for me. I recently purchased a Beacon Hill Kit to assemble when the weather keeps me inside, and have been scouring internet images, this forum, Pinterest and all the other sites for inspiration. Someone on this forum, I believe it was Havanaholly, told me the kit would speak to me, but she didn't warn me that it might have an attitude! For over a week now, it has been whispering that it wants a formal dining room. And a bigger kitchen. A walnut paneled library wouldn't hurt, either. Perhaps a even a ballroom. I've tried to ignore it, but its persistent! Snarky, even. I've tried to reason with it. It's my first kit build, I'm not ready to bash it, I'm a color within the lines, stay inside the box type of person, but this girl is trouble. She said she doesn't have a real kitchen, and that I could forget any dream of a butler's pantry, I'd be lucky to get a slightly ornate scullery. So, I decided to learn as much as I could about kit bashing, pricing plywood sheets, and bugging my husband, who is a pretty skilled carpenter, to see what he could do. Well, he took a look at the box and started grunting and mumbling about 3/16 plywood, lack of consistent grain and many other choice words that don't bear repeating here. He's always looking to lend a hand, lol. He then said we could use the Beacon Hill as a pattern and rebuild it with 3/8 birch plywood, which he seems to have a real affinity for. But then, after more grumbling, he felt it might be better to start from scratch, or buy another kit/dollhouse. Told me to start looking, because time, materials design would be my burden. So, off to the miniature races I went. And that's when I saw it. On ebay. Giving me her Second Empire, come hither look. It worked, because I'm a sucker for all things Second Empire. My grandma's house on the north shore is Second Empire, but our ancestors tried to add some Italianite touches which were then removed in the 1950s. So its kind of a sentimental attachment. But this HOUSE! I saw fireworks! It seemed my whole life had led up to this moment, and we were destined to be together. But she lives in Iowa, and I live in New York, and long distance romances usually don't work out. And there were others who had it on their watch list, which offended me, because how could they think they had a chance at something that is rightfully mine? Galling, the audacity of strangers, no decorum whatsoever. So I contacted the seller, who has her own issues in scorning this beauty and leaving her to the mercy of strangers, but luckily I came along and saved her! I am now (or will be once she arrives safely fingers crossed) the proud owner of a Lawbre Glen Cove Villa. The seller was wonderful and we arranged shipping, which at first I was doubtful could happen, but it did!! But now this new girl is whispering, all the way from Iowa... saying provocative things like Rococo Revival, bronze newel post lights, and stained glass windows. It's faint, and static filled, like a bad cell phone connection, but its there...

Hi all! Been lurking and mostly drooling over the gallery photos for months now, and as soon as the cold weather keeps me indoors, I will start my build. It is my second only build, the other was many moons ago (more than I care to count!) and it was just a traditional colonial. I finally reunited with my erstwhile love of miniatures and will begin the build soon, as my life sized old house (275 yrs old) needs work while the weather is still cooperating! I am very exciting and want to thank all the many artisans on this site who have inspired me!! Gina