kawinkle Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I put the staircase together for the orchid last night and do NOT like them. I am looking for some stairs like in the garfield. The kind that comes down, has a small landing and goes down at a different angle. The ones I have right now look like a ladder and are ugly. Does anyone have any prefernces for ordering staircases or any other dollhouse options. I am in the mood to change a bunch of things on my orchid in an effort to make her look and feel better! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fov Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Haha, you and I think alike. :welcome: I replaced the stairs in my Orchid with Houseworks stairs. Take a look at miniatures.com, you can probably find something like the ones you've described (but you might have trouble with stairs that turn due to the placement of the windows on the first floor...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawinkle Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 Maybe a curved staircase would work. I wasn't paying attention and I made the stair hole on the side with no windows on the side. I was going to place them so the back of the stairs face the back of the house but that leaves a tiny little space in front of the stairs and at that point what's the point of the stairs except to take up room in the house?! I planned on partitioning the bottom floor between the door and window on that side of the house and making a kitchen with the stairs in the kitchen. I know they traditionally go in the living area, but I wanted more room in there. So maybe the curved staircase would work better for that area. Then it would at least curve out away from the window some. But the set that came with my orchid just look like a loft ladder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libby Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Have you looked at Labre's stairs? http://www.lawbre.com/stairs.html They are expensive but have serveral options to choose from. At least it can give you some ideas. I just ordered an Orchid. I can't wait to see yours to give me some ideas. I want to change my also to make it look unique. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawinkle Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 They have EXACTLY what I was looking for Kim! Thanks! They are indeed pricey, but I can save up for them. I would have to modify them slightly to give it a rail since it would not be totall against the wall in a corner. But those would work perfectly! This forum is so GOOD! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 The curving staircase is gorgeous. I used that one in my Pierce, but it would be too large for the Orchid. I think the only option for a curving staircase in the Orchid would be to use a spiral staircase which would be awesome. Kimberly, I've also used the houseworks staircase that Fov told you about and it works very well in an Orchid. I added some railing and bannisters around the top and it gives a nicely finished look without taking up too much space. Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawinkle Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 I was going to put mine in like that as well but you can't see anything that would be in that room behind the staircase. So I was going to have them go the other way but then what is the point. Maybe I can put a dining table behind the stiars and the cabinets along the divider wall there. I will have to play with it some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbytsdy Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Hi Kimberley, I had the same objection to the Orchid "ladder", but not wanting to spend any additional $$ on it, I bashed up the kit a bit: I didn't like the Arthur "ladder" either so I patched on some backboard and added wallpaper and trim: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justmesue Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I put the stairs in my Orchid facing the back of the house with the risers left off, just used the steps, so you can see behind them. I have put the sink and stove there, and a top cupbaord. There is a pic in my album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
what2craftnow Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 When I was working on my Orchid, I did away with stairs altogether...they just took away too much space in such a small house for my liking. I also took out the center divider and made the first floor one large space. For small houses, I just prefer to say that the stairs are on "the imagined other side of the house" :lol: I guess it really comes down to what you like. First and foremost, it's your creation so there is no right way or wrong way. I really like rbytsdy's ideas...very functional and clever! :thumb: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxxie Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I agree with you. I don't want the stairs because you can't see the piano behind them! Who needs stairs anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin1056 Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 i've left off the risers in the beacon bash stairs to the tower so you could see behind too you could just add a side to the stairs you have? to make them less 'ladder like' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxxie Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Now that works pretty nice! Maybe I should think about the stairs again. They do take up a lot of space though. Do dolly people need stairs or can we pretend you just can't see the stairs? They are in a part of the house we can't see from the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shy Spirit Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 I used to think that a dh had to have stairs - this had been my opinion since I was a tot. Now, I think there are times when one can take refuge in the "they're in the part of the house that you can't see" theory! (Sometimes, the extra space is more important than the staircase.) I love the creative ideas people have come up with for solving the stairs dilemma. :jawdrop: There's also the "phantom" stairs - you use just a few steps, that turn with a partial landing, and a false wall, that gives the illusion that the staircase continues beyond view. There is a company that sells a kit ... I looked for the website, but I can't find it. Does anyone have the link? I use to have it in my "Favourites" - but it seems to have disappeared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbytsdy Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 When I was working on my Orchid, I did away with stairs altogether...they just took away too much space in such a small house for my liking. I also took out the center divider and made the first floor one large space. For small houses, I just prefer to say that the stairs are on "the imagined other side of the house" B) I guess it really comes down to what you like. First and foremost, it's your creation so there is no right way or wrong way. I really like rbytsdy's ideas...very functional and clever! B) Thanks, Chris! I guess I am one of those "must-have-stairs" people-- I don't trust the "fourth wall"... B) The staircases are one of my favorite parts of a build-- had alot of fun with the BH and Pierce staircases-- and the staircase would be the reason that I would get the Glencroft, if I ever get around to it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shy Spirit Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 I love the staircase in the Glencroft, and would never do away with it - it's such an important feature of the cottage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 I also love stairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAK Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 I replaced the stairs in my Orchid also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlsarmywife Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 I am glad to see this thread here...I will be starting an Orchid after Thanksgiving and am really excited about it. I was trying to figure out what to do with the stairs as well. My Orchid will become a Quilt Shop/Sewing school. I love the way you all altered your stair cases they look fantastic. =D Deborah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzy_qu3 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 I forgot who it was, but someone in another thread said they used poster board to "close" in the staircase. Painted brown, it looked the part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 If you don't like the stairs you can also bash them, perhaps cut the stringers apart so your stairs could take a bend; if you then close in the backs you have extra room. You would want to make a landing, it would be something to noodle with in cardboard first, of course. You could also trim the treads and risers to narrow them a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmayonayz Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 I just got to this part and I HATE the stairs, and a lot of it has to do with that sheet being more crumbly than the others to start with. In fact if I put them in like the directions say, there is no space at the bottom. And they are huge. I actually considered more of a ladder but I'd really like stairs. I've been looking at diy stairs and trying to figure it out. I have lots of popsicle sticks dowels and cardboard/home made chipboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyole Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Would a spiral staircase interest you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted June 23, 2019 Share Posted June 23, 2019 Spiral stairs take up a fair amount of the room. Another option is to leave them out entirely -- pretend they are in the unseen "back of the house." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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