selaineh Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 So, I'm pretty new to miniatures (just completed my first project--a haunted version of the Orchid) and now I want to move on to a Craftsman style house so that I can try my hand at paneling and furniture-making. Yes, I have the bug pretty bad now. So, the only kit that I can find that really says "craftsman" to me is Real Good Toys Classic Bungalow. I love the outside but really don't like the plan inside--it's not big enough (size of rooms and number of rooms) and the top floor rooms flow into one another, which is always awkward I think (pretty much makes it a one bedroom by default). Which means that I need to bash it. The problem is that there is not a lot around to bash it with...I could buy another classic bungalow kit, but putting two of that plan together would just look pretty dumb any way I can think to arrange them. I could just build an addition (note the use of the word "just"--ha!) and have found an example in a book on bungalows that shows the same basic facade with another wing set back from the main house--gable in the same direction with a bump-out forward facing gable over a window. That would help with the downstairs but maybe not with the upstairs. Has anyone tried bashing this kit? Or, does anyone know of another kit that looks even vaguely craftsman-like in style? All the victorians have such steep roofs that I just don't think they would modify well. Sorry for the rambling post. I've been struggling with what to do for awhile. Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenannediva Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 In the past couple days someone posted a pic of their bashed RGT Bungalow on RGT's facebook page. They had added an entire floor which I thought was a great idea considering the house is short on rooms (IMHO). Unfortunately, there is no pic of the interior. I am not a Facebook member so I can't post or search out the builder's Facebook page (if one exists) maybe you can. Valerie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selaineh Posted November 28, 2014 Author Share Posted November 28, 2014 Valerie--thanks so much--I will go try to find it! The standard house is way short on rooms... Sharon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 On 11/28/2014 11:59:28, selaineh said: So, I'm pretty new to miniatures (just completed my first project--a haunted version of the Orchid) and now I want to move on to a Craftsman style house so that I can try my hand at paneling and furniture-making. Yes, I have the bug pretty bad now. So, the only kit that I can find that really says "craftsman" to me is Real Good Toys Classic Bungalow. I love the outside but really don't like the plan inside--it's not big enough (size of rooms and number of rooms) and the top floor rooms flow into one another, which is always awkward I think (pretty much makes it a one bedroom by default). Which means that I need to bash it. The problem is that there is not a lot around to bash it with...I could buy another classic bungalow kit, but putting two of that plan together would just look pretty dumb any way I can think to arrange them. I could just build an addition (note the use of the word "just"--ha!) and have found an example in a book on bungalows that shows the same basic facade with another wing set back from the main house--gable in the same direction with a bump-out forward facing gable over a window. That would help with the downstairs but maybe not with the upstairs. Has anyone tried bashing this kit? Or, does anyone know of another kit that looks even vaguely craftsman-like in style? All the victorians have such steep roofs that I just don't think they would modify well. Sorry for the rambling post. I've been struggling with what to do for awhile. Thanks! Greenleaf's Westville is based on a real Craftsman bungalow and judithfa bashed onto hers to make it larger. You can read about it in her section of the Team Westville building blog: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/index.php?app=blog&module=display§ion=blog&blogid=10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodentraiser Posted November 29, 2014 Share Posted November 29, 2014 I had thought that if I got this kit, I would extend one side of it into the porch area (in other words, enclose half the porch) for an extra room. At that point, the front door would have to be moved to either the front of the other side or to make it open into the side of the extension. That is probably how I would do it. I have lived in a house like this for a while and there was only a half porch and you entered into the side. Upstairs, you could now move the gable window over to the other side and use it for a second bedroom. If you run the stairs up the middle of the house, front to back, you might be able to squeeze in a very small bathroom behind the stairwell. You might want to consider double French doors there if there's room, for viewability (is that even a word? I guess it is now!). Then you could make the extended side into a master bedroom and bath. If viewing the master bathroom from its window and from the master bedroom seems difficult, consider opening up the roof in one side panel, like the Harrison dollhouse. So just by extending into the front porch, you now have a separate living room, dining room, and kitchen, and upstairs you could have 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Of course, you could always just add an addition on to the house too. I'm the type that always adds more work than is needed to anything I do. And don't forget to make built in bookcases under small windows on either side of the fireplace! Sorry, I always loved that feature in the house I lived in. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selaineh Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 Thanks Kelly--great ideas! I did consider adding a wing to the side or trying to pop up another floor (just didn't look right), but hadn't thought about enclosing part of the porch. That would certainly help. In the end, though, things have already cascaded out of control...I ended up mocking up an entirely new house in foam board based on photos in some books on bungalows--it's primarily from a photo of a house in PIedmont California but I added a giant shed dormer on one side. Now I just need to figure out how to make it in wood! I may even have room now for an inglenook, but at very least will definitely have built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace and two small windows flanking above the bookcases (love that feature as well). The mock-up house also has a double entry door--something I really, really wanted. Am still playing with trim and window location on the mock-up so that's why it looks somewhat half-baked right now. Hmmm...looks like I can't add photos to a reply(?) so I'll post them separately. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selaineh Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 Hmm...if I can figure out how to upload photos I will post. I uploaded photos with no problem on a different post but it wasn't a reply. Will go read the FAQ, lol. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Hmm...if I can figure out how to upload photos I will post. I uploaded photos with no problem on a different post but it wasn't a reply. Will go read the FAQ, lol. Sharon Sharon, when you're in the response frame, click on the More Reply Options button at lower right. It will open a frame that permits you to add photos to a message. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selaineh Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 Ah! Thanks so much. Here is my foam core mock-up. Still not trimmed out completely and now I think the gable over the door should come out further. And technically the angles of all the gables should probably be the same but I just couldn't make that work! On the interior I think the far left space with the little gable could be an attic space or I could take the floor out and just vault the room below. Any thoughts appreciated...particularly about translating to wood! (Ground floor has 10" ceilings and upper floor is 9" at shed dormer ceiling; width is 30" and depth is 10-12"). Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodentraiser Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 You're welcome! I like the mockup, but is your roof really on from side to side? I thought it was on from front to back. And I forgot to tell you, although you may have been planning this anyway. if you extend what porch is left all the way to the end of the house, you can close of the end of it with a half wall and one of those lovely posts. That would give you room for wide steps up to the porch. That's how I remember my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selaineh Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 You're welcome! I like the mockup, but is your roof really on from side to side? I thought it was on from front to back. And I forgot to tell you, although you may have been planning this anyway. if you extend what porch is left all the way to the end of the house, you can close of the end of it with a half wall and one of those lovely posts. That would give you room for wide steps up to the porch. That's how I remember my house. Oh, I see what you mean--my mock up is actually a concept for a completely new house rather than the bash I was thinking of originally--the roof on the new house does run side to side. I just wasn't getting anywhere with my bash ideas and so thought up a whole new house. it's possible that I am already getting the RGT classic bungalow kit for Christmas, in which case I will need to go back to bashing and will try out your porch modification. Thanks for the idea! Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 For making your own bungalow you could pick up one of Dover Publication's editions of Gustav Stickley's craftsman house plans. As for translating to wood, why not use each of the foamcore pieces for a pattern? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaJEP Posted December 5, 2014 Share Posted December 5, 2014 I'm working on the half scale RGT bungalow right now I agree, it's basically forced to be one bedroom. I really just want a window or skylight in the bathroom, but don't have the skill to add one. It's adorable otherwise, though. Have you seen the Rye from Earth & Tree Miniatures? http://earthntree.com/miniatures/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_6&products_id=50 Based on the mock-up pictures, you may be able to get a second bedroom on the second floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selaineh Posted December 25, 2014 Author Share Posted December 25, 2014 Thanks--great ideas all. Especially the stickley home plans! I do have a plan book for craftsman style houses (real houses), but most are not horizontal enough for a dollhouse. As it turns out, I did get the RGT Classic Bungalow for Christmas so will likely start with that for a practice run. I also got some small woodworking tools (miter saw and a scroll saw) so I can practice furniture. The great thing about Craftsman furniture is that there are very few curves! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selaineh Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 So now I have the RGT Classic bungalow kit (Christmas gift) and my foam core mock up for a completely new design...what to do, what to do? I think I will likely do the kit first and then decide what to do with my mock up. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Love your mock-up. I'd have a hard time choosing between the two but would probably lean toward the kit, just because it would take less prep work to get started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennymoomeow Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Hi Sharron, I've been eyeballing this kit for a while. There is a real life house just like it not too far from where I work that is chocolate brown with shingle-style siding and white stucco trim. If I were copying that house, I'd make a basement. Lots of those homes were put over basements so that would be an accurate way to make it roomier without messing with the rooflines. Then you could landscape! Jenny PS the mockup is beautiful! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selaineh Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 So I ultimately decided to start with my RGT classic Bungalow kit with only minor bashing--I will call this a practice run and then do my foam core mock up in wood after I've recovered from this one! So far have bashed in two extra windows on the living room wall to frame the fireplace and I've removed about half of the room divider between the kitchen and living room. I've built a lot of cabinets and the fireplace and have done the floors and tape wire on the first floor. I'm also almost finished building a coffered ceiling for the living room (will attach the ceiling after its done). Having a blast with this kit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannonc60 Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 It looks fantastic! Great job on the fireplace and cabinetry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Sharon, the fireplace and cabinets are superb! They call to mind a wall in my aunt's house that had the same arrangement of build-ins around a faux fireplace. My young brother (then aged about 4-5) would lie on his stomach in front of the electric fire during our visits and claim that he felt its heat. There was no appreciable heat given off by the red light bulb buried beneath the faux coals, but we humored him. Thanks for the memories. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 That is the living room wall from our Sears house! and the design of the doors is just like the stained glass window over our stairwell in that house. Bravo! :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Maker Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Sharon, i really like your foam core mock up. I'd buy that as a kit with no hesitation. Your bungalow wall is beautiful. I'm looking forward to following your progress. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalesq Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Love it so far! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueirishmoon Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Looks great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selaineh Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 More progress on the RGT Bungalow kit--great practice for doing my own plan some day! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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