Doll House Makeover!
This is a project I have been wanting to do for some time, and what perfect time then isolation! Originally I picked up an old doll house off facebook marketplace for $20, It was great quality, great size and Hazel absolutely adored it! I actually had pretty much finished it before our dog chewed up a few main pieces! Hazel was devastated!
I began hunting down another one, whilst i had all the time and materials, I really just wanted to finish it off as soon as possible. I came across a few I loved but restrictions became more strict and I was unable to travel to pick them up. Finally I came across a beautiful one quite local, similar brand and size to her original one. It also came with lots of doll house funiture too! I paid $30 for this new one and found it on Facebook Marketplace as well.
First I sat down and had a bit of a colour board, working out the colour scheme i wanted to work with. I picked those and ordered my paint.
Next steps was to prep my doll house. I gave everything a really good clean. This one originally had heart shaped shutters that i decided to remove, then i filled the holes in with gap filler and sanded once dry. Next I gave all pieces a good sand using an electric sander.
PAINT TIME
After originally trying to paint the last one in a few different colours, I decided to do this one simple! Two colours on the outside, and this was the best decision! It was nice and easy and i think its really beautiful. Now the details you are all after, the paint colours. I used Dulux Wash&Wear, low sheen for all of my paint.
The Roof, Stair Case & Doors – Clay Court (1L tin – you could easily get away with sample pots for small projects)
The Walls – Unbleached Calico Half (4L tin of this as i’ve used it for more projects – stay tuned)
I bought a collection of different sized brushes, and used a tiny roller for the walls. I picked this all up from Bunnings and Spotlight. I found using foam brushes the best for the fiddly parts.
I pulled all of the pieces apart, and layed them all flat of some cardboard outside and started by doing a few coats of the Unbleached Calico Half on ALL pieces, even the roof and door. Once all coats were dry, I flipped the pieces and did the same on the other sides.
Once all dry I moved onto the door and roof, I didn’t really need to tape but I did slip a piece of A4 paper under the door to protect the other pieces. If a you get a few drops, don’t stress, its very easy to patch up later.
Once everything was painted and dry, I popped my wallpaper on the back piece (this piece I didn’t paint but i still gave it a light sand). My wallpaper was from Bonnie & Harlo and i used 2 of their sheets. Its such a beautiful colour! It was literally peel and stick, and it was definitely reusable as I had it on my first doll house. Super easy!!
Next I rebuilt the house and sat it aside as I organise and painted all of the interior furniture.
MY TIPS FOR PAINTING:
* Sand before painting
*Chose simple colours – a light and dark – don’t over do it
*Your kids are going to love it regardless
Inside the Dollhouse!
I had a lot of furniture to chose from between the two dollhouses. A lot was just cheap Kmart Dollhouse furniture, or really old. I went through it all and picked out enough pieces for each room. We went with a kitchen/dining room, lounge room, bathroom, parents room and in the roof i’ve done a children’s room / baby nursery combined. Any furniture that was originally white I have left white, and I painted everything that was bright. I did paint post things the one colour, and then a few pieces a second colour just for a bir of change.
Mustard – Yellow Varnish
Peach – Coral Blossom
The lamps and pot plants i didn’t paint. I removed all original “Plant” pieces, and using a hot glue gun i wrapped the pots and lamps with jute rope. I replaced the plants with an artificial plant from kmart – it was $6! I hot glued it in place and then on some i placed small stones around.
I also replaces the rocking horses tail with jute rope! And the cook top in the kitchen i made some spirals from the jute rope as the original ones were painted on.
I am handy with a sewing machine which helped the next part. If you have access to a sewing machine they are very simple to make. I made all of the rugs, pillows and blankets from the same tablecloth i purchased ages ago from an op shop. It had a lace trim all the way around so I thought that would be perfect on the rugs.
I purchased a roll of wood look vinyl contact from Kmart for $3, if the flooring gets too scratched i may pop this on the floors as well. But at the moment I think the rugs should do the trick.
The sweet little “Hazel’s Dollhouse” Sign is from Bloomlette – its a beautiful way to personalise your dollhouse and its ONLY $10! (I think she may be on maternity leave now though guys)
And also my dog ate the original dollhouse family, which is fine, they were a bit creepy anyway. I found some Sylvanian Family bunnies online, they were really cute and quite affordable. So i went only marketplace and found some local to me for $20 and came with a little bakery too! Always check out gumtree and marketplace!! I love a bargain!
Everything I have done inside her house is DIY and affordable. The quality of the furniture is strong and built for play. I didn’t was so spend a small fortune to be worries the entire time that she may break something. Now she is free to play and let her little imagination run wild.
Please let me know if you have any further questions about anything I have done inside Hazels Dollhouse. Lou Xx
BEFORE & AFTERS
PHOTOS & DETAILS
