Monday, October 03, 2016

And so this happened. IKEA






Well, this happened. The IKEA project.

I bought this little number after seeing it on The Shopping Sherpa blog. But then I assembled it and while not huge, it was 2 stories. And if I want to continue with this hobby, I need to be space conscious. Or start to tossing Miss Kitty's toys. And she might object.

The original IKEA Flisat dollhouse
Photo Credit: Ikea Canada - ikea.ca

So I hacked it apart on my table saw. It's now a single story living room and kitchen combo. With a mid century yet modern flare.

Did you know that I`ve never really BUILT a dollhouse before....seriously.  So, minus the room boxes I did in the past, this is my first half build...because its kinda a dollhouse and kinda a room box.  

And my prolonged blogging absence over the summer....well, lets blame life.  Keeping up the garden in this punishing heat and amusing a toddler took up lots of time.  And now Miss Kitty has started school, which should have left me with more time, but I feel like I have less and a more ridged schedule.  

The Plan


Well, its either poop or get off the pot, so I`m going to try my hand at wiring this bad boy.  Enough of the `gonna woulda shoulda` so its going to happen!

I purchased a number of LED items off of ebay.  That means a good month between me and wiring some elements, but whatever.  I don`t want to spend a ton of this project.....even though I know I will (and kinda have).  Pepper`s tutorial on LED soldering refreshed my confidence in my lighting abilities. 

I purchased a few pre wired LEDs from Evan Designs,  Even with the Canadian dollar and very reasonable shipping, it was actually more then affordable!!  I was beyond excited because that sort of thing seldom happens.  I have 2 ceiling light kits, a wire switch kit and the flickering fireplace kit ordered.

Then I jumped over to Grandpa`s Doll House.....holy smokes, if you`re Canadian, grab some of their wood narrow plank flooring sheets.  Only $10!!!  Yes, I still have a large roll of veneer in my basement (not to mention a life time supply of various sized stir sticks), but sometimes you don`t want to kill yourself laying a floor!  

Then I headed over to The Little Dollhouse Company.  Big mistake.  I go in for plexi glass.  I come out with:

  • a chair kit
  • Houseworks metal stove front
  • Steel hob kit
  • Side table kit
  • door knocker
  • 1 clearance lamp
  • an amazing plastic wall hang sink (its clear, you just paint it! They have skylights, big tubs, big sinks, etc., just have to paint it.  Amaze-balls).
  • various small items from the sales drawers that no one else wanted.

The oven, hob and door knocker are for the project.  But I really did restrain myself.  I tried.




The Design


Because of the A-frame look of the building, I want to make it a current take on mid century modern.  As if you purchased grandmas house and then made it modern, but still enjoyed its unique vintage elements.

As you can see with the cardboard on the front, I`m blocking a bit of the front opening so I can have space on the kitchen side that isn`t visible via the window.  And in the name of symmetry, I`m doing it on the living room side too.  The fire place will be brick (the center small dividing wall) and its kitchen side will have a breakfast bar.  

The kitchen will be the far right wall.  A small under counter fridge along with the oven.  Just the sink and hob will be on the top.  Frankly, there isn`t much more space!  Then there will be a run of upper cabinets with LEDs lighting the counter.

The front will have the centered door and be flanked by 2 large windows.  Above the door (and the span of the house) will be a large triangular window broke into 2 windows.  

The ceiling will have beams running to the peak.  This is within the look and era of the home along with hiding the wiring for the pendant light.  The fireplace design is to be finalized.  And I think I will go with lighter floors this time.  I`ve already done grey and chocolate, so this will be a nice change.  




So, now I wait until my mail box is flooded with goodies.  I think my mail carrier must have been in withdrawal over the summer.  No major deliveries to my house!  I also need one more trip to Credit Valley Railway Company to get some tiny styrene quarter round to hold my windows in place.  Miss Kitty looooooooves to watch the train sets there.  Me too!







4 comments :

  1. La estructura de la casa es estupenda, un gran proyecto.

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    Replies
    1. Se supone que es un proyecto simple, pero estoy seguro de que voy a hacerlo complicado!

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  2. Replies
    1. It's one of those "quick" and "easy" projects (insert sad, non believing laughter).

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