DollhouseFireplupsdwn

Wow!!! My Garfield is still in the box and I am so glad about that right now. I love what you have done with all the wood. I was really perplexed thinking about wall paper for the dining and living rooms and the stairwell - now I know what I am going to do there. How many windows did you end up having to purchase? I havethought about changing out the windows and door but have been discouraged from doing it by so many people. Now you have re-kindled my original intentions! Thank you. I love your posts and will definitely be watching your progress. (How did you make your interior doors?) Im done and will look forward to your reply.

Hello, "Dengel"! When I first got my Garfield box I was very overwhelmed too. I will be more than happy to help you out and share information with you on your build!

I had the very same dilemma with how to approach the wallpaper variables for the different rooms and I was just not happy with using different wallpapers on each side of the staircase. Then I got out my old Victorian decorating book and discovered that they actually used a lot of wood paneling so once I learned that it opened up a whole new world for me and how I would deal with my Garfield staircase. I ordered unfinished wainscot and used basswood strips to fit and then stained everything. I love the richness of the look and it makes the staircase a major feature as it should be. It also makes the living room, dining room and entry more open and integrated and not broken up with all sorts of different wallpaper everywhere.

I will be able to tell you exactly how many doors and windows I was able to order and then I just had to make 6 of my own doors because they were too small to order Houseworks doors. I will have to get back to you on the numbers and how to's later. Just get yourself a good Xacto knife, ruler and chisel so you can make sure the openings will fit your new doors/windows. I can give you lots of tips on how I did it.

I have so much information to share so will write again this week hopefully to help you out.

Where are you located? This seems to be your 1st post.

This is exciting and you are going to love the Garfield.

Susan aka Creamcheese

I am in the San Antonio, TX area. I appreciate your quick response, thank you. I just read your explanation on doing the pin-hanging for the doors. That makes sense to me - hopefully I will be able to do it! I travel to Phoenix quite often as my son and grandson are there. I look forward to your next message. I will have to get started on my house to know what questions I will have. Denise

Glad you read enough to get an idea how I pin-hinged and made my doors. Soooooo, you asked what doors/windows I replaced so here is my list which I ordered through Hobby Builder's Supply at miniatures.com I ordered them when they were having a sale so I got discounts on the prices. You should sign up for their catalog/emails so you will be notified of their sales etc. You can call them at 1-800-926-6464 also.

For the 2 removable bays/window seats I replaced them with 2 Houseworks Side by Side Working Windows #5015.

For the 10 single windows I replaced them with 10 Houseworks Victorian Working Windows #5002

Long Tower windows replaced with 6 Houseworks Traditional Slim Working Window #5031

Small upper tower windows replaced with 3 Houseworks Traditional Working Attic Window #5046

For the 3 oval windows I replaced them with 3 Houseworks Octagonal Windows #5045

For the Kitchen Bay Windows replaced them with 3 Traditional Slim Working Windows #5031

For the 3 attic windows I used Houseworks Traditional Working Attic Window #5046

I also replaced the 1 skylight window with 1 Houseworks pair of Glazed Dormer Windows #5056. I have to figure out where I will use the 2nd dormer window.

All of the #5002 windows fit in the Garfield window openings but you will have to cut/sand to adjust the openings for all of the other windows. For the Tower I had to add some basswood and spackle because the openings were too big. On the 2 bay/window seats you will have to cut out the middle section of the Garfield piece and then your new double windows will fit. You'll just have to make some of your own trim to fit in the space.

All of this will make a lot more sense once you open your box, label each sheet and begin looking at each panel. Label everything otherwise it can get very confusing. At least you won't have to figure out what and how many windows you will need like I did. That took me some time so hope this will help.

Now, onto the doors.....

I replaced both French doors with Houseworks Double French Doors #6011.

For the tiny kitchen door I replaced it with Houseworks Single French Door #6022

For 1 dining room/kitchen door replaced it with Houseworks 6 Panel Traditional Door #6007. **This is the door I looked at very closely to figure out how to make the 6 doors I could not buy because of their unique size and did my own pin-hinging on!

For the front door I ordered 1 Houseworks Palladian Door #6015. I'm going to do some stained glass (in paint) on this door!!!!! I had to add a little basswood to the opening so this new door would fit.

I also ordered some Bonnie window pediments which I will use for the small attic windows to add more decoration. The Houseworks# is 7097 & I think there were 2 per pkg. I have 12 total of the pediments.

And......I ordered some wainscot panels #323 to make my staircase and for the paneling for the living/dining rooms plus I added some to the 2 bay/window seats. I also used this wainscot to enhance the 6 doors I built along with some basswood. The doors look much more fancy now.

Well, Dengel......I hope I remembered to enter everything but this should help you in your decision on how you will approach your Garfield. This is quite a project and will take some time and thought but it should be quite spectacular when it is finished PLUS it's a lot of fun building it. If you are like me then this dollhouse will begin talking to you and beckoning you to try this and that. Every house and person has different ideas so have fun with your imagination.

Be sure to introduce yourself to everyone in this forum under New Member Introductions. This place is a wealth of knowledge and it made me beam when you said you liked what I am doing with my Garfield!!!!!!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Susan aka Creamcheese

Oops, Denise......I just looked at my window replacements and double checked and I made a slight error in what I told you on the Tower window replacements.

I actually used 6 Houseworks #5000 Traditional Working Windows rather than #5031 for the 2nd & 1st floor Tower replacements!

Hope this is helpful!

Susan

Thank you, thank you. I had been thinking about these windows for awhile - had even made a list of what I would need to order but promptly lost that list! I will look at the web site and see what I can find right now.

Wow that's a ton of incredible detailed help. I have a very old Garfield kit. It came with a box of the old "upgrade" windows (Timberbrook I think) but they were literally falling to pieces. The glue had dried up and the glass pieces were all apart. It took me ages to reassemble them and make some new replacement sections. I wish they still made them.

Since Denise had asked me and I still had all of my scribbled notes on exactly what I had replaced and ordered, I figured I would share it to help Denise and anyone who may be interested! Sounds like you had a lot of work that had to be done on your old Garfield kit!