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Greetings! I am brand new to this community and it looks like a really fun place to get involved! I have done some dollhouse work here and there in the past, but I am now undertaking a BIG project. My daughter-in-law gave me her old Harrison dollhouse several years ago because she no longer wanted it and knew I enjoyed working on things like that. It was overwhelming and just sat in my basement. BUT, she and my son had a little girl 2 years ago, and I would now like to fix it up for my one and only grandchild! My biggest problem is that it is VERY rickety and feels as if it could fall apart quite easily. I am going to mount it to a base and add casters. But I don't know how to go about making the rest of it more sturdy. It would likely be easier to purchase a new one and start all over again, but I think there will be some great sentimental value if I use this one. My son and his wife are very big into that sort of thing! IF I can take it apart and start again, would that be the best way to go? (Not sure if that's possible.) And of course, I also wonder if things will just break if I do attempt to take it apart! As of now, there are no broken walls, etc. The only missing piece is one window and a small piece of trim on the outside. I have written Greenleaf to ask if they have a window I can purchase. If not, I have no clue how to find that! Perhaps there is some way to add some wood in some way to provide a better structure or make it more sturdy? If so, please let me know, because I am clueless! I have tons of decorating ideas and that part will be easy for me. But I was a little stunned at the cost of furniture. So any advice (beside 2nd hand stores - as I've tried them regularly) for finding cheap furniture or furniture kits - or places where I can make furniture - but somewhat decent stuff (not a paper couch) - would be greatly appreciated! I actually would like to make the furniture, but I want it to look really pretty without being overly complicated to make. I am good with crafts, but haven't done much work with wood! Ha! Thank you in advance for any help you can give me. I appreciate it more than you can know!!!! Warm regards,

Hi, new member here and wanted to introduce myself. I built a Harrison for my daughter several years ago; and although I was in over my head for a first timer, I enjoyed myself so much I wanted to build another one although I couldn’t justify building one if I wasn’t making it for someone (I’m not a collector (yet)). It’s been about 8 years, but I’m jumping back in with an Orchid kit that I’m kind of envisioning as a beach cottage. I’m excited for my winter project and really grateful for all the expertise and inspiration I’m finding here. I live in Virginia just outside of Washington DC.

Hello, fellow forum members - My first exposure to Greenleaf was the Harrison that my mother built for her grandchildren in the early 80s. It was well loved by our families and most of the neighbor children. The dollhouse traveled a bit and was given first to my niece and then my eldest daughter, whose five year old daughter is attached to it at the hip. When my newest grand daughter was born last year her mother said, "Great! Now it's OUR turn for the dollhouse!" To forestall the inevitable battle (ever tried to pry a five year old from her favorite toy on the planet?) I decided to make a new dollhouse for the other set of grandbabies. I joined the woodshop in my retirement community, found the best mentor on the planet, and dived in. It's been twenty years since I tackled a doll house but it's been a joy. I'll share pics soon - promise!

Hello all, my first Greenleaf house is the Harrison that I purchased second hand. It is in pretty rough shape, ie., missing pieces, unusual wiring and stucco on overhang. One staircase needs to be replaced. Where can I obtain one? Thanks

I am working on wallpapering individual pieces of a tower (Harrison) and am trying to figure out how much paper I need for the entire room. Math class was a really long time ago...I know I knew this at one time. Can anyone help? I do not need to know how to measure the tower walls because I know I have enough wallpaper to do them; as they are laid out side-by-side on a table in my family room. However, I do not know if I have enough wallpaper for the other walls and if I do not, then I need to know how much of another pattern to buy. My other situation: I want to have a crown molding on my walls in my Harrison and in the Orchid I am making. How do I determine the amount of molding, chair railing etc. if I am using a miter to create the corners? Does the angle of the corner determine how much extra I need beyond the length of the wall. My Orchid just has square walls so the angle will be mitered at 45 degrees? Right? So if I am cutting crown molding for my Harrison tower which is 5 pieces the angle for the corners will be different and does that make the length of the molding different? I am hoping that someone can understand my ramblings and possible run-on sentences!! Thanks for your patience.

I just completed the Harrison kit. It Took me exactly 2 months. It's a gift for my 4 year old. It was a big challenge. Please see the attached pictures.

Here are 4 photos from my first attempt - The Harrison

Hello, So I recently got inspired to build a dollhouse….saw one of my friends do one on her craft blog and thought it looked fun and right up my alley! So I picked the house that called out my name- the Harrison! I can't wait to finish it! So I opened my box, read and reread the directions, bought the supplies and built it over the course of several days with my dad's help. The house is almost 2/3's done and entirely assembled with hot glue- as the directions said! Then I find this forum and everyone is saying what a big no-no that is. So….now what should I do? Disassemble the whole house and redo? Are there parts of the house that can stay with the hot glue or do I really have to undo the entire house? And anyone have any tips of how to do this? I read somewhere a hair dryer will help. Oh my…so sad. Very very sad. thanks for your help.

Okay, this is a long shot, but I am going to put this out there and see what happens. In 2002, in Columbus, Ohio, my kids and I abandoned everything we owned and went into hiding for a while from my (ex) abusive husband. I left behind a Harrison Dollhouse--the first house I ever built. So, I keep wondering what happened to it. Did it end up in a flea market, on ebay, or given to someone, etc, etc. I see that some of the builders on here buy old run down houses and rehab them. I am just curious, did anybody on here in the Columbus, Ohio area come to be in the possession of an abandoned Harrison sometime in 2003--that is when my real house was auctioned off. All I can say to describe it is that I built the outside to look much like the picture on the box, I did not use the extra room dividers on the first or second floor. The kitchen was yellow, above that was a white nursery with pink carpet. The attic was pink, with a wood floor. The secret room I am pretty sure was mint green. I know that I did not shingle the roof, I painted it brown. The first floor stairs were not glued in place, nor was the closet door on the steps. I don't think the front door was attached either. I think the two biggest rooms were painted white, but I really don't remember. I just want to know what happened to the house, and if anybody did rehab it on here--could I see some pictures? (Rest assured, I am just curious, I don't want the house back!) There were two other houses left behind--an almost finished yellow farmhouse, and a modern looking home, two stories with a kitchen attachment--the outside was not painted. Wooden living room, pink and red kitchen, blue master bedroom, and yellow child's room, and I don't remember the bathroom color. All furniture built from a kit, and a little girl plastic doll with golden hair.