just a question....

[feuz86]

So I just bought a Laurel the other day and There are a few things that I want to add/change. This is my first time building a plywood house. My first house was a Victoria's Farmhouse and I got in over my head so I sold it. the first thing I want to change is I would really like to swap out the windows with working windows. Does anyone have any suggestions. I have never bought "extra" parts and I have no idea where to look. Another thing I want to add is a chimney going down the side kinda like the Washington 2.0.... I have so many ideas and no idea how to do any of it so any suggestions would be welcome! thanks!

[Jo Med]

You could try Miniatures.com for your windows. They carry lots of dh supplies and for your chimney you could either use ply wood, balsa wood or foam core board or even cardboard. One thing to be wary of is the finish you want to use on the chimney because some of the lighter construction materials may warp if you aren't careful. I made a chimney out of foam core once and covered it in papier maché sculpted to look like stone - it curled up horrendously. Foam core will warp like that if you just do one side. I've made garden walls out of it using papier maché and when the first side is covered it curls up but when you do the other side it straightens again - my chimney was only "stoned" on one side. One good way of doing a stone effect chimney is by using foam core covered with egg carton stones or bricks. This is unlikely to warp and looks really good. You do need a bit of patience cutting out all the bricks though.

Good luck

[uppitycats]

I think the only way you learn how to do "any of it" is to just DO it...and if it doesn't work out, then take it off and try again! I think a lot of us just jumped in and built our first house -- I built the Garfield -- and learned from our mistakes as we went along. We asked questions, told folks what we did, figured out what we did wrong, did it better the next time.

Foam core works, balsa wood and bass wood are very easy to cut and form for new crafters, miniatures.com is a good place to start for different windows.

Basic tools might be a good dremel (or equivalent) with attachments, lots of sandpaper of various grits from fine to medium, some exacto knives (or again, an equivalent) with various interchangeable blades, and lots and lots of patience. NO hot glue, any good white glue (I prefer Aleen's, but Elmer's works, and a few others), lots of masking tape (I use blue painters tape), and lots and lots of patience.

[havanaholly]

I acquired a Laurel in terrible condition to rehab. It had never had its porch. I had to make all new windows and doors and I made the windows casement windows, although I wound up making only one of them a working window: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/index.php?app=gallery&album=1103

[feuz86]

Thanks so much for the tips! I went to miniatures.com for the first time and it was like I turned into a kid in a candy store! Awesome! I'm still very nervous, but I think I'm just going to go for it!

[judithfa]

I have used "builders foam" blue or pink or white, or even craft styrofoam to make the form of the chimney I want. I have then coated it with papier mache, sand-textured paint, textured spray paint, spackle and small stones, or brick vinyl sheets. This stuff is easy to cut and doesn't add heavy weight to the house. I have also used 1x3 pine or 2x3's for more substantial houses (3/8" plywood or MDF).

I do like using builders foam for all sorts of exterior features. -- It's so easy to carve into anything!

B)