Wallpapering a Garfield

[rackey]

Has anyone ever wallpapered a Garfield house AFTER it was assembled. I purchased the house for $100 back in 1985 because a dollhouse vendor I knew was closing one of her stores and already had a Garfield in the store she was keeping open. She gave it to me for just the price of the kit at the time because she knew I liked the house and also knew I would never attempt to assemble it on my own.

Two years ago, some friends and I attempted to paint and wallpaper it. We managed to paint the outside and were making progress on the inside - but Hurricane Irene flooded my friend's basement where we were working on the house. The house survived, but it set back the project, and I am now considering having it professionally renovated. (If you check my albums you can see the house I am tallking about, and also the flood damage.)

I believe anyone in his or her right mind will tell me it is easier to wallpaper this house before it is assembled, and I am thinking some sections may have to be dismantled to do this job right. Recently, I had my Country House renovated, and I am trying to figure out if this house will cost me more or less. The Country House required more construction, but this house may be more problematic.

[Mary11]

I've built the Garfield. And yes, unfortunately there are areas that you can't access once assembled. The hallway, second floor hallway and the little area on the third floor have definitely have to be done during assembly.

[havanaholly]

Maureen, if you bought your house in 1985, is there any chance it was built with hot glue, and you could disassemble it enough to access the impossible-to-reach places using a heat gun or blow dryer?

[rackey]

Holly, I am hoping that is the case, although I wouldn't be the one to disassemble it. My first choice dollhouse vendors don't normally carry Greenleaf houses, and I believe that is because they don't sell what they won't assemble. However, one is an expert in restoration projects and may enjoy the challange; and the other is a specialist in wallpaper. I am just hoping that if they agree to take on this project they won't suddenly want to close shop every time they see me walking through their door.

[KathieB]

I can see a couple of lovely decorative screens strategically placed to hide undecorated (shall we call them work in progress?) areas, at least for a while.

[More Minis Dollhouses]

Wow, I can even imagine trying to wallpaper a Garfield after assembly. But, I do believe that where there is a will, there's a way. I remember someone on the forum, a long time ago, shared photos of how they wallpapered an already assembled Beacon Hill, with the staircases in! They literally cut their wallpaper around the already installed staircase and it actually looked beautiful. You would have never guessed it was done afterwards.

I'm thinking that if your able to pry off the interior window and door trim, you could, technically, wallpaper the dollhouse even though its assembled. The areas that would be impossible to access, would most likely not be visible anyways.

I installed ceiling trim on my Pierce after assembly. I had to contort myself into all shapes to get to the inaccessible areas but I did it, using a mirror, a step stool and practically entering the dollhouse...lol I even got my hand stuck inside and it took several minutes to get it free. Good thing too because I can't even imagine having to explain that one to the EMT's.

[havanaholly]

Small bits of paper crammed into corners and taped together can be made into patterns for papering those hard-to-reach places.

[~morningstar~]

I couldn't imagine wallpapering the Garfield after assembly, though I'm sure it can be done, at least to some degree. I'm currently building my Garfield and I'm still trying to figure out the wiring, while building it, so I can get that done, along with the wallpapering, just so I won't have to do it AFTER. LOL. I keep hoping that when I'm ready to put the walls in permanently it'll click, so I'll know which walls are which to put the right wallpaper on and yeah.. in the mean time I keep thinking, "what am I doing?" every piece looks so strange to me. LOL..

I don't have any constructive suggestions, but I will wish you much success and luck!

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

~morning

[havanaholly]

As you assemble the dry fit (with masking tape, not glue) you can lightly mark your walls to code them to your wallpaper/ paint color choices.