SewMini Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Has anyone ever done retractable stairs or stairs that lift up and down as needed? The Casa needs stairs but I'm thinking it would be really cool to make stairs (or a ladder) that Gabrielle could pull down from the ceiling at the end of the night/as needed rather than having stairs there all the time. Maybe something on a simple pulley system? Is this a super crazy idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Miniature disappearing attic stairs at amazon.com They are available elsewhere, too. I don't believe there is anything under the sun that can't be purchased in miniature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debsrand56 Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Totally cool idea. I'll bet you could make them yourself, but if not, the ones in Kathie's link look pretty awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannonc60 Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 1 hour ago, KathieB said: I don't believe there is anything under the sun that can't be purchased in miniature. I still haven't found an old style shower rose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewMini Posted May 2, 2017 Author Share Posted May 2, 2017 I did see the attic stairs but I feel like I want them to be a bit more sturdy since they are for daily use. Maybe something like stairs in a ship? Or like you know the ones that were in the Swiss Family Robinson house. Something that's a full stationary set of stairs but can be raised and lowered at one end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsbeth Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 34 minutes ago, shannonc60 said: I still haven't found an old style shower rose. I hear a challenge...What is a shower rose? Is it the faucet head? https://www.reutterporcelain.com/reutter-porzellan/metal-standing-shower-unit-07700.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debsrand56 Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 So more like the pulley stairs that Chip & Joanna put in in the Fixer-Upper tiny house? https://magnoliamarket.com/our-show/episode-14-shotgun-house/ What about using something like this and rigging up your own pulley with a bit of necklace chain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Do they have to be working stairs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewMini Posted May 2, 2017 Author Share Posted May 2, 2017 23 minutes ago, Debsrand56 said: So more like the pulley stairs that Chip & Joanna put in in the Fixer-Upper tiny house? https://magnoliamarket.com/our-show/episode-14-shotgun-house/ What about using something like this and rigging up your own pulley with a bit of necklace chain? YES!! That is exactly what I was thinking of! Thank you Deborah! 7 minutes ago, havanaholly said: Do they have to be working stairs? I'd like them to be working if possible just for the neat factor and the personal challenge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannonc60 Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 9 hours ago, Elsbeth said: I hear a challenge...What is a shower rose? Is it the faucet head? https://www.reutterporcelain.com/reutter-porzellan/metal-standing-shower-unit-07700.asp Pretty much, but just the shower head (rose) part. Also to be fair, this has only recently come on the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 13 hours ago, Debsrand56 said: So more like the pulley stairs that Chip & Joanna put in in the Fixer-Upper tiny house? https://magnoliamarket.com/our-show/episode-14-shotgun-house/ What about using something like this and rigging up your own pulley with a bit of necklace chain? Weirdly, this episode of Fixer Upper was on over here tonight.. Of course I watched and I guess the biggest issue you are going to face with this type of stair is that you either need a vaulted ceiling above them so they can be pulled up to horizontal, or you at least need a stairwell hole the same length as the longest point of the stair back. I'm not sure if your orchid has enough front to back room for this, so you may need to think about running your stairs in a different direction. For a hinge at the top I would use tyvek (it's what fedex envelopes are made of) it's strong & flexible and doesn't stretch. I'd place half on the top floor, under your floor covering, and the other half on the bottomside of the top couple of stairs. If you want the bottom of your stairs to have an even surface, you could run the tyvek all the way down to the bottom and as wide as the stairs and paint right over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsbeth Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 15 hours ago, shannonc60 said: Pretty much, but just the shower head (rose) part. Also to be fair, this has only recently come on the market. I am surprised just the shower head is not available...since faucets are available on their own. Interesting. I'll keep an eye out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 Apparently this is an electric pulley for dollhouses: https://www.etsy.com/listing/223561534/plastic-pulley-kit-for-miniature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannonc60 Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 4 hours ago, Sable said: Apparently this is an electric pulley for dollhouses: https://www.etsy.com/listing/223561534/plastic-pulley-kit-for-miniature Would be interesting to know a little more about what it does. Not much of a description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewMini Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 I'm FINALLY getting back to work on the Casa and thought I'd update that once I got back to the house I decided that a set of plain stairs would be fine and started hunting. Someone on a different thread mentioned Earth N Tree Miniatures which I ha never heard of. They had these really cool open ladder stairs which I hadn't seen anywhere else and I think they are JUST the thing for the Casa. I probably could have made them but these look nice and since they will be plug and play it was worth it expense to get them. I plan on staining them and then wearing them down some. I like that they are a bit beefier than other ladders that I've seen but not as heavy looking as standard stairs. Plus they keep that kind of rustic feel going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debsrand56 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 Great find! These look really nice, and I think they're a good choice. I can't wait to see them in them in the Casa. I have missed your updates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewMini Posted July 26, 2017 Author Share Posted July 26, 2017 I've missed my updates too! lol The spring is just so crazy for me with work and by the time I get home I'm beat. Then we were gone for a lifetime. I'm sneaking in time here and there when I can! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fov Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 I like those! Now that I've seen them, I wonder if I can find the same thing in half scale for my Spanish style artist's cottage, which has a sleeping loft. I already got a ladder but I like the idea of some steep/narrow stairs. Hm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debsrand56 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 14 minutes ago, fov said: Now that I've seen them, I wonder if I can find the same thing in half scale for my Spanish style artist's cottage, Depending on the size of your opening, you could try the Plastruct G scale open stairs. I really wanted them for the Merrimack, but the third-floor opening is too small. I ended up ordering a set anyway, figuring I could use them for measurements, angles, etc., to construct my own wood stairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldenrodfarm Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 I have been thinking of possibilities for my "back door" and thing the open stairway is probably the way to go, I don't think it would be hard to build. On an interesting note this way of storing the ladder type stairway would be interesting in a dollhouse 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fov Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 2 hours ago, Debsrand56 said: Depending on the size of your opening, you could try the Plastruct G scale open stairs. I really wanted them for the Merrimack, but the third-floor opening is too small. I ended up ordering a set anyway, figuring I could use them for measurements, angles, etc., to construct my own wood stairs. Thanks for the tip! Those look like they could work. 1 hour ago, Goldenrodfarm said: I have been thinking of possibilities for my "back door" and thing the open stairway is probably the way to go, I don't think it would be hard to build. On an interesting note this way of storing the ladder type stairway would be interesting in a dollhouse Ooh, I like this. Wheels are turning... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 6 hours ago, Goldenrodfarm said: I have been thinking of possibilities for my "back door" and thing the open stairway is probably the way to go, I don't think it would be hard to build. On an interesting note this way of storing the ladder type stairway would be interesting in a dollhouse I could use something like this in 1:1 for the loft in my workshop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 8 hours ago, Goldenrodfarm said: I have been thinking of possibilities for my "back door" and thing the open stairway is probably the way to go, I don't think it would be hard to build. On an interesting note this way of storing the ladder type stairway would be interesting in a dollhouse I love this ladder.. what a great mini! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SewMini Posted July 27, 2017 Author Share Posted July 27, 2017 That actually is a great ladder! Where did you find it Goldenrod? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldenrodfarm Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 It is actually a full sized picture, but my thoughts is that is probably easy to adapt a bought ladder to do this, just add the mini railing and use a grove in the side boards to pull it down. However I think I am going to build mine from scratch because I think mine is going to have to be narrower to accommodate the hole in the stump I am working on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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