Kami Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Retired Interior Designer with a background in building architectural models, sat down to build a 1:12 model of my own some-day home, and the next thing I know I am building a dollhouse. Lot of on-line options around now that were not available 20 years ago. If I need a lamp or chair, I go to the dollhouse sections on Amazon and eBay. It was 'get in the car and drive to the hobby shops' back in the day. Who knew? Or, I make my own if I cannot find what I am looking for. Does that make me a miniaturist? I accept my fate. I'll share photos soon. First big question: Do dollhouses always have to have an open back? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Welcome to the little family, Kami. You became a miniaturist with those architectural models. Google images of English dollshouses, with their hinged fronts and solid backs. Some time in the late 50s or so ranch-style dollhouses were accessed through removable roofs. Some dollhouses with finished exteriors are hinged in the middle to open out for access, and some dollhouses, like Greenleaf's 1:24 Fairfield, are open on part of a couple of sides for access. So no, dollhouses don't have to have an open back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaV Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Welcome to the hobby, it won't let you go now 😛 Ask away! If Holly doesn't know the answer, *maybe* one of us will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kami Posted March 14 Author Share Posted March 14 2 hours ago, havanaholly said: Welcome to the little family, Kami. You became a miniaturist with those architectural models. Google images of English dollshouses, with their hinged fronts and solid backs. Some time in the late 50s or so ranch-style dollhouses were accessed through removable roofs. Some dollhouses with finished exteriors are hinged in the middle to open out for access, and some dollhouses, like Greenleaf's 1:24 Fairfield, are open on part of a couple of sides for access. So no, dollhouses don't have to have an open back Thank you, Havana Holly. Interesting history in a nut shell. I guess I'm leaning towards the late 50s or so ranch style. I just can't figure out where to pop the walls open for access. First walls up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kami Posted March 14 Author Share Posted March 14 1 hour ago, MamaV said: Welcome to the hobby, it won't let you go now 😛 Ask away! If Holly doesn't know the answer, *maybe* one of us will Thank you for the welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 holly isn't really a know-it-all, just a firm believer in learning from my mistakes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kami Posted March 14 Author Share Posted March 14 Passing on your lessons is invaluable to the rest of us. Much appreciated. Geeze, if I was to share my 'learning from my mistakes', we would need a bigger forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPCullen Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Welcome to the forum! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kami Posted March 14 Author Share Posted March 14 Went searching for late 50s dollhouses. Tough to find, so maybe the roof access was not hugely popular? Loved the metal stamped ones, but do I really need to start another collection of odd things? Fun link. Old house has the combo roof off/open back. My Vintage Dollhouses: Let's take a tour of a 1950s Rich Toys rancher (my-vintage-dollhouses.blogspot.com) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kami Posted March 15 Author Share Posted March 15 This is wonderful! Good, cuz my project is inspired by mid-century, based on scattered childhood memories. Dollhouse memories, though, I have zero. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaV Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 On 3/14/2024 at 8:07 PM, Kami said: This is wonderful! Good, cuz my project is inspired by mid-century, based on scattered childhood memories. Dollhouse memories, though, I have zero. I didn't know these existed! What a smart way to get your dolls in and out of a house! Until they get stuck I suppose, but that's a different problem.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kami Posted March 16 Author Share Posted March 16 (edited) 21 minutes ago, MamaV said: I didn't know these existed! What a smart way to get your dolls in and out of a house! Until they get stuck I suppose, but that's a different problem.... Being the toxic and conflictive person that I am, my first thought was to use my magnet wand to kidnap the other player's dolls and run them off the cliff!! 🙂 Edited March 16 by Kami Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaV Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 1 minute ago, Kami said: Being the toxic and conflictive person that I am, my first thought was to us my magnet wand to kidnap the other player's dolls and run them off the cliff!! 🙂 😳*Quietly takes magnets off of all the dolls* Who am I kidding, I'd want the whole thing to myself anyway - to the cliff!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FurMama Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Oh my goodness! I had a grocery store similar to that with the little people and their shopping carts running around in isles powered by a magnet underneath. What Memories! I also think my Holly Hobby doll house was the same way. Not the wood manufactured one, I had a cardboard one with a Holly Hobby doll and plastic furniture. The doll fit in a stand with a magnetic base driven by a wand underneath. That house was the only thing that did not survive the leak in the she shed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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