wenlaine Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 This house was given to Missy by a friend today and we have no idea about it at all. It's not the usual luan wood that I'm used to, seems much thicker, maybe MDF. It's 3 stories and the staircases are really nice. It needs to be stripped down and redone. Who ever had the house, had used coffee stirrers for some of the flooring. Some shingles are broken, some are missing as well. The front porch railing has been broken and the windows need replacing too. But I was surprised to see that all the rooms had doors but the hinges seem rather large. I brought it home. Anybody have any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uppitycats Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Sorry, don't know what it is...but the house has lots of potential! the price certainly was "right" I agree..the hinges seem too large for proper scale. And is that some sort of carpeting on the stairway? I don't like it...but that's a personal (and small) thing. Have fun fixing it up! (I wish someone would drop a dollhouse in my lap.... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minis On The Edge Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 This is a job for Calamari! I bet she'll know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wenlaine Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 Yeah Uppity, it is carpeting and it's awful. The whole house really needs to be gutted. Wende, where are you? You're needed here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molmrath Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 What a cool dollhouse. I can't wait to see how you renovate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hallowell Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 It looks like a home built to me. Also looks like a fun project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggi Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 It looks like a home built to me. Also looks like a fun project. I agree with Greg on both points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minis On The Edge Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I forgot, Please tell Missy Congratulations on getting such a wonderful house too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newt Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 way cool, CONGRATS! to you all!! what do you think it wants to be? or does Missy know what she'd like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wenlaine Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 Missy's not sure if she wants it back or not, but I'm sure once it's all fixed up, she will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nameless1 Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I love that house! It's modern! I'm not convinced this started life as a kit -- the window sizes look more like what a home carpenter does. The ceiling molding and baseboard on the middle floor -- is it structural (holding the floor in place) or is it just for looks? Same question about the baseboard on the internal walls -- does it seem to hold them in place? That would help in narrowing what the house could be. One possibility is that it was built from plans. There were lots of plans running loose, back in the day, and I know almost nothing about that. (All I know is that Dremel sold plans as a promotional device.) Either way, I wouldn't be surprised if it was about 25 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJEP Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I'm with Greg on this one. Definitely looks like a home built house to me and has lots of potential and a fun project. Enjoy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wenlaine Posted January 2, 2007 Author Share Posted January 2, 2007 Thanks so much, Wende. I'm going to pay particular attention to all these little details when I start taking it apart. This is very interesting. The woman who gave it to my daughter this morning said that it was old, she'd had it since she was a child. She is in her 40's now, so you are probably right about the age. I will check in the morning about the ceiling moldings and baseboards and how they've been installed. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniMadWoman Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Wendy, what a great house! As others have said, it looks like a custom build. Someone put a lot of effort into it for sure. I can't wait to see what you come up with for this gem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovecats Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 That is a cool house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfieldzoo Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Yep. Looks scratch built to me. Looks like late 60's - early 70's style home. I think it's funny the lady said it was old. She's in her 40's. Guess I'm an antique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Its shape reminds me of apartment buildings from the 60's, which could be an interesting theme for the house, especially with the way the doors and stairs are set up. That third floor overhang is different but with posts on the corners, it could make a really cool second floor porch. You definitely have a treasure in that one Wendy, and it'll be fun to watch you bring it back to life. Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nameless1 Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Oh -- and do let us know if you get a look at what the wood is. If it's truly MDF rather than particle board (larger wood chips), that would help in putting a date to it. I suspect the house is way too old to be MDF, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prariegurl Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 When I saw the layout, of the rooms, I thought--this would be a gret tenement project! Check out www.tenement.org and see if you don't agree! Of course, I can't wait to see what you do with it. It does look like scratch built, rather than from a kit. It certainly merits a rehab. Jeri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heidiiiii Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 That is a great house! Are you gonna have Mr. Ferrly living downstairs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouchouch Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Yeah Uppity, it is carpeting and it's awful. The whole house really needs to be gutted. Haha. It's cool how that term is used on minis and then I hear it almost everyday on real houses. "Oh I need my whole townhouse done. It's being gutted as we speak." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newt Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 hi, might the house have been made in England or Canada? it looks something like some of the UK houses i've seen in photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenb Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 I wish I could help you with the name, but she sure is a diamond that just needs shined up a little. Looks like a lot of fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wenlaine Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 Well, now I'm sure it wasn't a kit. Using a micrometer, I found that they used 3/16" plywood for the roof. They've also used 1/4" and 3/8" plywood as well for the walls and floors. I took a picture of the underneath so you could see. Brenda, it sure needs a lot of shining. The doors inside and the window holes are a mess, some aren't even straight. The board it's resting on is just one that I use to cover the table, it isn't part of the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nameless1 Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Yup, non-straight windows tend to mean a Grandpa's Garage Special. Home designers tend to be either ultra-accurate, with features like closets and normal kitchen plans, or perpetrators of strange window proportions and non-square holes. The window issue is partly because it's difficult to cut a perfect one by balancing a piece of wood over a power tool -- my father's early efforts no longer look quite right after almost 40 years of letting the wood age, and he was building full-size furniture and house additions only a few years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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