Wallpaper in the farmhouse kitchen and dining area

I got a lot of work done on my Craigslist farmhouse’s kitchen and dining area this weekend. I still need to install some trim, but I did a little decorating, just for fun. Here’s a look:

The light fixture and bowl on the chopping block are Etsy finds, mentioned in this previous post.

I made the little woven table runner on a small loom. Here’s a look:

weaving

The wallpaper, including the flower mural, is scrapbook paper.

This little chopping block is from a thrift store.

All photos by Holly Tierney-Bedord. All rights reserved.

In case you missed it, I’ve got a contest going on right now. I’m looking for a new for the dollhouse! Here are all the details.

More photos from the Chicago show! Here are some of PRD Miniatures!

Miniaturists

I still have plenty of photos from the Chicago show last month I haven’t had time to post. Here are some of PRD Miniatures. Also, here’s a link to the PRD Miniatures story.

Artist Paris poses with his mom.

PRD Miniatures at the Chicago Miniature Show, April 2015. Photos by Holly Tierney-Bedord. All rights reserved.

Kitchen floor update

Flipping my mini house

My kitchen floor is almost done!

First, here’s a look at my house’s kitchen/dining area when I first got it:

I removed the wallpaper, minibar (which I’ve saved, in case I’d like to reinstall it), and the flooring (if you’ve followed previous posts, you know that part wasn’t easy). I’ve now installed ceramic tiles into the kitchen, borrowing some space from the dining area so my kitchen will be a little bigger than it was before. Here are the steps:

Almost done! Touching up the grout on the tile floors in my dollhouse. Photos by Holly Tierney-Bedord. All rights reserved.

Mini woven wallhanging

Handmade decor for my mini house

This simple project required just a mossy twig and some scraps of yarn. I used the arms of a chair as a loom. The entire project only took about a half hour and cost approximately nothing. I think it will end up in the master bedroom of my mid century marvel, since that room is probably going to be green.

Simple woven wallhanging. Photo by Holly Tierney-Bedord. All rights reserved.

Jonathan Adler-inspired mini coffee table for next to nothing

Everyday objects repurposed

The Nixon coffee table is currently featured on Jonathan Adler’s home page. It’s part of the Warm Modernism collection. I knew I wanted a similar coffee table in my mid century marvel, but I had no idea where I could come up with one, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I’m going to show you how to make a tiny coffee table with the same basic design aesthetic, for practically nothing.

Start with some old bangle bracelets you never wear. Everyone has some. These are from Myrtle Beach. I bought them from a souvenir shop that was going out of business. I actually think they’re really cute, but I have tons of cheap jewelry so I don’t mind donating these to a good cause.

All you need to make a Jonathan Adler inspired mini coffee table. Photo by Holly Tierney-Bedord. All rights reserved.

Next you’ll need a round wooden box like this one pictured above. You can find these boxes at places like Michael’s for $1.00- $2.00. When opened, you automatically have (if you have any imagination at all) a table and tabletop. The trick to creating a Jonathan Adler Nixon-inspired mini table is to add a bracelet base to the tabletop part of the box. The built in edge inside the lid makes a perfect guide to center your bracelets. A lattice style cuff bangle, like the base of the actual Nixon coffee table, would be ideal. I might shop around for one, but for now, this stack of bangles looks good to me.

The assembled table will look like this:

Here’s the one I am making, next to the original box/table. I might remove the bottom bracelet to make it even lower. I won’t decide for sure until I see how it looks in the living room, alongside (yet to be acquired) chairs and sofas.

The only thing left to do is to sand the edges lightly, put on a coat of dark stain, and glue it all together. Since this project is still in progress, it might look a little different the next time you see it, but you get the idea. If you still can’t see it as anything other than a stack of bracelets with a coaster on top, you’ll just have to wait for the final unveiling.

The Ikea Huset miniatures

Furniture and decor I've purchased

A few days ago I received the Huset collection of miniatures from Ikea that I’d ordered. They are a larger scale than my dollhouse, but some of the items like the white shelf and fun, heart-with-hands pillow could fit into my house one day since bookshelves and pillows don’t have to be a set size the way seating does. The Huset furniture comes with several cardboard punch out accessories like a clock, windows, a bowl of fruit, and a pet parrot, to help kids (or adults) decorate their little space.

The collection, for now, is on display on a bookshelf in my living room. They’re worth the price, especially if you’re at Ikea and don’t have to pay for shipping. They look like they’d work well with a Barbie doll. Here’s how my collection looks at the moment:

A mini macrame owl inspired by Jonathan Adler’s design

Handmade decor for my mini house

It’s nowhere near being move-in ready yet, but my mid-century marvel has been accumulating stacks of decor. Some of it I’ve purchased new, some at antique and thrift stores, but most of it I’ve made myself. This miniature macrame owl was inspired by Jonathan Adler’s design book 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life. In the book he shows several macrame owls and gives simple, step-by-step instructions to create your own owl. I used his instructions as helpful guidelines, but altered them to work for me. I used thin yarn so it would be the appropriate scale. I added the eyes with slightly darker thread, and I will reattach them once I pick up some thread that’s a match. Up close and with the camera flash the thread is quite noticeable, but until I can replace it, it’s actually not that easy to see in person. I’ve shown the owl with a regular pen so you can get an idea of the scale. Once it’s hanging in the house it will look like a pretty large wallhanging. I think it will end up in the living room, but I am not sure yet. The best part about miniature crafts? They don’t take very long to make!

Photo by Holly Tierney-Bedord. All rights reserved.

A text message earlier this summer

Flipping my mini house

My friend and her husband were at a flea market when they spotted two dollhouses. My friend was pretty sure I would find them enchanting so she sent me some texts with photos attached. She was right.

“Buy the Brady Bunch one and I’ll pay you back!” I told her. It was just $35!

The next weekend she and her husband delivered it. (How’s that for service?) He didn’t look happy; it is VERY heavy and was covered in spiderwebs, mouse poop, and who knows what else. I, however, was delighted. It was even better than the picture! It might have been dirty, but as they say in real estate talk, It had good bones. Here are some photos from our first day together:

The house that started it all. Very Mid Century. Very Brady Bunch. Click to enlarge. Warning: You might regret looking too close. Photos by Holly Tierney-Bedord." width="300" height="223" /> The house that started it all. Very Mid Century. Very Brady Bunch. Click photos to enlarge. Warning: You might regret looking too close. Photos by Holly Tierney-Bedord.

How my house looked when I first got it. Photos by Holly Tierney-Bedord.

flipthis(mini)house

Join me as I turn a flea market find into a mid-century marvel

modern dollhouse