This is a project that was inspired by early 20th century American bungalows. I’ve set it, however, in the present day.

The plants and shrubs surrounding the Bungalow were made from artificial flowers. I took quite a few artificial sprays apart, sometimes taking leaves from one and combining them with flowers or parts of flowers from another. The low growing plants were made from reindeer moss and Great Stuff insulating foam from a spray can. I sprayed foam on a sheet of plastic, and when it was dry, I sliced the pieces thinly, shaped them as desired, then painted them. I used a mixture of dried, used tea leaves and coffee grounds for the mulch. The result looked very like the mulch in my own garden.

Clay bricks were used for the bottom of the posts and the walks. I prefer to peel the bricks off their backing, placing them closely together, not using any “mortar”. I wanted my bricks to be a bit redder in color, so I painted them.


Here you see a closeup of the porch. I designed the plant stand, and again, the plants in it were made from “silk” plants I had purchased.

I also carved a tree panel for the front door. The knocker was made from a piece of an earring.
The Bungalow’s “garden” was built on 3 movable pieces of plywood. The side pieces had to be movable so that the Bungalow’s side walls could be removed to reveal the interior. These side walls are carefully fitted and are held on with magnets.
Here you can see both sides of the interior.


THE LIVING ROOM

The living room walls were painted using a pouncing technique with a fat stencil brush.

The houseplants were all made from artificial plants from the craft store.

The rug is a floor cloth I painted, the Southwest vases are beads.
The blinds were made of cardstock.

THE DINING ROOM

The dining room was one of the first rooms I visualized when planning the Bungalow. That was fortunate, as it’s much easier to paint a miniature mural on the walls before they’re up and glued together.

Here's a view from the dining room into the living room.

By the way, the lovely silver vase is a bead from a craft shop.
THE KITCHEN

We had recently remodeled our kitchen, and I decided to use the same colors in the Bungalow kitchen as I had in my real one. The walls are painted with leftover kitchen paint. The upper cabinets were made from the upper halves of those unpainted Michael’s cabinets. The cabinet over the range was made from the lower half of one of those same cupboards, as was the shelf on the opposite wall. I made the refrigerator, stove and lower cabinets myself. The counter is made of basswood, covered with several coats of paint, sanded between coats til it was smooth and shiny. The ceiling lamp was made from a bead and a clear plastic suction cup.

The floor cloth was inspired by a painting by Monet.

Here's a nice doll's eye view of the kitchen. the cabinet knobs are small copper tacks. I drilled tiny holes, then tapped the tacks in.

Here's a view of the other side of the kitchen.

This is what you'd see if you were a tiny doll peering through the window.
THE LIBRARY

The carpet in the library is another of my painted creations, as is the painting on the wall.

The desk lamp was made from a suction cup and a bead, the vase was a cap from a throat spray.
THE BEDROOM

I had purchased a sweet little bedroom group, the armoir and the corner of the bed are visible in this photo, but the set did not include a dresser. Fortunately, I found another little bedroom group, and painted the dresser with ivy to match the set I already had.
The silver perfume bottles are made from plastic beads, while the glass bottle happens to be an actual perfume stopper.
The rose arrangement came from a local antique shop, and the suitcase was from a child’s playset.

Here you see the other side of the bedroom.
I painted the watercolors on the back wall, and framed them. The “glass” covering the paintings was cut from a piece of clear plastic packaging.

Here's a closeup of the 2 paintings.

If you were a little doll, this is what you'd see if you were peering down the stairs!
THE BATHROOM

The last room to be completed was the bathroom. I had a hard time visualizing what I wanted until I ran across a Blue Willow pattern inspired soap dish. I felt that it would make the perfect bathtub, and from it the rest of the bathroom was born.
I used another of those inexpensive unpainted cupboards to make the linen cabinet, painting it to compliment the tub. After finishing that, I decided to paint a monochromatic mural.
I admit, I was stumped on what to do about the faucets for the tub. I didn’t like any of the ideas I came up with until I struck upon the ledge.

Here's the other side of the bathroom.

18 comments:

Arsovski Todor said...

I have never posted any comment in my whole life but I must admit I am astonished from what I have seen. You have done a great job. Congratulations. I am just starting with modeling but you have been a great inspiration for me.
Thank you

marcella aka milo said...

Grazhina, great work as usual! I adore the contemporary feel of these rooms and I would never leave that wonderful kitchen - if I was a doll ;o) The paintings are amazing, the rooms really come alive with them and you are a very talented lady indeed :o)
Everything is so neat and real, it's hard to remember I'm looking at a dollshouse. Congrats!!

Anonymous said...

Fantastica felicidades

Anonymous said...

I found you through flickr
and Oh My Goodness! I needed cheering up.and you have done it. You are a true and an incredible artist. You have found the right job with your new shop.
P.s my nancy anns want to know what the rent is

Anonymous said...

What a BEAUTIFUL house!!

You did an amazing job - I particularly love the dining room (including that fabulous mural)and kitchen.

Martha Hughes said...

This house is absolutely wonderful. I live in a 1915 Craftsman bungalow and you've captured the magic of these wonderful houses. I just wish my kitchen was a charming as the kitchen you put in your house. :)

Anonymous said...

loved the floor clothes.

Anonymous said...

this is just unbelievable what you have done with this little house. I was so in awe of each room and what you used to make each little item even some of the ceiling lights.I'm new at miniatures -took one of my shelves to my shelving unit and made 3 rooms for an old fashion house. I ordered most of the items I put in my little rooms but did make some of my own windows-curtains and pictures for walls and other things. I have made a country store too and made several items in that too. Sure has been fun and someday I want a dollhouse but for now--I'm having fun with small rooms in old crates,etc. Thankyou for you great work.

Lena said...

What a lovely house!I just love everything in it!

I wish I own one by my self!

Lena!

Susan's Mini Talk said...

I love this house as well as Ashley's house.

Susan Ghearing

http://susansminitalk.blogspot.com/

Dawn said...

all i can say is WOW

jj said...

What a beautiful house! And the landscaping as well. I love the design of this bungalow. I've never seen it before. Can you please tell me who makes it? Thanks for sharing.

jj

grazhina said...

Thank you. I designed and built the bungalow myself.

jj said...

Grazhina,

Wow! Very impressive! Okay, how did you do it? Did you design it based on a real house plan? Did you draw it on paper first or use a computer program? Will you share the plans? I LOVE this house! And thanks for responding to my last comment so fast.

jj

grazhina said...

Blogger seems to be tucking comments away in strange places, where I can't always find them.
About plans for the bungalow....I tend to draw out rough plans, then change them as I build. Someday I should write about how I plan dollhouses.

Kathleen said...

Grazhina I am madly in love with your work...I think you are an incredible artist and you touch my heart...I am a fabric fiber artist and use to be a potter and made all my kids dollhouse dishes and utensils. and their tea party cups etc...I especially love your 'bungalow' you just 'get it'...thank you for posting..please keep me in the loop...( oh now I do wedding and theatrical costuming if you ever need scraps!!) most sincerely Kathleen De Simone

grazhina said...

Thank you! Now I'm blushing.

Barb- NICUGypsy said...

Oh my goodness, this is absolutely gorgeous. Bungalow is my very most favorite style of house. I do wish (please, pretty please!) you would do a tut on how to plan a house. How do you do your original measurements and any tips you could offer. There is a dollhouse kit available now in this style but it is fairly expensive (at least for this old lady on social security). Thanks for making my day!! I also love you shop and have started my wish list! Thanks. barb