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Young House Love » Favorites » Decorating A Dollhouse

| By Sherry Petersik | May 17, 2012 | 547 Comments

Decorating A Dollhouse

Hold onto your miniature hats, it’s time for the fun part of painting and personalizing the dollhouse!

How We Built A Wooden Dollhouse Title Card

Our last post was full of the building process, which you can see by (clicking here) – so let’s move on to how we finished everything off.

Modern DIY Wood Dollhouse Constructed But Unpainted Or Decorated

After it was all assembled, it was time to schlep our 31″ x 31″ creation up into the sunroom for some priming and painting. Just like our office cabinets, kitchen cabinets, and the play kitchen we made for Clara, I used a coat of Zinsser Smart Prime (it’s no-VOC but amazingly good for blocking bleed through when you’re painting raw or stained wood) followed by two coats of Bejamin Moore’s low-VOC Advance paint (really durable and awesomely self-leveling). I went with Decorators White since we had it leftover from painting the office cabinets and the play kitchen, so this step didn’t cost us anything. Here’s our little house when it was primed but not yet painted:

Simple DIY Dollhouse Painted White With Primer

And here’s my first coat of paint going on (I used a brush for some of the hard to roll places and a small foam roller for the more expansive roll-able places – like the sides, roof, and back).

Hand Painting DIY Wooden Dollhouse With Short Handle Angled Paintbrush

Then I gave it about 30 hours to cure up before it was…

Final Painted White DIY Simple Dollhouse Build

… wallpaper time!

Finished Simple Dollhouse DIY With Wallpaper Background In Each Compartment Room

I actually used the following things that I already had in the house (I just ransacked my craft bin/gift wrap closet) to wallpaper the dollhouse:

  • Top left: Gift wrap sheets picked up from a local place called Mongrel a few months back
  • Top right: Decorative paper from Michael’s leftover from some other project
  • Middle left: A roll of leftover decorative tape from Michael’s (I just taped four strips of it to a piece of card stock)
  • Middle middle: More gift wrap from Mongrel (this one’s actually from a few years back)
  • Middle right: More decorative paper from Michael’s
  • Bottom left: Even more decorative paper from Michael’s (I have a nice pile of leftover paper under the bed)
  • Bottom right: More gift wrap from Mongrel

As for how I did it, I cut templates for the back wall of each room using regular old printer paper (taping a few sheets together if it was bigger than one sheet and trimming things until it was a nice snug fit). Then I just used that paper template to cut out the right sized piece of gift wrap or decorative paper. I used double sided tape to affix them to the back wall of the dollhouse, and then brushed a thin coat of matte Mod Podge over each of them – just to give them some protection from being scratched or ripped (except for the room with the decorative tape, which was already shiny).

As for furniture, I bought a big “mixed lot” of old dollhouse furniture (most of it from the 50s/60s) from eBay for $30 including shipping. Oh and for those wondering about scale, it’s 1/2″ scale. This is what it looked like after it came and I soaked everything in hot soapy water to remove years of grime.

Assortment Of Small Dollhouse Furniture

But since those colors weren’t exactly what we were going for, I turned to my good friend spray paint. We knew spray primer and spray paint was the best way to permanently update the furniture (no-VOC paint would most likely scratch off within one or two play-sessions – and we really want this to be a durable and long-lasting gift) but we didn’t want the dollhouse to smell all fumey like spray paint, so I actually ordered this furniture in February and sprayed it all in March so it could be left in the sealed off sunroom (and brought outside on sunny days) to off-gas for a nice long time. Thankfully there’s nothing stinky about it after all that curing time, and it actually looks pretty convincingly done – as if that’s the color the manufacturer sprayed on it a few decades back. Speaking of color, some of them got leftover dark brown spray paint (with built-in primer by Rustoleum) for the whole “wood look.”

Small Dollhouse Furniture Spray Painted Brown On Cardboard

But most of them got white primer + paint as a base (Rustoleum Universal in Satin White) …

Small Dollhouse Furniture Spray Painted White On Cardboard

And then some of them got a shot of bright color on top of that primer + paint base, just for fun (thanks to leftover cans of random colors). Who doesn’t love a yellow washer or fridge? They’re Sun Yellow by Rustoleum, and the turquoise dresser in the background is Lagoon by Rustoleum.

Small Dollhouse Furniture Spray Painted Sun Yellow and Blue Lagoon On Cardboard

They sat around in the sunroom after their March paint job so long that they actually got dusty by May. Haha. So here they are after a little rinse-down in the sink.

Finished Assortment Of Painted Plastic Dollhouse Furniture

I couldn’t wait to finally get things into the house…

Furnished Simple DIY Wooden Dollhouse For Birthday Present With Bow

I didn’t put much thought into what went where since I figure Clara will be moving things around, and we’ll probably add some more items (like some much-needed wall art – maybe by laminating photos that we’ll print).

Side View Of Easy DIY Dollhouse With Wallpaper Backgrounds

Oh yes, but what about dollhouse people? We couldn’t find many that we liked (they either had ceramic faces that we worried Clara would shatter or were a bit too big for the scale of our furniture, or were just kind of scary looking) – although I later learned about these, which are pretty darn cute… so we went with Olivia’s family.

Detail Of Dollhouse Room With Olivia The Pig Dolls And Bird Wallpaper

Clara loves Olivia, and when I saw a family set at Toys R Us that looked perfectly scaled for our house, we scooped them up. They’re bendy plastic so they seem pretty indestructible and Clara has so much fun putting them in different rooms (ex: “Olivia’s daddy is taking a nap” and “Olivia’s mommy is in the crib – so silly”).

Although everything changes each time Clara rearranges things, the room above is sort of a nursery with a crib, a vanity with a happy yellow chair (and tin foil that I added to make the mirror look more like a mirror), a baby piano (Clara loves playing one at Grammy and Tom Tom’s house) and a dresser. There’s even a little airplane “toy” for the nursery, that I found at Michael’s (it’s really a charm for a necklace, but the scale is right so I went with it). But more on how we’re keeping the super tiny things in the dollhouse Clara-safe in a second.

Close Up Of Pig Dolls In Nursery Room In DIY Dollhouse Build

Speaking of scale, as John mentioned yesterday, we opted for an 8″ room height on the first two floors and a sloped attic that’d go from 6″ to about 10.” This was all a bit big for the scale of our eBay furniture, but we wanted to err on the side of giving Clara plenty of room to move around rather than being sticklers for scale – and who doesn’t love a room with extra high ceilings anyway?

The room below is sort of a playroom/ extra bedroom without a bed (remember this whole thing is still evolving, haha) so it’s mostly filled with random furniture, a fabric rug that came with the dollhouse lot, a small frame that I found at a thrift store for a nickel with the glass removed and a piece of tinfoil in there to make it resemble a leaning mirror, and a small potted topiary that I found at Michael’s from the wedding aisle (it’s actually a place card holder).

Boys Bedroom In Easy DIY Dollhouse Build With Olivia Figurine

Oh and see those “ceramic animals” on top of the blue dresser above? They’re just plastic beads I found at Michael’s. I thought it was cute to add some animal friends to Clara’s dollhouse, and although Clara’s past the putting-things-in-her-mouth stage, a few smaller accessories like these and the previously mentioned toy airplane get put away in a box that only comes out when we’re playing together (so if she’s playing alone they’re not in there for her – just in case she gets any crazy ideas…).

The laundry room might be my favorite room. The metallic tape I used for the wallpaper doesn’t photograph as great as it looks in real life, but in person it’s kind of swanky and geometric. I loved spraying the utility sink and the washer bright yellow and adding that cute pink basket on the floor. And see that black thing hanging on the wall? It’s a thrift store find for 10 cents (it was some sort of plastic frame ornament or something) but I used leftover chalk board paint to make it into a hanging chalkboard by just painting the plastic disk inside the frame and hanging it up.

Laundry Room In DIY Simple Dollhouse Build With Reflective Gold Tape Wallpaper

I love that we can change the message whenever Clara asks me to write something new (it actually says “Moooo!” right now at her request).

Close Up Of Chalkboard Wall Hanging In Dollhouse With Daughters Initials

The next room is the bedroom, complete with a paper rug (I thought laminating it would make it last longer, but Clara has yet to pick it up and crush it so we’ll have to see if I get around to it). I’d also love to make fabric rugs from old scraps from her monthly pics someday, so I’ll keep you posted.

Rug Made Out Of Craft Paper In DIY Easy Homemade Dollhouse

Oh and see the tiny metal camera on the dresser and the small flower pot on the other dresser above? Those are little doodads I found for a few bucks at Michael’s (the camera is a charm for a necklace actually – it’s another one of those things I tuck away when Clara is playing by herself since it’s so small). They also sell tiny flowerpots and fake flowers so I made that little potted plant and painted the terra cotta pot with the same pink nail polish that I used to make chevron pillows and a matching pink duvet skirt on the bed.

Here’s the bathroom with a mint green sink, and the other one of those plastic thrift store frame ornaments. Instead of making this one another chalkboard, I just put some tin foil behind the plastic pane and made it into a mirror for over the sink.

Bathroom In DIY Dollhouse Build With Colorful Craft Paper Wallpaper

Oh and Clara was sad the potty didn’t open at first, but then was very excited when I taught her we could flush it by making a swissssssshhhhhhh noise with our mouth. Now Olivia and her family hang out in the bathroom a lot.

The living room is in dire need of some art on that blank wall, but it does have a funny little retro record player/TV cabinet (the white thing) with a “ceramic” rhino on top of it, so that tickles me.

Dollhouse Family Room In Lower Level Of DIY Dollhouse Build

My favorite guy in there is the tiny Burger I found on eBay. You bet I paid $3 plus $3 shipping to have him represented in the house. Haha. Clara was pretty psyched to see him. She calls him “Baby Burger.” It’s very sweet.

Chihuahua toy in DIY Dollhouse

Next to the living room is the kitchen, with an oven/stove and a sink (complete with tiny dishes in it, which also go away when Clara plays alone because they’re pretty small) and a happy yellow refrigerator. I also made the table with the top of a little wooden box I had lying around and used a small paper gift box as the base. Another homemade flowerpot + faux flower combo went on top along with chairs from the eBay lot of furniture. Oh and that’s another paper rug I just quickly made and might get laminated for protection (or it’ll get replaced with a fabric one I’ll make down the line).

Dining Room Kitchen Area Of DIY Kids Dollhouse Build

After loading in all the furniture, it was time to top it with a bow…

Bow On Top Of DIY Homemade Dollhouse Build For Daughter

… and carry it out of hiding and into the living room for Clara to discover after her nap.

Easy Modern Do It Yourself Dollhouse Build With Colorful Decorations

She ran right in as if it had always been there and picked stuff up and got right down to the business of playing.

Toddler Girl Playing With Dollhouse Made By Parents

It was so cute to watch her little brain work out that things were too small for herself, but perfectly sized for Olivia and her family. The little family of pigs was definitely her favorite part at first and slowly she picked up on things like baskets and chairs and the crib, bed, and toilet- which became fun to work into Olivia and her family’s routine.

Little girl playing with Easy to Made DIY Dollhouse

We love that nothing is too precious to worry about because we really wanted it to be something she could go to town on without fearing that delicate things could be broken.

Close Up of Little Girl Playing With Olivia Pig Figurines In Homemade Dollhouse

Thankfully since the furnishings are all plastic or metal, they should hold up to Hurricane Clara. Oh yes, and the fact that Olivia is holding a kitty = Clara’s favorite part (other than discovering Baby Burger). The girl loves her animals!

Olivia The Pig Figurines In Dollhouse

So it’s safe to say that she likes it. Whew. The next morning it was the first thing she talked about as we got her our of her crib. And we might like it a little more than adults should too (not that we played with it after she went to bed, ok maybe we did just a little).

As for the budget breakdown, here ya go:

  • Wood: $35 (we did get to reuse a scrap piece we had for the back to keep costs down)
  • Nails and wood glue: $0, already owned (but they might run you $5 if you don’t have them)
  • Primer & paint: $0, leftover from painting other things like cabinets & the play kitchen ($70 would get you a gallon of each that would probably last for a ton of furniture painting projects like ours have – even big ones like cabinet painting)
  • Dollhouse furniture: $30 (including shipping) bought as one “lot” on eBay
  • Michael’s doodads: $5 (small flower pots, faux flowers, beads, camera and airplane charm, etc)
  • Baby Burger: $6 (including shipping) on eBay
  • Olivia’s family: $10, Toys R Us
  • TOTAL: $86

Thanks to having lots of those odds and ends on hand (primer & paint, decorative paper and gift wrap, Mod Podge, and even a piece of scrap wood for the back of the dollhouse) we were able to come in almost $15 under our $100 goal. Actually $86 is lower than all of the used wood dollhouses that we found on Craigslist. Which I think means that momma should get $15 to spend on future upgrades and furnishings, right? Haha. Can’t wait to see how this thing evolves as Clara grows!

Overhead View Of Little Girl Playing With Homemade DIY Wood Modern Dollhouse

Have you guys used things like gift wrap and decorative tape as wallpaper? Any other plastic-beads-turned-ceramic-animals out there? We heard so many awesome ideas in yesterday’s post, from carpet samples or even wood/tile on the floor to using tongue depressors to make shingles. Love it all.

Psst- Check out Part 1 of this project here.

More posts from Young House Love

Filed Under: Favorites, Furniture & Building, Kids & Pets, Videos

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Comments

  1. Hayley says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    I am slow phasing out the ugly plastic Dora house that my daughter has. My hope is that I can talk hubby dearest into something like this. Actually, who am I kidding, I’ll have to do this. :) Unless I can find a wooden craigslisted one.

    You know, John could totally make a killing selling these online. Or selling it in a put-together Ikea style. Seriously, there are not enough simple dollhouses out there that people can decorate to their liking.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:30 pm

      I totally agree! One of our biggest dreams is offering a kids line of things like this someday! We could design fun things like this all day!

      xo,
      s

  2. Nicole Y. says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:10 pm

    Has Burger tried to play with the miniature version of himself or the rest of the house?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:24 pm

      Haha, he has been completely uninterested. Basically if it’s not food, he’s not into it. Haha. Thank goodness, because I’d be so sad if he ate Baby Burger.

      xo,
      s

    • Nicole Y. says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:43 pm

      Glad to hear Baby Burger is safe :) The house is adorable!

  3. Kathryn says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    That is a seriously cute doll house, all of the little details make it. I wonder if you could do something with magnets/magnetic paint so that wall art could be easily put up and rearranged?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:23 pm

      A few folks mentioned velcro so things could be switched out, which would be so much fun! Magnetic paint could be fun too!!

      xo,
      s

  4. Karen F says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    so beautiful, guys! you did such a great job with it!

    Reply
  5. Stephanie/SwoodsonVintage says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    SO CUTE! I love the Olivia family, and those topiaries are what I used for my wedding place holders :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:22 pm

      Haha, no way!

      xo,
      s

  6. janetl says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    “Things you build for Clara” are starting to be my favorite posts! :) Love it!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:21 pm

      Aw thanks!

      xo,
      s

  7. Kelsey says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE the Dollhouse. I would love to make one for little guy… but thats just the thing… hes a boy! Do you guys think it is weird to make a Dollhouse for a boy? I mean, boys can play house too, right? I can make it a little more manly with the wallpaper and stuff.

    Thanks!
    Kelsey

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:22 pm

      I completely believe boys can play with houses! I mean, look at John. Haha. He plays with our house all the time. And Clara has a tool kit and lots of trucks- so I think a house full of stuff to move around can be totally gender neutral- especially if you decorate it with stuff he loves (patterned paper in his style, furnishings and accessories he’d love, etc).

      xo,
      s

    • alex says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:51 pm

      You could make a super hero house and every room is for s different guy…like a Batman room with a Batman figure, iron man with red and yellow decorations…then when he goes to bed, you guys can host Real World: Super Hero episodes. .or maybe that’s just me.

    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 2:17 pm

      Haha cute!

      xo,
      s

  8. Nadia says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:13 pm

    Omg!! This could not have come at a better time! I’ve been looking for something for the hubby to build my two girls and this totally fits the bill! As for play people, my three year old and I just spent last weekend making peg clothespin people. They came out south cuter than I expected and were actually a total blast to paint. My daughter especially loved choosing the colors for things like dresses and hair…ya, we have a couple of cuties with pink pixie cuts and baby blue pigtails. I could totally see you getting into it Sherry!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:30 pm

      That sounds like so much fun!

      xo,
      s

  9. Jillian {Her Split Ends} says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    It’s so fantastic! Love all of the details!! Nicely done…now only to decide do i have to wait until i have a kid to make one…hmmm

    CHeers
    ~ Jillian
    http://www.hersplitends.com

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:30 pm

      I vote no! Haha.

      xo,
      s

  10. marney says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    Just a heads up – although she may be past putting things in her mouth, she may not be past putting things in her nose! Our little guy (3 1/2) put a little fuzzy craft ball up his nose and didn’t tell anyone. Fast forward 4 months and a doctors visit for a non-stop runny green nose and awful breath, and he finally fesses up when asked “did you put something up your nose”. :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks for the tip! We hear that can happen with food too, so we always try to keep an eye out!

      xo,
      s

  11. Donna says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    Cutest dollhouse ever! Sure beats the metal one I had in the 60s.
    I love that you spray painted the furniture! I too am crazy for spray paint. You proved there’s nothing you can’t spray!!!

    Reply
  12. Elizabeth F. says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    This is definitely one of the cutest doll houses I have ever seen. Way to go!

    Reply
  13. Ashley @ 7th House says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Okay. You’ve done it. I now want to go out and rent a kid ;)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:20 pm

      Haha, if Clara’s giving me trouble this afternoon I’ll let you borrow her!

      xo,
      s

    • Ashley @ 7th House says

      May 17, 2012 at 2:22 pm

      Sounds like a plan! :)

  14. Nicole says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Love, love, love it!!!! This puts my old Barbie dream house to shame! And Clara makes my heart smile, as always! Soooo cute! Great job!

    Now, I must make one for my one and a half year old SON ;)

    Yes, complete with a man cave, and a…….grill? lol.

    Reply
  15. Tuyet says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    This is amazing! Great job guys! Again, you never cease to amaze!

    Reply
  16. Laura says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:22 pm

    Too cute & sweet. Baby Burger is adorable & I just love that you spent $6 so he could be included. I’m sure this doll house is going to end up being something Clara treasures for the rest of her life. I say that because I have a wood stool that my grandfather made for and gave to me when I was little. I think I was about three or five at the time and am now 40. I still have the stool and still use it. I like it because it’s useful but LOVE it because my grandfather made it for me. YHL is my favorite blog & one of the first sites I check each day. Although I’m beginning to think I might spend too much time with it since anytime I see a white ceramic or faux ceramic animal I immediately think of Sherry.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:34 pm

      Aw thanks Laura, you’re so sweet! Your wooden stool sounds amazing and it’s so sweet that you still have it and love it after all this time!

      xo,
      s

  17. Mandy says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:22 pm

    This is thee most adorable thing I have ever seen. You guys are so darn creative! LOVE THIS!

    Reply
  18. Suzanne says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    I absolutely LOVE that you made something for your sweet, wee one and didn’t just run out and buy something. She will treasure it and you both spent time devoted completely to her in its creation. Knowing there are still parents like you out there gives me hope for the future. Peace.

    Reply
  19. Ashley says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    So awesome! Nail polish for chevron pillows and duvet!!??! I’m in love! Socking these ideas away for when my little girl is ready for a doll house (she’s only 4 months)! :)

    Reply
  20. KatieV says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    Wallpapering those walls would be my idea of fun too! Oh, and I have so many fabrics I’d want to use to make tiny quilts and curtains!

    Reply
  21. Grace @ sense and simplicity says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:29 pm

    I love the little doll house you made. My favourite part is the pretty wallpapers on the back wall. I made over an old Fisher-Price schoolhouse as a cottage for a friend’s daughter and I used the plastic liners in the caps of bottles as little plates. They are white and have just the right amount of a lip to make them look like little plates. I’m not sure if they would be the right scale for your doll house, but they sure are the right price.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:32 pm

      Such a fun idea!

      xo
      s

  22. Christen says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:31 pm

    SO inventive and adorable! :) Love is in the details!

    Reply
  23. Amy @ For the Love of Georgia says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:33 pm

    Love this! Especially the “Baby Burger”! Reminds me of the dollhouse I received as a little girl and how much I loved all the furniture- My grandparents are super-handy with wood and upholstery and made most of the pieces by hand. I would always get so excited when they created a new piece to add to the collection =)

    Reply
  24. Elizabeth says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:33 pm

    This post MAKES MY MONTH. Gosh I can’t wait to have a baby girl someday so I can spruce up my old house for her!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:35 pm

      Aw thanks Elizabeth!

      xo,
      s

  25. Jaime says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    Its really depressing that this dollhouse is more stylish and cute than my own house..hahaha. But seriously, this is THE CUTEST GIFT EVER and you guys did an AMAZING job!!! Bravo!!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:36 pm

      Aw thanks Jaime!

      xo,
      s

  26. linda says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    OHMIGOSH… how CUTE! i want one, too!!!!

    i wonder if clara will get the DIY bug and decide she needs to change things down the road!? lol!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:36 pm

      Haha, I’d love for her to “renovate” as she grows!

      xo,
      s

  27. Sherry from BC says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    Love it. So happy and full of the little bits that children love. It is funny how many naps the dolls have to take isn’t it. You have created a classic for Clara that I am sure will give here years of fun and it can keep evolving. I like your ideas for changing everyday things into accessories for the house. Can’t wait to see how you do the art for the walls. I don’t have any in the doll house at my place. Make sure you check out the little stuff at the thrift stores and garage sales for future decor treasure. I will look forward to periodic updates on Little House Love.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 12:39 pm

      Aw thanks Sherry!

      xo,
      s

  28. Teresa @ wherelovemeetslife says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    You guys are making me want this next baby to be a girl!! Just so we can totally copy you and make a dollhouse for her :D. Great job!

    Reply
  29. Joanne says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    This is FANTASTIC! Sooo cute! I want one, and I am 42 :-)I have no idea where you guys will find the time if this turns into a new business, but you will without a doubt be so successful!

    Reply
  30. Megan says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    This is amazing! What a great gift. And of course, love how you decorated everything – the colors and wallpaper are so cute!

    Reply
  31. Lisa says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    Adorable!! My daughter loves her Olivia family too! Just an fyi, though. The ears break off easily. Just make sure your little Bean isn’t bending them back and forth too much as tempting as it may seem. :)

    Job well done on the house! I LOVE it! My husband was saying how inspiring this post is and how he wished we would have seen it before getting her the Plastic “Loving Dollhouse” for Christmas. Maybe she can have two houses. Lol!! It can be Wisteria Lane. Jk!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:22 pm

      Thanks for the ear tip Lisa! So far she has just been giving them naps and baths and potty breaks. No ear play yet. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  32. Crystal @ 29 Rue House says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I knew it was going to be perfect! :)

    I working on some self control at work so I only quickly read your post this am with no comment lingering – saved that for lunch! I’m making progress…haha!

    Reply
  33. Gwenalyn says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    I love it! My dad made me a dollhouse when I was a kid and the “dolls” I used in it were beanie babies (and the traditional Barbie, of course). My grandma made the furniture out of plastic canvas – it was so cool. I always thought I had the best doll house on the block because it was so unique. I’m sure Clara will feel the same way about hers!

    Once I can reclaim my dollhouse and furniture I will be passing it along to my daughter. I can’t wait! If I blog about it I will let you know, because I think you guys are the only people out there who might appreciate it as much as I do. :)

    Here’s a pattern of what my doll house furniture looked like (well, the kitchen and living room at least). http://www.etsy.com/listing/89769718/plastic-canvas-barbie-fashion-doll

    Clara’s doll house is amazing, you guys. She’s going to enjoy it for years! :D

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:23 pm

      That looks so sweet!

      xo,
      s

  34. Sarah says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:50 pm

    Precious! Is it me or is Clara a talking genius? Maybe you’ve gotten a million questions/comments about this already but…Clara is one smart cookie! Incredibly articulate for 2 years old and not to mention too darn sweet.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:20 pm

      Aw thanks Sarah! We hear she’s really chatty for her age, but it’s no surprise since I’m such a blabbermouth! Haha.

      xo,
      s

  35. Raina says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    Can I be your daughter? This is so sweet and so special.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:20 pm

      Sure! Come on over! Haha.

      xo,
      s

  36. Alissa says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    What a great house! My almost 2.5 year old got a small dollhouse from her grandparents for Christmas – its current residents are some Disney princess figures, Zoey and Abby from Sesame Street, and a bunch of small plastic dinosaurs!

    Funny you mention the toilet in the house – our dollhouse has one (with a lid that opens), and it was a great help with toilet training. We actually brought the dollhouse into the bathroom for a few days since we spent so much time in there! She loved it, and would put one of her dolls on the toilet while she sat on her own potty.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:20 pm

      That’s so cute!

      xo,
      s

  37. RVA Born and Raised says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:59 pm

    I love the doll house! Can’t wait to see how “Tiny House Love” evolves just like YHL.

    PS…I LOVE LOVE LOVE Mongrel! I make it there every time I come back home for a visit!

    Reply
  38. Ally says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    $herdog, I love how you said (in all seriousness, too :) that “The laundry room might be my favorite room” HA!

    You know, maybe you and J-Boom could concoct a mini clothespin chandalier for Clara’s swank laundry room? I’ve seen those teeny tiny clothespins in craft stores :)

    (and on the topic of laundry, I’d like to say THANK YOU :) I used the YHL 15% Discount Code at WallQuotes, and I’m currently awaiting my purchase for my own little laundry room…pixs to follow :)

    xox

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:19 pm

      Bwahahahahhhaa, I love the idea of a mini clothespin chandelier!

      xo,
      s

  39. Carmel says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    This is the cutest thing ever! I can’t even handle the ceramic animals! I want to shrink myself down so I can live in that tiny house!

    Reply
  40. Ann says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    Adorable of course! So fits into you guys too, the bright colors makes it so at home and happy. If Olivia ever needs friends, I think the Calico Critters are probably close in scale. They sell them all over now but twenty years ago I LOVED them in my dollhouse but they were hard to find.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:19 pm

      Aw, thanks for the suggestion Ann! Sounds cute!

      xo,
      s

  41. Danica Allen says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:09 pm

    Nice work! This is adorable!

    Reply
  42. Katie says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:09 pm

    This is awesome!! I’m so jealous, I wish I could have had something like this growing up!

    Quick question, did you guys think about putting passageways between your rooms or staircases in like in the inspirational dollhouse? Would that have just taken a much longer time?

    But I totally agree with you, the decorating part seems way more fun :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:18 pm

      We thought for Clara’s age, just making rooms she could take things in and out of would work best (we actually worried that if we made windows she would just dump all the furniture out the window, haha) but someday we’d love to “renovate” the house to add more details as she grows!

      xo,
      s

  43. rachel says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    so sweet- we love our dollhouse, too! FYI, Flor carpet square samples are great dollhouse rugs- we have about 8, and our girls love them! : )

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:18 pm

      Love that!

      xo
      s

  44. Emily says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    I loved my dollhouse growing up! We still have it in my parent’s basement… and it still has a spot on the exterior where our dog licked the faux bricks off?? Random, but true.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:17 pm

      Haha, so funny!

      xo,
      s

  45. Carmen says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    So cute! When I was a kid my parents built me a barbie house, that had actual carpet and linoleum (scraps they had) for flooring and little lights and everything. I thought it was the coolest thing ever!

    Reply
  46. Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    Clara kills me with her adorableness. What a lucky girl!

    Reply
  47. Olivia: wife. mother. photographer says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    This dollhouse is so cute and sweet! It looks like it was pretty easy to make too! wish I had a little girl to build it for ;) God blessed me with all boys! :)~

    Reply
  48. Anu says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    This is beautiful. I just got my daughter a dollhouse (which is really a bookcase with real doors & window openings) for her 8th birthday. This has given me a lot of inspiration to dig out my dollhouse furniture kit which has the templates already cut in the thin plywood. one just has to gently push out these 2d templates & then join to make a chair or bed etc. & then paint!!
    check out this link http://makingitlovely.com/2011/12/15/a-dollhouse-made-lovely/
    you might find more links here. Also the Michaels small size 99 cent thing is true. I jumped up and down when I saw a row of armoires & what not staring at me a few years ago. didn’t buy any since my girl was very young.
    nice job both of you!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:24 pm

      Oh yes, Nicole’s house is amaaaaazing! She did such a crazy cool job!

      xo,
      s

  49. Morgan says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    You guys have got to stop posting cute Clara stuff, because you are making me get excited about having kids and build stuff for them! lol. But seriously, it is a great dollhouse. Hopefully I will remember this awesome post down the road when I have a kid of my own. :)

    Reply
  50. BeccaK1 says

    May 17, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    This is AMAZING! And not to sound like I’m a bad camp counselor craft supervisor or something, but you might consider using modge podge or something on the walls over the wall-paper to make it a bit more wipeable and durable :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      May 17, 2012 at 1:21 pm

      Oh yes, I did that! Haha. It’s mentioned in the post. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

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John and Sherry Sitting On Woven ChairHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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