The Haunted Heritage - Grandma's resplendent bedroom

by brae  

As of 2024, this post is in the process of being recreated on the new blog. Most links are broken, but the related posts have been moved to the new blog. Please check back later.
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I just adore this room with its feminine décor and the play between light and dark.

I did the initial layout using the kitchen since the rooms are the same size and shape.

By the time I started working on the bedroom, the plan had changed only slightly.

There was very little done in the way of structure changes, but this room was definitely a challenge on many levels.  First, there were a lot of angles from the roof structure, which made for interesting wallpaper application.  Second, since I had raised the ceiling height in the parlor but left the kitchen ceiling in its original position, the door from the hallway was too far off the ground to be a believable step.  And, third, the swinging window pieces from the original kit were in poor condition (the nature of old diecut parts) and I wasn't yet a whiz at the scroll saw to replicate them!  :D

The wallpaper is Out of Time by Recollections.  Not only did I have barely enough to paper the room (and the paper was then discontinued), it was nearly impossible to see the subtle black on charcoal pattern in a dark dollhouse room.  I made color copies of the paper for a dry run to get the layout down before cutting the final paper.

Installing the final paper proved to be easier than expected because of the prep work I did.

The bedside lamps are from Heidi Ott.  I love these lamps!

The ceiling light is a Ray Storey fixture.  I had thought about using a small, simple ceiling medallion here with the fixture, but when I looked at the resin piece I had on hand more closely I just didn't like it.  It was rough and uneven, and spending a lot of time to get it in paint-ready condition wasn't something I wanted to do.  Besides, it is a relatively short ceiling so it probably would not have been a good idea to lower the light fixture any more.

I installed the lower half of the faux attic stairs toward the open back.

It's the only place it really made spatial sense, and it's the least intrusive place in the scene.  I painted the door, trim and handle white to make it blend even more.

I added another baseboard heat register (my bash of a tutorial by Kris at 1 Inch Minis), this time by the window on the outside wall.  Having it on the wall behind the bed would have defeated the purpose of adding the detail at all, and the double outlet was already on the inside wall besides.

When Lyssa and I went to the Art Institute when she came for a visit last October, we naturally saw the Thorne Miniature Rooms first.  In one of the fine bedrooms, there was a perfect tiny staircase.  :]  I already had a vague image in my mind of how to address the problem of my floating door, but this helped solidify the idea.

I like how the top step is even with the door...as though it were a continuation of the floor on the other side.  This makes sense to me, so that one doesn't open the door and immediately fall down a drop off.  :O

I built my stairs from foam core board and basswood, then stained and painted to match the flooring and trim.

They are exactly that sort of vintage detail you often see in old houses.

This gorgeous nightgown is from Janet Middlebrook - so perfect for grandma and the Heritage.  Simply beautiful work!

I was able to salvage the swinging windows from the original kit parts.  Now that I know how to use a scroll saw, I would be able to cut new ones without an issue.  At the time, however, I thought making all new parts would be more trouble than it was worth.

There were slight gaps just below the arch windows for both swinging windows, so I added thin pieces of trim to hide these.

I also added window pulls.  These were brass but have been painted Vintage White by Folk Art.  Nothing says old house like painted over hardware.

I added individual panels to each window, mimicking the look of rod pocket top and bottom curtains.  I used relatively sheer printed white cotton fabric.  I normally don't glue the seam allowances on the edges, but I did for these.  I turned under 1/8" all around the panels, used pins to shape them on a foam core board and sprayed them with Aleene's Stiffen Quik.   I added fairy lace around the middles and then glued the panels directly to the windows.  I wanted to make curtain rods, but the space was just to tight to fit them properly.

They add just that little something that completes the windows without overpowering or detracting from the beautiful arch windows.  There's still a hint of the view, and the windows can still be opened wide.

The side window closes all the way with some tension between the two sides, but I was just happy they worked at all.

I get the feeling Ophelia spends a lot of time on the bay balcony.  :D

Pretty kitty.

Grandma's comfy chair was made from a House of Miniatures Chippendale Wing Chair kit.

I think the chair turned out very well and I'm so pleased with it.  Using patterned fabric helped hide any inconsistencies that the solid blue fabric included with the kit would have likely accentuated.  :]

I love the fabric I used.  It's just the sort of feminine touch I was after.

Mr. Rabbit is from K. Kuti Designs.

I am not a doll person, but I love animal characters.  He was in the main display case for dolls away from the vendor's table at the Bishop Show 2012, so I had to wait until the last hour of the show to pick him up!  :D

The dresser was made from a kit I picked up in a furniture lot.  I made no changes to the base kit, though I did add a mirror made of frame strip wood.

I hand painted the branches, leaves and flowers.  I would like to add a bird and left space for one, but I need to practice painting that small.  The knobs are vintage hardware I bought from The Little Dollhouse Company at the Bishop Show.

I love the worn wood top.

The paper lace doily is from Stewart Dollhouse Creations.  The cat figurine, ring holder and doily were purchased at the local mini shows.

The Bentham Tulip Table Lamp by Houseworksis from miniatures.com, and I painted the LED to make the light more natural -- a tip picked up on the Greenleaf forum.

I added a few more items in the final setup.  The vintage photo on the mirror is from L Delaney, and the bottle is the remaining one from Gypsy Boudoir Miniatures.

Utopia by Thomas Moore.  This is a book first published in 1516, though I don't believe this is the original cover.  Ever After is one of my favorite movies for its fun take on the Cinderella story, not to mention the costumes, and this book plays a part in that movie.  When I first stumbled onto the cover during my online searches, I knew I had to use it.

I created the back by mirroring the front, removing the text and copying some of the border design elements into the middle.  The spine is a section of the front cover, with text replaced.

When I bought Ophelia from *Reve*, there was a photo in the listing that I loved.  I asked the artist if I could use the photo, and she graciously said yes.  I edited it in PhotoShop and printed a teeny tiny copy for a vintage looking frame I had.

The beautiful Bespaq vanity and heart-shaped chair came from Small World Miniatures (now Regent Miniatures), one of my favorite eBay sellers.  I think the pieces look wonderful against the wallpaper.

The hand painted details are incredible.

I've lined the drawer with pretty parchment paper and added a few things I had on hand.  The laser cut hair combs are from The Dolls House Mall.  The letter is just a paper cutout for now, but I'll have to make a pretty opening envelop and letter for the drawer.  The laser cut key is by le mini di Pierliugi, purchased at one of the Bishop shows.  Grandma's lucky gold coin is made by Phoenix Models.

I chose vintage inspired accessories for the vanity.

The vanity tray I made fits perfectly on one side with the C. Rohal peacock box and Art of Mini lamp on the other.  Not much room for anything else besides a small book.  At first I thought the lamp might be too big for the vanity, but I rather like it.  It has a warm glow and the perfect vintage feel.

The tray is a jewelry finding that had been completely flat.  I used pliers to bend the handles up.  The tall black bottle with the silver stopper is a turning from CW Lubin, but the others I made.  The blue crystal bottle has a silver crimp bead and a fancy head pin to make the topper.  The round black bottle has an earring stud for a base and a brad as a lid.  The clear bottle has a silver crimp bead and a flat head pin for the topper.  All are attached to the tray with mini hold wax.

The Italian leather shoes are from Patrizia Santi.

The pale pink Chanel replica handbag and wallet are from Dollhouse Ara.  They are so well made and have a nice weight to them.  I chose this set for the Heritage since they are a nice classic style that shouldn't interfere with the era of the house.  Grandma has good taste!  :D

The Bespaq bed started as shiny mahogany with pink chenille bedding that was too large for scale. 

After the makeover, you'd barely recognize it.

I sewed some pillows and made pillowcases from the same sheer white floral fabric as the sheets.  I added one small white printed floral pillow to complete the bedding.  It has a tiny venise lace flower attached in the corner.

I made a small lace throw from some open weave fabric.  It is full sized to cover the entire bed when opened, but I've pressed it flat to sit at the end of the bed as an extra blanket for those chilly autumn evenings.  :]

Ophelia has found her favorite spot on the bed.  :D

Unfortunately, the wallpaper buckled months after installation (seen in the above photo).  I didn't want to redo the whole wall, so I chose to make a wall curtain, a brilliant suggestion from the Greenleaf forum.  The glue smear inside the oval frame is where I repaired the bubble that still would have been visible even with the wall curtain panel in place.  Full process here.

I needed a photo to fill the oval frame that would mask the repair seam.  I thought a 1920s wedding photo would be perfect, but I didn't have any in my own family to use.  I searched online and found this wonderful photo from Rick Zolla, who granted me permission to use it for the Heritage.  :D  I edited it in PhotoShop - adding some background to the left of the man and at the top of the photo, then feathering the border into an oval shape.

It fits perfectly with the ambiance of the room.  I love the relaxed pose and setting...such a great image!

So, the problem turned into a happy accident since I love both the curtain and the new photo frame.

The antique drum nightstands were made from the round stands that came with my artist models, 1 1/2" x 1/8" wood circles and Houseworks 1 9/16" long spindles.

I painted them with a base coat of Tapioca by Folk Art then added an aging wash of light brown.  I then painted the green vines, followed by red and yellow for the roses.  I opted for doing mirror image painting so they would look more like a planned set than two of the same table.  The knob is the fancy end of an antique copper headpin.

There's not much room on them for anything besides the lamps, but it all seems to work well together.  Looks like grandma is going to have a glass of port and read for a bit.

This was the perfect place for the smallest piggy I've ever seen!  :D

I bought this from The Kennedys at a local miniature show.  So cute, so wee!  I put the tiniest amount of tacky glue on his feet, and I hope he doesn't get the notion to wander off.

The beautiful rug by Katie Arthur of Dollhouse Littles used to reside in the parlor, but it fits so well with the bedroom colors and patterns that right now it shifts between the two rooms.

This photo of Ophelia is one I took.

I loved it so much I decided to print it for framing as well.  This one is a little larger to keep the details visible.

The bedroom is hard to decorate with its odd angled corner walls, so this is the perfect size for the space.  I added a small wall shelf since the space looked too empty with just the photo.  Grandma can display a few of her treasures here.  The owl bead is from Keli, and I purchased the pewter pot from Mini-Tiques and glass perfume bottle from The Little Dollhouse Company.  Both have removable lids.

I didn't fill the dresser drawers as I did in the bathroom cabinet, but I had to get these vintage nylons from L Delaney for grandma.  :D  Too stinkin' cute!

I think the black wallpaper works well in this room only because the room is so large and all of the furnishings are painted varying shades of ivory.  I didn't want a matched set of furniture for this room.  I preferred that the ensemble be cherished pieces purchased over the years.

yawn...and stretch...

'night, all!

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For The Haunted Heritage pictorial recap post, please click here.  Click here for a full list of Heritage posts, including how I made things and the materials used.

15 comments

Comment from: 12Create [Visitor]
Everything is just gorgeous - such wonderful details. I could happily lie back on that bed and soak in all the detail by the light of those wonderful lamps.
08/15/13 @ 04:25
Comment from: April [Visitor]
I love the tiny pattern in the window panels, which turned out fab by the way. Hooray for tiny piggy having a permanent spot in such a gorgeous room.
08/15/13 @ 06:04
Comment from: Kathi [Visitor]
Impeccable! Thank you for sharing the details of this room. It is gorgeous!
08/15/13 @ 08:42
Comment from: Blondie [Visitor]
Faboooooosh!!!!!
08/15/13 @ 11:01
Comment from: Lyssa [Visitor]
Love, love, love this room. Every ornate piece of furniture works so perfectly well together. It feels completely vintage and looks like it should smell of old wood and linen, crisp autumn air and the slightest tinge of Chanel #5. ♥
08/15/13 @ 11:17
Comment from: Eliana [Visitor]
It really is a wonderful room! Making retrospect, it's amazing ability to turn your ordinary furniture into unique pieces as appropriate to the bedroom.
08/15/13 @ 14:40
Comment from: Liduina [Visitor]
Thanks for sharing this, Brae. It's all so lovely to look at.
08/16/13 @ 03:49
Comment from: Pat [Visitor]
I love it. Going to begin a beach house soon. Collecting things for it now. Going to look at 1-inch minis by Kris for that heat register. Nice. Wanted to tell you that whenever I see your work on Pinterest, I pin it and put your name on it as its originator. Most of the times it's on there but if it's not, I add it. Looking at your blog, I can recognize most of your work! I love the huge open-out window. I want to sit there and read.
08/16/13 @ 08:49
Comment from: Irene [Visitor]
You've put so much work into this room, you're right to be proud of it - it's just lovely. It's nice to see items in the drawer too - I think that's fab!
08/17/13 @ 07:37
Comment from: Sandra Campbell [Visitor]
Each piece looks perfect in this setting - better than a matched set because they blend so well but the subtle differences keep them interesting. I learn a lot from your design and wish I could come anywhere near to achieving your skill in putting things together. Thank you for showing the details and being so generous in telling how you achieve the look you do. Hugs, Sandie
08/17/13 @ 21:41
Comment from: Betsy Rogers [Visitor]
Wow, Brae! It is a Masterpiece!!! I LOVE how the "problem" of the wallpaper buckling turned into an improvement after all!! Your attention to detail is so Inspiring and your ability to see and imagine what is needed to complete the picture is just extraordinary! I am in love with this whole project and can't begin to tell you how many little tips and pointers you have given that I have been able to use to improve my own properties! Thank you for sharing so freely! But I must confess that my Favorite part of this project is Ophelia sitting on her little balcony outside the window!!!! What an Awesome detail... and to have the potted plants and fallen leaves.... So Perfect it makes me want to weep! I can Feel the warm late summer air... smelling of musty fallen leaves... crickets chirping and the Silence of a Late summer Morning!!! You are a Magician!!! PS I know at one point you described how you make your "backdrop" panels to see the view out the window... where can I find that information again? I think I need to learn how to make better backdrops for my settings.....!
08/18/13 @ 09:19
Comment from: elizabeth s [Visitor]
Hi Brae! A truly magnificent bedroom and the list of what I love about it would be to recap everything that you have shown! What sticks out for me the most is the way the whole room looks cohesive and so inviting. If I were Grandma, I would hate to leave this room EVER! The wedding photo is a fantastic find and what a great finishing touch! The Janet Middlebrook nightie is a show stopper! I have a couple of her pieces too and thought that I recognized her style and the ultra fine work that she does! I like how you have placed it on the door and made it integral to the grand scheme of things. Your solution to the wallpaper problem turned into a great plus as that curtain softens the wall and adds to the femininity. The trap door to the attic is totally ignored but again makes sense to the house. All in all the most beautiful transformation imaginable! Well done! elizabeth
08/18/13 @ 19:31
Comment from: brae [Member]
Thank you so much! :>> The backdrop post is here: http://www.otterine.com/blog/blog1.php/seasons-minis-and-the-backdrop I'm still using that clipart autumn scene the most...it's just a wonderful backdrop for my tastes. :yes:
08/19/13 @ 09:53
Comment from: Liduina [Visitor]
I'm afraid I am speechless....sigh :D
08/20/13 @ 02:39
Comment from: brae [Member]
Thank you!!! :D
08/28/13 @ 08:19


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