One of my favorite dollhouse furniture books is Thirties & Forties Miniatures in 1:12 Scale by Jane Harrop. There are a lot of great projects in this book that are both classic in design and usable in a more modern setting. I plan to make several of the items, but I decided to start with one of the more straightforward designs listed as “beginner” level: the single bed.
I used balsa wood for the build since I am not sure where I would find the obechi wood the book indicates. Balsa can damage easily, but I love the way it looks once stained. It’s also very easy to cut. (Note from the future – I would no longer use balsa to build, and this bed has suffered damage over the years.)
I love the look of the bed with the high headboard. I used antique pine stain from IKEA.
The most difficult part of the whole process was making sure the slats on the headboard and footboard were measured exactly.
The bed has two flat boards (shown above) that I left unattached. Once I figure out the bedding, I’ll decide if I need them or not.
