Newport study with fireplace, part 4

Though the Newport was sold eventually, I’ve compiled some of the posts I made when I first started building it.

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Continuing work on the study with fireplace. In order to decorate for Christmas, I had to get the study in nearly complete order. I installed the windows with newly cut acrylic inserts to replace the printed ones that came with the kit. I had previously upgraded the windows to include Yorktown pediments by Houseworks on the exterior, but these needed to be cut down for the window located on the angled wall since they were too wide to fit between the connectors. I will have to cut down the pediments on the bay areas of the main house as well for the same reason.

Here’s the view on the exterior. Even though the side pediments are cut down, they don’t look incomplete. Nothing is glued in place yet, so the gaps and imperfections will be sanded and painted further before I glue them in permanently.

I sprayed the wood flooring with matte sealer (two coats). I like how it warmed up the color and brought out the detail of the wood grain. [Update below]

I used Houseworks baseboards along the perimeter; each board has a groove on the back to hide wires. I think this has been my least favorite part so far. The main problem is cutting around the wall connectors, which results in a lot of little pieces with angles on either end. But, it really adds a lot of realism to the room, so I just keep cutting and cutting and cutting until I get the pieces right. (In later builds, I do my best to eliminate these types of corners by padding walls or removing the interior portions of connectors.)

I used Houseworks trims around the interior of the windows to match the Traditional Block & Trim interior door, also by Houseworks. The windows and their related interior trims are not glued in place so I can remove them to continue the build without any worry of damaging them.

Update 01-15-10:
Since this post, the spray sealer has broken down and the finish has become mottled (below the old floor is shown on top of a fresh sheet of flooring). I removed the old flooring and replaced it with a new piece, but I won’t be using the same spray sealer again.

Update 02-20-10:
I sprayed the second piece of flooring for the study with Minwax Water-Based Polycrylic protective finish in clear semi-gloss, and the results were perfect. It too warmed up the wood tones and stayed even and smooth after two weeks.

Categories: The Newport
December 20, 2009 | 0 comments

Newport study with fireplace, part 3

Though the Newport was sold eventually, I’ve compiled some of the posts I made when I first started building it.

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Continuing work on the study with fireplace. The first step of installing the flooring was to make a template of the room. I cut a rough outline and then taped bits of paper to cover any open areas. This method makes up for any warping there may be along the edges of the room.

I used dark wood flooring by Handley House; it comes on a paper backing so you can cut a single piece of flooring using a template instead of laying the wood down strip by strip. I did have to piece the wood a bit by the fireplace wall since the sheet was not wide enough to cover the entire width of the room.

The flooring isn’t permanently affixed yet. There are a few gaps from the wall, but I think it turned out well for my first attempt at wood flooring. I painted the edges where the base floor will show to make the gaps less obvious, and there will be a baseboard around the perimeter as well.

I drilled holes in the chimney breast for the sconces and then glued the assembly to the wall. I used Yes! paste to attach the wallpaper (scrapbook paper by The Paper Company called Parchment Tan). There are three separate pieces. The first one I glued in place was on the angled wall with the window. I cut it with roughly 1/4″ edges on either side to go under the other two pieces to prevent gaps along the seams. (Note: I no longer recommend Yes paste – I use Wallpaper Mucilage instead. Yes paste has problems with longevity.)

Once the wallpaper was done, I ran the wires for the sconces through the chimney breast. I plan to pull the wires up through the ceiling and run them along the floor of the second story to the power strip.

I think I am getting the hang of electrification! :D

The painting above the fireplace is a cutout from a catalog I had years ago. Unfortunately, when I ripped it out, I didn’t get the full name of the artist, only the first name of Leigh. From what text is there, I think the title of the work is called Jeweled Cove (or at least begins with those words), though I haven’t been able to turn up anything on the internet about it.

I glued the paper image to a thin piece of balsa then cut and painted a wood frame to surround it. I bought the clock on eBay, and the elephants I’ve had for over twenty years.

The fireplace fence is by Town Square Miniatures and was originally brass that I painted with acrylic paint to make it look like wrought iron.

Categories: The Newport
December 13, 2009 | 0 comments

Newport study with fireplace, part 2

Though the Newport was sold eventually, I’ve compiled some of the posts I made when I first started building it.

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Continuing work on the study with fireplace. I cut the opening in the fireplace front and lined it with thin strips of wood. I’ll cut new egg carton bricks that are long enough to wrap around the edge made by these strips to give the illusion of solid bricks lining the opening. The sides and top of the fireplace structure were then glued in place.

I then built the firebox to fit behind the opening.

I will likely line this with egg carton bricks as well but in a different color than the outer brick.

I then measured the opening needed in the chimney breast to fit the firebox. After cutting that opening, I attached the sides.

The chimney breast will be permanently affixed to the wall and wallpapered, but the fireplace, firebox and lighting unit used to simulate flames will be removable.

Since I’ll need to paint and grout the bricks on the front surface a different color from the trim, I taped the trim pieces to cardboard and painted them separately. Touch-ups are easier than trying to mask off entire areas.

Here the egg carton bricks have been glued in place and are ready to be painted.

And, after painting, grouting and attaching the final trim, I have a finished fireplace mantel in the exact fashion I wanted.

The next step in the fireplace construction was the firebox. I used the same egg carton brick technique as I did for the mantel brick but in a slightly larger size and without rounding the edges. I wanted it to look like a different type of material. I didn’t line the upper inside edge with bricks. I had cut the firebox to be taller than the front opening to give the illusion of the firebox opening up into the flue above.

I’ve found the best way to get a realistic look to the bricks is to do multiple layers of color. It looks dark and mottled, but the grout will even out the color overall.

I used Andi Mini Brick and Stone Mortar Mix to finish off the look. I scored the lines between the bricks with an awl to add more definition.

I will blacken the logs and add other touches to lend to the realism when I install the fire lighting. I will also be adding a hearth, though I haven’t decided on a finish for that just yet.

After getting the firebox finished, all that was left was to use light to simulate fire. I bought a resin piece online that has clear portions to allow light to shine through. It came with an orange bulb, but I added a red bulb to give more depth of color to the fire. After darkening the bottom and back of the firebox with diluted black paint, I drilled a hole in the side of the firebox and fed the lights through.

The lights sit inside an opening in the resin log piece, and the wires run up the chimney breast and through the ceiling.

To finish off the fireplace, I made a marble-look hearth out of a piece of cardboard. I used the technique shown in the DVD by Master Miniaturists called Faux Finishes.

The cut cardboard before….

And, after….

We now have a warm, cozy fireplace.

Categories: The Newport
December 12, 2009 | 0 comments

Christmas wrap and presents, tree skirt

I made some wrapping paper for both presents and rolls. I found images of wrapping paper online and then used PhotoShop to replicate the design into larger sheets and then resize to an appropriate scale.

For the rolls, I cut the paper into 3″ wide strips of varying lengths, rolled the paper into tubes using a small dowel and glued the edge in place.

I bought a bag of random minis from craigslist, and this paper bag was part of the loot.

For the presents, I took scraps of wood and wrapped them in paper.

For some of the presents I added textured thread or ribbon; the bows are plastic beads (one is topped with a tiny pompom).

I used Word to create a circle 4.5″ in diameter and then added clipart trees around the edge. I printed it on fabric and adhered it to sticky-backed felt. I then sewed some silver trim around the edge.

It’s the perfect thing to cover the plastic snow mound of the Lemax tree.

Categories: Miniatures
December 11, 2009 | 0 comments

Photos from contact sheets

When I order regular size photos from Kodak Gallery online, they send a contact sheet of what is in the packet. These sheets have mini photos that are 9/16″ x 13/16″. I also have some from Sam’s Club that are roughly the same size, but those have numbers printed in the corners, which limits their usability depending on the photo’s composition and the size you need.

This first example was made using a Kodak contact sheet without the numbers printed in the corners. The mini frame has an acetate “glass” that I used to center over the part of the image I wanted. I cut out the image and glued into place with the backer.

The second example uses brass jewelry findings with 1/2″ photo openings. I first cut a template out of vellum paper, which is translucent enough to see through. This way you can center the template over the image without guessing if you’re centered over the portion you want.

I like these since the images are crisp and printed on quality photo paper and the frames already have holes to hang them on the wall.

Categories: Miniatures
November 26, 2009 | 0 comments