Tag: dolls house

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Kids Rooms

Dollhouse dreams: The real house created in miniature

Taliah's room recreated in miniature
Taliah's room recreated in miniature

After Youla Saff had finished styling her two daughters’ rooms, she decided to pursue the painstaking task of recreating them in miniature in what resulted in one of the most amazing dollhouses we’ve ever seen. From the tiny replica furniture to the amazing finishes (Youla even stained the timber floors!) you can’t help but be impressed by the level of detail.

Kitchen
Kitchen
Dollhouse kitchen
Dollhouse kitchen

“I had this little lightbulb idea to replicate our home in miniature so the girls can have a piece of our home forever. After styling and revealing their rooms, I decided to dedicate some time towards the gorgeous Victorian dollhouse we had and start planning the mini reno. Little did I know then, it wouldn’t be so little,” says Youla who purchased most of the items online – a mix of regular and custom pieces.

Tahlia's room
Taliah’s room
Taliah's room recreated in miniature
Taliah’s room recreated in miniature

Youla estimates that she put in at least 40 to 50 hours work on the dollhouse. “It took me approximately two days to stain, cut and install the timber flooring as I did it all myself using the same stain as the timber in our home. We repainted the house to our feature colours and built custom furniture too,” says Youla who explains that the timber floors were the most intricate, fiddly and messy part of the project. “But sanding back the mahogany paint to recreate my study was also a nightmare!”

Taliah's teepee
Taliah’s teepee
Taliah's teepee in miniature
Taliah’s teepee in miniature

The dollhouse was initially received with a fairly lacklustre response from five-year-old Taliah. “Her exact words were ‘I don’t care, this isn’t a gift’ and then she cried. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh myself and my husband just burst into laughter. I think she expected some bright Barbie pink furniture which would’ve been much cheaper and easier. But I don’t think she understood the concept of the replica,” says Youla.

Youla's study
Youla’s study
The study in miniature
The study in miniature

“She plays with it a lot now. I often find her hidden in her room pretend playing and I absolutely love it. It’s a big difference to the initial reaction of when she received it. She didn’t love it at first sight, but she has definitely learnt to love it and appreciate it. I would love to lie and say I have deleted that reaction from my mind, but it will be eternally etched into my memory. Maybe there is a lesson to take from this, maybe keep things simple next time. And maybe fewer projects? Yeah right!” says Youla.

Nursery
Nursery
The nursery in miniature
The nursery in miniature
Playroom
Replica playroom
Replica playroom

And if you thought that was impressive, check out the cubby house her husband just completed for the girls!

When can we move in?!

Follow Youla’s decorating adventures on her blog, Belle Abode

Where to find stylish dollhouse furniture

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Designers Interviews Kids Rooms

Interior designer creates mini version of her own home!

Many of you may be familiar with Maven Dolls, the whimsical French-ragdoll-inspired handmade dolls that have amassed what can only be described as a cult Insta-following since their launch almost three years ago. Created by interior architect and designer Lee Talbot, many fans follow Lee’s feed to see the latest from her family and gorgeous home too. Based on the NSW south coast, she resides in what is affectionately referred to as the ‘Maven Dolls doll house’ — a home that she recently recreated in miniature for her daughter’s third birthday.

The amazing Mini Maven Dolls doll house

“I think people are really loving my doll house because I’ve attempted to replicate my own home which I use as part of my Maven Dolls branding and narrative on my social media platforms. It was also recently featured on the cover of the Christmas issue of Inside Out magazine which made it instantly appealing and recognisable.” Lee made almost all of the wares that can be found inside the doll house herself.

One of the many gorgeous interiors found in the doll house

“Apart from a few pieces I purchased from some amazing Australian miniature specialists such as the fridge, the mantlepieces and iconic chairs including the Bentwoods and the Eames Rocker RAR, I sourced all of my own materials and tools and handcrafted all of the furniture, décor and artwork myself. It took me back to my university architecture days and the very long days and nights I spent slaving away model making. And that certainly made it all the more rewarding. Putting my mind in ‘miniature mode’ gives me such a rush and made for endless possibilities, unlike in the real renovation world!”

Lee with her three children in their lounge room at Christmas

From concept to completion, the doll house took around 10 weeks to finish after Lee remodelled the original doll house kit prior to assembly making it more modern and open plan. “It took a while because I was designing and making it from scratch as a gift for my daughter for Christmas, so all the work had to be completed either off site or after my three children were in bed of an evening. I enjoyed every minute of it,” says Lee, who graduated with a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from UNSW in 2004 before commencing her interior design career.

One of Lee’s children playing with the doll house

“I was lucky enough to begin my career in interiors with a wonderful undergraduate position at the renowned interior architecture firm Geyer, based in Sydney in 2002. Then I continued to work in commercial interiors for various firms and brand agencies until I had my first baby in 2011. I spent time designing everything from high-end residential, hotels, boutique hotels, bars and restaurants in Sydney, LA and London before returning home to get married and start a family,” says Lee, who has a few residential projects in the works at the moment too. “I still practice my design and architecture in between juggling Maven Dolls and my children.”

One of Lee’s famed Maven Dolls

Photography: Maree Homer & Lee Talbot

Check out more from the maven doll house | Shop Maven Dolls online

Love the designer dollhouse trend? Check out this one and our miniature furniture roundup.

Categories
Interviews Kids Rooms

Interview: The woman passionate about creating mini interiors

When Julia Valka came across a few dolls house Instagram pages 18 months ago, it inspired her to renovate a dolls house for her daughter, Emily. Little did she know it would bring back an almost forgotten childhood dream of having one of her own. “Having grown up in a poor Eastern European country we barely had bread to put on the table, let alone toys and other pretty things.” And she now spends her spare time creating miniature creations for other people’s dolls houses.

“This is definitely a passion,” she says. “I love creating little interiors and challenge myself to make mini pieces. From the very beginning, I had a lot of interest in the pieces I make and that is how Mini Modern Designs was born. I love sharing my mini creations with those who want to have them in their dolls houses.”

Making mini furniture and homewares can take anywhere from 10 minutes to a few days! “It can also take days or weeks until I find the right bits and pieces I need in order to make something new. I like working with wood and making mini versions of real size pieces. It is a learning process and imagination plays a very important.”

Not surprisingly, interior styling on a real life scale has always been an interest of Julia’s too. “Me and my little family are still to build our dream home but we do love the house we live in at the moment. It is modern and stylish. However creating the perfect space the way I want it is not a priority at the moment. I have two energetic children (five and three years old) who often transform the house into a playroom! I have learnt to enjoy a messy, happy house!”

There’s a growing community of miniaturists and dolls house fans in Australia and around the world. “Creating modern pieces for dolls houses has attracted a lot people from mums to designers to collectors and shop owners. I am working on a system to manage my time and orders in a much better way. I want to always give the best in satisfying my customers. Most of them know that I make the pieces myself in the little time I have while my children are at daycare or late at night, and they are very understanding.”

Her best selling pieces include a mini camera (inspired by the wooden toy camera made by Behind The Trees), a fiddle leaf fig (yes, these house plants are even trendy in dolls houses!), beds, faux marble coffee tables and Tasmanian oak vanities. Dolls house decor has come a really long way!

“I have a big list of things I want to make that I haven’t even attempted yet. I am patient though in building up some skills in order to be able to make them. There are also pieces that I am happy to buy from other mini makers if they already have what I want. I think it is important to show each other support with our small businesses.”

Her biggest fan though is husband Christian, a set builder and carpenter. “He is the one I share my ideas with and the one I seek advice from. I have learned a lot from him and I feel very lucky to have him by my side.

Julia, husband Christian and children Daniel and Emily

Julia, 37, is currently finalising the details of a Modular Dolls House, her own creation which will be available to purchase in March. “I have designed this dolls house over the last six months and I think it is such a great idea as it gives people the possibility to have their input in creating the dolls house they want. The modulars give endless possibilities to change the look of the house in a matter of seconds.

“Also, my customers will be able to purchase one room box at a time and build at their own pace. They will come with the choice of being stacked on the floor or hung on the wall so great for large or small spaces. It will definitely enhance children’s creativity and confidence by giving them the freedom to build a dolls house using their own imagination.”

Follow Mini Modern Designs on Instagram or visit the Etsy store to buy pieces.

Categories
Interiors Addict

The coffee table that doubles as a dolls house

Qubis Haus is a dual purpose coffee table/dolls house. Could this solve the problem of clearing toys OFF the coffee table because they’re already IN it?!

QUBIS HAUS

The coffee table transforms into a dolls house with the simple addition of sliding panels made from wood and perspex, enabling the ‘designer’ to create different room layouts. Designer Amy Whitworth says: “The table is made in solid birch plywood and has clean modern lines, making it a beautiful piece of living room furniture as well as a centre for children to play. The table can live permanently in the living room so the children can play with it whenever they want.

“They don’t have to put it away and you don’t have to put up with it when grown ups want the room again, just slide out the walls. And once the children have grown up it remains a modern table with happy memories, if they/you do ever stop playing with it!”

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