1. Order the kit that's the centerpiece for the contest. (I ordered two kits, actually. You'll see why later.)
2. Open the box and ponder, ponder, ponder. Use a lot of masking tape to "dry fit" the pieces together.
3. Make a commitment.
Yeah. Step #3 is the hardest part. I have to quit circling the project and start making decisions that are largely irreversible. I also try to get a handle on the 3-D aspects of the dollhouse project. I have to consider how I'll handle lighting. Where will I hide the batteries and wiring? What sorts of flooring and wallcovering will I want? What about the landscaping? How much of a base will I need and how will the house fit on that? And finally, how will people be able to view the interior of the project? This will be a big consideration as I think about the floorplan. It won't do much good to create rooms that can't be seen.
As you can tell, all of this should be planned in advance.
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| The fabric is to the left of the piano and to the right of the orange kidney table. |
I already know that I want this project to reflect Mid Century Modern sensibilities.
To help me, I have done a lot of research and pinned it on Pinterest. I have been looking for architectural styles, floorplans, and decorating boards that will guide me as I move forward. Of course, I'm also influenced by what I've seen and experienced in RL (Real Life). Two weeks ago, I went to a museum of modern art that featured furniture and stairways from the Mid Century Modern period. I found them fascinating. I was also able to pick up two trinkets that will work well as accessories.
Getting a handle on where all the rooms will be -- how big, how they'll flow, and what they'll contain -- requires spacial awareness. Furniture can't overwhelm. It has to work with the doors and windows and make sense.
This is the time for dragging out all the bits and pieces of furniture that I've squirreled away. For the living room, I bought that yellow chair a while ago, but now I'm thinking it won't work. I will plan to take it apart and turn it into a sofa. To tie everything together, I will be sewing a new rug, using the colors in my head. I also want to design pillows that add pops of bright color. Room dividers were really big, and I want one that's iconic and ultra-cool.
The kitchen will be lots of fun, but I will have to make most of the pieces from scratch.
As for the bedroom, well, once in a while, synchronicity weighs in. Can you see that scrap of fabric? It's white, yellow, gray and aqua. My dog wore it home from his groomer--and it's a perfect combination for the bedroom and its accessories. I'll be making the bed myself. I'll need to research what I want.
Do you have a favorite Mid Century Modern piece? I'm thinking about copying a 1950s issue of LIFE Magazine and re-creating it in miniature. What else should I do?
