Monday, May 20, 2013

Artply Highland Update


I love when I am able to share a renovation update on one of my houses. Makes me feel like a less neglectful parent! :)

My Artply Highland patiently sits in my work room and I have been tinkering with it since I got it over a year ago when I bought it on Craigslist for a cool $20. I have renovated one room so far, but it does need lots of TLC. I really cannot tolerate the muddy brown color of the exterior and hope to paint it soon (any color ideas? send them my way!). I took off one of the roof pieces to gain better access to the top room with the lovely rounded wall. I had been looking for wallpaper for quite some time; I knew I wanted a bold pattern, like the room I renovated next door, and was leaning toward a green or creme. I then found this Lokta design from the Paper Source, and was confident it would do the trick.

First, a view into the space, which I dubbed the "Mickey Mouse room" for obvious reasons:


Ugh...

Once I put the Lokta paper on one wall, I realized that I needed to break up the pattern with the curved wall. I liked the dark shade of the existing wood wall and decided to experiment with a 12 x 12" birch sheet, also from the Paper Source. I had a walnut colored paint marker and tried out the hue.


I liked the combination and painted the whole sheet. I also cut out long holes for the windows. I did not permanently adhere this piece since I might be able to completely scrape off the Mickey Mouse papers and show the original wall.

The remaining Lokta paper fit nicely on the other side, and the room was done!


I do not like the carpeting, but I did not have a good "cover up," so I left it for now.

It was fun to try different pieces of furniture in the room, but I couldn't decide on the couch: orange vintage Bodo Hennig or green "tootsie roll" by Minimodernistas. Do you have a preference?











As I was finishing this work tonight, I finally got around to opening today's mail and was surprised by a lovely little envelope. Inside was a gorgeous handmade metal firescreen by the amazing Fran of Fran Made Minis. She thought the fireplace in my most recent scene was lacking proper flowery coverage and remedied it with this!



I love it -- thank you so much for your thoughtful gesture, Fran!

Credits: Round table, Panton chairs, and orange couch are all Bodo Hennig; green "tootsie roll" couch and both globe lamps are Minimodernistas; shelf is by PRD Miniatures; coffee table is comprised of a napkin holder from Crate & Barrel and an acrylic block; cowhide rug is by Oese; flower pot is Playmobil with an aquarium plant. Accessories are Re-ment, JoAnn Fabrics, AG Minis, Michaels, The Shopping Sherpa, Minimodernistas, and Crate & Barrel.

The time it took me: 42 minutes, not including the wallpapering!

18 comments:

  1. Your modern doll's house is really developing well. Your choice of wall paper is a nice one as it is graphic and yet not too busy! like it all very much!

    elizabeth

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    1. Glad you like it! I thought it was bold but not too busy, and I like the pop of green :)

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  2. Hello from Spain, i love this room with fireplace. Nice armchairs... Keep in touch

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    1. Glad you like the fireplace! Fran did a lovely job!

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  3. O novo papel de parede é lindo! O espaço revestido com madeira está ótimo! ;)

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    1. ¡Gracias! La madera "nook" es una de mis partes favoritas de la habitación :)

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  4. Bugger the dolls house: is that a Utensilo I spy in the background?

    *Very very jealous*

    ;-)

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    1. You're too funny, and YES it is indeed a Utensilo, left by the previous owners. Cannot tell you if it is a copy or what. And I'd use it more if a dollhouse wasn't blocking it!!

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  5. I like these wonderful rooms.
    Bye, Faby

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  6. I really like the tootsie couch and the orange couch looks better in the other room ..if you need chairs bean bags were really popular back then and Loving the wall paper to bits! great choice

    Hugs
    Marisa :)

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    1. Yup, people are digging the tootsie. I do like it as well. Glad you like the paper choice!

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  7. I like this house and I like the way that you are finishing it with a very modern 70's vibe! My only critisism would be with the house kit itself. I find that the skinny widows in the rounded portion, read as 'tabslots' and they are so low to that fantastic furniture that as windows they look odd and disconnected to the cool, funky light fixtures above. Perhaps, by just lengthening the slots, you would be able make them appear to look more like windows, and your vision for this room will gel. Just a thought. I'm really "diggin"your choice of wallpapers, which are like a trip down memory lane for me. I like the green tootsie roll sofa, it is "Outa Sight!" It is the right scale for the room and fits the wall and makes a nice counterpoint to those "Sock it to Ya", orange chairs! All just FAB!

    elizabeth

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth! I agree that the windows are just too teeny. I might explore the option of lengthening them. I was wishing my globe lamp could be extended downward, too!

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  8. Una reforma preciosa,luce muchísimo más tal como la has dejado ahora,el papel es muy bonito y el suelo en madera queda genial!!!!
    Besos.

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  9. Beautiful! I really wish I had that talent. Outside colouring, now I'm not super sure. I pass by a gorgeous blue house with giant windows on my way to piano lessons every week. In the windows are pottery of different shapes and sizes. They are lined in colour coordination. Dark blues, light blues, greens, oranges, and many more. The house has a flower garden that matches the pottery perfectly. What I see from this post is that your doll house will be far better than that house. :D

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  10. Hi. I am inspired by your beautiful reno! I am reclaiming my Highland from my daughters (8 and 11). Unfortunately, it has suffered some damage. I'm missing three doors and the front doors. Any tips on where to find replacement parts for the Highland? Can't wait to get started on the interior. Thanks for the awesome photos.

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    1. Hi, choran17! Congrats on tackling your Highland!! In terms of replacement parts, I know one blogger, Cyd, who is getting them made. I gave her measurements and she is fabricating them. See: http://minimodpod.blogspot.com/search?q=highland. Also, I bought some replacement parts on eBay last year. They were not labeled as Highland Artply, but they sure looked familiar to me! So, I would check eBay or even Etsy first, and then perhaps consider making what you are missing. You may also consider engaging an artisan to do the custom work once you have the measurements. I got a door made for one of my vintage German houses. Good luck, and keep me posted!

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