French Country Dormer and Trim Work

The top dormer windows posed a challenge with regard to the color. I started by using the cream base, and used a white to outline the edge and the round circle. Not the effect I wanted. Then I did light grey base and highlights of cream. This was nice but didn't pack a punch.

I  then went to stippling and this gave me the stone effect I was imagining.
 

I then outlined in the cream - and though I liked it...it still needed something.

I finally settled on a lighter grey stippling for the highlighting of the edges and the circle. This is what I settled on.

You can see I've also glued on the stone patio and courtyard wall and painted them with stippling also. I'm very happy with the effect.

Moved on to the quoins - I could have stayed with the lighter grey but ended up with a slightly darker grey stippling to blend in more with the trims along the eaves. Its all now installed.

Chateau is The Latest

I have just acquired a Lawbre Chateau - smaller sister to the French Country Manor.

French Country Exterior Work

The exterior stippling has been done - 2 or 3 coats of colors. I feel like its now where I want it to be, so I've moved on to the shingling.

I filled in the remaining areas of shingles and now have 2 coats of color wash on the shingles. I'm also happy with this. I may add some light stippling of streaks, simulating worn areas on the shingles.

More 2016 Miniature Show Findings

Illuminations by Mel K:

BB Miniatures:

Crescente Miniatures:

JBM Miniatures through Greg at All About Miniatures

French Country Manor

I am the proud owner of a Lawbre French Country Manor! Its a house I've always wanted, and had resigned myself to never owning one. The purchase price from Lawbre is out of this world and so when a partially completed one showed up on eBay, I grabbed it!

The exterior was partially painted with multiple colors, but not the way I would have finished it. The colors were the colors Lawbre recommended - based on their demo. But it needed a lot of work to get the blotches of paint to blend in.

I got my stipple brushes out and began to see if I could salvage it or if I would have to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch. I was able to work on blending the colors, and just added a 2nd color with the stippling technique. I think its where I want it to be now.

Original finish (no flash)

Original (with flash):

Stippled with 2 colors (using flash):

No flash:

Here's the back of the house - huge, isn't it?

2016 Chicago Miniature Shows

Here are some of the goodies I got:

3 pieces from M & R Miniatures - his work is beautiful. This set is part of a collection he built for someone he was going to be the distributor for. The person got sick and the deal fell through, so he's selling his samples.

Lighting Bug - chandelier for French Country Manor:

Bespaq chair - love the fabric:

 Flowers by Kathy (I think). I've purchased her things before. Really hard to get a good picture of the world map with the glare.

Custom painted Bombe Chest:

Old and New Projects

I'm winding down on the Thornhill  - it needs to find its new location in my home. Once set up in the new location, I can begin filling it with all the wonderful furniture and accessories I've acquired over the last several years!

On 2 older dollhouses I have to build dust covers for them - between dust and the cats, they have seen moments of battle. On my Bed & Breakfast (Seaside Villa model) I found out today I can use roof ridge molding I have in stock. It will be glued to the underside of finishing strips on the house at the base. The plexiglass will slide under the eaves, and the roof should keep it from falling.

It will also nicely adhere to the underside of the middle support roof sections and if need be, I can paint a side strip black and attach to the roof vertically beyond the opening of the roof.

Bed & Breakfast:

Thornhill Design Resources and Notes

Keeping track of colors, sources, how-to's is something I'm not very good at so rather than keep a paper notebook, I'm going to post here.

Wallpapers

• 2nd floor guest bedroom - Itsy Bitsy Mini - Bird Toile 704A
• Bath - Itsy Bitsy Mini - Rose Toile 656
• Man's Study - Itsy Bitsy Mini - Wildlife Collage 302B
• 2nd floor Hall - Itsy Bitsy Mini - French Kitchen 590A
• 3rd Floor bedroom - Itsy Bitsy Mini - Curtain Toile 710A
• Kitchen 'tile'  and overlay is World Model (2 1/8w x 2 5/8h)

Flooring

• Wood - 3/8" Cherry strips from S.H. Goode & Sons 
• Kitchen & Dining room tile - Le miniature di Eurosia terracotta
• Foyer hall 1st and 2nd floor - Brodnax parquet
• Sun room/Conservatory - Lawbre tile adobe
• Bathroom - cut tile

Built-in items

• Kitchen cabinets - M&R Miniatures
• Fireplace Living Room
• Fireplace Man's study - Braxton Payne
• Fireplace back wall Man's Study - Lawbre AE925 - Wall Panel

Furniture

Bespaq

JBM

DeCava Interiors
BB Miniatures

Paint/Finishes

• Living Room/Hall - color wash - Ceramacoat Antique White base, wash of McCloskey (Valspar) Raw Umber Glaze
• Dining room
• Kitchen
• Master Bedroom
• Exterior - spackle and color wash
• Kitchen cabinets - Folkart Teddy Bear Tan 419, and a color wash or Burnt Umber color wash from 
• Kitchen counter - Fleckstone
• Chimney - DecoArt Sandstone Light Brown
• Foundation  - Duncan Granite Stone - Sand

Interior decorating to do

I need to make window treatments for:

• Living Room
• Dining Room
• Master Bedroom
• Guest Bedroom

I found this great tutorial on making draperies - http://studioeminiatures.blogspot.ca/2013/10/bed-curtains-tutorial.html and I think I will give it a whirl.

I'm going to have to go through all my stock of fabric and see what pops out...finally get to use some of them!

I've been thinking about the palladian windows.  I think perhaps simple side draperies on brass rods that don't cover the windows, and hang just below the arch portion. Living room may be downplayed, blending with the walls. Maybe yellow with blue?




I think the Dining room needs some pop though - maybe a dark burgundy/dark red small print. That should bring out the adobe tiles and the red check. 

Second floor guest room - I've toyed with the idea of a bed canopy, semicircular at the top and draping out over the sides of the daybed. I'm thinking either a toile or the monkey fabric. Window treatment could be swags or draperies.




Master bedroom - this one is still flexible. Probably a silk, draperies that puddle on the floor.

Exterior work

The shingles are done, quoins are on, the chimneys are on!

I have 2 upper dormer walls to finish with texture - visible from the sides of the house.

I'm still thinking about some sort of crown/dentil molding at the top peak on the front. 

Remaining things to do on Thornhill

Back a few years ago I had a list - updating it more now. Getting pretty close to complete!

First Floor

• Kitchen baseboards, doorway to dining room

Third Floor

• Finish painting inside roof of peak/gable

Exterior

• Dormer dentil 
• texture for side of dormers