A sweet reader named Cassie wrote in recently and said,
“I just love your daughter’s space! It’s the perfect mix of color, a little glitter and all things girly without being too over the top or super girly. What I’m really curious about is your dollhouse. {I guess it’s a dollhouse in the corner?} I was wondering if you could share a tutorial…”
It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I can honestly say that Emerson’s space is one of our very faves in our home. It reflects her fun loving personality, and has great touches that can grow with her, as she does.
When we finished her space a few summers ago, we were thrilled to throw in this little handmade dollhouse. {The how to for building the outer part, is here} But it sat for a while {an entire room overhaul took us a bit} until we finished the inside as well. We made the inside a project with her, for her birthday later.
But since posts get buried, and we’ve probably picked up a few new sweet readers in the last few years, we thought we’d share a recap {and new tour of sorts} here. So without further ado: The Dollhouse Diaries. {Each little separate tutorial is highlighted in DIY detail below!}
The original reveal post went a little like this: We’ve added a little…
Once upon a time, Barbie and Ken were out cruising for a new home.
Literally. They were out in their pink corvette, perusing the town. Their old apartment was infested by Lego Men, and they had no place to go.
When they came upon this house. It had been empty for a while. The contractor never finished said house, because things got crazy in this horrible market when he built it last summer, so it sat abandoned for months.
It was just their luck, because it had great bones, and they fell in love, instantly.
Barbie and Ken had been renting for a few years (and had a nice nest egg in savings) so they moved immediately into their new abode, rolled up their sleeves and got to work.
Or at least Barbie did, anyway.
Ken did too, after he finished his tea.
Yes, he has a weird propensity for prep school tux/pink tie combos.
But we won’t hold that against him.
We just hope his hair doesn’t catch fire on the eye of the stove.
After immediately refinishing the floors, windows and walls…
They tackled the kitchen first: It had great potential, so they brought in Barbie’s mom’s old vintage furniture. Then they contrasted a fun graphic pattern {they’d seen on The Handmade Home – Barbie is like, a huge fan} with their white washed brick walls, fun peacock blue cabinets, and vintage Frigidaire.
They drink their chamomile tea here in the mornings after their couples’ yoga class
The second level holds the living room and study.
Where they decided to DIY a few projects of their own, from the curtains to the rugs and wallpaper that they scored thrifting at the local flea market.
They love their granny chic/global modern combos vibe.
Barbie is a freelance writer, while Ken does the city scene during the day. So she needed a space to work, while finding the time to write her first novel, Barbie: the trials and tribulations of perfection.
And her subsequent sequels: I promise not to give you a complex if you play with me.
When they’re not doing their side hobbies, anyway. You know… the usual stuff: polo and synchronized swimming lessons.
The third level is their master suite.
Their serene bedroom + bath… the ultimate retreat.
Barbie’s busy social life and work can be taxing, so a suitable retreat was a top priority.
Ken painted this abstract watercolor for Barbie on their second anniversary. It’s symbolic of his undying, ever evolving love for her.
Barbie finished off the top space when she was expecting the twins. {Doll life spans are way different than humans, so this happened within a week. Tada!}
They’ve kept her so busy, the novel is now on hold for ten years. At least.
Their room has fun polkadot floors, complete with a loft, and sweet colors on the ceiling.
A local artist named Emerson painted an old chest and gave it new life. It’s the twins’ favorite thing. Next to Chloe the dog, of course.
Barbie even threw in some vintage maps, star charts, and alphabet art because she plans to home school. At least for now, it’s a perfectly good excuse to collect cool vintage things.
And she stalks Ebay.
They’re looking a bit more frazzled these days, but Barbie and Ken are super happy. Right where they are.
(Barbie’s eye makeup = a little over the top to compensate for sleep depravation, along with Ken’s perpetual bed head from driving to the city in their new minivan-they had to trade in the pink vette when the kiddos were born because hey, you can’t have it all…)
The twins are happy too.
Even though one has blue legs.
And they all lived happily ever after.
When they’re not pondering why Ken prefers tuxes with no socks, or tough questions like their oddly proportioned bodies… of course.
When we decided to create the inside of this little dollhouse, we were at a loss for great, stylish and affordable options in those in the Barbie variety. Said options were either plastic, or super expensive. So we thought we would share this fun little project as an idea for something to take on with your little ones.
We wanted the size to be right for Barbie but flexible in case Emerson wanted to use another doll with it. So with the exception of a few small purchases, we took the handmade route using mostly things around our home (with little girl as the art director, of course).
It pays to be a craft hoarder. Yes, I did just write that.
Shhhhh.
She still plays with it, of course, and we hope that one day we can pass it down to her children and they can marvel at how retro it is.
And that wraps up our dollhouse {re-tour}, if you’ve never seen it before!
All the individual rooms and projects are listed in detail, above, but this will take you to all the original posts, here!
Have you done a dollhouse for your little one? We’d love to see! Leave a link in the comments below or tag us on instgram so we can feature you!
Have an amazing day!
Michelle H. says
I had so much fun reading this post. Smiles and chuckles, thank you.
Whitney Shortt says
Can I come live in Emmerson’s doll house? Way too cute!
Yvonne Cannon says
This is sweetest thing – loves reading this post and thank you so much for sharing!!
Jennifer Oh Jenny says
I loved the entire post, smiled while reading, but – Barbie – ‘ I promise not to give you a complex if you play with me’ – LOL!!!