Tuesday, March 27, 2012

DOLLHOUSE - THE VAN BUREN - A Spooky Ole House

Many things went thru my head when
I first saw this dollhouse.
My daughter
and her mother-in-law Linda saw it first
and suggested that I buy it.
It cost only
$20.00.
That's right - this large monstrosity
was begging to go home with someone.
And that someone was me.
Of course they wanted it to be a Witch's
house right away.
But I don't know. 
Anyway they had to
talk me into buying it.
I don't know -  it looks like an
awful lot of work if you ask me!
But how can you go wrong with a house like
that - for only $20.00.
You cannot.
So I took off the tag
and marched up front and paid for it.
By the way this house was bought at the thrift store.
This is the front of the house.
As you can see the
front stoop and rails are missing.
That has to be replaced.
However, the house was put together really well.
Love went into putting this house together for someone.
This house is solid.
Whoever put it together, did a great job!
 
 
 The photo's here shows the house as being blue in color.
But actually the house is grey with a deep grey/black
roof.
Needless to say there is probably some blue in
the grey paint.
Gee - It is a big house!
I do not like the front doors.
The house needs to come alive.

 
There is a widow's walk on top which I am not fond of.
The reason will be obvious enough once you see the
inside.
 
 
Neither am I fond of the red chimneys.
After
looking at the inside - the fireplaces might be a
tight squeeze.
The roof could use some shingles.

 
The windows are not bad - I guess.
Maybe the house needs clapboard siding.

 
This is the other side of the house.

 
I know that I am talking negative
and at this point you are probably
wondering why I bought it.
However,
the house does have some amenities.
It is wired already.
Although I do not know the extent yet.
A close-up
reveals an outside lantern missing.
Needs replacing regardless if I
keep it lit.
I would like to see new front doors.
Hopefully they are
easy to replace - if not they will have
to stay.
And something has to be done
with that awful door knob!

 
Here is the inside view of the Van Buren
dollhouse.
It is and has been retired for
a long time.
It used to be an expensive dollhouse.
It must have been well-loved as there is hardly
any damage inside or outside.
Top floor definitely
has a small bathroom.
None of the floors sag.
This dollhouse must have been in a garage, or
a basement for quite some time.
 
 
Once you enter thru the double front doors you
enter into a little space and then into a
long foyer.
And where does it go -
why - it goes nowhere but towards
the back of the house.
This is an empty waste of space.
The last tenants moved out in a hurry.
They tried to take the lamp from the wall
but hastily decided to leave it. 
It must
have been a pain in the neck to remove.
The floor is paper.
Virgin walls - no paper - no paint.
Those walls are going to be mighty thirsty!
 
 
I do not understand why this door is here.
The tenants cannot use it.
Why does it
face this way - why not face the foyer??
Anyway what is its use?
Is it a coat closet or a pantry - what?

 
This was the kitchen and the breakfast area.
Of course that lamp is so low that it
might hit your head.
It must be raised.
Yes - see one of the amenities - some
lights were left here in this house.
Again there is paper down on the floor.
It is not in scale.
Oh! that thing on the
floor has something to do with the
lights.

 
This is the living area.
Look!
Another
lantern was left hanging on the wall.
Flowered paper on the floor to resemble
carpet or linoleum?
Look at all of that electrical tape.
I sure
do hope that the lights work!

 
This is the area under the first floor
stairs.
The coat closet or pantry area?
Striped paper on the floor here.
Maybe the lawn mower goes in here?
Hehehehe

 
Look down from the stairs at the front
doors.
Kind of steep and bare.
Notice
how the stairs at the bottom kind of
curve.
Kind of nice!
Nice detail.
Sorry for the blur.

 
This is one of the 2nd floor bedrooms.
Apparently it was a child's room.
Notice the paper on the floor.
It is sweet.

 
This bedroom is located on top of the
child's bedroom.
I love the vaulted
ceiling and the round window.
I do like
the floor paper but I will not keep it.
I wonder what the previous
tenant used this room for?

 
Can you see it.
This was the clue to show
that this dollhouse was a kit with big rooms!

 
This is supposed to be the master bedroom.
Its of a nice size.
Cute floor paper.
This room has lots of potential.
 
 
 This is the reason why I do not like the
widows walk.
The stairs block the view of the
window and it also breaks up the room.
These have to be removed.
Again more floor paper.
And there is a light hiding in the corner.
Who wants to look at the backside of stairs?

 
 These stairs look down from the widows walk.
I would like to close up this area.

 
 Oops! no glass panes.
I had better start collecting plastic.

 
 Isn't this an interesting angle.
It looks like there
is a step going down into this room.

 
 This is what the stairs look like going
up to the widows walk.
You have to stick
your head into the dollhouse to see them.
Messy with the glue.
And that's okay because
the stairs were not made to be seen.

 
 This photo is of the child's room.
It looks
towards the balcony doors.
There appears
to be a bunch of wires to the side??

 
 
I have not put all of the photo's of the dollhouse
up here. I forgot to take pics of the 2cd floor stairs.
And behind those stairs is a closet.
You can only
see that closet thru the balcony doors.
My only hope is that I can do the dollhouse justice.
Only time can tell!
 
 This pic is of the living area.
Wires are showing thru.
Another sign on the walls shows this to be a kit.



I hope you have enjoyed a visit thru this dollhouse
and keep checking back to see what I do with it.
Mini hugs and kisses sent to all of you,
Conny