Small Home, Big Design
- rkokonaski
- Oct 1, 2024
- 5 min read
📷Randi Kokonaski/RandiKLifestyleBlog miniature farmhouse porch
I have a secret....during the pandemic I discovered a new hobby, Miniatures! I know when you hear "miniature" you think Grandma in the basement crocheting miniature table clothes. I am here to share... "it ain't your Grandma's hobby anymore"! There is a whole miniature community on social media. Dollhouses range from modern, victorian, farmhouse to traditional. Creators have access to 3d printers, laser cutters and cutting machines, the miniature world has taken interior design off the charts!
Many articles have been published on the miniature trend:
The Atlantic HERE
The Guardian HERE
CBC Arts HERE
I have taken my love for interior design to the miniature world. I love it! And a mini sofa costs as much as a Starbucks order! I have worked on a few projects since the pandemic, but I will start by sharing my latest mini project, The Alderbrook Farmhouse. I began searching Facebook Marketplace for a pre-owned dollhouse, new ones can be $100's of dollars, there are kits available for less, but I wanted to get started ASAP! Here she is! $40 on FB Marketplace found in my neighboring community, we met up in a public place and I picked her up. She was gently used and someone had taken great care to put her together. She has "good bones"as they say. You can follow my mini projects at One Twelve Project 👇Instagram here or Facebook here
I found that I enjoy designing my mini houses in 1:12 scale, which is 1"= 1ft, so it is easy to calculate the proper scale. Some miniaturist enjoy working in the 1:24 scale, but I find it a bit too small. For reference; a barbie would be a giant in this house she is 1:6 scale,11.5" tall, a 1:12 scale doll is 5" to 6"=5 to 6 feet human size. Keeping in scale is important, sometimes you order something online and place in your space, and it is huge!
Always double check the measurements!
For my process, I begin looking for inspiration photos as I do in my own home decor projects. I browse Pinterest, magazines , designer pages to create an inspiration board to work from. I have found there is a whole world of miniatures of 1:12 scale furniture, dishes, wallpaper and accessories on Etsy. Which is such a wonderful resource. I have also purchased miniatures on Amazon as well. The more I work on miniature houses, the more I have learned to create miniature pieces myself, I enjoy the process and miniatures can become a bit pricy when doing large projects.
The Alderbrook Farmhouse, had
eight rooms that needed to be decorated!
I was so excited!
I began this house in January 2024.
I work on it here and there, I will share my progress thus far!
The first thing I do is deciding what each room will be, then paint & wallpaper lastly, put down the flooring to create a blank canvas.
Now that I explained my process, I will share my first three completed spaces in this mini home. The first room I began designing was the living room, (bottom left room of the dollhouse). Here is the inspiration board and finished result. Modern farmhouse style! In this little house I incorporated William Morris wallpapers in most of the rooms (1/12 scale size wallpaper can be found on Etsy). I just love these patterns! I created the chandelier, lamps, fireplace, added a vaulted ceiling finally built a floating shelf.
I have shared all my mini projects on my social media accounts.
Inspiration Board
⬅️Before
Next... the dining room.
Before ⬇️ Inspo board⬇️ finished dining room⬇️
Of course every wall of the dining room I had to have William Morris wallpaper! After applying the wallpaper the space felt dark, so I added white paneled wainscoting and white abstract artwork to lighten up the room. I got creative and created the dining room chairs from paper towel tubes and the chandelier is made of craft wood. The table that was left in the dollhouse when purchased, I reworked it into a modern farmhouse dining table. Rugs can be copied onto canvas paper so it feels like it's woven fabric. After adding the sideboard & flower arrangement, the mini dining feels complete!
Using our Interior Design methods works for miniatures as well. Scale, color, mixing patterns all pertain to mini space interior design. Creating in 1/12 scale is easy to calculate, 1" = 1foot.
The third space I designed in this little farmhouse, is the kitchen!
(dollhouse bottom right room)
Of course keeping in the modern farmhouse style....William Morris wallpaper, vintage appliances, mixed with modern appliances, island, wine bar and coffee bar. I created all of the furniture and cabinets with my Cricut machine with svg files and built them. Etsy has many sellers with "svg" patterns to download/purchase to create your own furniture with cutting machines.
Miniatures can be a fraction of the cost when created from svg patterns, and no shipping!
I think I hit most of the inspiration board ideas!
I am most proud of the range hood I created from mat board.
Before⬇️ Inspo Board⬇️ Wine Bar ⬇️
Coffee Bar⬆️ Kitchen View⬆️
So these are the first three rooms of the mini Alderbrook Farmhouse. Working on miniatures requires space planning for furniture placement, the rule:"measure twice, cut once" always applies. Planning color combinations, mixing patterns is done just how we design our real life spaces. Dollhouse patterned fabric & wallpaper (in scale) can be found on Etsy through mini makers. The options are endless!
If you would like to catch up on my progress, or maybe find this hobby interesting, please feel free to follow me at:
The One Twelve Project on Instagram here.
or on Facebook here
It was fun to share my little secret!😉 Please share your hobby on my Instagram posts!
Sometimes I think, in this housing market, mini houses are the way to go! LOL!
This is a great creative outlet for those who are constantly changing their home decor style.
Miniatures today are sophisticated, stylish and so much fun!
Some of my favorite accounts I follow on Instagram , check them out and see what
the mini craze is all about! You'll be amazed at all of the talent there is in the mini world!
My favorite miniature making books and starter minis here
📷Mini Alderbrook Farmhouse kitchen https://www.instagram.com/the_one_twelve_project/
RESOURCES:
The One Twelve Project/ Instagram
Shopping Sources; Facebook Marketplace, Etsy/miniature sellers, Amazon, Hobby Lobby, Miniatures & More, Edmonds, WA, Sue's Small Obsession/Instagram, Terri Kahrs/Instagram, Paper Doll Miniatures/Instagram, The Mini Beach House/Instagram, Davenport 1/12 Construction/Instagram, Etsy, Amazon, 50 Makes Modern Miniatures Book; Chelsea Andersson, Making Miniature Food Book; Lynn Allingham, A Beginners Guide to Building a Room Box Book; Rosa Mora
Miniatures Etsy:
Pixie Dust and Pine-Kitchen Lights, Pretty Miniature Emporium-SMEG Refrigerator, Tease Miniatures - kitchen faucet & pot filler, Uptown Minis - coffee cupboard SVG, Artfluent Creations- kitchen island, Miniature Crush - glasses, handles, winebottles, Sparks of Joy by Maria- cupboard SVG, Tassmin Basset Art- William Morris Wallpaper, Gio Grafica- floor, Chloe Mini Home- shiplap, Pixel Market- wall paper, The Modern Dollhouse- sofa, My Mini Front Porch- kitchen sink
Amazon:
Wood flooring
My Miniature Emporium: stove, SMEG appliances
#theonetwelveproject #randiklifestyleblog #miniatures #miniatureinteriordesign #interiordesign #miniinteriordecor #miniaturestyle #personalblog #lifestyleblog
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