Handgemalt Cottage: Part 2, Slow Progress- Real Good Toys, Children's Choice, 1 Country Lane CC1 Front Opening Kit

Well, with grandson every weekend and a full time job, the wee cottage is just plodding along. But 15 minutes or an hour, here and there, and its really showing it character.

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Front Door Wall

 

I always like this view. The dolly's view, inside, looking through the windows and door of the front wall panel. One will never see it again once the back is on. Anyways...

Preparing for the placement of the fabric wallpaper.

I decided to make the front inside wall panel the just with the 1st floor and 2nd floor the fabric wall paper. In my one of my previous RGT CC Tudor dollhouse, I tricked out the wall inside wall panel with the wainscoting, (RGT Tudor), but with my RGT Town Hill I did not ( RGT Town Hill). I figured quicker assembly and vintagely consistent with antique front opening dollhouses like Bliss' was just fine for the Handgemalt Cottage.

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Front To Back, Jack

 

Here are the back and front interior wall panels. The front panel has yet to have its windows and doors cut out at this point, I used a sharp razor blade and cutting board for that. I did attempt to have the fabric wallpaper line up all the way around. That was a challenge!

Here I'm applying the provided interior window trim from the kit, no special buy on replacements for this dollhouse, yet. RGT has you build out the window sills so the plexiglass window inserts can slide in and out for cleaning. I didn't think I was gonna like that but now I think its a cool idea.

Finally, the back is on!!!

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Planning For the Exterior Front Opening Wall Look 

 

So, like many a doll home builder, I try to get an idea the few looks or ideas I have for the different parts of the home. It takes some extra time, but with the advent of the digital camera, these mock ups can really help clarify one's visions to reality. 

Here are the two variations of the outside of the front panel that I mocked up and what I've decided on.

Without shutters....

...with shutters...

  ...and finally, what I'm going to go with.

I made the custom shutters with some more craft store wood pieces, staining them first and a quick finger wipe of craft paint to get the transparent red color.

Unfortunately, RGT doesn't have the batten placements centered with the windows or the door, so I'm going to have to erase all the batten placement pencil lines I made after following their directions, and adjust them to have them centered for symmetry, especially over the porch. Sigh. Good thing I'm using the shutters so I will probably have enough provided batten material to work with!

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Well, the Holiday Season is here, so no working on Handgemalt Cottage  for two weeks as I'm visiting my daughter in Illinois.

Happy Holidays everyone!