Scratch build - day 6

I finally got my newel posts up.  I had bought some a while ago but they got lost in my craft mess, decided after three days of searching for them it actually would make more sense to just go buy new ones!

Tomorrow, with any luck, I will be able to install the railing and balusters.  some trim work on the side of the staircase (I haven't decided how to treat the sides yet) and I will start staining these bad boys.  It's such a relief to feel like I'm doing something on this house again.

Scratch build - day 5

I've actually lost count of the days because I've been picking at this house between other tasks / while procrastinating going in to the office.  I don't know if it's burn out from the christmas house in such a short time or if I'm actually stuck on what to do next, either way it's extremely slow going on this little house so far.

I have been working on the staircase in an attempt to get something which looks authentic and is "functional" (as functional as a 1:12 scale staircase can be anyway).  I have the risers in place and now i'm attempting to figure out where on earth I put my newel posts!  I have a vision of these stairs of flowing arches with Victorian opulence oozing off every tread, and I have a saw and glue, but I haven't the faintest idea how to achieve it!

My next small step will be cutting the second floor - once that is done I can make my lighting plan and start getting some wallpaper up - once I hit that point I think the process will resume it's normal faster than lightning pace.

This house is much, much larger than I had originally planned it to be, I think I may be getting overwhelmed!

A House in 22 Days - Day 6

Naturally, as tends to happen, when you have a short time frame a million things come up which eat into your time.  I got shipped off for a conference this week and last week there was a rash of people quitting!  It's now December 17th at 12:30 am and the panic is settling in firmly.  The walls are starting to go up but there's still a solarium to build, wood to be stained and windows to install!

Overall, it looks like a bit of progress is being made, that is the benefit to blogging - you can see how far you've come!  In addition to what's in the photo, i have the front door stained, baseboards are drying, and the glue is setting on all the major parts of the structure.  Tomorrow the mantles will go in and the remaining outer walls will be complete before lunch - then I start on the solarium while Ben tackles the kitchen (bathroom "tip out" in the kit).  The plan is to use the left room as a dining area if we can ever find a set for his niece.

The lino tiles are holding up well to the twisting that comes with construction, and the spackle grout hasn't chipped at all which is rather surprising.  As you can see I have the wall braced with scrap wood and a small box, four clamps, tape, and positive thoughts!

The fireplace mantles are stained and will be ready to go in tomorrow.  We picked up some beads at Walmart tonight to make a sculpture to hang over the mantle, as well as a sun plaque to hang on the other side of the chimney to break up the white a bit.  The trim work has been cut/stained and should be able to go in tomorrow as well.

A House in 22 Days - Day 3

Nothing exciting to post on day 2, and then we took a day off lol.  So Day 3, the TP stucco on the chimney is done and the core structure has been firmly glued to the base.  The kitten has knocked my can of latex white off the shelf, so the majority of that was soaked into the carpet by the time I discovered an accident had befallen my new gallon of paint.  As a result the stucco was done with ceiling paint this go around, and I think it's better!  It covered well and dried quickly.  This has been noted for the next round of stucco!

The wallpaper is fabric mod-podged on to the wood.  Ben wanted very girly colours for the house, and they seem quite dark placed together.  I think white trim-work will brighten the rooms up, and I keep forgetting there is a solarium to go on the ground floor - this house certainly isn't just a box with windows!

I put lighter paper on the kitchen side of the house before he could notice what I was doing, so there will be one bright room here anyway!  I have some hutches I picked up at michaels, i'm hoping that the tops can be removed and used to make overhead cabinets but I haven't sized this up yet.

The second picture is terrible quality, I simply was too lazy to walk across the room to snap it off - the back side of this chimney is an immense blank canvas, I want to imbed something to break up the solid mass of white, I was thinking a large bronze sun, or a clock face - any ideas on this my creative readers?

Chantilly - Day 8

Today was roofing and staircase installation day, as well as trying to figure out what the hell to do with this silly little fireplace.  I chopped up some balsa wood and framed out a case for the insert to see how it would look under the staircase.  Originally I had entertained putting it in the corner but the windows are in the way.

Alternatively, I could cover the two side windows with a chimney and put the fireplace front and centre in the living room.  I will slide this fireplace around for the next couple of days before making a decision, it's far too hot here to be thinking anyway!

The roof was .. let's say.. an adventure to put on.  it's a snug fit for sure, gotta love those laser kits for having zero give.  I was able to secure it down with wood glue and an insane amount of masking tape however - no mega clamp reqired.

Another discovery was with the staircase, although all the individual pieces go in nicely on a dry fit, when you actually put that bottom stair in it secures everything quite rigidly, and with no give, and with the hardwood flooring, that rail going upstairs is next to impossible to get in.  I ended up having to surgically alter the side rail by cutting off the tab and then compensating with glue, there was no way in hell that rail was going in any other way.  I think if I were doing this kit again, I'd install the stairs (or at least the case) right after the first walls go up, floor around it, and never have to worry about it again :)