Dolls House - have you got one ?

I am one of three girls, we had a Triang dolls house between us, we spent hours playing with it. My sister had it when she had her daughters, so it’s still in the family. It’s like this one, with a brittle plastic roof. I bet there are others on here who had the same one!
I’ve also got a new, but unmade wooden Georgian dolls house in my garage - it’s a future project I hope, I love anything miniature.

I had a farm and a dolls house.
The dolls house was just quite basic, but I loved it.
The farm was my favourite, though.

MayBee70

My children never wanted a farm set so I asked for one as my Christmas present, hoping they’d play with it. They never did though. I think it was one of those toys that I always wanted as a child but never had.

You could repurpose it as a vegan animal sanctuary if you choose to do so.

Many animal sanctuaries are located on what were once farms.

I love hearing about all of these. We had a family dolls house but it went to another family member as I had two sons, who were more into ninja turtles and pokemon. Please share photos all if you have them I’d love to see

maddyone you have the family heirloom of the future there

I have a dolls house that my dad made for my daughter when she was little. My little granddaughter loves playing with it, but it’s sitting in our dining room looking very forlorn at the moment as our granddaughter is in New Zealand with her parents for two years.

My children never wanted a farm set so I asked for one as my Christmas present, hoping they’d play with it. They never did though. I think it was one of those toys that I always wanted as a child but never had.

OH made a model of the house we lived in for our daughter when she was 5. she never played with it preferring to play with a farm + hundreds of farm animals! We still have it although we no longer live in that house, I'm keeping it just in case daughter has a child who likes it.

I had never watched Scottish home of the year before but I was having a look when I saw that doll’s house, it was fascinating

My mother used to teach making doll’s house furniture, my sister taught sewing, my other sister is an expert veg gardener, my OH is a tool maker, me - I was the trouble maker!

midgey

www.channel4.com/press/press-pack/great-big-tiny-design-challenge-sandi-toksvig-press-pack
The programme finished last night but I’m sure it will be on catch up.

Just watching it now; thanks!

M ex renovated an old dolls house for our daughter. Sylvanian family furniture is the perfect size for it but I prefer the older green furniture to the newer stuff. I’m a pretty messy person but I always used to make sure the dolls house was tidy each night even if the rest of the house wasn’t. There was a house on Scotlands home of the year the other week that had a house with a dolls house in it that replicated the house it was in. It, too had a dolls house in it. There’s a NT stately home in the borders that has a wonderful collection of dolls houses. I used to love Tottie, the story of a dolls house that was on tv.

I’m not surprised then that it’s lasted so well. We have an Eastern European heritage and the men in our family ( apart from my sons who can’t knock a nail into a wall ) were very capable of turning their hand to anything, and making things rather than buy them.
It is a really lovely house.

I got huge play value from my dolls house, for years. When the top storey was removed, it was like having 2 bungalows, so a friend could play and we could each have own house.

Later, when I had my own children, OH and I did a complete refurbishment - repainting and papering and making some new furniture. Then DD1 decided to do her own improvements - at this stage it's a bit shabby but still structurally sound. The carpenter who made it was a Hungarian refugee from the 1956 uprising and did quite a bit of other work for my parents.

Tizliz your mother was a lady with a lot of talent. That is such a pretty room. I think the little statue is Kuan Yin, goddess of compassion and mercy. I love the crane wallpaper.
FarMore15 that’s a very impressive house !

My mother used to make doll’s houses, all the furniture etc. when she died we all had something. I had this Chinese room - don’t think she made the pottery. Doesn’t photo well as it has a glass front. She made so many she had to sell some when she moved into a smaller flat.

I have the dolls house version of this:

www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/royal_lodge/royal_lodge.html

So, quite historical really.

I have two nice dolls' houses and one made of cardboard boxes, because I found the doll family and all their furniture, minus bathroom fittings in a charity store. I have promised them a better house, but am not sure when we will get round to making it.

I also have a doll's greenhouse, that I have just finished repairing.

And yes, I play with them.

I had a dolls house as a child, made for me by a carpenter. It is now being played with by grandchildren?.
It's unusual because it's designed like a real house - 8 rooms over 2 floors with hall, stairs and landing. The top storey lifts off and access to the rooms is from above, not side, like most houses.
It's not a show house, but great for playing. However, we also have one of the "fancy" dolls houses which my adult daughter got the kit for and made, but that's definitely not a toy.

I did have a doll's house but was never cared very much for dolls or their residences. I don't think my younger sisters took it over.

I had a 4 room dolls house when I was small - and woe betide anyone played with it without my permission!!! I was envious of my friend's 'bungalow' dolls house though which had individual lighting in each room. We have a large one for the grandchildren and it used to get played with a lot. I think they're a wonderful toy for little people and I love the specialist dolls houses; those are a real treat.

Love it DaisyMae. Another here who is green with envy.

DaisyMae that is beautiful ! A sight for sore eyes !
You’ve decorated it beautifully. I’m green with envy. Thank you so much for sharing the photo

Yes, but it's not a toy!

StarDreamer what a great idea ! It didn’t occur to me I was focused on a whole building. I have just bought an omelette maker which came in a fairly sturdy box, not big but enough to make a room. Thank you for your suggestions, both attainable and affordable !!
What an inspiring group of ladies you all are

We made one for our daughter when she was three (she’s nearly 41). I remember buying a book with instructions on how to make a dolls house from one piece of wood. We had to hire a jigsaw. I made lots of little patchwork quilts and curtains. OH made wooden furniture. At my pottery class we made a loo, sink and bath. I remember buying the perfect doll from somewhere in London. Sadly the house became very warped and damaged while it was stored in the garage. But! We have all the furniture, bedding etc., which I had stored in our house. My granddaughter plays with these bits and pieces in younger son’s Sylvanian houses which were in the loft and didn’t get damp! They’re over 30 years old. A friend of mine has her own enormous dolls house which her grandchildren aren’t allowed to play with!