My orange cat checks out the little house.
The detail of aged, plastered stone was easier than I thought, but challenging to get right. "Stone" paper (model railroad supply) is glued over the house; then layers of paint are applied for the "plaster" and aged. Sue Herber provided good tips for doing this. I copied her design fairly exactly, because I was nervous! (More "in progress" photos on my blog: http://jennsminis.wordpress.com/)
The open back. Floor plan: First floor: kitchen. Second floor: Right--bedroom; left--bathroom. Third floor: Sitting room and patio.
Detail of the arch.
Detail of the second floor over the arch.
Front door.
The first floor contains the kitchen. Appliances and cupboards are all kits by Karen Carey, finished by me. The pies, pumpkins, and shortcake are by Pearce Miniatures.
The bedroom is on the second floor (first floor in Europe). I put it on this floor because of its proximity to the bathroom, plus it would likely be the warmest room in the house. The day bed is a kit from Robin Betterley that I purchased from Suzanne & Andrew's minis (goes with the Miss Lydia Pickett house). I love the detail! I had to use a day bed because a full bed wouldn't have fit. The bedside table is a kit from Bonnie Soucek (who has now gone out of business).
The bathroom is so tiny--only room for toilet and tub--that the sink has to be in the bedroom.
Cozy sitting room at the top of the house. I am pleased with how the upholstered chair came out--I used a Brodnax print that is 1/2 scale, but I thought it would look like 1/4 scale chintz.
The patio provides a view and a reading area. The spider plant and barrel of flowers by Pearce Miniatures.
In my imaginary world, this is a house in the French countryside, a weekend retreat for a woman who works in a city--either in France or England. She is single (widowed or divorced) and comes down here after work on Friday for a quiet getaway. She enjoys the fresh local produce and likes to bake in the big kitchen.
(Don't worry; my imaginary lady isn't lonely--she has plenty of friends in the village plus she sometimes brings her daughter or a friend down with her, and not always a female friend ;-).
Upstairs, the bedroom and small bathroom are warm and cozy. She curls up to sleep on the daybed, with the throw for extra warmth.
The top of the house provides a cozy sitting room for sunlight and weekend reading. On nice days, she can relax on the patio or set up the potted flowers she buys at the market.
At the end of the weekend, she returns, refreshed, to her job in the city.
Scroll down for pictures of the interior.