It All Starts Here

Sometimes our ideas flow from an existing kit to bash, a house style to scratch (aka custom) build, or from an interesting doll who needs a place to live. Our settings are always modern-day (ca. 2001 when we started this hobby). We try to create things that will make people smile and feel good.

We think that if we had to build the same house twice, we literally could not do it! Fortunately, we have very unique little people who have definite opinions and so far, no one has wanted a house “like so-and-so” has.

We work as a family unit: my wonderful husband, my beautiful sister, and I. We don't always agree as to the direction of the build, but I think that we end up with a better dollhouse because of all our grumblings -- and we do have a lot of fun!

The Purpose of this Blog

We needed a place for all we wanted to say about the background of the build and the nuts and bolts of the design and build process. Thus this blog.

All our dolls' homes have families living in them and a story is built around their personalities and lifestyles. This story is an integral part of our building process. We would like to share these stories -- actually, the little people insist upon it!

Many of our houses are located in Fredericksburg, Virginia because that is my sister's favorite place.

Also, we have started a Rouges' Gallery with photos of our little people and information about the dolls.

If you would like to start with the dollhouse that "started it all", it is the Original Rowbottom Manse; if you would like to see the scratch-built Georgian that our first build gave us the confidence (or fool-hardiness) to do, it is Sunnybrook Farm.

Let the stories begin!

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Friday, June 29, 2012

Swinging from the Chandeliers at La Malcontenta


The Living Room Chandelier:
Living room with new Clare-Bell chandelier! Hallelujah!! The former owner of the house, Elsa Martinelli MacPherson, is on the left and talking to her friend Madeleine Duvall.
What a mess with the original chandelier. The sticky pad with it did not hold. This did not surprise me as I had not have success with these on chandeliers. What did surprise me was the extent of the problems with the chandelier when I investigated to find a way to glue it to the ceiling.

The first thing I discovered when I removed the sticky pad was that the electrical wiring was a “lump” that was higher than the edge of the canopy (disguised by the thickness of the pad)! So now I looked for something to glue to the edge of the canopy to make it higher than the “lump” for a flat surface against the ceiling.

As I was doing this, I discovered that depending on the view of the chandelier, the “arms” looked uneven – because they were! Well, nothing I could do could change this! As I was pondering, I decided to check that with all my machinations, the light still lit. Hallelujah, I could stop investigating—the light no longer lit! I considered this the best news in a bad situation. Surrender, and look for a different chandelier!

The disaster of a living room chandelier was replaced by one from Clare-Bell. I like their items and through the years I have been slowly acquiring their lights. They do not sell on their website but I have found a vendor New England Miniatures who can get them all.
Close-up of the Clare-Bell chandelier in the living room.
So  ....  the living room that I thought was finished is now really finished! The chandelier is hung and bradded into the electrical system and looks great, and I don’t want to hear about any other problems!

The Den Chandelier:
Finished den with the new Clare-bell chandelier. Cecelia Randolph is talking with her brother Tom.
The den has its official chandelier and a brass floor “bridge lamp”, both from Clare-Bell and two Miniature House (Aztec) antique bronze table lamps. One existing table lamp remains—a wonderful Art Deco lamp from Brooke Tucker—on the buffet on the right.

Clare-Bell chandelier and brass "bridge" lamp, and Aztec antique bronze table lamp.
Brooke Tucker table lamp. Buffet by Bespaq.
All the ancestor portraits are hung.
Ancester portraits, fireplace, etc..  David MacPherson, the former owner of La Malcontenta, is on the left, and his son Daniel the current owner is on the right. On the left also, is  Pollyanna Whitier a friend of the family.
For some reason, I had difficulty getting the den into “shape”. Finally, it is pulled together and I am exhausted!

The Attic Rooms:
I know that I have not talked too much about the attic rooms—a pied-a-terre for Arabella’s brother Tom, and the nursery for the MacPherson daughters Francesca and Annabelle, so here are some pictures:
Attic with pied-a-terre and nursery.

Tom's pied-a-terre.

Tom likes to travel and collect things.

The nursery playroom with Francesca, Annabelle, and nanny Mildred.

The nursery bedroom. Foggy, the family's Old English Sheepdog, wanted his picture taken too!
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Well, my friends, the interior of La Malcontenta, is finished, except for the little curios and what-nots that get added to all houses, real and otherwise, through the years.

I am working on a video for the interior of La Malcontenta. I thought I would have it finished by now, but I have finally been spending a lot of time in my garden! The weather has improved and the deluges are down to a minimum and now a big 4th of July week is coming up, so I guess it will have to wait a bit more.

The details of this dollhouse, as with all my houses, are spread over a couple of years and about a million posts. I decided, now that I am ‘into’ making videos, the best method for viewing the “completed” houses is through individual videos (or slide shows). There won’t be any voice-over, just some background music (I hope) and the highlights of the interior. Since the landscaping at La Malcontenta is not finished, that will be in a future separate video.

Also, if any of you are interested in the biographies (all the scoop) of the MacPherson family, it is in the post: La Malcontenta, the Spanish Eclectic-Art Deco Home of Arabella & Daniel MacPherson. Georgetown, DC

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Well, I guess it is time to get back to “poor Fred’s” workshop at Sunnybrook Farm! Or maybe I will just garden! Wasn’t there a song many years back about “See you in September”?

17 comments:

  1. Hi Iris,

    Nothing worse than a chandelier that wont hand straight! It is a bugbear of mine and i have fiddled and faddled getting them to hang right!

    La Malcontenta is looking wonderful, I don't know how you fit so many dollhouses into your life!

    Hugs, Fi x

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    1. Hi Iris,

      I just wanted to sincerely thank you for directing me to the Library of congress, I have found some incredible historical photographs of not only the exterior but the interior as well. To my delight they are very detailed, to the point of spying a porcelain magnolia on the mantel in the drawing room!!! I have so many reference points to go to now!

      Thank you again!!

      ML Fi xx

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    2. Hi Fi,
      Glad the LOC was of help, especially with the picture of the magnolia on the mantle!

      I do have a lot of dollhouses and sometimes even I am overwhelmed, but I don't seem to be able not to keep building them!

      Cheers,
      Iris

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  2. Hello Iris!
    Your new chandeliers look great indeed! I love Clare-Bell. I think my favorite part of this post is the "Attic Rooms". What fun they are. I love the angles and sky light windows. The nursery playroom looks to be filled with great toys for those girls. Hope the "Nanny" is not too strict......Tom's "pied-a-terre" looks just like the kind of place I would like to escape to, and be left alone! Of course "Foggy" wants to be in the picture! I thoroughly enjoyed looking at this post and seeing these pictures. Keep them coming.
    Kind regard from Ray

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    1. Hi Ray,

      Glad you liked the attic rooms. They were a bit of a challenge but a lot of fun to do.

      Everybody loves Foggy-there's nothing like an Old English sheepdog to bring a smile to people's faces. We have owned them in real life and they are wonderful dogs.

      Cheers,
      Iris

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  3. Hello Iris,

    The chandelier was worth the wait, how nice it looks! Lighting in miniature is so very frustrating, or can be, I have seen battery operated lights, but many of them look rather clumsy and out of scale! Anyway, great job!

    I like the attic rooms too, I would be quite happy with the Pied a Terre myself, it looks very cosy!

    Regards
    Andy xx

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    1. Hello Andy,
      The chandelier situation in this house was unbelievable. I often have problems of some sort with electrical stuff, but this went beyond! I have to admit, tho, I really like the new living room chandelier much better!
      Cheers,
      Iris

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  4. I took the LONG tour yesterday of your La Malcontenta. I really enjoyed it. The home is wonderful.

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    1. Hi Karolyn,
      This was a great house to build, although finding the right items was sometimes a big problem. But it worked out and I am happy with it, and that it is done except for landscaping.
      Cheers,
      Iris

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  5. Hi Iris,

    I love La Malcontenta! That architectural style is among my favorites and you have planted the seed in me... very inspirational! You have done an exquisite job with it my dear, and should be proud! I'm glad I am not the only one who has 'electrical issues' but I'm glad you got it so beautifully squared away. Looking forward to seeing more videos! Ching-ching!

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    1. Hi John,
      I am back to working on the video. I think it will be nice (even for me) to see the interior as a "unit".

      Glad you like it, it was afun house to do, and a fun house just to look at.
      Cheers,
      Iris

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  6. Lamps can be a bear to work, especially when you get a lemon. :\ It all looks wonderful now that you have it all in place. :D I love Foggy and want to spoil him with treats!

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    1. Foggy is a "good-natured, fun dog"! I love his "look".

      Electrical stuff is always the bane of my existence with dollhouses-I love to see it working but hate the problems that insist on happening.

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  7. Hi Iris! Isn't it Wonderful how a "disaster" can turn out to be a Blessing in Disguise? Your New Lamp is Gorgeous! Such a good thing you "HAD" to replace the old one! LOL! I LOVE how realistic and filled with life your Houses are! and this one is delightful..... but I must find time to read up on its history...!
    And Foggy is Adorable!

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    1. Hi Betsy,
      I have to admit that I am "glad" (gritting my teeth!) that I had to get a different one. It was a bit nerve-wracking until I was sure I found the right one.

      Yea, Foggy is the greatest!
      Cheers,
      Iris

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  8. Hello Iris,
    Don't hate me, but I'm kind of happy about the chandelier p[roblems because in the end there could be no better fixture in the room. I have to say I love the Malcontenta. I think you did an absolutely beautiful job! It has such a beautiful, rich feel, but yet it's one of the most inviting and charming houses I've seen. You really should be proud of every room you've created.
    I can't wait to see more of your great work, keep it coming!
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. Don't worry Giac, I, too, am glad that I had to get a different chandelier. I do like the Clare-Bell lights and I think that this is definitely wonderfully upscale and fits in perfectly.

      It's funny that considering that I am such a Chinese Chippendale, Georgian, etc., person, but I absolutely love this house. I also think that it is a very inviting house.

      Cheers,
      Iris

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