Interior Design-Dining Room & Kitchen: La Malcontenta

I think I forgot to mention in the previous post that this house was started summer of 2004 and is still being built!

The dining room and kitchen complete the main floor.

The Dining Room:

Before I show pictures of the dining room, I would like to show my inspiration for this room and the design of the columned entrance to the living room and dining room. I also must apologize that I can’t find the name of the artisan who created this magnificent room. I would love to give credit where it belongs. (I do have the note that it is called “Morning Splendor”.) This just took my breath away:



Miniature Collector magazine in 2004?

 My version:


Dining room with view across foyer and into living room.

I copied the style of the arch and used cake columns from a craft store and painted Delta Creamcoat Eggshell. I am happy with the result. I did find the same wallpaper (Brodnax) and even (I think) the moulding that was used. I bought the Unique Miniatures moulding but I could not apply the right amount of heat to get it to curve—it kept breaking. After a few heartbreaking minutes, I realized that I had to do something else. I found an interesting blue, thin trim at a craft store, stiffened it with glue and curved it. When dry, I glued it to the arch. I think I may need a second row but that’s for another day.

I could not find the cabinets in the picture so I decided to do something different. I found a six-sided, thick clear acrylic shape at the craft store (I spent my life there). I cut it in half with my handy-dandy band saw, and I had two glass table tops! I placed them on “stone” landscaping pedestals from Dolls’ House Emporium, placed them on either side of the arch. I did find harmonious paintings to hang. The front wall has Japanese woodcuts.

The walls are painted Delta Creamcoat Light Ivory as is the cornice and baseboards. I can’t tell you the blue because I made it up somehow.

The ceiling is real-house wallpaper. I found a beautiful chandelier from Cir-Kit. I purposely did not put a ceiling canopy, but now I think want one! Oh well.

I love the glass dining table in the picture. Even if I found it, I am sure I couldn’t have afforded it. Then I found the Bespaq Chinese Chippendale dining table and chairs—end of search.

The flooring did not turn out very well and I am going to redo it.


Fireplace wall to be finished.

 The next thing to be done is the wall above the fireplace. I have Unique Miniatures items for the scrollwork and the brackets, and I have a set of blue and white Chinese jars to display. The sconces may go away.

I think that someday I would like that glass-topped dining table with the dolphin pedestals in some dollhouse, and that I will be able to bend thin resin moulding into an arch—or maybe I have to mould it in that form?

The Kitchen:

The kitchen completes the main floor. Nothing too exciting here except I love roosters in kitchens. The tile is a glossy paper from HBS which I don't think he sells anymore.

I love roosters in kitchens!

The problem area.

I decided to make a large dining room which became a slight problem when I went to the kitchen—there was no room! So my ever patient husband cut some lumber so I could “bump out” the back wall so the necessary kitchen appliances could be placed. It worked out well, just time-consuming. Also, the kitchen ended up with beams so I could get the lamp wire out the back of the house where the tape wire is located.