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Fretsaw House circa Early 1900s
I have seen other houses like this but mine does not have windows at the side. It was sitting on a shelf in my friend Angela's garage, unloved and uncared for. After initial enthusiasm, Angela had lost interest and very generously donated the house to my "Barbaraville" collection.
The exterior was in a good condition but the interior looked sad with wallpaper hanging loosely, so I redecorated with wallpaper suitable for a 1930s style of house. Angela had removed the wall between the sitting room and the hall but left the staircase in situ. There were some nice old pieces, such as a yellow Aga, and a dark red velvet sofa and chair along with a Barton four poster bed but I added some dark brown plastic items by Ideal, the American firm; a miniaturised self portrait of Doris Zinkeisen, flying ducks, two 1920s china elves, a Clarice Cliff dinner service, a carrier bag and evening bag made by members of the Jersey Dolls House Club. I had fun resourcing the large collection of accessories. I painted the grandfather clock on the landing and applied snippets of gilt paper to appear like ormolu. The figures are resin.
  
And now for a house not quite so old as those above.....but it is simply stunning inside!
Castlegate circa late 20th Century
The house is called Castlegate and was bought second hand though undecorated in 1995 in a collectibles shop in Hatch End, Middlesex.
The exterior of Castlegate has painted green walls and embossed strips painted ochre to look like pargetting.
 Drawing Room  Entrance Hall
Drawing room with Davenport that was brown and customized by Barbara. Entrance hall with decoupaged tiger skin rug.
 Dining Room  Kitchen
Dining room with decoupaged pictures and mirror on walls and female dolls by Schleich. Kitchen with window painted by Barbara. Bodo Henig stove bought at Paris DHF and fabric doll bought in Strasbourg in 1999.
 Bedroom  Landing
Bedroom with printed card furniture (French) and bateau bed bought at Paris dolls house fair, 2003, customized by Barbara with paint and printed card. Landing with card chair made from a printed sheet of furniture bought at the gift shop at Chateau de Vendeuvre, Normandy in 2003.
 Tri-ang No. 91
I acquired this last summer at an antique shop in St. Aubin. I had bought a previous house there and the owner said he had an old house that could provide spare parts. I realised it was a Triang 91 and apart from a couple of windows having fallen out (they were inside) and being a bit dirty, it was solid and sturdy and had all its original papers.
The lower exterior wall had wood effect contact which I stripped off and replaced with brick paper, toned down with diluted coffee. The shop owner was asking a modest price and as he loves to haggle I reduced it a further ten pounds so had a real bargain. I bought furniture from KT Miniatures and it is now a really good example of its period.
The next three images below are of three of the rooms as they gradually developed.
  
Below is the house now complete and fully furnished.
  
  
 
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