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Hobbies House circa 1930s
The Hobbies House is probably the one I would keep if I could only have one house. When I got it it had been completely 'refurbished' ... I felt a bit guilty taking it all apart but it was so far from the original that I felt I had to.
The timbers were all bright shiny gloss and the inside paintwork was bright shiny red - with modern papers and bright green flock floor paper. I took off all the timbers and started again. It was a terrible lot of work and I wondered what I got myself into.
When it had been refurbished (probably in the 80s or even more recently) they had added stairs made from a more recent Hobbies pattern. I decided to take those out because it left me with no bathroom. I cut a piece of cigar box wood that was exactly the same thickness to fill the hole that had been made for the stairs, and once the floor was papered, you couldn't see the join.
 Before renovation
 What a fine mess!
Once I'd stripped off the modern brick paper and roof paper I decided not to repaper the house, but to paint it instead. I used 'stone' paint on the top of the house and Farrow and Ball sample pots for the roof and the all the rest of the outside. (Took a lot of mixing to get the colours I wanted.) ... the house is on a turntable so it is easy to see the back. ... I've only been able to find a small bit of vintage lace for the curtains but found some modern cotton lace that I dyed with tea for the rest of the windows.
 Interior now, after renovation
Inside: I had a Perspex sheet cut for the back of the house. It keeps the dust out and looks quite nice (but it is impossible to photograph because of the reflections.) The Perspex slots behind a strip of wood I put along the base - and then has two little clips on spring washers that go over the top corners. I've used modern reproductions of William Morris wallpapers - and again stained them with tea. (Great stuff tea!) Most of the rugs I've made myself. (It took me some time to get used to doing anything in that scale.)
 Dining Room
Dining room - The Pit-a-Pat bookshelves seem to look ok even though they are large scale. I've added smaller books to help the scale.... the picture is one of my favourites that I've copied on the computer.
 Hall
Hall -The dogs are all on their way to the kitchen to get at the food. ... my family are a bit eccentric - they have a candlestick phone on a 50s telephone table. I like mixing up the vintage things so all the houses are a mixture of 30s through to 50s or even later.
 Kitchen
Kitchen -This flash picture isn't very nice and spoils all the atmosphere of the kitchen. The coal boiler isn't really in the right place - but I love it and wanted it where it could be seen. ... I also love everything to do with Taylor and Barrett and the early cooker with all its pots and pans (some are on the left on top of the dresser) and the fridge with its food are probably my most favourite dolls house things. (The fridge food is out on the table where the dogs seem to be about to devour it.)
Here is a better photo of kitchen showing how the light can be so magical. I really am totally soppy about what the house looks like with the light coming in. There is something overwhelmingly nostalgic about it!
 Sitting Room
The Sitting Room - It isn't really finished. It needs... I'm not sure what. In this room I love the radio Times and the Charben fireplace. Fireplace was missing its fender but I found one that seems to work well with it. The deco clock on the Mantelpiece is German - it is beautifully detailed - with perfect details on the back. ... The rug is one I made myself.
 Bedroom
Bedroom -The 'ornaments' are mostly things from small scale farm sets. The painting is again one of my favourite paintings - I copied it on the computer and put it in a modern frame.
 Bathroom
Bathroom - The high-rise cistern - and the Ascot are two of my favourite things in this house.
My most favourite thing about this house is the way the light comes through the windows. I have the turntable positioned so the morning light streams in - and every morning I can't resist looking in at it.
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Click image for close-up)
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