Debating on building a dollhouse

[Ksandra]

My daughter had been obsessed with the Barbie life in the dreamhouse show, and had been begging me for a dreamhouse. I told her she would have to ask Santa which means every day she says, "Santa's going to bring me a dreamhouse!"

In theory I am totally fine with that. She should have a dollhouse if she wants one. However the Barbie dreamhouse sucks. It is poorly made plastic that apparently often falls apart. I had to deal with that when she got twilight sparkle's castle last year. Fuck going through that again. And it just seems overpriced for what you get.

Now, my daughter won't care of it isn't actually the Barbie version, just as long as her Barbie fits in it. Most wooden dollhouses seem to hover around $150 (with furniture). I don't think I can get that cheap only because room sets for furniture are about $20 each (I can't make those). However, there are some really nice looking plans for building one online that I think are way better than the already built ones.

I could also build it and try to check out a bunch of consignment shops for cheaper furniture.

I have to figure this out now because if I am going to make one I'd probably have to start soon.

Thoughts? Any bg parents have any experience with this?

Note: building something like this is a non issue on being able to do it. I am crafty enough for it.

[Byrthnoth]

I think there's a clear answer for you here:
1) Barbie dreamhouse is obviously a piece of shit and I'm honestly surprised they're still sold.
2a) Kids are an advertiser's dream.
2b) Thus, your daughter doesn't care and wants it.
3) If you give her a better dollhouse (that you built or bought) and can't convince her it's the one she wanted, she isn't going to like it regardless the quality.

If you actually want to do this and have it be personally rewarding, pick out a simple model from online and see if you can get her excited about making a dollhouse for Barbie with you. She might not be able to saw things, but if you get her a small hammer she could probably nail stuff together... and anyone can use sandpaper. If you get her engaged, maybe she'll enjoy it and forget about Barbie's plastic crap fortress.

If not, you can always just buy her the chintzy piece of shit and hope she gets tired of Barbie before the it falls apart.

[Tyche]

My mom built this. Even designed a room to match their bedroom as you can see. It was an amazing dollhouse. Shit was tiled, carpeted, wallpaper'd, painted, etc. A ton of time and effort went into it. Sturdy and well built as you can also see. A ton of furniture was purchased, probably doubled the amount of the house, at the very least. You gotta fill all those rooms.

[Brill Weave]

I don't think building a dollhouse is going to solve your current housing dilemma.

[Brill Weave]

Too soon?

[Ksandra]

Too soon?

Too late, as it's already been resolved.

@byrth, I get what you are saying, but she's never seen the actual toy. Only the tv show. And you and tyche got me thinking I really need to build it myself. I have an idea in my head similar to what tyche has, but I can paint it to look like the one on the show. In fact, I think I can make it look closer to the show than the official toy version. (There are movies that are made by different companies, and I think the dreamhouse toy might be based off of them.)

[Ksandra]

Tyche, what's the length of yours?

[Salodin]

Tyche, what's the length of yours?

^_~

Check your local hobby store. I went in the other day to browse and was surprised at the selection and size of the doll houses available. So impressed that I wanted to build one, give it to a home contractor and he like "build me this. And you better get matching carpet too!".

[Tyche]

My niece has it now, but I'd venture to guess it was around 34-38 inches in length.

[Tyche]

Actually, those tiles on the bottom are 12x12, and it looks like there's about 1 1/2 tiles there. Imam go with ~40 inches.

[Ksandra]

TODAY IS THE DAY, I begin the dollhouse.

I am running into a lighting issue, and figured I'd ask here in case anyone knows a dollhouse enthusiast. Every single site I can find that sells parts sell them at 1/12 or 1/24 scale. Barbie is a 1/6 scale, and the house needs to reflect that.

Since this is completely out of my realm, I seem to be hitting constant dead ends on trying to figure out where I can get 1/6 size chandeliers and lamps. I was able to find a wiring kit for 6 rooms (one side of the one I am making), but I have a feeling it won't stretch that far since this will be bigger than expected.


As well, I wanted to try and get some sort of sound box for a doorbell n such, but I have found zero places that sell anything like that.


Any help is appreciated. Luckily this is stuff that can happen later in the process, so I can start building now.

[Churchill]

You should get her legos so you don't enforce gender inequality on your daughter. If she wants a dollhouse she has to build it herself and then use only female lego characters as her dolls so she learns she doesn't ever need men and neither will her children. Men are sperm donors.

I'm pretty sure she'll thank you when she's 40 and not married.

[Waraji]

I'm completely behind LEGO's. Need more women in STEM fields to dilute the sausage fest. Please make it happen.

[Churchill]

All seriousness, I wouldn't push that agenda without a serious look at what we did to get more women into university and how that has negatively effected men.

[Ksandra]

She already plays with legos, lol. This is for something else.

[BerenTebogo]

Is it a house for ants?!

[FNH]

TODAY IS THE DAY, I begin the dollhouse.

I am running into a lighting issue, and figured I'd ask here in case anyone knows a dollhouse enthusiast. Every single site I can find that sells parts sell them at 1/12 or 1/24 scale. Barbie is a 1/6 scale, and the house needs to reflect that.

Since this is completely out of my realm, I seem to be hitting constant dead ends on trying to figure out where I can get 1/6 size chandeliers and lamps. I was able to find a wiring kit for 6 rooms (one side of the one I am making), but I have a feeling it won't stretch that far since this will be bigger than expected.


As well, I wanted to try and get some sort of sound box for a doorbell n such, but I have found zero places that sell anything like that.


Any help is appreciated. Luckily this is stuff that can happen later in the process, so I can start building now.

you did not try hard enough, but here you go. I typed in 1:6 scale furniture, 1:6 scale lamp into ebay and got a lot of results I am sure google would be productive too. 1:6 scale chandelier on google produced an etsy link https://www.etsy.com/listing/2114188...-in-stock-chic probably poke around a bit more than i did for what you want. googling dollhouse doorbell soundbox gave a sit that sells them http://kl-hobbies.myshopify.com/coll...ouse-doorbells

[BaneTheBrawler]

I'm also behind the LEGO idea, not because of some bullshit social reason, but because LEGOs are awesome. Also, Lego lighting. Haven't tried them out personally, yet, but once I begin work on my next project I'm going to give 'em a go. Heard nothing but good stuff, and they seem conceptually sound.

Build the dollhouse; furnish in Lego.

[Ksandra]

you did not try hard enough, but here you go. I typed in 1:6 scale furniture, 1:6 scale lamp into ebay and got a lot of results I am sure google would be productive too. 1:6 scale chandelier on google produced an etsy link https://www.etsy.com/listing/2114188...-in-stock-chic probably poke around a bit more than i did for what you want. googling dollhouse doorbell soundbox gave a sit that sells them http://kl-hobbies.myshopify.com/coll...ouse-doorbells

ty, I dunno why they didn't come up in my search. That etsy lamp is too expensive for me, but this etsy site gave me an idea of how I can make my own:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1777682...f=sr_gallery_5



The sound box is a huge help since I couldn't find any. I was really trying to find one that I could program myself to have multiple sounds in it, but at least having that would be good.

[Ksandra]

I'm also behind the LEGO idea, not because of some bullshit social reason, but because LEGOs are awesome. Also, Lego lighting. Haven't tried them out personally, yet, but once I begin work on my next project I'm going to give 'em a go. Heard nothing but good stuff, and they seem conceptually sound.

Build the dollhouse; furnish in Lego.

Those led lights are interesting. Thanks!