Peek Inside: Readers' Dollhouses
When we were kids, dollhouses were a pretty normal affair. They looked suburban with a kitchen table, a bed and a few little dolls. But nowadays, dollhouses around the world are brilliant odes to Pippi Longstocking, Frida Kahlo and even Legos! Here are a few from our readers... (Click here to submit your own photos.)
I found this Pippi Longstocking dollhouse in a local toy shop. It has all the characters, including Pippi and her horse and monkey. My daughter loves Pippi and even has a wig so she can dress up like her. -- Kristina from Denmark.
I made this Frida Kahlo dollhouse for my daughter Natalie. Frida Kahlo had a life full of physical and emotional pain but never stopped creating or lost her sense of humor. I wanted Natalie to know about this extraordinary woman as soon as possible. -- Elsita from Los Angeles.
We added a box to my son Jack's LEGO set. One great thing about homemade constructions is that there's no guilt when they're no longer played with. They're also the ultimate green choice--don't buy new, don't buy at all! Make something out of recycled materials, which can be recycled again when you're finished. -- Lori from Illinois.
I decided to build Juniper a dollhouse that resembled our own home, a Mies van der Rohe shoe box....All in all, the dollhouse cost me about $15 to make, including screws....I love it when minimalist taste, thrift, and complete lack of craftsmanship all come together to form a happy trifecta....What I like about dollhouses is that they are spaces designed solely for a kid's imagination. She lands airplanes on the roof and lets Wild Things climb the stairs. -- Dutch from Detroit.
- Do you wanna play with us, Mum?
- Not now.
- We could build dollhouses!
- Okay, I'm with you, coming!
-- Elisabeth from Sweden.
This dollhouse is actually an Ikea Bonde bookcase. I collect Blythe dolls, so this is their backdrop. I also plan on adding wallpaper made from scrap paper or gift wrap. -- Sarah from Nashville, via our friends at Apartment Therapy.
Want more? Check out this ingenious DIY dollhouse from Cookie's market editor, Meryl Levin.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this post! How creative - a Frida Kahlo doll house!!! My children had a dollhouse built by their grandfather - an English manor house with lights in the rooms and a fireplace that glowed - even a Christmas tree that would light up. I still have it waiting for my grandchildren some day...
These are so cute!
The best dollhouse stuff I've seen has been on minimodern.blogspot.com. The person who posts to that blog has a ton of modern dollhouse goodies and a great sense of humor. Warning: You'll be hooked.