Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Similar Houses: Others Dare to Compare

HO scale model house. Most likely Pleasantville.

Custom house perhaps? Back when dads would tool around in the woodshop  rather than facebook. 




Fisher Price castle

Random internet image. 

1985 Sylvanian Families House by Epoch. MDF material with plastic resin and wood furniture. 


1950's tin litho house in the cape cod style. 

early 1960' train model house. 

Contemporary Ranch by RGT (Real Good Toys). Wood dollhouse kit YOU assemble. Having built a farmhouse before I can tell you these things suck up a surprising amount of glue, paint and TIME not to mention decor, wall and floor coverings, fixtures and accessories! 

I'm in love...

German looking kit or home made house?? Definitely Mondrian inspired.

Paper dollhouse kit?  Meh...

HO scale train house from Europe in the modern style. 

roof shot of Sylvanian family home. 


Cloverleaf Corners house circa 2012











Very cool, love the fire pit, I would own this. =-) 

Similar to Lundby, this German A Frame style house looks like the "Ikea Design House 1974". Enjoying the color scheme, it's nearly entirely orange, yellow and white, sans the club chairs and bathroom. 
The original 1960s Plasticville Cntemporary Home, issued in several different scales, one as a kit, and one prebuilt, I feel as though the inspiration behind our 1978 Mattel home was based on this:
Looks like in Germany and other places, the midmod A Frame style home was also very popular. Here are some cool examples from the 70s thorugh now:
I beleive this is a smaller 4" size doll line from Kenner that was 'Disco' oriented (40 years before hootchie cootchie Bratz dolls came out, but notice the open window placement and overall similar aesthetic to our white walls on Mattel's mamoth structure:

Real Life Examples: Summer 2014 Edition








Some of these are a stretch, but I think the relation to our beloved house is clear. I was especially surprised to find a stereo version of the red 1980 BBQ set.

Add caption
Blanche has a green vanity like the green desk in the Dream Furniture line.







Thrift store for $80. 



Saturday, May 31, 2014

Appliances and Furnishings: Kitchen Sink and Counter Solutions






In the top two photos you can see I painted and retro fitted a yellow door to a 1990's Mattel sink and counter. I am totally happy with the dimensions and overall look. Alternately, you can get the circa 1980 Arco Barbie scale orange/brown counter and sink. The only downside is that it has an oven and fridge (lower right cab) as part of it. you could cover the left side of the counter that is the range top with a cutting board or something. I use butcher block style samples from the hardware store kitchen section for Barbie cutting boards. The Sindy line from Marx toys looks perfectly adequate, but they are rare, so when you find one it likely won't be cheap. The Arco one usually goes for about $12-$25, and the one I redid is anywhere from $5-$10 or so when you can find them. I did used to have the Sindy harvest gold kitchen tall cabinet and fridge, but sold them as they didn't really go with the house. The Hannah Montana sink island is ok, but once again there is a cheapie stove crammed in there as well. =-( The white wall behind my custom sink is cut to fit foam board from the dollar store. I was happy with the end results. 


Nice shot of China cabinet with accessories. 

Vintage Print Ads: Dates Unknown


78?


1982?



I am unsure of the exact dates, but I would think the top ad is from sometime between 1982 and 1983. The lower ad I would guess '78-'80. I do like the layout of the house in the upper ad. 
Every time I go on to Pinterest I find yet another print ad!:

Thursday, May 22, 2014

OOAK Custom Repaints: Purple and Lavender Barbie House

Wouldn't it be cool if they came in purple? Whoever did this refurb did an EXCELLENT job that even I approve of. I so love the attention to detail with the windows and the intensity of purple that was used for roof and floors. I'd have to say that this is my favorite all time OOAK custom repaint. A+++