Although I got sidetracked with the dining room set …

my original plan for the dollhouse interior makeover was to start with the guest room.  I thought this small room would be a good way to get my feet wet.

In its previous incarnation, this room was the ‘kid’s room’.  It was frilly, pink and baby blue.  It was all a bit much, and definitely not my style anymore.

I ordered a fabulous unfinished armoire from The Modern Dollhouse to get started (FYI:  if you are looking for this exact piece, I purchased it from them via Etsy.  I couldn’t find it on their own website).

I purposely ordered this armoire because I wanted to put one of the re.design with prima Vintage Labels II Middy Transfers on it.

One quick note about this transfer set.  The prima website describes the color as “soft, warm grey”, and you can see in the photo above that the color looks kind of like a pale reddish-brown in their photo.

But as you can see on this pumpkin that I decorated last year …

they are definitely more of a lavender.

But that’s perfect for this armoire.

To get started I painted it inside and out with one of Dixie Belle’s Cottage Collection colors called Secret Path.

This is definitely one of those ‘never say never’ moments for me.  When I first saw this color on the Dixie Belle website I thought nope, that color is not for me.  The website photos kinda make this color look like a sickly mauve (at least to me anyway).

Sorry Dixie Belle, but your photo just isn’t doing this color any favors.  But I think everyone struggles with getting the color right in photos.

I ended up ordering Secret Path anyway (albeit in the smallest size jar) and I’m so glad that I did because it is a much prettier color in real life.  It’s also the perfect match for the Vintage Labels II.

So, after painting the entire armoire in Secret Path, I went back over the exterior with two coats of Drop Cloth.  It’s a bit difficult to see, but I then sanded the edges of the armoire to distress it back to that base color.

Maybe that level of detail is overkill for dollhouse furniture, but I can’t really help myself.

After clearing away the sanding dust, I applied the transfer to the front of the armoire.

It was perfect!  How sweet is that?

Next up, I’m working on a bed to match.

So be sure to stay tuned for that.

But in the meantime, how do you like the armoire?  And what do you think of Secret Path?  I’m not much of a purple girl, but I do love it paired with that transfer!