It’s probably obvious that I’ve been spending a lot of time refurbishing my dollhouse this winter.
So far I’ve finished the dining room …
and the bathroom.
I’m also mostly done with the kitchen, just waiting on a last minute item to arrive before I share it. The 2nd bedroom and the attic spaces are well on their way to being done as well.
And that leaves my friends and family asking ‘what are you going to do when the dollhouse is finished?’
That is definitely a valid question, and I have a couple of answers.
First, I don’t think the dollhouse will ever be ‘finished’. For one thing, most of my rooms are really only minimally furnished compared to most dollhouses I’ve seen. I still need some extras like bedside tables in the main bedroom, art for the walls, another piece of furniture for the dining room and so on. For another thing, much like my actual house, I’ll probably never really be done. I’ll always be tweaking things, adding new things here and there, changing things up and so on. I plan to landscape the outside at some point too.
But the 2nd answer to that question is that maybe I’ll do another one next winter.
After all, I see dollhouses at garage sales fairly often.
You might remember this one …
I purchased that one at the Nokomis neighborhood garage sales back in 2016. I cleaned it up a bit, and then sold it on … I believe to my friend Amy. I wonder if she still has it.
In May 2022 I found this little number …
It’s definitely a very primitive sort of dollhouse, simply made out of a box.
I’ve kept this one and am using it in my potting shed so hold clay pots and such.
In 2023 I paid just $5 for this dollhouse, also at the Nokomis neighborhood garage sales. Seems like Nokomis is a great neighborhood for finding dollhouses!
I spruced this one up a bit more by replacing broken shingles, having Ken create a replacement shutter for the lower window, and then giving it a paint job.
In early 2024 I found this dollhouse … doll barn? … while out thrifting.
I gave this one a makeover with some paint.
Then I added some fun details like some barn lights, a couple of stencils …
and that fun weathervane.
Those are just the dollhouses that I did bring home, there were others at garage sales that I’ve passed by.
I guess all of those previous projects helped me gear up to tackle my own dollhouse renovation.
And now that I know I can do fiddly things, if I see another dollhouse at a bargain price this coming summer I’ll snatch it up to become next year’s winter project.
How about you? How do you keep busy over the winter? Or maybe where you live you don’t need to have something to occupy your time while waiting for spring to arrive. Leave a comment and let me know!
q is for quandie 
I really think you found your niche in the dollhouse arena! Def a great winter project and this winter has been so cold and windy, snowy, icy, good to have a project. I know what you mean about never really being finished. My hubby and I have been passing flu and colds back and forth all winter so not much has been accomplished, but hopefully this month we can get back on track with our inside things. I am mostly packing away/organizing the Christmas stuff and enjoying the winter decor I have out, the quiet of the season, and waiting for Spring! Thanks for sharing!
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You’re welcome!
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Gosh, I never see dollhouses here in NW IN – if I do, they are normally $100+ ! I have an antique booth (2 spaces) so I’m usually busy with that thru all the seasons. I have chickens too and normally try to take the dog for a walk if it’s not too, too cold out! It’s been a very snow-less winter here in IN. Florida has gotten more snow that we have! I’m enjoying watching your dollhouse makeover – such cute little fun things. It would be easy for me to get sucked into miniatures!
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It’s a slippery slope 😉
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Luv them all…and this winter’s is breathtakingly amazing…but my fav’s are the barn and the 2023 garden storage…not the work & detail effort/quality… more likely because I didn’t see your work as regularly and rember seeing those posts and captivated by those transformations at the time.
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Thanks Coreen 😊
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No doll houses for me, but t I love seeing all of yours and I can’t wait to see the latest one finished. I have too many projects in my REAL house to keep me busy. Here on the gulf coast of Texas we have plenty to keep up with outside too, although we did have 4 1/2 in. of snow last month (and I know that is NOTHING compared to what you get “up north”). I hope the second half of winter is kind to you. Keep after that dollhouse. It’s adorable!
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I often say that I’m not sure I would enjoy gardening year round, I enjoy getting a break from it in the winter. This year especially since I have such a fun winter project to work on.
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Hey there.. the dollhouse is coming along GREAT!! Wish I would have met u sooner!! At least while I was in MN!! LOVE everything you do!!
The winter here in Texas is sooo strange!! About two weeks ago, we got snow!! Only about 2″, but Houston was completely closed down!! Gone the next day. I did some research, come to find out, only 11 snows over the last 129 yrs!! And Galveston, OMG, got about 5″??? CRAZYRIGHT!!
This week…SOO different, highs in the 80’s!! Go figuire!! Winter clothes, summer clothes??? Gotta be ready to change… quickly!!! Can’t really do any projects now, due to living arrangements, but hopefully changing that,, sooner than later!! Hope I remember HOW!!😅
Keep up the fab work!!! LOVE your work!!
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That is crazy! Especially considering that here in MN we really haven’t had all that much snow this year. We finally got a decent coating with 5″ to 6″ falling yesterday. That’s not much for us considering our annual average is over 54″! I feel bad for the winter sports enthusiasts. Last year was well below average also. Those snowmobiles and cross country skis are not getting a lot of use these days!
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