Welcome To Modern and Scandinavian Dollhouse Miniatures

Welcome To Modern and Scandinavian Dollhouse Miniatures
By Julia Morrison

Are you interested in miniature furnishings, but the Victorian era just isn't your thing? Try your hand at creating a mid-century miniature world. Modern but vintage at the same time, doll houses with furniture straight from the modern era offer a break from the traditional Victorian doll house. Their bright, primary colors provide a visual 'pop,' while the sleek, clean lines are distinctively modern, making them a great choice for those who aren't attracted to the frilly details of the Victorian era. If you love Eames furnishings or the Ikea aesthetic, you'll love Scandinavian miniature designs.

Scandinavian-style miniatures have been around since the mid twentieth century, when Swedish toy makers Brio and Lundby built electrified, two-story houses with sleek plastic furnishings. Inspired by trends in the interior design world, these doll houses with furniture were designed to mimic the era's popular fashion and interior design styles. Modernist designs created between 1950 and 2000 reflect the spirit of Nordic life and have an innocent and childlike appearance that many doll house enthusiasts find appealing. A new book, "Scandinavian Design in the Doll's House" by Yvette Wadsted and Ulf Beckman, examines the popularity of miniature Scandinavian furnishings.

How can you get started building modern and Scandinavian doll houses? To create the perfect setting for your modern miniatures, begin with a contemporary ranch house kit. The "Brookwood" is a great option for those trying to recreate that mid-century modern aesthetic. Look for a doll house design with lots of angular lines, instead of the intricate trim of Victorian dollhouse kits.

For the perfect modernist abode, paint the exterior and rooms with bright, contemporary colors, rather than the muted tones of a Victorian-era home. You may even want to paint the trim or accent walls silver to simulate a metal finish. Then, add sleek plastic and metal furnishings, along with modern fixtures. Furnish the home with furniture suggesting the modern era, such as molded plastic chairs, simple tables with straight legs, and streamlined sofas without the flourishes of earlier periods of furniture design. Get inspired by your own home, the one you grew up in, or the sets of classic TV sitcoms. Or check out Mini Modern ( http://minimodern.blogspot.com/ ), a blog all about mid-century modern doll house furnishings, for ideas.

If you're more accustomed to decorating your doll houses with furniture featuring the ornate details of the Victorian period, try your hand at a modern-style home. The clean lines and sleek interiors will offer a design challenge for even the most experienced miniature hobbyist.

The Dollhouse Company is a one-stop shop for everything you need to build a doll house. From dollhouse kits, furniture and accessories to finished dollhouses and how-to books.

A large variety of Victorian dollhouse furniture including accessories such as fine china, cutlery, vases and many other miniature items that were used or displayed in the home during the Victorian ages is available to purchase from our online shop.

Down load our FREE e-book on how to choose, build and decorate you dollhouse at http://www.thedollhousecompany.com

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