Smaller Model of this Dollhouse

Wish to construct an American Lady Dollhouse, however in a smaller model?  We now have created a new plan that may be very related, however solely two tales.  I discovered my daughter could not attain that third story, so the shorter model labored higher for us.

Does your little one love American Lady or 18″ dolls?

American Lady dollhouses are outrageously costly.  Have you ever thought of a DIY dollhouse?

American Lady Dollhouse Options

• Simple to construct with about $150 in supplies
• All plywood development – so will final for much longer than an MDF or particle board dollhouse
• Enjoyable to customise and beautify
• Can add casters really easy to maneuver
• Plans are straightforward to change – so you can also make it a two story dollhouse or change up the scale
• Numerous reader submitted photographs and success tales

How you can Construct the Dollhouse

Here is how we constructed our DIY dollhouse –

Rip Plywood for Sides and Cabinets

We reduce the plywood into strips 23-3/4″ large by 8 ft lengthy.  You will get 4 strips from the 2 sheets of plywood.  Have your property enchancment retailer do that for you if you do not have a desk noticed or a truck, simply be sure that the strips are precisely the identical width.

Then reduce the tops into the home form for the 2 sides.  

Lower Doorways and Home windows Out

Then to chop the doorways and home windows out,

I drew the home windows and doorways out on every of the panels, after which drilled holes on either side, contained in the strains,

Then it is only a matter of connecting the dots,

With a jigsaw.

Reducing out the home windows and doorways was most likely probably the most time consuming a part of this entire challenge.

Assemble the Dollhouse

I used a Kreg Jig to assemble the items.  There’s not alot of joints, however as a result of the items are so large, it was a little bit cumbersome – however nothing I could not handle by myself.  You do not have to make use of a Kreg Jig – it’s also possible to use 2″ self tapping wooden screws.

Window and Door Trim

The window and door trim makes an enormous distinction on the dollhouse.  Here is how I constructed it –

I nailed collectively 1×2 “bins” first with 1-1/4″ brad nails and glue.  

Then I simply positioned the trim within the openings and nailed to the plywood edges.

Our comfortable shopper made a couple of requests that are not on this plan – we didn’t add the underside trim and used caster wheels as an alternative.  And as an alternative of the 2 rooms upstairs, we made one full room upstairs (however had so as to add a 1×2 on the prime to help the 1/4″ plywood on the again.

How We Completed the Dollhouse

I additionally added veneer edge banding to all uncovered plywood edges to complete them off.

For the flooring contained in the dollhouse, we wished to maintain the wooden, so we used Rustoleum Wooden Stain in Darkish Walnut.

It is a one step – simply apply and wipe off.  Simple sufficient for my seven 12 months outdated to assist out!

We additionally utilized RustOleum polyurethane over the stain to guard the flooring (identical to an actual wooden flooring!!!).

Then we taped over the flooring with painter’s tape (till we ran out and had to make use of duct tape) and newspaper,

A fast sanding, and she or he’s prepared for primer!

Jacob sprayed the dollhouse with primer,

After which I painted rigorously the blue exterior paint on the outsides.

We LOVED the way it turned out!!!!

However we wished the roof to face out a little bit extra,

So I picked up some RustOleum textured spray paint and sprayed the roof.  It loos like roofing!!!

Associated: American Lady Dollhouse for Small Areas

This dollhouse plan is VERY large.  If you happen to want a smaller dollhouse, we now have one different plan that would slot in virtually any area.

The rooms should not full depth, however I discovered my daughter most popular to play on the ground along with her dolls, and simply used the dollhouse to retailer and show her American Ladies and their equipment.

You’ll find the free plans for the smaller American Lady Dollhouse right here.

American Lady Dollhouse Plans

The plans for this dollhouse comply with.  You possibly can simply customise to totally different dimension and naturally, paint or stain any manner you think about.