OOAK custom built rooms

My husband and I have been discussing building rooms for fashion dolls. For now just basic rooms with nice wood floors and paint or wallpaper walls, unfurnished. I am really new to fashion dolls so I am not sure if a custom built room would be interesting to anyone as an item to buy. I'm looking for any sort of feedback on this; best size, interest level, does anyone do this sort of thing (and where can I research this topic further) and so on.

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Groups AdminPermalink Reply by Lilly, Chevalier-Fox on January 15, 2012 at 13:43

As I used/play with 16"doll essentially (Tonner, Odom, Mme Alex, Urban Vita dolls) I use 2 full IKEA shelves set (IVAR)

that make 4 full comfortable size room + 1 full attic + 2 shopping place at the base.

of course it's huge (but I got the space ) 

the rooms I use as a diorama (see the NIRVANA's fashion store here) measure 80cm X  50cm with a 55cm height




 
Permalink Reply by Anne Field on January 15, 2012 at 15:02

I use to use utility shelves as my Barbie house when I was little. I don't have the room for that anymore unfortunately.

If you had to pick your favorite room (living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom) that you would most want to see as a doll room which would it be. Ethan is thinking we may need to just pick a room and make that (he doesn't believe me that a basic room box would work for a lot of people).

Permalink Reply by Anne Field on January 15, 2012 at 15:12

I've taken a look at some of the commercial rooms and it looks like there is a lot of plastic and printing photo paper to make things look like wood floor. Would anyone be interested in paying a higher price for REAL wood flooring? And other quality items?


Community ManagerPermalink Reply by Simon Farnworth on January 15, 2012 at 15:50

For me it would be living room. More options open for dioramas and set ups.

Anne Field said:

I use to use utility shelves as my Barbie house when I was little. I don't have the room for that anymore unfortunately.

If you had to pick your favorite room (living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom) that you would most want to see as a doll room which would it be. Ethan is thinking we may need to just pick a room and make that (he doesn't believe me that a basic room box would work for a lot of people).


Community ManagerPermalink Reply by Simon Farnworth on January 15, 2012 at 15:52

I would be interested in real wood as long as it was to scale. Also I guess weight and shipping costs for real wood is also an issue.

Anne Field said:

I've taken a look at some of the commercial rooms and it looks like there is a lot of plastic and printing photo paper to make things look like wood floor. Would anyone be interested in paying a higher price for REAL wood flooring? And other quality items?


Groups AdminPermalink Reply by Lilly, Chevalier-Fox on January 15, 2012 at 17:22

I personally love the offices,  where I can highlight more my gang's character. but indeed a basic room is always a good room, as it will offer place to the imagination, and imagination is boiling in a doll collector head right?

Anne Field said:

I use to use utility shelves as my Barbie house when I was little. I don't have the room for that anymore unfortunately.

If you had to pick your favorite room (living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom) that you would most want to see as a doll room which would it be. Ethan is thinking we may need to just pick a room and make that (he doesn't believe me that a basic room box would work for a lot of people).

Permalink Reply by Tatyana Alexana on January 15, 2012 at 20:47

There are some rooms that I've seen that are made with 1/2 inch thick foam-core board (very very lightweight posterboard or craft board) and that would make the rooms very affordable too!  Foam core is easy to pin together with long sewing pins and easy to assemble and disassemble.   Its not as durable as wood, obviously!

I think the living room is the most desired room to have our dolls pose in!

Permalink Reply by andy sorensen on January 15, 2012 at 21:32

i used foam board for my my dollhouse diorama, and it is super easy to work with, but not all that sturdy, maybe you could put partical board on either side to make it sturdy? or something similar?

Permalink Reply by Marilyn Allen on January 16, 2012 at 13:01

One of the most successful room was done by Madam Alexander for Alex as part of the "Santa Baby" set.  What made it work so well was that it is heavy cardboard and all one piece.  It folds away very cleverly and that includes the floor.  Clea Bella has been doing rooms for several years with some success, offering many different 'scenes' on the room.  I've also seen charming rooms designed in trunks.  I usually use my basic set of 3 plywood panels hooked together and painted.  Then I just change the set decoration. I expect that a light weight set would be a necessity because of shipping costs.  Many seem to be using a printed backdrop now also.  Several companies offer those on eBay.

My set:

Permalink Reply by Anne Field on January 16, 2012 at 15:46

That' s a very pretty set. We are looking into weight, quality and many other factors. There's no point in making something that is too expensive to ship or that no one would like (or is out of scale. I hate that).

Permalink Reply by Tatyana Alexana on January 16, 2012 at 20:22

WOW, how gorgeous!!    I guess that's why its so valuable to be a member of a doll board where other company's doll collectors participate in, because I think this room and accessory set-up would be useful for any type of doll, depending on the scale.  How tall is the Madame Alexander doll pictured in this set?  Thank you for posting such a lovely picture, you are very talented!



Marilyn Allen said:

One of the most successful room was done by Madam Alexander for Alex as part of the "Santa Baby" set.  What made it work so well was that it is heavy cardboard and all one piece.  It folds away very cleverly and that includes the floor.  Clea Bella has been doing rooms for several years with some success, offering many different 'scenes' on the room.  I've also seen charming rooms designed in trunks.  I usually use my basic set of 3 plywood panels hooked together and painted.  Then I just change the set decoration. I expect that a light weight set would be a necessity because of shipping costs.  Many seem to be using a printed backdrop now also.  Several companies offer those on eBay.

My set:

Permalink Reply by Marilyn Allen on January 17, 2012 at 12:59

Tatyana, this set is one that I made.  It is really just 3 plywood walls.  The doll is "Gene" and she is a "16" (about) fashion doll.  I'll try to post a photo of the Madam Alexander set.  For some reason I couldn't get it to post in the other message.  The piano is made by Tonner as were the two chairs on either side of the fireplace.

Tatyana Alexana said:

WOW, how gorgeous!!    I guess that's why its so valuable to be a member of a doll board where other company's doll collectors participate in, because I think this room and accessory set-up would be useful for any type of doll, depending on the scale.  How tall is the Madame Alexander doll pictured in this set?  Thank you for posting such a lovely picture, you are very talented!

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