Mad for Miniatures? Show Us Your Dollhouse
It's no surprise that a 1930s house with chandeliers bedecked with diamonds, emeralds and pearls; murals and paintings by Walt Disney; and 2,000-year-old statues originally cost $500,000 to build (nearly $7 million when adjusted for inflation). What is surprising is that after nearly 80 years no one — not even the homeowner — has ever stepped foot inside the house. That's because the Fairy Castle is actually a miniature dollhouse built by silent film star Colleen Moore. The 9-foot house is on display daily at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, where it receives hundreds of thousands of visitors every year — all of whom have to observe its fancy decorations from the perspective of a 5-inch-tall point of view.
A recent article on decorating with dollhouses led many Houzzers to chime in with pictures of their own fabulously tiny houses — with even tinier furnishings. And with the launch of a strange dollhouse-themed Ikea ad, well, we're more than just a little inspired by dollhouses right now.
Take a look at this dream dollhouse and some beloved dollhouses from the Houzz community — then share your own miniature wonder in the Comments below.
The Fairy Castle in Chicago is 8 feet 7 inches by 8 feet 2 inches by 7 feet 7 inches and contains more than 2,000 miniatures, including the smallest Bible ever written, which dates back to 1840.
Moore enlisted the help of more than 700 professionals, including surgical instrument lighting specialists, Beverly Hills jewelers and Chinese jade craftsmen, according to the museum.
Pictured here is the Great Hall, with a ceiling depicting fairy tale scenes. There are also etched windows, real silver knights, tiny glass slippers and three statues of the goddess Isis that date back more than 4,000 years.
The floor in Cinderella's drawing room is rose quartz and jade from China. The chandelier hanging in the center of the room is gold, hung with real diamonds, emeralds and pearls. The vases at each side of the door are carved amber more than 500 years old.
The dollhouses from our youth may have been less grand, but you could actually play with them. Today they continue to give us joy as grownup decor or entertainment for another generation.
A few examples from your fellow Houzzers:
From Kim: "Here is a dollhouse that I made for my daughter when she was little. Now I display it on an unused shelf over the stairs."
From juju622: "This is one of my dollhouses. It is a Melissa & Doug children's toy that I stained. It is an addictive hobby!"
"In Kansas City, we have a wonderful miniature museum," says juju622.
From candyjayne3917: "My handmade dollhouse (a work in progress!) is an unexpected design element in my small townhouse. I painted it to match my new color choices for the space and looks completely at home ... in fact, it completes it. I feel vindicated!"
From Lucy Ananiadis: "I'm a fan. We made this one for our girls. They are now grown, so it's part of my decor at the moment. I plan to really fit it out someday."
From Louise Waddington Designs: "My daughter outgrew her dollhouse but I didn't want to give it away, so I converted it into a bedside table. She loves it and can still use the rooms to hide things."
Tell us: Have a great dollhouse of your own? Please post photos of your dollhouse in the Comments below. We'll pick some of our favorites for an upcoming feature on dollhouses for design lovers.
