 |
| photo copyright Karin Corbin 2009 |
The sun came out today and it was grand sight to see shades of blue everywhere. The water, sky and even the earth were blue. Fresh snow on the Olympic mountains provided the contrast of white. The breeze had the white capped waves dancing. Do enlarge the photo by clicking and join me on the beach. Bring hot chocolate with you to warm your hands and your insides, it is very chilly outside.
 |
| photo copyright Karin Corbin 2009 |
Welcome everyone come on into my new dollhouse. Pardon the mess and the duct tape, we are under construction. The carpenters took a holiday, they will soon come back to do some timber framing work. Then the plasterers will come and then the stone mason. The stone mason has yet to carve the stone sink that goes under the window on the left and to finish the fireplace. You have all heard the horror stories of trying to find reliable help in the construction trades.
 |
| photo copyright Karin Corbin 2009 |
Now you can finally see some progress on the dollhouse. Most of the windows are glued into the walls. I still have to cut the parts for a dormer and the roof.
 |
| photo copyright Karin Corbin 2009 |
I have always planned on adding a small shed roof extension. I thought at first it would be a shed roof on the outside to shelter tools and firewood. Then I decided it would hold a box bed for the inside of the house. It is called in France a lits-clos (bed closet). Some of them are free standing pieces of furniture. Mine will have a furniture type front facing the inside of the room. It is tucked in right next to where the fireplace will be, so warm and cozy snuggled in your little box for the night just like a kitten.
This shed roofed addition also helps with the overall look from the exterior and gives the interior more depth and adventure of exploration. An architect would have said it this way "breaking up the primary massing of the building".
It is a quirky cottage, the balance of the elements is informal rather than being symmetrical about a central point. But indeed there is balance and there will also be a lot of rhythm as you will see when it is all finished. One of the things that attracts me to timber framed houses is all of the rhythm of the framing members. It plays a little tune for your eyes and they simply must dance with a happy pace over all the details of the dollhouse.
A long ways to go yet on this project but I am feeling good about things. Perhaps it won't end up in the trash bin after all.
Thank you for the blue beach! It made waking up pretty pleasant, but I'd rather have a cup of tea if you don't mind :)
ReplyDeleteThe house looks great, can't wait to see more progress!
Love it, Karin! Looking so cute and I love the aged timber window surrounds. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThe window surrounds will be 99% covered over with timber framing details. They are around the windows so I don't get glue in the wrong place when securing the windows and doors into the wall. Also they help with the illusion that the timbers go all the way through the wall.
ReplyDeleteI already love your house. It looks really cosy and the extension gives it a little extra!
ReplyDeleteIn Holland we had the bed-closets too. They were mostly used in farmhouses and they are called Bedstee or Bedstede. You can find a picture here: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedstee
Good luck with your house, I'll be following.
groetjes evelien
Evelien,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the translation and the link. I really enjoyed seeing the museum house with the little bed in the cupboard for the baby.
I actually sleep in a Bedsteded of a sort. It is in the bow of a boat and the walls and cupboards inside of it are made from teak as is the raised panel door opening into the space. A little skylight hatch over the top brings in fresh air and the sky. Sometimes I am even rocked to sleep by my mother nature.
I discover your amazing blog (through Papillon Bleu) What a beautiful work ! i would die for one of those dollhouses ! Magnificent !
ReplyDelete