When it comes to dollhouse miniatures, I think the old-time look is still a favorite. There are so many different themes to choose from, like textures and patterns and different styles of architecture, which immediately convey a specific time period. When you’re doing a modern or fantasy setting, a little bit of “yesteryear” can go a long way. You can have beautiful cornices and lace and gingerbread details that are representative of an older age, without committing to it entirely. This is one way to give your setting a sense of history, and it makes it feel more real.
Even if you’re building a fantasy house, knowing what’s typical for the era you’re interested in will give you a jumping-off point. A Victorian house might have gingerbread trim, stained glass windows, and intricate wallpaper — which all have to be sized down so the house doesn’t look too cluttered. A mid-century modern house could have a chunky couch and an “atomic” chandelier. An Art Deco house would have plenty of geometric patterns, a bold color scheme, and shiny chrome accents. By looking at photographs of antique houses, you can figure out how small to make your trim, your doorknobs, and even the folds in your upholstery so they look convincing. Otherwise, you’re liable to wind up with a generic result.
It takes some imagination to use modern materials to create an antique look. For example, you can either find or antique brass findings to look old or you can use laser cut wood to create the filigree like railings or ceiling rose. Fabric is also an essential part of the project. Silk ribbon for the upholstery, cotton print for the wall paper, and organza for the sheer curtain. Some builders also like to distress the wood to give an impression of an old piece. You can use dry brushing and crackle paint to create this illusion. These details help to give the miniature house a romantic and nostalgic feel, as if the house has been around for centuries.
Combining antique items with modern dollhouses is where the magic happens. Adding an old-fashioned farmhouse sink or pressed-tin ceiling tiles to a contemporary kitchen or using an intricately carved mirror frame or antique-style pendant light in an otherwise modern living room draws attention to the opposing styles and brings a sense of authenticity to the space. It also inspires crafters to play with color palettes, contrasting softer, muted colors from the past with bolder, brighter shades from the present, and to experiment with mixing different materials from different eras. This is how dollhouses begin to look like they have been built and added onto over the years.
Incorporating antique touches not only adds another level of love to a project, but becomes a means of paying homage to those that built before us, while re-inventing their architectural elements at a smaller scale enhances the miniaturist’s skill and style. It’s a way of completing a piece that ties the miniaturist to all the craftsmen that have come before us. This blend of art and imagination is what makes this hobby so intriguing, and every antique accent gives it a little more mystique.