Sunday 30 June 2013

SUCH A LITTLE KITCHEN!



HELLO Again EVERYONE!  
 I would ask that you come with me for another visit to #43 Green Dolphin Street.  I am currently at work on the Little Kitchen and I MEAN LITTLE!  Lucille had mentioned that she also has a tiny kitchen in her dollhouse ( in progress) and she was waiting to see how I would tackle mine.  Well, Lucille, this ain't going to be easy but here is what I am working towards.  Something that looks Old and is needing to be upgraded, and is just hanging on by a thread! hahhah  What I really mean is that this kitchen will have seen Better Days but it suits the current occupant just fine!
 So here is what it looks like so far.......
Now don't think that this is what I decided to do and then DID IT!  Oh no!  That would have been how "Normal People" who have made drawings and have planned and take the proper steps forward, would work.  No,.... this is what has evolved from a whole lot of unexpected problems that I tackled one after the other until it Became this.  The first thing that you will notice is the paper tile floor that I was complaining about before.  This is not so pretty but it is what it is and when the room is furnished I shall hide what is showing with a scatter rug and that will disguise a lot of it.  Nothing I wish to discuss further. 
GIAC, CLOSE YOUR EYES!
One evening I was sitting looking at the Parlor and I thought ,"I have Got to begin on the kitchen soon!"  Trying to get going on anything is a real chore for me.  I usually need a red hot poker to get me moving and so after thinking about doing it I bit the bullet and began.  I had been putting it off for weeks and believe it or not what is motivating me now is Christmas!  I want this house to be ready for Christmas and it won't be if I don't  do anything but dream.  So I began by papering the walls of the kitchen.
  Problem #1:  I used the WRONG Wallpaper.
I have two types and one roll looks like rough plaster and the other looks like bad acne.  Even when I was applying it I thought "this doesn't look right", but I kept going anyway.  Once it was up
 I HATED IT!
Cottage Cheese Anyone!?
I tried painting and aging it and now it looked like Painted and Aged Cottage Cheese.
The solution was to Spackle over top of it.  Which is what you see in this photo

I have removed the dividing wall of the kitchen and the parlor and am laying it on really thick!
I smoothed it out as I went so that I would not have to sand a whole lot and let dry between coats as I built up the layers.
This is the wall after it has been plastered and painted and aged

Once the paint was nearly dry, I lightly sanded it and off came some of the acrylic paint and it gave me this mottled plaster effect that I really liked!  The beam that you see across the top of the wall is the Greenleaf cedar flooring that is coarse and wide grained and perfect for the faux ceiling beam.
Between waiting for the coats of plaster to dry down, I decided to cut a small window out of the stone wall so that I could have additional light and also so that I could get a view from the outside through the kitchen and into the Parlor.
So this is what it looks like now totally empty

Okay, I must admit that I was really getting into this kitchen transformation by now.  It was looking quite rustic and very old and the plaster walls had some real visual depth that was a pleasure to look at.  But I still had a 3rd wall to do and I was nearly out of plaster.  I decided to do it anyway which brings me to
 Problem #2.  I ran out of Spackle!
I had to work out how to stretch the small amount that I had and the solution that I came up with was to mix the small amount of what was left of the Spackle with another product and that was what I did!  I mixed the remainder with
LIQUITEX TEXTURE GEL
 that I had bought a last year from Michael's craft store and the finish was very satisfactory.  It looks like a dense and a hard stone!  The plaster walls have a soft depth that this one wall doesn't have but this wall looks really hard!  I painted and aged the wall as I did with the other 2 and then lightly sanded it and off came some of the finish.
PERFECTO!
this is the product that I used to mix with the Spackle.  It is very grainy and yet very light and when I mixed it with the Spackle the color dried down to a mottled yellow all by itself.  I believe it is because of the nature of the Spackle that starts out Pink and dries to a natural white. The chemical when mixed with the gel reacted as it did without my knowing that it would.
( This hobby is full of wonders!)


This kitchen is turning out quite Okay after all!  The walls are taking on some history and that ALWAYS makes me happy!  I sealed everything with Matt Mod Podge so that it would keep the finish    on the walls.  That new little window is high up so that it can clear the staircase that needs to be installed.  So this is what the 2 rooms look like side by side.


The view through the little side window into the Parlor.

So at this point I need to start on the layout of the kitchen.  Where will the appliances go and what size do they have to be to enable a decent work center.  I need to see how the room will look with the staircase and how much room will it eat up.  I used my daughters old ruler and a paint stir stick and one of the Arthur stringers that used to be glued to the centre of the house.
This Mock Up gave me a good idea of what space I would have available for a stove a sink and a fridge...... NOT MUCH!

 
I think that I can easily get a stove under the stairs as the Chrysonbon cast iron stove demonstrates.  But I do Not want This stove.  I think that I want an AGA but I may have to make my own.  That will be a challenge and I want it with a fireplace surround.  Will that be possible?  The work table is here to calculate the length that I shall need for a sink and counter.  The modern fridge is not an option.  I shall have to build one for under the counter so that I can have some space for display.  It is a nice fridge and the door swings open and everything but sorry, not the best for this project.  The fridge is just too tall and blocks the light.  It shortens the site line and makes the space look even more congested than it already is. 
(sigh...too bad, so sad) 
I will NOT be using this stove for a number of reasons.
1.  It is American and not English
2.  It protrudes out too far from the wall.  I NEED All the space I can squeeze out of this kitchen and that space would be wasted.
3.  The danger of a severe burn by a doll, accidentally backing into a hot iron stove given the tightness of the distance between the 2 walls, is not something I am willing to risk.  I want this space to be pleasant to work in not a health hazzard!
(You see how seriously I take this!? hahahah)
I'm just getting a feel for the space.


I decided to try a large ornate mirror over the temporary work table and it allowed the stove to be reflected in it!  I love mirrors and I love this effect of this in the kitchen.  In my Real Life kitchen, I have placed a mirror over the sink so that while at it, I can still connect to the dinner guests that are sitting right behind me as I work.  It has made a much better view for them and me.  I really want to keep this mini mirror in the kitchen.  Which will bring me to
Problem #3
STORAGE AND DISPLAY
From this angle you can see that there is not a whole lot of room for all the kitchen bits and pieces that make up a regular kitchen work space.  I shall need to build in some kind of storage and display above and /or around the stove unit that I decide on.  I may need to bring a small wall down from the top of the underside of the staircase and make some shallow shelves recessed into the dead area under the stringer.  While I was waiting to come up with a solution I still had to paint the ceiling and texture and age it.  
I need to age the ceiling
I mentioned before that the ceiling in the Parlor had too much Newness for  the look that I was aiming at.  I needed something that didn't look like it was installed last week, instead of decades ago.  I don't know if you can see how I've made the ceiling sort of rough and splotchy!?
 Well, .... it is.

Side by side you can compare the Parlor ceiling and the new-looking kitchen ceiling.  Can you see what I mean Now!? To make it look old, I used a mix of The LIQUITEX AND HAIR MOLDING PASTE.  I painted it on with a brush and waited for it to dry.


Looks nice and grainy
When it was dry, I mixed the hair molding paste with a little bit of yellow acrylic paint and again used a brush to paint it on the ceiling.  It kind of grabs in some spots and not in others, and looks like it has been peeling away for years!  When it was nearly set up, I added a touch of amber glass paint which I mixed with a little of the left over paste/paint mixture and Voila!
 A DIRTY OLD CEILING


Now you may be wondering just how I thought of using this stuff.  Well, I didn't really think of it at all.  I was in the dollar store and this was in with the craft supplies and all I really saw when I bought it was Molding Paste and not the DIPPITY DO for hair!  I was thinking art project and it wasn't until I had mixed it with the textured gel that I saw it was for HAIR!?
Duh!!!
It began to separate as it dried and got splotchy and wouldn't you know?........
 I couldn't be happier!

elizabeth


71 comments:

  1. Good morning (at least for me it is!) Elizabeth, what a great start of this new week for me ;)! WOWWW, you have achieved a fantastic weathered result on the kitchen walls and the ceiling. It is really gorgeous, it is so well done! But, oh dear, I had to laugh hard when I read about the molding paste for.......HAIR, it is so funny! I hope the result of this stuff will last for ever, what a find :D!
    Just awake for a few hours and now I am sitting here with a cup of coffee (it is coffee time here), no, two cups in the meanwhile ;D........but that is quite a story you have to tell us! But what a great adventure, but I LOVE this kind of adventures :D! I work in the same way as you: I loose problems like they appear in my miniature work and I rarely make a plan or drawings for a project :D!! (I hope Giac and others don't read this ;)!)
    Well, my coffee cup is empty. All I can say is THANK you for sharing your big miniature adventure and your findings of these materials, Elizabeth, it was a real pleasure :D!
    Have a good week and I hope you will go on with your fantastic kitchen work ;)
    Hugs, Ilona

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    1. Hello Ilona! Good Morning to you too! I have just come in from the garden and I am EXHAUSTED! I should have had a coffee too, come to think of it. The weather has gone from polar cold to desert hot! All in the space of 24 hours! My poor peonies are a total write off because of all the past rain and now the sun is cooking everything to a crisp! What a year!!!
      Thank you for your lovely words. I respect your work so very much as you know and your opinion is always greatly appreciated. Thinking of this as a 'Big Miniature Adventure' is so appropriate! I Never know what lies ahead and down the road. More to come though!

      elizabeth

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  2. Wonderful! I like the walls and the ceiling in the kitchen. The furniture ia gorgeous, especially the stove.
    Greetings, Faby

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    1. Hello Fabiola! I am glad that you like it so far, Faby! I am really having great fun now that the walls and ceiling are done. I have changed some of the Parlor furniture too, as you have probably noticed. More on that later but Thank you for your comment and the compliment! I am always happy to see and hear from you!

      elizabeth

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  3. Love this kitchen, it has a very continental feel to it. Also, drooling over the oddments you've used to test it out.

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    1. Ooooo a Continental Feel is JUST exactly what I was trying for Susan! Thank You! Hey, did you notice that I have LOTS of photos? I kept hearing your words about more of them so I tried to oblige! Thanks for the feedback on the kitchen Susan. You know that I usually place the cart before the horse when it comes to assembling a room so it is kitted out with some things to give the space a kitchen atmosphere whilst I try to decide on my next step. I am very glad that you like the accessories. Some of them are from my past tutorials and some gifts from friends. They all have a special significance and a personal memory attached.
      I keep stopping by your blog looking for more of your Fabulous Crochet work that always has ME drooling. It seems Susan, that we both belong to the 'Mutual Admiration Society'!

      elizabeth

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    2. Elizabeth, I just had a thought though I'd completely understand if you didn't like it as it means cutting through your stonework again.....Downunder in the Antipodes, pre electricity, stoves were frequently set in an alcove that extended out from the kitchen wall. This was often done after the actual building had been erected, building being done in stages as time permitted so the first completed rooms would be used as sleeping quarters but as the building grew, might end up being living rooms or kitchens. My own grandparents built a house like this when their children were young and many happy memories remain with me of their tiny kitchen squeezed into the corner of the surrounding verandah with the stove alcove extended out of the back wall. Their stove was not a beautiful aga, it was a basic black iron wood stove and as hot as the proverbial in an Australian summer as my tiny Nanna cooked the full Northern Christmas dinners. I learned to cook on this stove myself when, at the age of 12, it fell to me to care for my father and two younger siblings. Your tiny kitchen space would lend itself to this sort of arrangement but I fear it would be a lot more work for you.

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    3. Wow, Susan!!!! What a great story! My mother-in-law also cooked on a cast iron stove when she lived on a farm in Manitoba and she said it wasn't easy, so my hat goes off to you for having done so. You are right, however; the thought of trying to cut through that stone is not something that I would choose to do unless I was really 'up against it'. One of the challenges that I placed before myself was to see if I could keep to the existing floor plan with this kit house. I had done the Glencroft ( the one that the Rats got into) and had to add a lean- to get some extra space out the kitchen. I think that I Can make this work if I can just get my LAZY SELF out of the way and begin to try.
      I am going to give the Aga a real effort and try and make one, ( or a reasonable facsimile). I was just researching it and apparently the Aga is used to heat the home as well as the water system. That would save me having to instal a boiler in the kitchen. The thing that is the most scary is that everyone will be watching to see what kind of job I make of it! I should have just make it on the quiet and then if it didn't turn out , no one would have been the wiser and then I could have made something else. Now Aga is on the menu and I feel obliged to serve it up! hahhaha Wish me luck, Susan. No better yet; Pray for me!

      elizabeth

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    4. Yes, I did rather think it would be desperation measures to cut your wall again. I can't find an email address for you Elizabeth, I have an aga tutorial for you if you'd like it, my address is on my profile.

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    5. Hi Susan! I got it and I THANK YOU VERY MUCH! The instructions are easy to follow and the pictures are good! This has now got me all fired up ......
      and it seems I don't need that Hot Poker after all! haha!

      Your the best!

      elizabeth

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  4. Да, Ваша работа поражает! Удивительно, как вы чувствуете цвет, фактуру! Настолько реальны старые стены и потолок. Мне нравятся неровности на стенах. Смотришь и ощущаешь запахи старого дома.
    Объятья
    Татьяна

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    1. Hello Tatiana! I love the way that you have phrased that; "I feel the color and the texture". Yes I do! Or at least I try to. Some projects are more successful than others but I really wanted this room to have the look of well-used! As though it has been around a lot longer than me and thus I set about making it look, not decrepit but Old. Yes there is a smell that old houses have and this one looks to have it too. Thank you for noticing this! It makes me confident to carry on!

      elizabeth

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  5. Wonderful work Elisabeth! It looks so real...! I love everything!
    Hugs

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    1. Hello Mara! Thank you! There is no higher praise than that! It is what we all strive for generally and hopefully I can stay true to the theme and make this Victorian cottage come as close to the 21st century without sacrificing too much of it's character in the process.

      elizabeth

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  6. E, what in the world is a molding paste for hair? hahaha

    You really have a really entertaining way of telling your process. I have utterly enjoyed myself and I really love that wall!

    The kitchen is a little small but at least you have a kitchen. My abandoned house only has a kettle space ! :):)





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    1. Hello Dear Sans! If you wore your hair in a MOWHAK you would be very well acquainted with Molding Paste! hahahhah I am so glad that you like the walls! You know, for the life of me, I don't know Why this product was in with the crafts!? This should teach me to read the labels from here on, but I doubt it. As it turned out it worked a treat and because it is mixed with the textured gel, it should Outlast- Me! Sans your being nice when you say that this kitchen is a 'little small', it is MINISCULE! However, I am grateful to have one at all and as to your Abandoned House, Your kettle space is PERFECT for the Magical Atmosphere that you have laced and layered throughout it! You have interpreted the required decor faultlessly!

      elizabeth

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  7. You never know what will work! Looks great and I like the floor!

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    1. Thank you 'MOD'! You are so right! So of the best ideas are from your greatest mistakes and having to find a way to fix them! Thank you for your mention of the floor. You know it looks alright for this old room but when I look at the floors of Giac and others that do such Superior
      wood working..... well, I hang my head. But then I get over it and focus on what I like to do best and that is create atmosphere! So I guess the floor has.... atmosphere! hahha

      elizabeth

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  8. Glad you did not give up and came to this result as realistic. The kitchen is beautiful!

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    1. Hi Eliana! ( My reply to you got bumped down below Ksandra!? )

      elizabeth

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  9. Wow, hard work...the result is truly beautiful! Love it!
    Hugs
    Kikka

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    1. Thank you Kikka! I really appreciate your comment and the lovely compliment! I had fun with the prep work which is always the most tedious but now it is done and the real work begins! .... The STAIRS!

      elizabeth

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  10. Dear Elizabeth! It's always such fun to read your adventures as you work on your house and come up with impromptu solutions to the various problems that pop up. Everything turned out as you expected and it's looking like the sort of old kitchen you have set your heart on. I love the idea of having an AGA with a fireplace surround. I think such a look is so charming. You have a huge challenge ahead, what with building the AGA, fireplace surround, sink and fridge. I know you will succeed in achieving all this. You are that capable!

    I want to mention that my kitchen is not as small as yours. It measures 10" x 10". Presently, I am doing a brick floor out of egg carton. I still have to do the grouting. I hope to do that today. I also want to have built-in cupboards, built-in fridge, stove, and a built-in sink unit. I have never done that sort of thing before and I am hoping that I can manage it. I just have to decide if I will use wood or cardboard like Kris. Cardboard is so much easier to cut. I look forward to seeing the progress on your kitchen. You are making this into such a charming little place!

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    1. Happy Canada Day Lucille! You know I really envy you your available kitchen space. If the staircase wasn't a necessary feature, I could be quite content with the room I have now but the stairs is the big space eater; But I have to have them! I am intrigued by your doing a brickwork floor and making it out of egg cartons is a great solution. I wish that you would send and update of your housing project so that I could post it on my blog for you! Think about it and let me know okay? After seeing what you did with that lovely little Edwardian bed, there is nothing that you couldn't do Lucille! Nothing!

      elizabeth

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  11. You just never give up, do you? Impressive that you just goes on and on until you have just the right feeling. I thought the it looked pretty good already god in photo 4-5. Were you painted, the Cottage Cheese. Smile.
    You've got it really nice, I'd love to see it in reality. Thanks for showing us how and take us through all your troubles.
    Hugs
    Wyrna

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    1. Hahaha! Wyrna, I am a pretty determined woman when it comes to getting my OWN WAY! Sometimes I do have to give up or give in but I would not be worthy of my salt if I let some bumpy wallpaper get the better of me! Cottage cheese on the walls is only good in a college food fight! hahhaha Thank you, my dear friend, for your always welcomed visit! Your comment made me smile!

      elizabeth

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  12. I love it. I too like the floor and I love the way you have put a window in to give more light. I should like to be brave enough to try a window where there isn't one. I will so look forward to seeing how it looks at Christmas.

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    1. Thank you Mummyboo! Yes..... the floor..... NOT my best work. However it is way too late to try and change it. Cutting that little window was a big challenge because I had to cut through the egg carton exterior that was Finished and with a craft knife. I had to try not to tear the stones! hahah That sounds weird but they were so well sealed on top that they were tricky to cut through cleanly. Now that it is installed I am so glad because it makes the space less dark and also because I love to peek through the windows and look at the miniature interior from a different viewpoint. Once I get an idea in my head it just has to come out and that little window is the result!

      elizabeth

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  13. This has been such an interesting post to read. It's amazing to see the beautiful results of your experiments with spackle, liquitex gel, etc. I liked your kitchen already at the start of this post, but you managed to even improve it. Hugs, Liduina

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    1. You are soooo Sweet, Liduina! Thank you so very much! I am really enjoying making some progress on it after it sat inside my head for so long. I make excuses to put off making a start but once I do get going I just want to get it done! In my rush to get to the finish line I make mistakes that have to be dealt with. This is how I have always worked and it usually works out in the end, but I go through a whole lot of unnecessary grief along the way. However, I do love the walls and when I got to the 3rd wall and then the ceiling, I had to try and recall what series of "mistakes" I made in order to make them again!!!!! That was interesting.

      elizabeth

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  14. I like it, it looks like they've been frying fish in the kitchen forever! I think you are right about the Aga stove if you do a small 24inch one with some side cabinets it would be perfect and it would suit the cottage owner as well. I think it's very brave of you to make an Aga stove and I will be watching with rapt interest. but I do have one question what in the world will you do for a fridge? will you go old school fridge or just make an Ice box from the 20's? this is so exciting..well maybe not for you since you are the one doing it but Im tickled to death :)

    Hugs
    Marisa

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    1. Hello Marisa! "Fish frying in the kitchen forever" is a good choice on the menu for a seaside cottage! I like your suggestion of side cabinets too; I shall keep that in mind for sure. Brave to make an Aga stove?, gulp! I am still only thinking about it but it IS on the back burner (pun) As for the fridge, I have already decided that it will have to be pint sized and under the counter. There is just no other practical option. It will be faux as I don't need it to open but I do want the oven door to be operational. The stove will have to be narrow and the sink will have to be small. Everything reduced down to apartment size. Thankfully, as this is a updated cottage, I can do just about anything and it will be appropriate. If it was a classic Victorian, my options would be a whole lot less and " PANIC " would be my middle name!

      elizabeth

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  15. Привет!
    Элизабет, ваш дом становится все лучше и лучше. Мне нравится, то что вы продумываете все до мелочей!!! Вы меня заставили улыбнуться, когда сказали, что нужно поменять печку, что бы ваша кукла не обожглась!!!
    Спасибо вам за приятное общение!!!!
    Hugs
    Ksandra

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    1. Hello my dear Ksandra! Thank you so much for this lovely comment and the wonderful compliment too! You know when I was trying out this stove and then the fridge in front of it, I kept thinking that if it were me, how would I manage to keep my bum clear of the stove if something were cooking on it or in it? I am as clumsy as an ox and I know that given the limited space, there would be NO WAY to keep from getting burned if the stove was hot! That is why I need that space that the stovepipe is taking away to gain more room to move about! This would sound totally MAD to anyone else except to another miniaturist, like yourself! Details again! I know that you understand where I am coming from ( Big smiles)

      elizabeth

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    2. Спасибо, мне так приятно с вами общаться, пусть и на разных языках. Удачи вам с работой в доме. Надеюсь вы найдете печку подходящего размера.
      Еще хочу сказать спасибо, за приятные отзывы в моем блоге, да действительно Wyrna талантливая женщина. И спасибо вам за ваши прекрасные слова обо мне в блоге Wyrna.
      Надеюсь, что мы с вами и дальше будем общаться и тоже попозже сделаем обмен подарками!!!!!!

      Thank you, I am so pleased to communicate with you, even in different languages. Good luck with the work in the house. I hope you find the right size stove.
      I want to say thank you for the nice reviews on my blog, yes indeed Wyrna talented woman. And thank you for your lovely words about me in a blog Wyrna.
      I hope that you and I will continue to communicate and also later make an exchange gifts!!
      Hugs
      Ksandra

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  16. Hello Eliana! A Big Happy Birthday to YOU! I am so glad that you like this little kitchen and think that it looks realistic. That is such a wonderful compliment to any miniaturist. My next step is to get the staircase built and installed and then of course, the rest of the fittings. I love staircases but I do NOT love doing them. I wish sometimes that I enjoyed wood-working more than I do then I would take my time and make a good job of it but I get impatient to get it over with so that I can move onto the easier stuff. But I shall try NOT to give up! So,Thank you for your encouraging words!

    elizabeth

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  17. (Sam here),
    I think your kitchen looks well loved. The aging effects are wonderful and give it a lot of character. Really enjoyed reading this post. I love "hearing" your creative thought processes!
    Great work,
    Sam

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  18. Hello Sam! Thank you for this lovely comment! I love anything that looks aged and old and especially when those effects are applied to a doll's house. I appreciate the term "well-loved" as that is what I am trying to develop in this kitchen and ultimately the entire house! Now about Isabelle.... I hope that you have forgiven her for ordering on-line without your permission? I know that she had the best intentions of trying to help you out while you were away here in Canada and she has the Best little heart of any elf I know! I will say that your discipline of making her go to school to learn about debt and finances was a brilliant stroke and I am so impressed by her determination to learn. What a Sweetie! Thanks Sam for your visit and please say HI to Isabelle for me. You are both really special!

    elizabeth

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  19. quelle ténacité et détermination ! Il est vrai que pour arriver à ce que nous souhaitons il en faut ! Le résultat est magnifique, la cuisine à un très bel aspect ancien.
    Merci de nous conter aussi bien vos mésaventures, c'est bon pour notre moral de miniaturistes (nous rencontrons des difficultés qui le font chuter parfois ce moral )
    Bonne journée ! rosethé-Minima

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  20. Bonjour Rosethe'! Thank you! I suppose that I DO have determination and mostly when I feel I am being denied something that I really really want! I wanted this kitchen to have an aged not an ugly pimply appearance and that is what determined my perseverance to make it right! I am rather Lazy by nature about a lot of things, But when it comes to my miniatures, I Can (on occasion) muster up some Steam. I like the way you have said that the kitchen has an "Antique" look to it. That is such a good word for this space! time-worn, well-loved, "Antique", and as Tatiana observed; "feeling color and texture and smell" of an old home. Thank you again, Rosethe' I love your comment!

    elizabeth

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  21. Elizabeth, you have made an amazin work, congratulations!!!!

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    1. Hola Maria! I Thank you so much! It is NOT finished yet but it gives me an idea of how to proceed from here. It has been Very Encouraging to get so much positive feedback on this little kitchen. It makes me very happy!!!!

      elizabeth

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  22. Hello Elisabeth,
    Ha! I for one LOVE the floor. It reminds me of the floor in the basement kitchen of my grandparents house. It looks like a real, well used kitchen floor with years of walking around on it. I like it very much...but that's just me.
    As for the rest of the room: Fantastic. It might be a small space but most old kitchens were and I think it looks perfect. you really aged every detail just right. Also, you are so talented at placing furniture. every inch of the space is well used. As for the AGA, of course you can make it. Look at what you've done so far. you take that doubt, throw it on the floor and jump on it repeatedly. I think I've seen one made from cardboard...I will try to find the tutorial.
    Elizabeth, I love the kitchen. it has so much charm and feels just right. Once again, there is no one to touch you when it comes to creating atmosphere my friend.
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. Hello Giac, my friend! Thank you for liking my floor. I have to say that I think of you as the "King of Floors" and so one of the first things that crossed my mind was ' What will Giac, think about this!?" Well, I decided to just put it out there and take my lumps. Really Giac, if you had done this it would have been done RIGHT. But having said that I am glad that it has some authenticity to it that you recall your grandparents having in their basement. That makes me feel better about it! I had to laugh at throwing doubt on the floor and stomping on it, hahhahha. I HAVE made a small electrical stove before from a tutorial from PAT AND NOEL THOMAS back in the Nutshell News days and it turned out rather well. The AGA would definitely be a greater challenge. ( I'm sweating already!) Anyway , thank you Giac for you belief in me and the compliment that you have bestowed upon me. It is always welcomed and Greatly appreciated.
      Big hug back!

      elizabeth

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    1. Sorry Genevieve, my reply got bumped below Jane Smith!? ( how does this keep happening?)

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  24. I love hearing about your process, Elizabeth. You're absolutely fearless mixing all of these different unusual products together. The results are fantastic! xo Jennifer

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    1. Hi Jennifer! Thank you for your belief in my courage Jennifer! Most of the time is it just DESPERATION! hahahha I have to fix what I messed up and there is no going backwards. When that happens I often come up with something that I would't have thought to do except through expediency. I am always learning and as I like the "well-loved" look (to quote Sam/Isabelle), this gives me a whole lot of latitude. If I was trying to make a perfectly new- looking something; I don't think that my work would be as successful. I just don't have it in me.

      elizabeth

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  25. Great walkthrough of your evolving walls ;)

    I always love the aged realism you put on your projects they reflect so lovely in the lighting and pictures.

    And of course thank you for your great advise!

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    1. Hi there Lady Jane! Yes indeed they were 'evolving walls' and it is funny; I was originally trying to take a Short-Cut by using the wallpaper! Because of choosing the wrong roll, I ended up spending Much MORE TIME trying to correct the error and yet I ended up with a better product on the end. Better than I had planned because None of it Was planned. But what a nice surprise to be gifted with! Thank you Jane for noticing the lighting in the photographs. I'm not the best photographer as you can tell from some of the shots that are out of focus in this blog, but the ones that Did turn out, I was really pleased with. I Will have a ceiling fixture later on, that will hang over the work area but until then, that small, high window has made a HUGE difference to the atmosphere within the kitchen. It has brightened it up and made taking the shot so much better. As you know, when things work out right, big smiles! When they don't.... a strong desire to drop kick your work across a football field seems to be the only viable option. hahha

      elizabeth

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  26. Bonjour Genevieve! It is Always a great pleasure to hear from you! Thank you for your compliment. I am delighted that you have enjoyed this little taste of the Little Kitchen, thus far. There is still so much to do yet and some additional challenges to face that may take me some time to get up the courage to do. One step at at time. I have loved the items that you purchased at SIMP 2013! You have some really lovely pieces and some wonderful gifts as well, Lucky Lady! Your seagull was the big surprise and what a wonderful bird he is! Perfect for your seaside cottage. I see that he is quite fearless as well. He comes right up to the door! Gulls seem to have that kind of courage. More than most. Have a great time in Ireland, Genevieve.
    See you when you bet back

    elizabeth

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  27. Hi Elizabeth! I LOVE to see your process! And I SO Feel your Pain!!! I think your House must be the same size as my "Folly" and I have just been trying to address the issues of the kitchen... stairs and all! LOL! I am not trying for an Aged look so much as a "Left-Behind-by-Time" look and by that I mean an old fashioned atmosphere but a certain amount of current fixtures mixed in with the old ones.... accumulated over time but never "up-dated".... I have just installed the brick wall to back the old fashioned stove.... and an old kerosene style lamp fixture.... but there will have to be a small modern fridge tucked in there too (I have not yet posted about these developments .... but will soon!). I have an old hutch I am planning to paint for the "storage" I also have a plate shelf and cup hooks running along the top of the wall... very "old fashioned Cottage style" But the Sink I am going to have to make from scratch as nothing is going to be small enough if purchased. Your Fearless use of strange materials for the surfaces of your walls and ceilings is... educational at the least! Who would EVER think a hair gel was the right stuff??? I Bow to your courage! And your results are Always stunning!

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  28. Hallo Betsy!!! Yes, I do believe that your Folly and the Arthur have just about the same square footage! I love the way that you addressed your layout in the Folly. Your living room built-ins and that Fantabulous ceiling are to die for! And probably my most favorite space is the tinest; the Book Nook. Your imagination has no equal, Betsy! We shall have to keep each other company doing our respective kitchens. I only just returned from the dollar store (again) trying to scout out items to transform into the AGA! It originally was just a thought, then when I searched them on-line and thought about the postage that would have to be considered as well as the cost of the stove itself, and then having just finished paying my thousands of dollars in property taxes......YIKES! So, the thought is now going to be a reality! hahhah I love the idea of a plate shelf with cup hooks, that is soooo British and I hope that you won't mind me sharing the idea too!? Giac, suggested I make the Aga from cardboard and I did find a tutorial that has done just that. They covered the stove with sheets of thin pewter. It looks really good but again the metal would be potentially too hot. What kind of old-fashioned stove are you using, Betsy? You know back when I was newly married and in my first house, there was a stove in the kitchen from the 1940-50's. It was white enamel with two ovens and it was really wide! I loved that old stove but when we moved, we left it there and just a few years later VINTAGE TOOK OFF! Every one wanted the look of Happy Days and that old stove would have fetched a small fortune! If I had only known..... Anyway, I am going to be back and forth, to and from your blog keeping abreast of your progress and hopefully we can keep UP each others morale. I know that I am going to need a Good Poke in the side, every now and then to keep me on track and I shall be happy to do the same for you! ( although you are already a good self- starter!)
    I got a good chuckle of the way you phrased " Fearless use of strange materials". It wasn't fearlessness it was Stupidity! I didn't read the label until After the deed was done! But that is Okay, if you think I'm smart, cause it will just add to my Mystique! hhahahhahhahahhahh

    elizabeth

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  29. Hi Elizabeth,

    it took some detective work for me to recon your blog but I'm glad I finally found it. LOVE your work and your writing kind of reminds me of, well, --me! (So what's not to love)? LOL! Anyway, I look forward to following your progress...

    Your new fan & follower,
    John

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    1. Hi again John! I have only just now found your comment!!!? So sorry! I Had responded earlier to you via Gmail, but your comment wasn't showing up on my blog. Turns out that Google was to blame, (as I had suspected,) and now here you are safe at last! Happy dance! Thank you so much once again for your very kind and VERY COMICAL WORDS! hah! Perhaps we Do have similar styles of writing; I shall just have to keep on visiting yours to find out. Something that I already LOVE TO DO!

      elizabeth

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    2. P.S. John ..... I think that you will have to RE-JOIN as a follower because Blogger didn't allow it to go through the first time around! ( How annoying these little upsets can sometimes be.
      Better though than loosing my Reading List!, so not so bad when I think of it that way)

      e

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  30. These are great tips. I love how everything is turning out. Your tiny kitchen already looks so cozy.
    hugs♥,
    Caroline

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  31. Hello Caroline! Thank you and I take that as a sincere compliment from one who knows and understands Small Spaces, such as yourself! As you know when it is This Small, cosy is all there is room for!

    elizabeth

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  32. Me encanta tu blog, lo he descubierto hoy y estoy encantada, tienes trabajos estupendos e ideas fabulosas. Un abrazo, Arantza.
    http://miniaturasarantza.blogspot.com

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    1. Hola Ararantza! Thank you for your visit and the sweet compliment and 'WELCOME!. I hope that you will enjoy the ideas and be able to make use of some of them when you can.

      elizabeth

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  33. I'm loving the way your kitchen is coming along, especially with the 'happy accidents' you have experienced along the way. I have learnt alot over the years from unexpected outcomes. I love the way the walls have turned out. I am sure your kitchen will have a cosy very lived in feel when finished.

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    1. Hi There Sharee! Thank you and you are so right , there is always something to be learned from 'happy accidents'! One of the things I have learned NOW is to write them down so that if I need to duplicate it On Purpose then I can. I often think, "Oh, I'll remember how I did this" and then when I go to do it later, I have forgotten something along the way and it doesn't turn out the same. Huh!!!? I made some wonderful looking tart shells that I made lots and lots of, 12 years ago. Now I want to make some more and I can't for the Life of me remember how I made them, or the mold I used, or Anything! I thought I had written it down but I didn't now I am stuck trying to Remember; but now with an OLD BRAIN instead of a younger one.... It can only get worse.

      elizabeth

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  34. I love how old it looks with the peeling plaster and the tile floor. Great job Elizabeth!!! :) Can't wait to see more details!

    toddlindsey.com

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    1. Hello Lindsey! Wonderful to see you here again! Thank you for the compliment. I am currently crawling along at a snail's pace with this kitchen....AGAIN! I have just finished installing the light fixture and yet I still have not tackled the stairs that have to be done before the stove and all the rest. ( 'Lazy' is kicking in again.) You however, have NOT been lazy at all. I have been to your blog and seen the wonderful transfromation that you have made in converting a down and out bedroom, in your REAL LIFE house, into a Fantastic New work space!
      It is so beautiful and I know you must be very proud of your efforts, because it was a job that you did on your own and you have some very clever space saveing ideas that I would like to 'borrow", from you. Congratulations, Lindsey on getting it completed. Now lets hope that I can do the same with this teeny tiny kitchen.

      elizabeth

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    2. Aw, thanks Elizabeth!!! I wish I had the time and patience to work on my mini spaces as diligently as you! :)

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    3. Now that you have your new workroom/studio Lindsey, you just might!

      elizabeth

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  35. Elizabeth, thanks for your comment on my blog, especially as it led me to find your wonderful blog too. I just love what you are doing with your kitchen! I too love aged and worn things, and you are getting such a great effect in your kitchen. Would the fridge work under the stairs, so it doesn't block the line of sight? I haven't read all the comments or your replies to them so you might have dismissed this idea already. I am trying to sign on as a follower but it won't let me at the moment - but I can see that I'll be back often to read more about this wonderful project.

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    1. Hello Sandra! Thank you for your sweet comment and for trying to sign on as a follower There seems to be a technical problem with that gadget right now and it is on every blog that I have visited this evening. So I am not sure why but it is most aggravating mostly because the first thing I think is that I pushed the wrong button somewhere! I am not good with technology at all. None the less, I thank you for taking the time to write. I have decide to do a small under the cabinet fridge so that I can have the additional counter space for the sink and prep area and also I would like to do a custom stove 'Aga style' for under the stairs which I haven't yet built and so everything is stalled for the moment. Susan from Microchocetmad , has forwarded a wonderful tutorial and I am going to have fun building it once I get going on it.
      Meanwhile I shall be re-visiting your blog as well, because that little half scale house of yours has a special story to tell too!

      elizabeth

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  36. Hi Elizabeth, The walls turned out really well. I really like the rustic rooms you have created. The bit where you mention about the doll getting burnt by the stove :D I think like that all the time. For instance in my kitchen, I couldn't have the clothes airer hanging over the cooker, just in case something caught fire!!! What a disaster that would be, coming home to a burnt down dollshouse!! :D

    P.s. I have the bloomer tutorial post up. Like you, I need to push myself to get going :D Sorry it took awhile :D

    P.s..I quite like the floor. Just pretend the floor is very old and the ground has shifted underneath, moving the tiles about, I have seen tiles like that in very old houses. Once everything is in, you won't notice it so much.

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  37. Hi Sarah! Thanks for this comment! hahah The ground has shifted!? I like it! l hear you about the clothes dryer over the stove!.... You are so right! Once I did accidentally set a kitchen on fire in my younger Real Life and it has changed my life forever afterwards. Not a happy memory.
    Wonderful that you have the bloomers tutorial ready to view, I'll be right over.......!

    elizabeth

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