Virtural Tour: 1:48 Scale Modernized San Francisco Row House

A DESIGN(er's) CHALLANGE
This was my second dollhouse after 14 years, my first attempt at 1:48 scale and it was an experiment to see how well a graphic designer could create attractive interior design. It is a prototype of experiments and plans for my real house and is filled with many of my favorite designs from Herman Miller Eames chairs to VW Bugs.

The house kit was manufactured by a Virginia Beach small business, Laser Dollhouse Designs Inc..  Some of the furniture are from kits by Young at Heart, Small Scale Living, Petite Properties Ltd or are 3D printed from Pretty Small Things, Tiny Toes Couture or Anshuman Bhatia on Shapeways.com. I scratch-built the rest of the furniture.


HOMAGE TO HERITAGE AND DIY
The vibe is eclectic with heavy infusions of mid-century modern and industrial chic. Victorian homes have dominated dollhouse miniatures and while clean, ultra modern miniatures are quickly rising in popularity, the idea of something in between, of a contemporized historical home, seems to take a back seat. Challenge accepted. While designed for thoroughly modern living, I retained the house's Victorian heritage with elements such as handcrafted wainscoting, traditional décor and furniture elements.  Modern + heritage = Victorian fusion.

This house is filled with a lot of my scratch-built items and DIY projects, many of which will be featured on this blog, so if you see something you like, check back often!



While blending traditional with industrial chic, I aimed for neutral rooms, intending to add pops of color via the furniture. Makes for the easiest style changes later.



Basement living room (the door in the back leads to the designer's studio). Scratch-built Knoll sofa. 3D printed Eames lounge chair by Pretty Small Things.



Some of the rooms let my graphic design side show, such as the master bed with its chevron wallpaper.

Guest bedroom complete with its own guest bath (photos to come). Scratch-built mid-century twin bed and reminted traditional furniture from the common "brown plastic" sets.



The entryway. Scratch-built credenza with a jewelry finding converted into a large mirror. The vase is a bead and the large catch-all bowl is a small 1:12 soup bowl.



Everything in this room is scratch-built except for the 3D printed chair by Anshuman Bhatia. This is the designer's studio and is still a work in progress. Soon it will gain a drafting table, a shelf of supplies, a bookstand and a collection of design samples as inspiration (real design studios are a museum of jam-packed yet highly organized artifacts and supplies, so I'll have fun with this room). 



Customized Hanson Minis kitchen kit with bakeware and toaster kits from Young At Heart Miniatures. This room is still a work in progress, so check back for more visual goodies!



The industrial chic style is strongest in the book-lover's hideaway.  Scratch-built books, shelf, desk kit by Pepite Properties Ltd and marshmallow sofa by Anshuman Bhatia   The planter is another bead.



3D printed carrosse chair by Tiny Toes Couture, scratch-built art frame and books and customized brown plastic drawer (it was originally a hutch). 



The 2nd guest bedroom is the most traditional one in the house and prominently features a Victorian poster by the bed as an homage to the house's architectural roots.



The master bed leads into this large bathroom with scratch-built sink and shower stall. 



A smaller 1:12 scale soup bowl was used in the creation of the sink.