Anyone into or knowledgeable about doll houses?
Discussion
I'm a joiner with a keen interest in miniature things, and someone recently suggested that I branch out into custom-made doll houses for adults. I never considered it before, but now I think about it it's exactly the kind of thing I'd love to do.
I kind of imagined the usual customer would be an older women with plenty of money to spend on nostalgia. Is there a market for this kind of thing?
Thanks.
I kind of imagined the usual customer would be an older women with plenty of money to spend on nostalgia. Is there a market for this kind of thing?
Thanks.
I've built 2 for my missus, both from kits and both took several weeks to get to the finished shell. One thing I did learn was that the enthusiasts for these things are willing to spend loads on their hobbies, these are definitely not kid's toys.
The first one -
and the second
As already posted, the normal scale is 1/12th and you can buy either ready built or as we did, in kit form. Ready built houses often look expensive for "a toy" but don't underestimate the time involved in making them up. The 2nd house shown for example has "real" stonework made from plaster/sand and a plastic template which lets you form the stone patterns. It's not unusual for folks to form the roof with individual tiles..... detail is incredible with some modellers.
I think the market for the standard Victorian design is well catered for, so you'd definitely need a USP as already mentioned. Maybe something on the "Grand Design" style or custom build from a client's photo (or even better a floor plan) might work.
Also consider if you want to assemble everything yourself to a complete house with windows/doors/wallpaper/flooring/electric lighting in place, just provide an assembled basic shell or offer a kit for self assembly.
If you decide to offer a kit then my big time drain on making these was installing electrics. The wiring is simple but chasing out grooves in the ceilings/walls for lights or sockets and then filling over afterwards took a long time, so that's something you could offer to speed up the build. (thinking about that, the market might already be doing that now, I don't know the current state)
The first one -
and the second
As already posted, the normal scale is 1/12th and you can buy either ready built or as we did, in kit form. Ready built houses often look expensive for "a toy" but don't underestimate the time involved in making them up. The 2nd house shown for example has "real" stonework made from plaster/sand and a plastic template which lets you form the stone patterns. It's not unusual for folks to form the roof with individual tiles..... detail is incredible with some modellers.
I think the market for the standard Victorian design is well catered for, so you'd definitely need a USP as already mentioned. Maybe something on the "Grand Design" style or custom build from a client's photo (or even better a floor plan) might work.
Also consider if you want to assemble everything yourself to a complete house with windows/doors/wallpaper/flooring/electric lighting in place, just provide an assembled basic shell or offer a kit for self assembly.
If you decide to offer a kit then my big time drain on making these was installing electrics. The wiring is simple but chasing out grooves in the ceilings/walls for lights or sockets and then filling over afterwards took a long time, so that's something you could offer to speed up the build. (thinking about that, the market might already be doing that now, I don't know the current state)
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