We found this cottage at an Oxford junk shop, and took it away for free. All it needed was cleaning and decorating to become a beautiful house. We could not resist it because it is so similar to Rosalyn's old pantiled cottage. We delivered it to her in September 2004.

As found, with unglazed green plastic window frames.

The bare walls and floors and curiously tiny connecting door....

This room became the sitting room with an open fire...

...and this one the kitchen with wood stove and ceramic sink.

And now as furnished...

...by Rosalyn.

Back of the door.

The front door is new, but the porch and name plate are original.

View inside.

During late summer and autumn 2003 the house was in an exhibition at Kirkaldy Museum. The exhibition contained local dollshouses, both important historical examples and modern ones.

The two front panels are assymetrical to match the shop front

We made this dollshouse in November and December 2002, for my mother-in-law Rosalyn. The design took a while as we had to fit a shop and back rooms into a very limited space. The general feel of the building inside and out is inspired by our own Edwardian terrace house. Click the pictures to enlarge.

The lettering and furnishing, as well as the lacy curtains visible in the other view, are by Rosalyn

The largest room in the house is of course the shop, with a whole wall of built-in shelves and drawers

This tiny room is used as a combined workroom and kitchen.

The twisting stairs provide valuable cupboard space beneath them. The door connects through from the workroom to the shop.

The larger room upstairs is used as a living room

Upstairs there is a central landing and two small rooms. Both have open coal fires which glow most enticingly, although as with many old houses the only artificial light upstairs is provided by candles or oil lamps.

The smallest room is used as a bedroom; it has a built-in cupboard but the room is so small this tends to be blocked by furniture!